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Latest Action: 06/19/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes. 3/6/2007--Introduced. Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense to use Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions. Authorizes the Secretary to consider the use of such personnel and resources to provide: (1) aerial reconnaissance or communications capabilities to the Border Patrol to protect against illegal entry and trafficking; and (2) capabilities to respond to an act of terrorism, natural disaster, or other man-made event by assisting in damage assessment and situational awareness, search and rescue operations, evacuations, and transporting time-sensitive materials. Directs [...]

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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 758.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation, and for other purposes. 3/31/2008--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation [...]

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Latest Action: 04/25/2007 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 125.

Bill Text
Expressing deep concern over the use of civilians as "human shields" in violation of international humanitarian law, including Hezbollah's tactic of embedding its forces among civilians to use them as human shields during the summer of 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and the State of Israel.

4/25/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Condemns the use of innocent civilians as human shields, including Hezbollah's recent use of this brutal and illegal tactic during the 2006 summer conflict with Israel.

Calls on: (1) responsible nations to condemn the use of civilians as human shields as a violation of international humanitarian law; and (2) responsible nations and experts in the area of international humanitarian law to focus particular attention on the use of human shields in violation of international humanitarian law and make recommendations for its prevention.

Latest Action: 04/17/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

Bill Text
Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and civil liberties of the people of Venezuela. 1/31/2007--Introduced. Expresses support for the people of Venezuela in their daily struggle for freedom, democratic self-governance, and the establishment of the rule of law. Calls on the government of Venezuela to: (1) abide by its obligations under international human rights treaties and international humanitarian law to ensure the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their political views; and (2) end killings, torture, and ill treatment by the police and military. Encourages: (1) the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) to monitor the human rights situation in Venezuela; and (2) the President and the Secretary of State to assist democracy and human rights activists and the nonviolent democratic opposition in Venezuela. Expresses support for the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) for his [...]

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Latest Action: 01/12/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny the foreign tax credit and the benefits of deferral to companies doing business directly or through subsidiaries in Sudan until the Government of Sudan takes demonstrable steps to end genocide in Sudan.

1/12/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny U.S. companies doing business in Sudan the foreign tax credit and other tax benefits until the Secretary of State certifies to the Secretary of the Treasury that the Government of Sudan has ceased to support, and has taken steps to end, acts of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, including: (1) ensuring that the military is not attacking civilians or obstructing human rights monitors or humanitarian assistance; (2) disarming Government supported militias; (3) allowing access for providing humanitarian assistance to all regions; and (4) cooperating with international missions.

Latest Action: 10/29/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H12136-12137)

Bill Text
To require United States military disengagement from Iraq, to provide United States assistance for reconstruction and reconciliation in Iraq, and for other purposes. 1/17/2007--Introduced. Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007 - Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) end the occupation of Iraq; (2) accelerate the training and equipping of Iraq's military and security forces; (3) pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy; (4) help preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq as a nation state; (5) account for any missing U.S. Armed Forces personnel or U.S. citizens in Iraq; and (6) turn over internal security activities and military operations in Iraq to the elected government of Iraq within six months. Repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. Requires the withdrawal from Iraq of all U.S. Armed Forces and contractor security forces within six months. Prohibits, with exceptions,[...]

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Latest Action: 04/10/2007 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 110-50.

Bill Text
A bill to enhance the overseas stabilization and reconstruction capabilities of the United States Government, and for other purposes. 4/10/2007--Reported to Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) States that the purpose of this Act is to provide for the development, as a core mission of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), of an expert civilian response capability to carry out stabilization and reconstruction activities in a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. (Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to furnish assistance to help stabilize and reconstruct a country or region that [...]

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Latest Action: 05/02/2007 - Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 110-119.

Bill Text
To promote democratic values and enhance democracy, and for other purposes. 5/2/2007--Reported to House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 2007 or ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007 - Title I: Department of State Activities - (Sec. 101) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide that the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor shall also be responsible for matters relating to the development of democracy in nondemocratic countries. Requires that there be at least one office in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (Bureau) of the Department of State responsible for working with democratic movements and facilitating the transition of countries [...]

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Latest Action: 03/07/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 609.

Bill Text
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to build operational readiness in civilian agencies, and for other purposes. 3/5/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 4, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President, if in the U.S. national interest, to furnish assistance to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. Requires specified pre-notification by the President before making assistance available. Limits: (1) program authority to FY2008-FY2010; and (2) annual fiscal year expenditures to $100 million. (Sec.[...]

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Latest Action: 10/02/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12428)

Bill Text
A bill to implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group.

6/5/2007--Introduced.

Iraq Study Group Recommendations Implementation Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress: (1) that the President should formulate a comprehensive plan to implement the Iraq Study Group recommendations; (2) respecting diplomatic efforts in Iraq; and (3) respecting redeployment of U.S. combat brigades not necessary for force protection and other specified duties by the first quarter of 2008.

States U.S. policy respecting: (1) security and military forces in Iraq; (2) strengthening the U.S. military; (3) police and criminal justice in Iraq; (4) the oil sector in Iraq; (5) improving assistance programs in Iraq; (6) budgetary preparation; and (7) conditions for continued U.S. assistance to Iraq based upon the government of Iraq meeting specified milestones.

Requires the President to report to Congress every 90 days respecting such policies' implementation.

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