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Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Vetoed by President.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 7/15/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on June 24, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Title I: Medicare - Subtitle A: Beneficiary Improvements - Part 1: Prevention, Mental Health, and Marketing - (Sec. 101) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to cover additional preventive services. Includes body mass index and end-of-life planning among initial [...]

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Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products. 2/15/2007--Introduced. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of tobacco products by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Food and Drug Administration, including through disclosure, annual registration, inspection, recordkeeping, and user fee requirements. Sets forth criteria by which tobacco products are deemed adulterated or misbranded. Allows the Secretary to require prior approval of all label statements. Allows the Secretary to restrict the sale or distribution of tobacco products, including advertising and promotion, if the Secretary determines that such regulation would be appropriate for the protection of the public health. Prohibits such regulations from: (1) limiting product sales or distribution to authorization [...]

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Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Bill Text
A bill to amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that a disability or death of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty.

8/1/2007--Introduced.

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends federal law to provide that, in the case of an employee in fire protection activities: (1) heart disease, lung disease, specified cancers and infectious diseases shall be presumed to be proximately caused by the employee's employment; (2) the disability or death of an employee in fire protection activities due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of such employee's duty; and (3) such presumptions may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month.

2/28/2007--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of American Heart Month.

Reaffirms our nation's commitment to fighting heart disease by promoting awareness about its causes, risks, and prevention and by promoting new education programs, supporting research, and expanding access to medical treatment.

Encourages every American to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, develop good eating habits, avoid tobacco, drugs, and excessive alcohol, and have regular checkups to take advantage of screenings that can detect heart-disease related problems early.

Latest Action: 12/10/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution supporting the designation of a week as "National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week".

12/6/2007--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish programs to increase public training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use and to increase public access to defibrillators.

Latest Action: 04/24/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
Recognizing the health benefits of eating seafood as part of a balanced diet, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Seafood Month.

4/23/2007--Introduced.

Recognizes the health benefits of seafood consumption.

Encourages eating seafood as part of a balanced diet at least twice a week to help lower the risk of heart disease and obesity.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Seafood Month.

Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Wear Red Day.

1/31/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Wear Red Day.

Encourages: (1) Americans nationwide to wear red on that day to show support for women's heart disease awareness; (2) all American women to embrace the goals of The Heart Truth campaign and take action to modify, prevent, and control their risk factors for heart disease; and (3) all Americans to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, develop good eating habits, avoid tobacco, drugs, and excessive alcohol, and have regular checkups to take advantage of screenings that can detect heart disease-related problems early.

Reaffirms our nation's commitment to fighting heart disease by promoting awareness about its causes, risks, and prevention and by promoting new education programs, supporting research, and expanding access to medical treatment.

Latest Action: 05/09/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Bill Text
To amend title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that disability of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caused by certain conditions is presumed to result from the performance of such employee's duty.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends federal law to provide that, with regard to an employee in fire protection activities: (1) heart disease, lung disease, specified cancers and infectious diseases shall be presumed to be proximately caused by the employee's employment; (2) the disability or death of an employee in fire protection activities due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of such employee's duty; and (3) such presumptions may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

Latest Action: 02/05/2007 - Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for the monitoring of the long-term medical health of firefighters who responded to emergencies in certain disaster areas and for the treatment of such firefighters.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Healthy Firefighters Act - Directs the United States Fire Administration to: (1) contract with a locally based medical research university to conduct long-term medical health monitoring of firefighters who responded to emergencies in a federally declared disaster area; and (2) provide for the treatment of such firefighters who suffer health-related conditions as a result of responding to such emergencies. Requires such monitoring to include: (1) monitoring of pulmonary illness, neurological damage, and cardiovascular damage; and (2) exposure documentation.

Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services.

1/18/2007--Introduced.

Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of items and services under a cardiac rehabilitation program and a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Vetoed by President.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 7/15/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on June 24, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Title I: Medicare - Subtitle A: Beneficiary Improvements - Part 1: Prevention, Mental Health, and Marketing - (Sec. 101) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to cover additional preventive services. Includes body mass index and end-of-life planning among initial [...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/9/2008--Introduced. Medicare Efficiency and Development of Improvement of Care and Services Act (MEDICS Act) of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services.Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy [...]

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Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S5539-5564)

Bill Text
A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services.Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services.Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans.Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies.Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy assets test under the Medicare [...]

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Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3408)

Bill Text
A resolution designating the week beginning October 5, 2008, as "National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Week".

4/24/2008--Introduced.

Designates the week beginning October 5, 2008, as National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Week.

Expresses support for efforts to educate people about sudden cardiac arrest and to raise awareness about the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, identifying warning signs, and the need to seek medical attention in a timely manner.

Latest Action: 04/15/2008 - Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H2299)

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D..

4/15/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda on April 23, 2008, for the presentation of the congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D..

Latest Action: 06/10/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To establish a grant program for automated external defibrillators in elementary and secondary schools. 6/9/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools Act of 2008, or the Josh Miller HEARTS Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to: (1) purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for use in their schools; and/or (2) provide training to meet the grant requirement that at least five adult employees or volunteers at each school where an AED is to be used successfully complete training in its use and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Requires LEA grant applicants also to demonstrate that: (1) the AEDs are integrated into the schools' emergency response procedures; and (2) emergency services personnel are notified of their locations. [...]

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Latest Action: 12/11/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.

12/11/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week; (2) increased funding for research on congenital heart defects and diseases (CHDs); and (3) the education of parents and the medical community on CHDs symptoms and the importance of newborn screenings for such symptoms.

Latest Action: 12/10/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution supporting the designation of a week as "National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week".

12/6/2007--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish programs to increase public training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use and to increase public access to defibrillators.

Latest Action: 12/12/2007 - Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
Supporting the designation of a week as "National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week".

12/11/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week to establish programs to increase public training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use and to increase public access to defibrillators.

Latest Action: 09/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Day.

9/10/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Day. Encourages awareness and education efforts regarding sudden cardiac arrest and the timely use of an automated external defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.