Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment.    (There are 3 other summaries) American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 - Title I: FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention - FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 - Subtitle A: Homeownership Retention - (Sec. 112) Amends the National Housing Act (NHA) to create the Refinance Program Oversight Board, which shall establish and oversee a program for insuring homeownership retention mortgages. Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure any homeownership retention mortgage covering a one- to four-family residence made to pay or prepay outstanding obligations under an existing mortgage on the residence. Sets forth mortgagor eligibility criteria, including mortgagor certification that: (1) the residence is the only residence [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. 6/18/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on June 2, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 silver coins emblematic of the service of our disabled veterans who, having survived the ordeal of war, made enormous personal sacrifices defending the principles of our democracy. Expresses the sense of Congress that, to the greatest extent possible, the coins should be struck at the U.S. Mint at West Point, New York. Limits the period for coin issuance to the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2010. Imposes a $10 surcharge per coin, to be distributed [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 837.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

6/21/2007--Introduced.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate, establish, and operate at least six Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health-care facilities as locations for epilepsy centers of excellence. Requires the Under Secretary for Health of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to establish a peer review panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals for the designation of such centers.

Requires a VHA national coordinator for epilepsy programs to: (1) supervise the operation of the centers; (2) coordinate and support throughout the VA health-care system better access to diagnosis, research, care, and education for epilepsy and traumatic brain injury; and (3) conduct regular evaluations of the centers.

Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Ms. Jackson-Lee moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the management of medical care for members of the Armed Forces, to improve the speed and efficiency of the physical disability evaluation system of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. 6/22/2007--Introduced. Servicemembers' Healthcare Benefits and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) assign a medical care manager and a caseworker to each member of the Armed Forces who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, or is otherwise in a medical hold or holdover status, for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active duty (recovering member); and (2) undertake efforts to improve the speed and efficiency of the Department of Defense (DOD) physical disability evaluation system. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to the congressional defense and veterans' committees a plan to update the disability ratings [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 07/22/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Johnson. With written report No. 110-428.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-245.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits for military personnel, and for other purposes. 6/17/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 -Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits and incentives for military personnel.Title I: Benefits for Military - (Sec 101) Exempts married taxpayers who file a joint tax return from the identification requirement for the 2008 recovery tax rebate if at least one of the filers is a current member of the Armed Forces.(Sec. 102) Makes permanent the election to treat combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit. (Sec. 103) Makes permanent the exemption from the first-time homebuyer rule for veterans using mortgage [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain debts to the United States in the case of veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability incurred or aggravated on active duty in a combat zone, and for other purposes.

1/29/2008--Introduced.

Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting debts owed to the United States by certain veterans who die as a result of a service-connected disability incurred or aggravated on active duty in a war after the Persian Gulf War or a combat zone after September 11, 2001, if the Secretary determines, in his or her discretion, that the termination of collection is in the best interest of the United States.

Excepts any amounts owed the United States under federal housing and small business loan programs from such prohibition on debt collection.

Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To amend the charter of the Gold Star Wives of America to remove the restriction on the federally chartered corporation, and directors and officers of the corporation, attempting to influence legislation.
Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the payment of a monthly stipend to the surviving parents (known as "Gold Star parents") of members of the Armed Forces who die during a period of war.

12/4/2007--Introduced.

Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay a special pension to each person who has received a Gold Star lapel button as a parent of a member of the Armed Forces who died while serving.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/22/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Johnson. With written report No. 110-428.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

Bill Text
To amend the charter of the Gold Star Wives of America to remove the restriction on the federally chartered corporation, and directors and officers of the corporation, attempting to influence legislation.
Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-245.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits for military personnel, and for other purposes. 6/17/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 -Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits and incentives for military personnel.Title I: Benefits for Military - (Sec 101) Exempts married taxpayers who file a joint tax return from the identification requirement for the 2008 recovery tax rebate if at least one of the filers is a current member of the Armed Forces.(Sec. 102) Makes permanent the election to treat combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit. (Sec. 103) Makes permanent the exemption from the first-time homebuyer rule for veterans using mortgage [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/15/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committ

Bill Text
To expand and improve mental health care and reintegration programs for members of the National Guard and Reserve, and for other purposes. 5/15/2008--Introduced. National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) provide for the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and reserves and their families required by section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) report to the congressional defense committees on that Program's implementation. Directs the Secretary to carry out a joint psychological health program to: (1) increase access to and the provision of psychological health care and related services for members of the National Guard following their deployment, and their families; (2) improve coordination among DOD components in the provision of such care during [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. 5/12/2008--Introduced. Honoring Our Nation's Obligation to Returning Warriors Act or HONOR Warriors Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide scholarships to individuals pursuing education or training in behavioral health care specialties that are critical to the operations of Vet Centers (centers for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans) in order to recruit and retain individuals with such specialties for service in Vet Centers. Conditions the scholarship agreeing to serve in such a capacity for whatever period the Secretary specifies in the agreement. Makes any Armed Forces member who serves in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom eligible for readjustment [...]

show full description