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Latest Action: 10/07/2008 - Signed by President.

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To amend the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to promote respect for the fundamental human rights of the people of North Korea, and for other purposes. 5/15/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 13, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the resettlement of North Korean refugees. Amends the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through FY2012 for: (1) activities to support human rights and democracy and freedom of information (by increasing the availability of non-government controlled sources) in North Korea; and (2) assistance to North Koreans who are outside North Korea. Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report respecting U.S. broadcasting to North Korea and the [...]

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Latest Action: 05/24/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

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Regarding the endorsement of U.S. citizens' claims for payment by Chinese Government of defaulted Chinese bonds.

5/24/2007--Introduced.

Recommends that the People's Republic of China (PRC) be denied access to all U.S. capital markets until the PRC complies with the terms and conditions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement and fully honors repayment of its outstanding defaulted public debts owed to U.S. citizens consistent with the efforts of the American Bondholders Foundation.

Latest Action: 06/15/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Expressing the sense of Congress that the International Olympic Committee should allow Taiwan (Republic of China) to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics under the national name, flag, and anthem of its own choosing.

6/15/2007--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) discriminatory treatment of Taiwan (Republic of China) by the International Olympic Committee contradicts the spirit of both the Olympic Charter and the Olympic Movement; and (2) the International Olympic Committee should allow Taiwan to compete under the national name, flag, and anthem of its own choosing.

Latest Action: 02/16/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan (the Republic of China), and for other purposes.

2/16/2007--Introduced.

Commends the people of Taiwan for establishing a multi-party democracy that respects human rights.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should abandon the "One China Policy" in favor of a "One China, One Taiwan Policy" that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign government; (2) the President should begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and (3) the President and other U.S. officials should support Taiwan's full participation in international organizations for which statehood is a membership requirement.

Latest Action: 02/28/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

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To provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. 8/3/2007--Public Law.    (There are 2 other summaries) Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 - Provides for implementation of recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission).Title I: Homeland Security Grants - (Sec. 101) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) to establish Homeland Security Grant Programs (consisting of an Urban Area Security Initiative and a State Homeland Security Grant Program). Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to award Program grants through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Provides that none of the provisions regarding grants to states and high-risk urban areas shall be construed to affect programs authorized under the Federal Fire Prevention [...]

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Latest Action: 03/14/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3145-3146)

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A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress on the nuclear program of Iran.

3/14/2007--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the government of Iran's nuclear program continues should be considered a serious threat to the United States and its military forces and personnel in the Middle East, and to U.S. allies and interests in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; (2) as a result of Iran's noncompliance with U.N. Security Resolution 1737 (2006) the Security Council should implement additional sanctions to persuade Iran to comply with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements; (3) full international economic sanctions offer the best opportunity to prevent the development of a nuclear weapon in Iran; and (4) the elimination of the threat of a nuclear Iran is in the long term interest of the people of Iran, the region, and the world.

Latest Action: 04/12/2007 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 110-54.

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A bill to increase cooperation on energy issues between the United States Government and foreign governments and entities in order to secure the strategic and economic interests of the United States, and for other purposes. 4/12/2007--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.) Energy Diplomacy and Security Act of 2007 - Defines "major energy producer" and "major energy consumer." Expresses the sense of Congress respecting energy diplomacy and security. States that the Secretary of State should seek immediately to establish: (1) strategic energy partnerships with the governments of major energy producers and major energy consumers, and with governments of other countries; (2) petroleum crisis response mechanisms with the governments of China and India; [...]

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Latest Action: 03/05/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Recognizing and supporting the long distance runs that will take place in the People's Republic of China in 2007 and the United States in 2008 to promote friendship between the peoples of China and the United States.

3/5/2007--Introduced.

Supports the long distance runs that will take place in the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 2007 and the United States in 2008 to promote friendship between the peoples of China and the United States.

Latest Action: 08/02/2007 - Star Print ordered on on the resolution.

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A resolution calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China to use its unique influence and economic leverage to stop genocide and violence in Darfur, Sudan. 7/30/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Recognizes the close relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Sudan and urges the government the PRC to use its full influence to: (1) urge President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan to abide by his agreement to allow a U.N. peacekeeping force as described in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1706; (2) call for Sudanese compliance with Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1564 and the Darfur Peace Agreement which demand that Sudan disarm militias operating in Darfur; (3) call on all parties to the conflict to adhere to the 2004 N'Djamena ceasefire agreement and the recently-agreed U.N. communique; (4) emphasize that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Darfur and that implementation of a legitimate [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2007 - Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10527-10528)

Bill Text
A resolution recognizing and supporting the long distance runs that will take place in the People's Republic of China in 2007 and the United States in 2008 to promote friendship between the peoples of China and the United States.

7/31/2007--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.)

Recognizes and supports the long distance runs that will take place in the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 2007 and the United States in 2008 to promote friendship between the peoples of China and the United States.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 09/17/2008 - Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8960-8961)

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A resolution calling for greater dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Government of China regarding rights for the people of Tibet, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7790-7791)

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A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on the deterioration of respect for privacy and human rights in the People's Republic of China before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. 7/30/2008--Introduced. Calls upon the government of the People's Republic of China to: (1) rescind the order requiring hotels to allow the Public Security Bureau to install hardware and software on the hotel networks; and (2) refrain from targeting individuals who visit websites related to politics or human rights or who express opinions related to politics or human rights in electronic communication.Expresses concern over the deterioration of respect for human rights in China leading up to the Beijing Olympics and for the safety and privacy of international visitors and journalists traveling to China for the Olympics.Notes that the behavior of the Chinese government violates several international conventions to which China is a signatory, violates its commitments to the International [...]

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Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7789-7790)

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A resolution calling on the Governments of the People's Republic of China and the international community to use the upcoming Olympic Games as an opportunity to push for the parties to the conflicts in Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic to cease hostilities and revive efforts toward a peaceful resolution of their national and regional conflicts. 7/30/2008--Introduced. Expresses continued support and sympathy for the hundreds of thousands of civilians of Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic who have been affected by the ongoing violence and regional instability. Urges: (1) the United Nations, the African Union, and other international leaders to use the unique opportunity presented by the Olympics to promote peace, dialogue, and reconciliation in areas of conflict; (2) the government of China to press the Sudanese government to commit to a cessation of hostilities, allow the full deployment of UNAMID peacekeeping forces, and engage in good faith in [...]

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Latest Action: 07/18/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Leahy under authority of the order of the Senate of 01/04/2007. With written report No. 110-425.

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An original bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 7/18/2008--Introduced. Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 - Makes FY2009 appropriations for the Department of State (Department) for: (1) administration of foreign affairs and diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the civilian stabilization initiative; (3) the Capital Investment Fund; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) educational and cultural exchange programs; (6) representation allowances; (7) protection of foreign missions and officials; (8) U.S. embassy security, construction, and maintenance; (9) emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service; (10) the repatriation loans program account; (11) the American Institute in Taiwan; (12) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (13) international organizations, peacekeeping, and [...]

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Latest Action: 06/06/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5374-5375; text as passed Senate: CR S5375; text of measure as introduced: CR S5372-5373)

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A resolution honoring Dr. Feng Shan Ho, a man of great courage and humanity, who saved the lives of thousands of Austrian Jews between 1938 and 1940.

6/6/2008--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.)

Honors the courage and humanity of Dr. Feng Shan Ho for acting at great personal risk to issue Chinese visas to Jews in Vienna between 1938 and 1940.

Recognizes his heroic deeds in saving the lives of thousands of Jewish persons by allowing them to escape the Holocaust.

Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4804-4805)

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A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to temporarily prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from considering global climate change as a natural or manmade factor in determining whether a species is a threatened or endangered species, and for other purposes.

5/22/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from considering global climate change as a natural or manmade factor in the determination as to whether a species is threatened or endangered until the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notifies the Secretary that: (1) each major emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) (specifically including China, India, and the United States) has ratified an international agreement to reduce the quantity of GHGs emitted; and (2) any such emitter found to not to be in compliance with such agreement, in any year, becomes compliant.

Makes this Act effective as of January 1, 2006.

Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4805-4806)

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A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of the People's Republic of China should immediately release from custody the children of Rebiya Kadeer and Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil and should refrain from further engaging in acts of cultural, linguistic, and religious suppression directed against the Uyghur people.

5/22/2008--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) should: (1) recognize the linguistic, cultural, and religious rights of the Uyghur people of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; (2) release the children of Rebiya Kadeer from incarceration and house arrest and cease harassment of the Kadeer family members; (3) release Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil and allow him to rejoin his family in Canada; and (4) cease government-sponsored violence and crackdowns against the people throughout the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Latest Action: 05/19/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4423-4424; text as passed Senate: CR S4423-4424; text of measure as introduced: CR S4377-4378)

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A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the earthquake that struck Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China on May 12, 2008.

5/19/2008--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.)

Mourns the loss of life and human suffering caused by the May 2008 earthquake in the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Expresses deep condolences to the people of the PRC and to all those affected by this enormous tragedy.

Calls on the President to respond to any requests for humanitarian assistance made by the government of the PRC, and stands ready to support the provision of additional resources to assist those impacted by the earthquake.

Latest Action: 05/20/2008 - Mr. Wu moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

Bill Text
Expressing condolences and sympathy to the people of the People's Republic of China for the grave loss of life and vast destruction caused by the earthquake of May 12, 2008 in Sichuan Province.

5/20/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Extends condolences and sympathy to the people of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake centered in Sichuan Province.

Vows full support for the people of the PRC as well as the members of the Chinese American community who have relatives in the affected areas.

Expresses confidence that the people of the PRC will come together to help those in need and succeed in overcoming the hardships incurred because of this tragedy.

Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 779.

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To reauthorize Amtrak, and for other purposes. 6/11/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 - Title I: Authorizations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for: (1) Amtrak capital and operating grants, including capital grants to states, to the Amtrak Office of the Inspector General, and for accessibility improvements and barrier removal for individuals with disabilities; (2) Amtrak repayment of long-term debt and capital leases; and (3) the rail cooperative research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for grants to Amtrak and states participating in the Next Generation Corridor Train Equipment Pool Committee. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to withhold up to one-half of 1% of certain funds for the costs of project management oversight of capital projects carried out by Amtrak.(Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for costs [...]

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