Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 03/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.

Bill Text
To require the prompt issuance by the Secretary of Agriculture of regulations to restore integrity to the payment limitation requirements applicable to commodity payments and benefits, to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse related to the receipt of commodity payments and benefits, and for other purposes.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Farm Programs Payment Limitation Integrity Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations to establish measurable standards to prevent the use of separate entities to exceed commodity payment limitations and to provide payments only to active farmers.

Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide that if the Secretary determines that a person has committed fraud in connection with the adoption of a scheme or device to evade payment limitations such person shall be ineligible for farm program payments in the crop year for which the scheme or device was adopted and the succeeding five crop years.

Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Bill Text
Recognizing the contributions of the Christmas tree industry to the United States economy.

12/17/2007--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.)

Recognizes the important contributions to the U.S. economy of the live-cut Christmas tree industry, Christmas tree growers, and persons employed in the live-cut Christmas tree industry.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S120-121)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Trade Act of 1974 to extend benefits to service sector workers and firms, enhance certain trade adjustment assistance authorities, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Trade Adjustment Assistance Improvement Act of 2007 - Trade Adjustment Assistance Equity for Service Workers Act of 2007 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow the filing of a petition for certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance by adversely affected: (1) workers in a service sector firm, its subdivision, or public agency; and (2) service sector firms. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide technical assistance to service industries adversely affected by import competition. Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) certify as eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance adversely affected secondary workers in a service sector firm, its subdivision, or a public agency; and (2) upon the request of the President, the U.S. Trade Representative,[...]

show full description
Latest Action: 07/24/2007 - Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for a program to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to support the deployment of new climate change-related technologies, and to ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances, and for other purposes. 1/12/2007--Introduced. Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and maintain the National Greenhouse Gas Database to collect, verify, and analyze information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Establishes a program for market-driven reduction of GHGs through the use of tradeable allowances. Requires certain covered entities that own or control a source of GHG emissions in the electric power, industrial, and commercial sectors of the U.S. economy to submit to the Administrator, beginning in 2012, one tradeable allowance for every [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 07/24/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Bill Text
To update the management of Oregon water resources, and for other purposes. 7/23/2007--Passed 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.)Oregon Water Resources Management Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 to: (1) replace references to the Deschutes River Basin Working Group with the Deschutes River Conservancy Working Group; (2) require the two representatives of private interests from irrigated agriculture on the Working Group to actively farm more than 100 acres of irrigated land and not be irrigation district managers; (3) direct the Bureau of Reclamation to pay up to a specified amount of the cost of performing projects proposed by the Working Group and approved by the Secretary of the Interior for FY2007-FY2016; and (4) authorize appropriations for Deschutes [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 06/21/2007 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To provide relief for African-American farmers filing claims in the cases of Pigford v. Veneman and Brewington v. Veneman.

1/18/2007--Introduced.

African-American Farmers Benefits Relief Act of 2007 - Provides de novo review for qualifying claims filed under the consolidated class action action lawsuits of Pigford v. Veneman and Brewington v. Veneman.

Latest Action: 02/07/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1713-1714)

Bill Text
A bill to provide a mechanism for the determination on the merits of the claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relating to racial discrimination by the Department of Agriculture but who were denied that determination. 2/7/2007--Introduced. Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2007 - Declares that any Pigford claimant (relating to a racial discrimination action against the Department of Agriculture) who has not obtained a determination on the merits of a Pigford claim before enactment of this Act may, in a civil action, obtain that determination. Asserts that it is Congress' intent that this Act be liberally construed so as to effectuate its remedial purpose of giving a full determination on the merits for each denied Pigford claim. Defines: (1) "Pigford claimant" as an individual who submitted, before enactment of this Act, a late-filing request under the consent decree in the case of Pigford v. Glickman (1999); and (2) "[...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1786)

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit products that contain dry ultra-filtered milk products, milk protein concentrate, or casein from being labeled as domestic natural cheese, and for other purposes.

2/8/2007--Introduced.

Quality Cheese Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration from using federal funds to amend specified regulations to include dry ultra-filtered milk, milk protein concentrate, or casein in the definition of "milk" or "nonfat milk" as specified in the domestic natural standards for cheese and cheese products.

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1800-1808)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to promote local and regional support for sustainable bioenergy and biobased products, to support the future of farming, forestry, and land management, to develop and support local bioenergy, biobased products, and food systems, and for other purposes. 2/8/2007--Introduced. Rural Opportunities Act of 2007 - Amends the Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) make state grants for extension, education, applied research, and development activities at institutions of higher education, state agencies, or partnerships for local and regional bioenergy and biobased product use and production; and (2) provide funds for basic research on next generation technology. Authorizes the Secretary to make supplemental rural cooperative development grants. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary to: (1) [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2499)

Bill Text
A bill to promote the development of health care cooperatives that will help businesses to pool the health care purchasing power of employers, and for other purposes. 3/1/2007--Introduced. Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to award grants for the development of health care purchasing cooperatives by two or more self-insured employers. Sets forth requirements for cooperatives, including that they: (1) are nonprofit, wholly owned, and democratically governed by its member-employers; (2) exist solely to serve the membership base; (3) assist members in pooling their health care insurance purchasing power; (4) provide data to improve the ability of the members to make data-based decisions regarding their health plans; and (5) conduct activities to enhance quality improvement in the health care community. Requires [...]

show full description

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/18/2008 - Vetoed by President. (text of veto message: CR H5535)

Bill Text
To provide for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Introduced. Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 - Provides for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through FY2012.Revises agricultural and related programs, including provisions respecting: (1) commodity programs; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) horticulture and organic agriculture; (11) livestock; (12) crop insurance and disaster assistance; (13) socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers; and (14) miscellaneous programs.Directs the President to establish and maintain an importer declaration program with respect to the importation of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products.Establishes the Bill Emerson National Hunger [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exclusion for gain from the sale of farmland to encourage the continued use of the property for farming, and for other purposes. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income 100% of the gain, up to $500,000, from the sale of qualified farm property to a first-time farmer who certifies that such property will be used for farming purposes for 10 years. Allows: (1) a 50% exclusion for the sale of qualified farm property to any other person who certifies that such property will be used for farming purposes for 10 years; and (2) a 25% exclusion for the sale of qualified farm property to any other person for any other use. Defines "qualified farm property" as real property located in the United States which is used for farming purposes for a specified three-year period and in which there was material participation by [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 01/22/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
To extend the trade adjustment assistance program under the Trade Act of 1974 for 3 months.

12/11/2007--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.)

Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend and authorize appropriations for the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) programs for workers, firms, and farmers from December 31, 2007, through March 31, 2008.

Provides for the following offsets: (1) increases by 0.25 percentage points the current increased percentage of any required installment of corporate estimated tax otherwise due in July, August, or September of 2012; and (2) amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend the authority for collection of customs user fees from December 13, 2014, through December 20, 2014.

Latest Action: 11/02/2007 - Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Harkin. With written report No. 110-220. Additional views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

11/2/2007--Introduced.

Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 - Revises agricultural and related programs and provisions respecting: (1) producer income; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development and investment; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) livestock marketing; and (11) agricultural security.

Latest Action: 11/14/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to establish a program to improve the health and education of children through grants to expand school breakfast programs, and for other purposes. 10/25/2007--Introduced. Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states or local educational agencies (LEAs) for the establishment or enhancement of school breakfast programs at, and through the provision of subgrants to, schools where least 65% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches under the school lunch program. Authorizes schools to use the school breakfast subgrants to: (1) increase the quantity of local or fresh food available under their programs; (2) provide nutrition education and first-hand knowledge of food systems to students; (3) extend the period during which breakfast is available, including [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 10/23/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to reauthorize the trade adjustment assistance for workers program, and for other purposes. 10/23/2007--Introduced. Trade Adjustment Assistance and Training Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to revise requirements with respect to the filing of a petition for certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by a group of adversely affected workers in a firm or subdivision (including agricultural firm or subdivision). Revises TAA group eligibility requirements for such workers and for adversely affected secondary workers. Sets forth a process for administrative reconsideration of Secretary of Labor determinations that deny certification of eligibility to apply for TAA by a group of adversely affected workers. Revises: (1) trade readjustment allowance (TRA) eligibility requirements for adversely affected workers (including to provide for the the payment of an additional TRA provided [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 11/08/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to reauthorize trade adjustment assistance, to extend trade adjustment assistance to service workers and firms, and for other purposes. 10/31/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007 - Title I: Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers - Subtitle A: Trade Adjustment Assistance for Service Sector Workers; Expansion of Covered Shifts in Production; Expansion of Downstream Secondary Worker Eligibility - (Sec. 101) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 (the Act) to allow the filing of a petition with the Secretary of Labor for certification of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by adversely affected workers in a service sector firm or a public agency. Revises group eligibility requirements for TAA to cover: (1) a shift, by such workers' firm or subdivision to a foreign country, of production of articles or in provision of services, like [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 06/11/2008 - Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5530)

Bill Text
A bill to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, and to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes. 10/17/2007--Introduced. Natural Resource Projects and Programs Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes specified programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy concerning, among other things, national monuments, conservation areas, resource protection, historic sites, national trails, national heritage areas, and the clean coal power initiative. Makes amendments to various public laws, including the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act, the National Trails System Act, the Steel Industry American Heritage Area Act of 1996, the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor [...]<