Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 committee concerned.

Bill Text
To institute a Pay-As-You-Go rule in the House of Representatives for the 110th Congress.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Makes it out of order to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report if its provisions affecting direct spending and revenues have the net effect of increasing the deficit or reducing the surplus for the current fiscal year and the five or 10 ensuing fiscal years.

Latest Action: 03/08/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2927)

Bill Text
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that no action should be taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions. 3/8/2007--Introduced. Declares that: (1) neither the President nor Congress should take any action that will endanger U.S. Armed Forces, including eliminating or reducing funds for troops in the field or failing to provide them adequate training, equipment, and other support; and (2) the President, Congress, and the nation have an obligation to ensure that those who have served this country in time of war receive the health care and other support services they deserve. States that the President and Congress should: (1) continue to exercise their constitutional responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have everything they need to perform their assigned or future missions; and (2) review, assess, and adjust U.S. policy and funding to ensure that U.S.[...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Bill Text
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to curtail the growth of Government programs.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that it shall not be in order to consider a bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report that establishes a new program or modifies an existing program by adding a new function unless such legislation also eliminates one or more existing programs of equal or greater total cost. Excludes legislation that establishes a new defense, homeland security, or emergency program.

Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - Became Public Law No: 110-140.

Bill Text
An Act to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes. 12/19/2007--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 – Title I: Energy Security Through Improved Vehicle Fuel Economy - Subtitle A: Increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards - Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act - (Sec. 102) Amends federal transportation law to instruct the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary in this title) to prescribe separate average fuel economy standards for passenger and for non-passenger automobiles for model years 2011-2030. Repeals the current requirement that the average fuel economy [...]

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Latest Action: 05/22/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6463-6464)

Bill Text
A bill to establish a new budget process to create a comprehensive plan to rein in spending, reduce the deficit, and regain control of the Federal budget process. 5/22/2007--Introduced. Stop Over Spending Act of 2007 - Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to transmit annually to Congress a maximum of four special messages that propose to rescind dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, and targeted tax benefits.Requires an analysis by: (1) the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of an estimated savings in budget authority or outlays resulting from such rescission; and (2) the Joint Committee on Taxation of an estimated savings resulting from repeal of targeted tax benefits.Requires any rescinded budget authority, items of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit to be dedicated only to deficit reduction, and not to be used [...]

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Latest Action: 02/12/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of Congress that no funds should be cut off or reduced for American troops in the field which would result in undermining their safety or their ability to complete their assigned missions.

2/12/2007--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should not take any action that will endanger U.S. military forces in the field, including the elimination or reduction of funds for troops in the field, as such action would undermine their safety or harm their effectiveness in pursuing assigned missions.

Latest Action: 03/29/2007 - Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3283-3338; text of measure as reported in House: CR H3283-3289)

Bill Text
Revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2007, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 through 2012. 3/29/2007--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Revises and replaces the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2007. Sets forth the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2008, including the appropriate budgetary levels for FY2009-FY2012. Title I: Recommended Levels and Amounts - (Sec. 101) Recommends budgetary levels and amounts for FY2007-FY2012 for: (1) federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits (on-budget); (5) debt subject to limit; [...]

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Latest Action: 01/05/2007 - Considered as unfinished business.

Bill Text
Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Tenth Congress. 1/5/2007--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.) Title I: Adoption of Rules of One Hundred Ninth Congress - (Sec. 101) Adopts the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 109th Congress as the Rules for the 110th Congress, with amendments. Title II: Ethics - (Sec. 202) Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) to prohibit Members, with the intent to influence on the basis of partisan political affiliation an employment decision or practice of private entities, from: (1) taking or withholding, or offering or threatening to to take or withhold, an official act; or (2) influencing, or offering or threatening to influence, the official act of another. (Sec. 203) Amends Rule [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 committee concerned.

Bill Text
To institute a reconciliation rule in the House of Representatives for the 110th Congress.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Makes it out of order to consider a concurrent resolution on the budget, an amendment to it, or a conference report containing reconciliation directives under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that specify changes in law reducing the surplus or increasing the deficit for the current fiscal year and the five or 10 ensuing fiscal years.

Latest Action: 01/10/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Bill Text
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the reduction of section 302(b) suballocations to reflect floor amendments to general appropriation bills. 1/10/2007--Introduced. Amends Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to allow a Member to designate the amount of the reduction in new budget authority that should be used to reduce the federal budget deficit (or to increase the federal budget surplus) if an amendment offered by the Member to any general appropriation bill (or resolution making continuing appropriations to the end of a fiscal year) to reduce new budget authority (and resulting outlays) is agreed to. Requires the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, whenever such legislation is engrossed in the House, to: (1) reduce the suballocation of new budget authority and outlays to the appropriate subcommittee by the net amount of such reductions; and (2) promptly report those revisions to [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Bill Text
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require annual reviews by Inspectors General of the operations, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal programs. 7/29/2008--Introduced. Federal Agency Performance Review and Efficiency Act - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to make it the principal duty and responsibility of each Inspector General to review annually the operations, efficiency, and effectiveness of all federal programs within his or her establishment and to report to Congress and the President any recommendations, along with proposed legislation, on whether an abolishment, reorganization, consolidation, or transfer of existing federal programs and agencies is necessary to: (1) reduce federal expenditures; (2) increase efficiency of government operations; (3) eliminate overlap and duplication in federal programs and offices; (4) abolish agencies or programs that no longer serve an important governmental purpose; and (5) identify reductions in amounts of [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Bill Text
To require the submission by the President of recommendations and proposed legislation to modernize, consolidate, reprioritize, and where necessary, terminate Federal programs, agencies, and activities.

7/29/2008--Introduced.

Federal Efficiency and Performance Act of 2008 - Requires the President to recommend to Congress, with proposed legislation, which existing federal programs and agencies should be modernized, consolidated, reprioritized, and where necessary, terminated in order to: (1) reduce federal expenditures; (2) increase efficiency and effectiveness of government operations; (3) eliminate overlap and duplication in federal programs and offices; (4) abolish agencies, programs, and activities that no longer serve an important governmental purpose; and (5) identify reductions in amounts of discretionary budget authority or direct spending that can be dedicated to federal deficit reduction.

Latest Action: 07/21/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Kohl. With written report No. 110-426.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 7/21/2008--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.) Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 - Title I: Agricultural Programs - Appropriates FY2009 funds for the following Department of Agriculture (Department) programs and services: (1) Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary); (2) Office of the Chief Economist; (3) National Appeals Division; (4) Office of Budget and Program Analysis; (5) Office of Homeland Security; (6) Office of the Chief Information Officer; (7) Office of the Chief Financial Officer;[...]

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Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the estate tax as in effect in 2009, and for other purposes.

7/17/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) restore the unified credit against the estate and gift tax after 2009; (2) establish the amount of such credit at $3.5 million adjusted for inflation in calendar years after 2010; and (3) reduce the maximum estate and gift tax rate to 45%.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that any reduction in federal revenues resulting from this Act should be fully offset.

Latest Action: 07/21/2008 - Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for a Federal employees program to authorize the use of leave by caregivers for family members of certain individuals performing military service, and for other purposes. 6/19/2008--Introduced. Military Family Support Act of 2008 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a program to authorize a caregiver (a federal employee at least 18 years of age capable of providing care to a child or other dependent family member of a member of the Armed Forces) to use: (1) any available sick leave for the provision of such care in the same manner as annual leave is used; and (2) any federal leave available to that caregiver as though that period of caregiving is a medical emergency. Requires the program to: (1) provide a process for reasonable notice of the need for leave; and (2) protect employees from discrimination or retaliation for the use of leave under this Act and provide the opportunity to appeal a denial of its use. Requires the [...]

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Latest Action: 07/16/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To provide for a Federal employees program to authorize the use of leave by caregivers for family members of certain individuals performing military service, and for other purposes. 6/19/2008--Introduced. Military Family Support Act of 2008 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a program to authorize a caregiver (a federal employee at least 18 years of age capable of providing care to a child or other dependent family member of a member of the Armed Forces) to use: (1) any available sick leave for the provision of such care in the same manner as annual leave is used; and (2) any federal leave available to that caregiver as though that period of caregiving is a medical emergency. Requires the program to: (1) provide a process for reasonable notice of the need for leave; and (2) protect employees from discrimination or retaliation for the use of leave under this Act and provide the opportunity to appeal a denial of its use. Requires the service [...]

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Latest Action: 06/05/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exempt negative pressure wound therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories from the Medicare competitive acquisition program until the clinical comparability of such products can be validated.

6/5/2008--Introduced.

Medicare Wound Therapy Patient Protection Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exempt from the Medicare competitive acquisition program negative pressure wound therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories, until the Secretary of Health and Human Services can validate, using a panel of wound care clinical experts, the clinical comparability of all such products.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that this Act should be deficit neutral over the five-year period beginning on October 1, 2008, through appropriate offsets.

Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Bill Text
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a "Charter Forest" demonstration project on all National Forest System lands in the State of Colorado in order to combat insect infestation, improve forest health, reduce the threat of wildfire, protect biological diversity, and enhance the social sustainability and economic productivity of the lands. 6/4/2008--Introduced. Colorado Charter Forest Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a demonstration project for National Forest System lands in Colorado ("covered lands") for the purposes of increasing community involvement in decision making regarding management and evaluating methods to improve the health and management of the lands.Requires establishment of: (1) an independent scientific panel to assess the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of the covered lands and prepare a monitoring plan; and (2) a community management council to advise on environmental, economic, and [...]

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