Top Legislation - View All
Latest Action: 09/25/2007 - Mr. Holt moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. Bill TextCalling on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial Championship to accommodate students of all religious faiths. 9/25/2007--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.) Calls on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial Championship to: (1) accommodate the religious beliefs of students participating in the competition; and (2) restructure the competition's rules to allow qualifying students of all faiths to compete fully without betraying their religious beliefs.
Also tagged in: Agriculture, Congressional reporting requirements, Continuing education, District courts, Education, Governmental investigations, Higher education, Intellectual property, Judges, Judicial officers, Law, Patents, Plant breeding, Pretrial procedure, Seeds
Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges. 2/12/2007--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.) Establishes a pilot program in certain U.S. district courts under which: (1) those district judges who request to hear cases involving patent or plant variety protection issues are designated by the chief judge to hear them; (2) such cases are randomly assigned to the district court judges, regardless of whether they are designated; (3) a judge not designated to whom such a case is assigned may decline to accept the case; and (4) a case so declined is randomly reassigned to one of those judges so designated.
Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Ms. Jackson-Lee moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. Bill TextRecognizing the Honorable Andrew L. Jefferson, Jr., on the occasion of the establishment of an endowment for trial advocacy called the "Andrew L. Jefferson Endowment for Trial Advocacy" at Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas. 6/17/2008--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.) Commends the Honorable Andrew L. Jefferson, Jr. for his achievements on the occasion of the establishment of an endowment for trial advocacy in his name at Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas. Congratulates him on his selection as First Endowed Chair of the trial advocacy program.
Also tagged in: Civil liberties, Clergy, Commemorations, Congress, Congressional tributes, Education, Ex-Members of Congress, Foreign policy, Higher education, House of Representatives, Human rights, International affairs, Law, Massachusetts, Religion
Latest Action: 02/01/2007 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1540-1541 text as passed Senate: CR S1541 text of measure as introduced: CR S1538) Bill TextA resolution honoring the life, achievements, and distinguished career of the Reverend Robert F. Drinan, S.J. 2/1/2007--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.) Declares that the Senate: (1) honors the life, achievements, and distinguished career of the Reverend Robert F. Drinan, S.J.; (2) offers its appreciation for Father Drinan's devoted work on behalf of the thousands of Massachusetts residents he represented in the House of Representatives and the millions of people worldwide who benefitted from his human rights initiatives; and (3) expresses its condolences to Father Drinan's family and friends.
Also tagged in: Budgets, Continuing education, Court records, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Education, Evidence (Law), Families, Family courts, Family violence, Federal aid to law enforcement, Firearms, Firearms control, Government information, Higher education, Judges, Judicial officers, Labor, Law, Local employees, Local laws, Police questioning, Recruiting of employees, Searches and seizures, Stalking, State and local government, State employees, State laws
Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo amend Federal crime grant programs relating to domestic violence to encourage States and localities to implement gun confiscation policies, reform stalking laws, create integrated domestic violence courts, and hire additional personnel for entering protection orders, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) include among the eligibility criteria for certain federal grants state laws authorizing gun confiscation by law enforcement officers in certain domestic violence cases; and (2) authorize grants for state hire of additional personnel for entering information relating to protection orders.Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to: (1) authorize grants for training programs to establish integrated domestic violence courts; (2) include among the eligibility criteria of the National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction grant program state [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Americans in foreign countries, Business, Congress, Congressional investigations, Congressional reporting requirements, Corruption in politics, Criminal justice, DNA, Drug abuse, Drug law enforcement, Drug traffic, Economic development, Economic policy, Education, Finance, Foreign aid, Foreign policy, Forensic medicine, Government ethics, Higher education, Judges, Latin America, Law, Law enforcement officers, Loans, Medical care, Medicine, Mexico, Missing persons, Performance measurement, Police training, Politics and government, Poverty, Public corruption, Public prosecutors, Small business, Smuggling, Technology, Technology transfer, Trade, Violence, Welfare
Latest Action: 01/17/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Bill TextTo amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico. 1/17/2007--Introduced. Prosperous and Secure Neighbor Alliance Act of 2007 - States that it is U.S. policy to increase U.S. foreign assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico, both of which are crucial to combat illicit drugs and drug-related violence and other criminal activities in Mexico and the United States. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President to provide assistance to improve security and promote economic development in Mexico by: (1) professionalizing Mexican law enforcement personnel; (2) providing technology to assist Mexican law enforcement personnel; (3) strengthening the Mexican judicial branch; (4) supporting anti-corruption programs in Mexico; and (5) reducing poverty through targeted funding to enhance social development in Mexico.
Latest Action: 04/10/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with amendments. With written report No. 110-51. Additional views filed. Bill TextA bill to provide for loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders. 4/10/2007--Reported to Senate amended. (There is 1 other summary) John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add a program for student loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders. Defines "prosecutor" and "public defenders" to include individuals engaged in the supervision, education, or training of other prosecutors and public defenders. Includes within the definition of "public defender" full-time employees of nonprofit organizations who devote substantially all their time providing indigent criminal defense services and federal public defenders. Requires prosecutors and public defenders to prosecute or provide representation for juvenile delinquency cases.Directs the Attorney General to establish a program to assume the obligation to repay [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Academic performance, Administrative procedure, Armed forces, Business, Business education, Career education, Communications, Conferences, Congressional reporting requirements, Defense policy, Education, Educational accountability, Educational research, Educational tests, Elementary and secondary education, Engineering, Executive departments, Executive Office of the President, Executive reorganization, Federal employees, Federal-state relations, Government employees, Government information, Government publications, Government publicity, Higher education, International competitiveness, International education, Internet, Job training, Journalism, Language and languages, Law, Legislation, Medical care, Medical education, Medicine, National security, Politics and government, Presidential appointments, Presidents, Public-private partnerships, Recruiting of employees, Science policy, Scientific education, Standards, State and local government, State politics and government, Surveys, Teacher education, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade, Translating and interpreting, Web sites
Latest Action: 01/31/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1425-1426) Bill TextA bill to establish a National Foreign Language Coordination Council. 1/31/2007--Introduced. National Foreign Language Coordination Act of 2007 - Establishes, in the Executive Office of the President, a National Foreign Language Coordination Council to: (1) oversee and implement the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI); and (2) develop and implement a national foreign language strategy. Includes heads of certain federal agencies as members of the Council. Establishes a National Language Director, to be appointed by the President, to: (1) chair the Council; (2) develop and monitor implementation of the strategy, built upon the efforts of the NSLI; (3) establish formal relationships among major stakeholders, including federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and (4) coordinate and lead a public information campaign. Requires the Council to consult with states to provide for designation of state [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Administrative procedure, Budgets, Children, Communications, Conferences, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Conspiracy, Crime prevention, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Criminal statistics, Criminology, Data banks, Department of Justice, Drug abuse, Drug law enforcement, Drug traffic, Education, Electronic surveillance, Elementary and secondary education, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Extradition, Families, Federal aid to law enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Firearms, Gangs, Government information, Government publicity, Higher education, Homicide, Illegal aliens, Immigration, Indian law enforcement, Juvenile delinquency, Kidnapping, Law, Limitation of actions, Minorities, Missing children, Murder, Organized crime, Prosecution, Public prosecutors, Public service advertising, Sentences (Criminal procedure), Sentencing guidelines, Social services, Student records, Technology, Terrorism, U.S. Sentencing Commission, Violence, Witnesses, Youth services, Youth violence
Latest Action: 10/17/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. Bill TextA bill to increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, and for other purposes. 9/21/2007--Passed Senate amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007 - Title I: New Federal Criminal Laws Needed To Fight Violent National, International, Regional, And Local Gangs That Affect Interstate And Foreign Commerce - (Sec. 101) Amends the federal criminal code to expand prohibitions against criminal street gangs. Defines "criminal street gang" as a formal or informal group, organization, or association of five or more individuals: (1) each of whom has committed at least one gang crime; and (2) who collectively commit three or more [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Arrest, Authorization, Budgets, Children, Continuing education, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Data banks, Department of Justice, Education, Employee training, Equipment and supplies, Executive departments, Federal aid to law enforcement, Federal law enforcement officers, Federal-local relations, Federal-state relations, Gangs, Government information, Higher education, Job training, Juvenile delinquency, Labor, Law enforcement officers, Police training, Prosecution, Public prosecutors, Recruiting of employees, State and local government, Technology, Transfer of employees, Violence
Latest Action: 03/01/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to improve efforts to reduce gang activity and violent crime. 1/23/2007--Introduced. Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2007 - Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to designate certain areas in states with a high level of gang crime activity as high-intensity interstate gang activity areas and provide assistance to such areas; (2) provide for community-based justice grants to state and local prosecutors to hire additional prosecutors to process more violent crime cases and to fund technology, equipment, and training for prosecutors and law enforcement officials; and (3) require the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs to award grants to establish state-wide databases to track criminals, arrests, prosecutions, and convictions.
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Latest Legislation - View All
Also tagged in: Budgets, Children, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Drug abuse treatment, Drug courts, Drug testing, Families, Family courts, Federal aid to law enforcement, Juvenile delinquency, Law, Medical care, Medicine, Mental health services, Parole, Probation, Veterans, Veterans' medical care, Veterans' rehabilitation
Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. 9/26/2008--Introduced. Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Budgets, Children, Criminal justice, Drug abuse, Drug abuse treatment, Drug courts, Drug testing, Families, Family courts, Federal aid to law enforcement, Juvenile delinquency, Law, Medical care, Medicine, Mental health services, Parole, Probation, Veterans, Veterans' medical care, Veterans' rehabilitation
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextA bill to provide grants to establish veteran's treatment courts. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act.Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare [...] show full description
Latest Action: 09/12/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. Bill TextTo establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program. 9/11/2008--Passed House without amendment. (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2008 - Establishes the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program for the appointment of individuals who are graduates of accredited law schools to serve as Congressional Clerks in the Senate or House of Representatives. Requires the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration to each select at least six individuals for a one-year term to serve as employees in their respective chambers. Specifies eligibility criteria for a Congressional Clerk, including that the selected candidate be a graduate of such a law school as of the starting date of his or her clerkship.[...] show full description
Also tagged in: Budgets, Congress, Congressional investigations, Criminal justice, Executive departments, Families, Family violence, Federal advisory bodies, Grants-in-aid, Internet, Law, Lawyers, Legal services, Nonprofit organizations, Professional associations, Social services, Stalking, Technology, Telecommunication, Victims of crimes
Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Bill TextTo establish a domestic violence volunteer attorney network to represent domestic violence victims. 5/20/2008--Introduced. National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence to work in collaboration with the American Bar Association Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and other organizations to create, recruit lawyers for, and provide training, mentoring, and technical assistance for a National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network.Requires the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice to designate five states in which to implement the pilot program of a National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Referral Project and distribute funds under this Act.Requires the Attorney General to award grants to national domestic violence legal technical assistance providers to expand their services to provide training and [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Continuing education, Criminal justice, Education, Educational facilities, Higher education, Law, Practice of law, Professional associations, Public prosecutors, South Carolina, Trials
Latest Action: 10/15/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-424. Bill TextTo authorize funding to conduct a national training program for State and local prosecutors. 10/15/2008--Public Law. (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 31, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) award a grant to a nonprofit organization (such as the National District Attorneys Association) for a national training program to improve the professional skills of state and local prosecutors and to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local prosecutors to work together; and (2) provide assistance for carrying out such training program, including comprehensive continuing legal education in trial practice, substantive legal updates, and support staff training. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.
Also tagged in: Continuing education, Criminal justice, Education, Educational facilities, Higher education, Law, Practice of law, Professional associations, Public prosecutors, South Carolina, Trials
Latest Action: 06/04/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report. Bill TextA bill to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center. 6/4/2008--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.) Authorizes the National District Attorneys Association to use the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, for a national training program to improve the professional skills of state and local prosecutors and to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local prosecutors to work together. Authorizes the National Advocacy Center to provide comprehensive legal education in trial practice, substantive legal updates, and support staff training. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.
Also tagged in: Administrative remedies, Claims, Congress, Congressional reporting requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs, Disabled, Electronic government information, Employee training, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Federal employees, Government employees, Government information, Government paperwork, Health information systems, Higher education, Job training, Law, Lawyers, Medical care, Medical records, Medicine, Performance measurement, Technology, Telecommunication, Veterans, Veterans' benefits, Veterans' disability compensation
Latest Action: 03/14/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Bill TextTo amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the claims processing of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 3/11/2008--Introduced. Veteran Claims Backlog Reduction Act of 2008 - Requires that, in order to be recognized as an agent or attorney of a veteran in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of veterans' benefit claims, an individual must certify to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that he or she will assist the Secretary with the Secretary's duties to notify claimants of required claim information and evidence and to assist claimants in obtaining evidence. Directs the Secretary to establish a training program to provide training to individuals recognized as veterans' agents, attorneys, or representatives. Requires a claim certified as fully developed and submitted by a veteran and a recognized agent, attorney, or representative who is a training graduate to be considered as fully developed and evaluated [...] show full description
Also tagged in: Americans in foreign countries, Computer crimes, Consumers, Copyright, Criminal justice, Damages, Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, Executive departments, Executive Office of the President, Executive reorganization, Export controls, Federal aid to law enforcement, Federal employees, Fines (Penalties), Foreign aid, Foreign policy, Forfeiture, Government employees, Higher education, Import restrictions, Injunctions, Intellectual property, International affairs, International cooperation, Internet, Labeling, Law, Packaging, Patent infringement, Patents, Product counterfeiting, Prosecution, Recruiting of employees, Searches and seizures, Technical assistance, Technology, Telecommunication, Trade, Trademarks
Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--Passed House amended. (There are 2 other summaries) Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 - Title I: Enhancements to Civil Intellectual Property Laws - (Sec. 101) Amends federal copyright law to: (1) provide a safe harbor for copyright registrations that contain inaccurate information, unless there was knowledge of the inaccurate information and the inaccuracy of the information, if known, would have caused the Register of Copyrights to refuse registration; (2) provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions; and (3) require courts to issue protective orders to prevent disclosure of seized records relating to copyright infringement. (Sec. 104) Broadens the trademark infringement situations in which treble damages are allowed to include: (1) intentionally [...] show full description
Latest Action: 02/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. Bill TextTo establish the William H. Rehnquist Center on the Constitutional Structures of Government at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers School of Law. 11/15/2007--Introduced. William H. Rehnquist Law Center Establishment Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide a grant to the University of Arizona James E. Rogers School of Law to establish the William H. Rehnquist Center on the Constitutional Structures of Government. Requires the Law School to provide specified nonfederal contributions toward the establishment of the Law Center.
Also tagged in: Actions and defenses, Administrative remedies, Admission of nonimmigrants, Alien labor, Aliens, Armed forces, Arms control, Awards, medals, prizes, Budgets, Burma, Business, Child abuse, Child labor, Child sexual abuse, Child welfare, Children, Civil liberties, Civil rights, Commemorations, Communications, Competitive bidding, Conferences, Congress, Congress and foreign policy, Congress and military policy, Congressional oversight, Congressional reporting requirements, Counterterrorism, Crime prevention, Criminal investigation, Criminal justice, Criminal justice information, Criminal statistics, Custody of children, Data banks, Defense policy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of State, Deportation, East Asia, Economic assistance, Education, Electronic government information, Employee rights, Employee training, Ethics, Evidence (Law), Executive departments, Executive reorganization, Extortion, Families, Federal officials, Federal-local relations, Federal-state relations, Fines (Penalties), Forced labor, Foreign aid, Foreign policy, Foreign service, Foreign students, Forfeiture, Fraud, Government contractors, Government employees, Government information, Government liability (International law), Government paperwork, Government procurement, Government publications, Government publicity, Governmental investigations, Grants-in-aid, Grievance procedures, Higher education, Household workers, Housing, Human rights, Immigrants, Immigration, Import restrictions, Informers, Injunctions, International affairs, International agencies, International cooperation, International employees, Job training, Judges, Judicial officers, Jurisdiction, Labor, Language and languages, Law, Law enforcement, Legal services, Limitation of actions, Medical care, Medicine, Mental health services, Military assistance, Military personnel, Minesweeping, Negotiations, Nonprofit organizations, Parents, Performance measurement, Planning, Police training, President and foreign policy, Presidents, Prosecution, Prostitution, Public contracts, Public prosecutors, Rape, Recruiting and enlistment, Recruiting of employees, Repatriation, Residence requirements, Right of asylum, Right to travel, Sanctions (International law), Siblings, Slavery, Smuggling, Social services, State and local government, State laws, Technology, Telecommunication, Terrorism, Tourism, Trade, Translating and interpreting, Treaties, Victims of crimes, Visas, Weapons systems, Welfare, Welfare eligibility, Witnesses, Women
Latest Action: 12/05/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill TextTo authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons, and for other purposes. 12/4/2007--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Title I: Combatting International Trafficking in Persons - (Sec. 101) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) to include the Secretary of Education on the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary of State to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. (Current law authorizes such Office's establishment.) Revises responsibilities of the Director of the Office. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should locate the Office at the Department of State (Department) headquarters [...] show full description
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