Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.

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To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and for other purposes. 4/2/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Policy Planning and Coordination - (Sec. 101) Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 (Act) to revise provisions concerning the comprehensive, five-year, global strategy to combat global HIV/AIDS. Directs the Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally (Coordinator) to develop a five-year strategic plan for program monitoring, operations research, and impact evaluation research of U.S. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs, including mother-to-child HIV transmission. [...]

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Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate amendments.

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An act to impose sanctions on officials of the State Peace and Development Council in Burma, to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to prohibit the importation of gemstones and hardwoods from Burma, to promote a coordinated international effort to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma, and for other purposes. 12/19/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Burma Democracy Promotion Act of 2007 - (Sec. 4) States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) condemn the repression carried out by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); (2) support a peaceful transition to constitutional democracy in Burma; and (3) hold accountable individuals responsible for the repression of peaceful political activity in Burma. (Sec. 5) Directs the President to submit to Congress a list of: (1) SPDC officials who play or have played a substantial role in political repression in Burma or in the commission of human rights abuses; and [...]

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Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 110-419.

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A bill to authorize the establishment of a Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in the countries of the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes. 10/1/2007--Introduced. Social Investment and Economic Development for the Americas Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to provide assistance to reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and foster increased economic opportunity in Western Hemisphere countries. Establishes within USAID the Western Hemisphere Economic Investment and Development Advisory Committee which shall: (1) serve as a link among the U.S. government, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and other interested parties; and (2) review projects funded under this Act. Amends the Inter-American [...]

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Latest Action: 07/07/2008 - Committee on Finance. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Baucus. With written report No. 110-408. Additional views filed.

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An original bill to impose sanctions on Iran and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.

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A bill to provide for greater responsibility in lending and expanded cancellation of debts owed to the United States and the international financial institutions by low-income countries, and for other purposes. 10/16/2007--Introduced. Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and other international financial institutions, to: (1) provide for debt cancellation of eligible low-income countries (as defined by this Act) to such institutions and to the United States; (2) provide for establishment of frameworks for creditor transparency and responsible lending; and (3) provide that such debt cancellation is not conditioned on harmful economic or environmental conditions.Directs the Government [...]

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Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Committee Hearings Held.

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To establish a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, and for other purposes. 9/25/2007--Introduced. Securing America's Future Economy Commission Act, or SAFE Commission Act - Establishes the Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission to develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues. Requires the Commission to: (1) develop one or two methods for estimating the cost of legislation as an alternative to the current Congressional Budget Office (CBO) method; and (2) hold at least one town-hall [...]

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Latest Action: 06/07/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7389-7390)

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A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq.

6/7/2007--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should: (1) support a political settlement among Iraq's major factions based upon the provisions of the Constitution of Iraq that create a federal system of government and allow for the creation of federal regions; and (2) urge the government of Iraq to implement a law providing for the equitable distribution of oil revenues, which is a critical component of a comprehensive political settlement based upon federalism.

Latest Action: 08/03/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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To require the identification of companies that conduct business operations in Sudan, to prohibit United States Government contracts with such companies, and for other purposes. 7/31/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure the publication every six months in the Federal Register of a list of all persons (as defined by this Act) who have a direct investment in or are conducting business operations in Sudan's power production, mineral extraction, oil-related, or military equipment industries. Sets forth excluded business operations, including operations with: (1) the regional government of southern Sudan; (2) maginalized populations of Sudan; and (3) peacekeeping or humanitarian organizations. (Sec. 4) States that it is U.S. policy to support state and local efforts to divest funds from, or restrict investments in, companies [...]

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Latest Action: 07/24/2007 - Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

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Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should address the ongoing problem of untouchability in India. 7/23/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Expresses the sense of Congress that, as the leaders of the United States and the Republic of India have expressed commitment to the values of human freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, it is in U.S. interests to address the treatment of the Dalits and Tribals in India by: (1) raising the issue of caste discrimination and untouchability; (2) encouraging the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to ensure that the needs of Dalit organizations are incorporated in project development; (3) ensuring that projects that positively impact Dalit and Tribal communities, especially Dalit women, are developed; (4) ensuring that cooperative research programs targeting rural health care, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and rural technology contain proper focus on the [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/07/2008 - Committee on Finance. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Baucus. With written report No. 110-408. Additional views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to impose sanctions on Iran and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 04/28/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3448-3449)

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China and all enterprises owned or controlled by the People's Republic of China should make proper disclosures with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the selective default status of certain bonds.

4/28/2008--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China and its government-owned and controlled enterprises should be required to properly disclose material information concerning the selective default status of specified bonds in all prospectuses and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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A bill to strengthen sanctions against the Government of Syria, to enhance multilateral commitment to address the Government of Syria's threatening policies, to establish a program to support a transition to a democratically-elected government in Syria, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Introduced. Syria Accountability and Liberation Act - States that U.S. sanctions, controls, and regulations relating to Syria shall remain in effect until the President certifies that Syria has ceased support for terrorism, has dismantled biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons programs and has committed to combat their proliferation, respects the boundaries and sovereignty of all neighboring countries, and upholds human rights and civil liberties. Imposes specified trade, assistance, and military sanctions, as appropriate, on persons or countries that transfer goods or technology so as to contribute to Syria's biological, chemical, nuclear, or advanced conventional weapons programs.[...]

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Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign 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 committee

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To require funding under the Iraq Security Forces Fund to be provided in the form of loans and to require the Government of Iraq to provide matching funds under the Commanders' Emergency Response Program to be used for agreed-upon purposes which enable military commanders in Iraq to respond to urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction requirements. 4/24/2008--Introduced. Iraq Shared Investment Act - Requires that amounts made available under the Iraq Security Forces Fund shall be provided as loans subject to full repayment to the U.S. government. Amends the the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 to provide that: (1) for each of FY2008-FY2009, the Secretary of Defense shall withhold from obligation and expenditure not less than 20% of the amount made available for the Commanders' Emergency Response Program until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the government of Iraq has agreed to provide an amount equal to [...]

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Latest Action: 04/16/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2434-2440)

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that any funding provided by the United States to the Government of Iraq for reconstruction, training for Iraqi security forces, and fuel for United States operations in Iraq should be provided in the form of loans.

4/16/2008--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) U.S. funding to the government of Iraq for reconstruction, training for Iraqi security forces, and fuel for U.S. operations in Iraq should be provided as loans; and (2) the U.S. government should work with the government of Iraq to ensure that the government of Iraq obligates its own budget surplus for reconstruction projects before U.S. reconstruction aid is obligated.

Latest Action: 04/15/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that future Iraq reconstruction should be paid for by the Government of Iraq.

4/15/2008--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that funding for future Iraq reconstruction initiatives and training of Iraqi security forces should come from Iraqi revenues, and if the government of Iraq cannot properly allocate and spend its revenues, U.S. reconstruction and security training funding should be provided to Iraq as a loan.

Latest Action: 04/10/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E580)

Bill Text
To amend the Commodity Exchange Act to provide the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority over off-exchange retail foreign currency transactions, and for other purposes. 4/10/2008--Introduced. CFTC Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to revise Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jurisdiction over certain agreements, contracts, and transactions in retail foreign currency. Extends coverage to certain future commissions merchants (and affiliated persons) and retail foreign exchange dealers. Requires them to register with the CFTC in order to solicit or accept orders from any person that is not an eligible contract participant in connection with such agreements, contracts, or transactions. Directs the CFTC to maintain a liaison with the Department of Justice to coordinate civil and criminal investigations and prosecutions of violations of the Act. Revises the prohibition against contracts designed to defraud or mislead.[...]

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Latest Action: 04/08/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2756)

Bill Text
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that funding provided by the United States to the Government of Iraq in the future for reconstruction and training for security forces be provided as a loan to the Government of Iraq.

4/8/2008--Introduced.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that U.S. funding to the government of Iraq for reconstruction and training for security forces after the date on which the Senate agrees to this resolution be provided as a loan.

Latest Action: 03/12/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2006-2007)

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A bill to facilitate foreign investment by permanently reauthorizing the EB-5 regional center program, and for other purposes.

3/12/2008--Introduced.

State Foreign Investment Improvement Act - Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 to: (1) make the alien investor (EB-5) regional center program permanent; and (2) establish a $2,500 regional center designation fee.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) establish a $2,000 EB-5 premium processing fee; (2) permit concurrent filing for EB-5 petitions and status adjustment applications; and (3) establish in the Treasury the Immigrant Entrepreneur Regional Account Center.