Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - Presented to President.

Bill Text
To reauthorize the programs for housing assistance for Native Americans. 9/6/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007 - (Sec.2) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012 for making of block grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) on behalf of Indian tribes for carrying out affordable housing activities. Considers, for purposes of the procurement and supply of personal property and nonpersonal services for executive agencies, a tribe or tribally designated housing entity to be an executive agency when carrying out housing programs, services, functions, and activities under such tribe or entity and its employees to be eligible to have access to such supply sources as executive agency employees. Requires, with respect to any grant made under NAHASDA that is intended to benefit one [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S134-135)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide additional beneficiary protections. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the prohibition against interference by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors. Grants the Secretary authority to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs in order to ensure that beneficiaries enrolled under prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PD plans) pay the lowest possible price. Allows the Medicare part D eligible individual an alternative to the current choice of coverage in at least two qualifying plans in the area in which the individual resides. Allows such an individual to choose enrollment in a nationwide prescription drug plan offered by the Secretary [...]

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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 [...]

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Latest Action: 02/12/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1855-1857)

Bill Text
A bill to reduce the Federal budget deficit, and for other purposes. 2/12/2007--Introduced. Act for Our Kids - Repeals the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act. Amends the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to prohibit federal funding of television broadcasting to Cuba. Terminates the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Requires federal agencies to reduce administrative expenses. Eliminates the Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization (SLUSH) Fund. Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit profiteering and fraud involving a contract or the provision of goods or services in connection with a war or military action. Requires: (1) suspension and debarment of unethical contractors; (2) disclosure by federal agencies, upon request, to the appropriate committee chairman or ranking member of audit reports regarding federal contractors; and (3) public access to information on federal contractor penalties and [...]

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Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1903-1904)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes. 2/13/2007--Introduced. Vote Integrity and Verification Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) with respect to: (1) ballot verification and mandatory paper record audit capacity; and (2) accessibility and ballot verification of results for individuals with disabilities.Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of ballot verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy.Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software.Outlines additional voting system requirements and prohibitions.[...]

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Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1922)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve requirements under the Medicaid program for items and services furnished in or through an educational program or setting to children, including children with developmental, physical, or mental health needs, and for other purposes.

2/13/2007--Introduced.

Protecting Children's Health in Schools Act of 2007 - Amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish requirements for providing and receiving reimbursement for school-based health care for children, including children with special needs, and the related administrative and transportation costs covered under Medicaid. Includes health care provided through Medicaid managed care organizations.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education, acting jointly, to develop and implement a uniform methodology for claims under this Act.

Latest Action: 02/15/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to improve Federal contracting and procurement by eliminating fraud and abuse and improving competition in contracting and procurement and by enhancing administration of Federal contracting personnel, and for other purposes. 2/15/2007--Introduced. Honest Leadership and Accountability in Contracting Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose fines and penalties on war profiteering and fraud. Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to provide that no prospective contractor shall be considered to have a satisfactory record of integrity and ethics if it has a pattern of either overcharging the government or failing to comply with the law. Provides for the disclosure to Congress of audit reports issued by executive agencies. Requires the Federal Procurement Data System to be modified to include publication of information on specified federal contractor penalties and violations. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative [...]

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Latest Action: 11/08/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A bill to ensure proper oversight and accountability in Federal contracting, and for other purposes. 11/7/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Accountability in Government Contracting Act of 2007 - Title I: Acquisition Workforce - (Sec. 101) Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to: (1) designate a member of the Senior Executive Service as the Associate Administrator for Workforce Programs, in the Federal Acquisition Institute, to oversee government-wide acquisition workforce activities; and (2) establish a government-wide acquisition intern program. Sets forth requirements for program course work.Requires: (1) the Administrator to establish a government-wide Contingency Contracting Corps that shall be available for deployment in responding to disasters and contingency operations; (2) the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees,[...]

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Latest Action: 02/28/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2362)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to establish a governmentwide policy requiring competition in certain executive agency procurements, and for other purposes. 2/28/2007--Introduced. Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require an executive agency, when procuring Federal Prison Industries (FPI) products to: (1) use competitive procedures; or (2) make an individual purchase under a multiple award contract in accordance with applicable competition requirements. Requires an agency to: (1) timely notify FPI of procurements; and (2) consider a timely offer from FPI in the same manner as other offers. Requires agency heads to ensure that: (1) agencies do not purchase a FPI product or service unless an agency's contracting officer determines that the product or service is comparable to products or services available from the private sector that best meet the agencies' needs; and (2) FPI performs its contractual obligations to agencies [...]

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Latest Action: 03/06/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2721-2722)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to foster efficient markets and increase competition and transparency among packers that purchased livestock from producers.

3/6/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require that 25% of a covered packer's daily kill comes through spot market sales from nonaffiliated producers.

Sets forth a different percentage through 2011 for covered packers who reported in the 2006 annual report that more than 75% of their livestock were captive supply livestock

Defines "covered packer," "nonaffiliated producer," and "spot market sale."

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/07/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6365)

Bill Text
A resolution recognizing the need for rapid recapitalization of the KC-135 aerial refueling fleet through re-competition of the United States Air Force's KC-X solicitation.
Latest Action: 06/23/2008 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Byrd. With written report No. 110-396.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 6/23/2008--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.)Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009 - Title I: Department of Homeland Security Departmental Management and Operations - Makes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2009 for the Offices of the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Management, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, and the Inspector General.Title II: Security, Enforcement, and Investigations - Makes appropriations for FY2009 for: (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including [...]

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Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Vetoed by President.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 7/15/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on June 24, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Title I: Medicare - Subtitle A: Beneficiary Improvements - Part 1: Prevention, Mental Health, and Marketing - (Sec. 101) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to cover additional preventive services. Includes body mass index and end-of-life planning among initial [...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5699)

Bill Text
A bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay and reform the Medicare competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. 6/17/2008--Introduced. Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014.Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards.Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors.Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay and reform the Medicare competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. 6/12/2008--Introduced. Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014. Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards. Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [...]

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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.