Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S149-150)

Bill Text
A bill to expand access to affordable health care and to strengthen the health care safety net and make health care services more available in rural and underserved areas. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Access to Affordable Health Care Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) tax credits to small businesses for qualified employee health insurance expenses; (2) tax credits for qualified health insurance; (3) deductions for long-term care premiums; and (4) tax credits for individuals with long-term care needs. Requires the Secretary of Labor to award grants to states to assist in planning, developing, and operating qualified small employer purchasing groups for health insurance. Directs the Small Business Administration to award grants to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to provide health insurance information to small employers. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to award demonstration grants for [...]

show full description
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; [...]

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 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: 02/14/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1970-1971)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to adjust for inflation the allowable amounts of financial resources of eligible households and to exclude from countable financial resources certain retirement and education accounts.

2/14/2007--Introduced.

Food Stamp Personal Savings and Investment Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide an annual financial resource inflation adjustment for purposes of household food stamp program eligibility.

Excludes from countable financial resources specified retirement and education accounts. (Authorizes the exclusion of other such programs.)

Latest Action: 01/24/2007 - Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide for the expedited consideration of certain proposed rescissions of budget authority. 1/24/2007--Introduced. Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the cancellation (line item veto) of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, item of direct spending, limited tariff benefit, or targeted tax benefit. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed cancellation. Dedicates any cancellation only to deficit reduction or increase of a surplus. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission; and (2) applicable limits, as appropriate, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Sets forth procedures for [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/16/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2171-2172)

Bill Text
A bill to establish kinship navigator programs, to establish guardianship assistance payments for children, and for other purposes. 2/16/2007--Introduced. Kinship Caregiver Support Act - Authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for kinship navigator programs to state agencies, metropolitan agencies, or tribal organizations with experience in addressing needs of kinship caregivers or children and connecting them with services and assistance.Amends part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize all states to opt to enter agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of children for whom they have cared as foster parents and have committed to care for on a permanent basis. Allows states to use part E funds to [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/06/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to permit participating households to use food stamp benefits to purchase nutritional supplements providing vitamins or minerals, and for other purposes.

3/6/2007--Introduced.

Food Stamp Vitamin and Mineral Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to permit food stamp program purchases of nutritional supplements providing a vitamin or mineral, or both.

Latest Action: 03/20/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3354-3355)

Bill Text
A bill to reauthorize Department of Agriculture conservation and energy programs and certain other programs of the Department, to modify the operation and administration of these programs, and for other purposes. 3/20/2007--Introduced. Healthy Farms, Foods, and Fuels Act of 2007 - Extends: (1) the conservation reserve program; (2) the wetlands reserve program; (3) the conservation security program; (4) the grassland reserve program; (5) the environmental quality incentives program; (6) the wildlife habitat incentive program; (7) the agricultural management assistance program; Establishes: (1) the cooperative conservation partnership initiative; (2) the community forestry and open space conservation program; (3) an integrated pest management initiative; (4) a conservation initiative for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; (5) a conservation planning pilot program; and (6) a cooperative conservation educational assistance program. Authorizes a conservation [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 06/05/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

Bill Text
To provide for programs that reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, help women bear healthy children, and support new parents. 2/15/2007--Introduced. Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to provide education on preventing teen pregnancies.Provides for: (1) grants to prevent teen pregnancy; and (2) a national center for parents of adolescents to support parents in preventing teen pregnancy.Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of Social Security Act to expand coverage of family planning services. Sets forth requirements for primary care clinics that receive federal financial assistance and provide abortion services.Expands state options to provide health care coverage to low-income pregnant women.Title X Family Planning Services Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations for voluntary family planning projects.Amends the Public [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/28/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to provide comprehensive reform of the health care system of the United States, and for other purposes. 3/28/2007--Introduced. Universal Health Care Choice and Access Act - Provides for health promotion and disease prevention activities, including requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene an interagency coordinating committee to develop a national strategic plan for prevention.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow participants in high deductible health care insurance plans an increased tax deduction for contributions to a health savings account; and (2) allow individual taxpayers a refundable tax credit for health insurance costs paid.Requires states to establish and operate a qualified high risk pool or a state-designated alternative that ensures access to private health insurance for medically uninsurable individuals.Health Care Choice Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply the laws of the primary [...]

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: 04/03/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2445-2446)

Bill Text
A bill to preserve access to Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program during an economic downturn, and for other purposes. 4/3/2008--Introduced. Economic Recovery in Health Care Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing, implementing, enforcing, or otherwise taking any action to give effect prior to April 1, 2009, to the following administrative actions: (1) the proposed and final rule (with certain exceptions) entitled "Medicaid Program; Health-Care Related Taxes," published, respectively, on March 23, 2007, and on February 22, 2008; (2) the proposed rule entitled "Medicaid Program; Graduate Medical Education," published on May 23, 2007; (3) the State Health Official Letter 07-001, dated August 17, 2007, issued by the Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding certain requirements under the State Children's Health Insurance [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Star Print ordered on on the bill.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for programs that reduce the need for abortion, help women bear healthy children, and support new parents. 12/4/2007--Introduced. Pregnant Women Support Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to increase public awareness of resources available to pregnant women to carry their pregnancy to term and new parents. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary to make grants for the purchase of ultrasound equipment for examinations of pregnant women. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a health insurance issuer offering individual coverage from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion or a waiting period or otherwise discriminating against a woman on the basis that she is pregnant. Provides for continuation coverage for newborns. Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to allow states to extend health care coverage [...]

show full description