Law and Government Legislation regarding 'Parents' in Federal Government

Constitutional Amendment - States that a person born in the United States shall not be a U.S. citizen unless: (1) one parent of the person is a U.S. citizen; (2) one parent of the person is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who resides in the United States; (3) one parent of the person is an alien performing active service in the U.S. Armed Forces; or (4) the person is naturalized in accordance with the laws of the United States.

Designates April 2008 as National Autism Awareness Month. Expresses support for increasing federal funding for autism research.

Stresses the need to begin early intervention services soon after an individual has been diagnosed with autism.

Expresses support for the federal government funding 40% of the costs needed to educate children with disabilities.

Recognizes the shortage of appropriately trained teachers and the importance of worker training programs that meet the needs of developmentally disabled individuals.

Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Educaton Act of 1965 to eliminate the expected family contribution used in determining Pell Grant eligibility in the case of a student applicant whose parent or guardian died as a result of performing service as a police officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes that bullying of school-aged children is a national concern and unhealthy for our families and communities.

Commends national and community organizations, schools, parents, recreation programs, and religious institutions for promoting greater public awareness about bullying and bullying prevention activities.

Supports the goals of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.

Safeguarding Families of Soldiers Act - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of: (1) a parent or spouse of an Armed Forces member deployed in Iraq in connection with Operation Freedom or in Afghanistan in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom; or (2) a son or daughter under the age of 21 years old of such Armed Forces member.

Authorizes waiver of specified grounds of inadmissibility for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when otherwise in the public interest.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. Recognizes the significant benefits offered by the organizations that provide services to the loved ones of murder victims.

Visitors Interested in Strengthening America (VISA) Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize a Department of Homeland Security official to waive certain entry documentary requirements for a nonimmigrant child (unmarried and under the age of 16) who is a citizen or national of Mexico and accompanying parent or adult chaperone in instances of: (1) medical visits; (2) student groups; or (3) special community events.

Sets forth additional requirements for such entries.

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. Recognizes the significant benefits offered by the organizations that provide services to the loved ones of murder victims.

Constitutional Amendment - States that a person born to a mother and father, neither of whom is a citizen of the United States nor a person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States, shall not be a citizen of the United States or of any state solely by reason of U.S. birth.

Gold Star Parents Annuity Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to pay a special pension to each person who has received a Gold Star lapel button as a parent of a member of the Armed Forces who died while serving.

Tax Relief for Working Caregivers Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from $15,000 to $75,000 the taxpayer adjusted gross income amount at which the tax credit for household and dependent care expenses is phased down; and (2) allow such credit for a physically or mentally incapacitated parent (or an ancestor of such parent) of the taxpayer who is a dependent of such taxpayer.

Family Care Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rate of the tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services; and (2) allow an inflation adjustment after 2007 to the adjusted gross income limitation applicable to such credit. Makes such increased tax credit permanent.

Child Health Care Affordability Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the medical expenses of a dependent. Limits the amount of such credit to $500 (adjusted for inflation) per dependent. Increases the amount of the credit to $3,000 (adjusted for inflation) for a dependent who has a terminal disease, cancer, a disability, or any other health condition requiring hospitalization or other forms of specialized care. (Coordinates the credit allowed by this Act with the income tax credit for household and dependent care expenses and the income tax deduction for medical expenses to prevent a double tax benefit.)

Families Learning and Understanding English Together Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to providers of family literacy services to improve the literacy and English skills of limited English proficient individuals who are parents or children in families where each parent is at least 16 years old and where at least one child is under age eight.

Directs the Secretary to reserve certain funds to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to such grantees; (2) make grants to, or enter contracts with, national organizations that have family literacy service expertise to provide grantees with technical assistance and training; and (3) evaluate and improve such grant program.

Requires grantees to meet specified outcome measures.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot program to provide grants to encourage eligible institutions of higher education to establish and operate pregnant and parenting student services offices for pregnant students, parenting students, prospective parenting students anticipating a birth or adoption, and students who are placing or have placed a child for adoption.

Authorizes grantees to to extend office services to pregnant or parenting employees and their spouses.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. Recognizes the significant benefits of the organizations that provide services to the loved ones of murder victims.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include in the definition of "immediate relative" the child of a parent of a U.S. citizen who is accompanying or following to join the immediate relative parent.

Provides that, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or inactive duty for training, and who dies without a surviving spouse but with one or more children under age 18 who will be in the custody of a parent, brother, or sister, the death gratuity for such member shall be payable to such parent, brother, or sister as designated by the member.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Foster Parents Day should be established.

Provides that, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or inactive duty for training, and who dies without a surviving spouse but with one or more children under age 18 who will be in the custody of a parent, brother, or sister, the death gratuity for such member shall be payable to such parent, brother, or sister as designated by the member.

Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit, including any lump-sum death payment, payable under OASDI on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual. Deems such an individual to have been paid a wage (according to a specified formula) during each month during which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation for up to five years of such service. Makes this Act inapplicable in the case of any monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger benefit or payment would be payable without its application.

HRIFA Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 to: (1) provide that determinations with respect to children shall be made using the age and status of an individual on October 21, 1998 (enactment date of the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998); (2) permit an application based upon child status to be filed by a parent or guardian if the child is present in the United States on such filing date; and (3) include document fraud among the grounds of inadmissibility which shall not preclude an otherwise qualifying Haitian alien from permanent resident status adjustment.

Permits new status adjustment applications to be filed for a limited time period.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for reopening status adjustment applications that are affected by amendments made by this Act.

Sex Offender Visa Loophole Elimination Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit a convicted U.S.-citizen sex offender from filing a family-based immigration petition.

Defines "sex offense" and "specified offense against a minor."

Prohibits approval of a fiance/fiancee or waiting nonimmigrant spouse visa petition filed by a convicted sex offender.