Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 08/31/2008 - Cleared for White House.

Bill Text
To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. 2/7/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise and reauthorize HEA programs. Title I: Title I Amendments - (Sec. 101) Revises the general definition of an institution of higher education (IHE) to include schools that: (1) admit students whose secondary education was conducted in a home school setting; (2) award degrees (not necessarily bachelor's degrees) that are acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program; and (3) enroll students who will be dually or concurrently enrolled in a secondary school. Revises the definition of an IHE for purposes of title IV student assistance programs. Requires graduate medical schools located outside the country, that qualified as IHEs owing to their having a state-approved [...]

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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: 09/04/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A bill to improve the disaster loan program of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. 8/3/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007 - (Sec. 3) Extends through October 31, 2007, under the same terms and conditions, the authorization for any program, authority, or provision, including any pilot program, that is currently authorized through February 2, 2007, under the Small Business Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Title I: Disaster Planning and Response - (Sec. 101) Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make loans to nonprofit organizations: (1) located or operating in an area affected by a natural or other disaster; or (2) providing services to persons who have evacuated from any such area. (Sec. 102) Increases from $1.5 million to $2 million [...]

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Latest Action: 03/30/2007 - Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery.

Bill Text
A bill to permit the cancellation of certain loans under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Community Disaster Loan Act of 2005 to permit the cancellation of certain loans under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. (Makes this Act effective as if enacted as part of the Community Disaster Loan Act of 2005.)

Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

Bill Text
To amend the Small Business Act to ensure that when a small business participating in the 8(a) business development program is affected by a catastrophic incident, the period in which it can participate is extended by 18 months.

1/18/2007--Introduced.

Disadvantaged Business Disaster Eligibility Act - Amends the Small Business Act to provide that if a small business is affected by a catastrophic incident while participating in any section 8(a) business development program, the eligibility period for its participation in such program shall be extended by 18 months.

Deems the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita as catastrophic incidents for purposes of this Act.

Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

Bill Text
To amend the Small Business Act to improve the availability of disaster loans to individuals and businesses affected by catastrophic incidents.

1/18/2007--Introduced.

Small Business Disaster Loan Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in determining whether a person is eligible for a loan under the SBA's disaster loan program with respect to a catastrophic incident, or in determining the amount of such loan, to consider the extent to which: (1) the loss or injury of the person is compensated for by insurance or otherwise; or (2) the person paid insurance proceeds to a recorded lienholder.

Deems the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita as catastrophic incidents for purposes of this Act.

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1792-1793)

Bill Text
A bill to address ongoing small business and homeowner needs in the Gulf Coast States impacted by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. 2/8/2007--Introduced. Gulf Coast Back to Business Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations for the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce for grants to appropriate state government agencies in Louisiana and Mississippi for small businesses located in disaster areas caused by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to defer for a conditional period the payment of principal and interest on disaster loans made to small businesses affected by such hurricanes in the case of loans made before December 31, 2006. Prohibits an increased collateral requirement with respect to the deferred loans. Includes as a HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) any area in which the President has declared a major disaster [...]

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Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1795-1796)

Bill Text
A bill to address ongoing economic injury in Gulf Coast States impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by reviving tourist travel to the region. 2/8/2007--Introduced. Helping Our States Through Tourism Act of 2007 or HOST Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to assist relevant tourism entities (conventions, visitors bureaus, and other tourism organizations) to promote travel and tourism in Louisiana and Mississippi to negate the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on travel and tourism there. Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make economic injury disaster loans to small businesses located within disaster areas declared as a result of such hurricanes that suffered economic injury from the slowdown in travel and tourism in such areas after such hurricanes. Establishes in the Treasury the Federal Gulf Coast Travel and Meetings Fund to pay for lodging, meals, travel, and other expenses [...]

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Latest Action: 02/14/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1976)

Bill Text
A bill to require reporting regarding the disaster loan program of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

2/14/2007--Introduced.

Small Business Disaster Loan Reporting Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) amend the 2006 hurricane season disaster response plan to apply to major disasters; (2) report monthly to the congressional small business committees on the operation of the SBA disaster loan program; (3) provide daily updates during presidentially declared disaster periods; (4) provide reports regarding federal contracts awarded as a result of a major disaster; and (5) report on how the SBA can improve the processing of applications under the disaster loan program.

Latest Action: 02/14/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1976-1977)

Bill Text
A bill to improve the disaster loan program of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

2/14/2007--Introduced.

Private Disaster Loans Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee timely payment of principal and interest on any loan issued by a qualified private lender to an eligible small business located in a disaster area. Authorizes the Administrator to establish an online application process for such loans.

Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee up to 85 percent of such a loan. Sets the maximum amount of such a loan at $2 million.

Latest Legislation - View All

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: 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 [...]

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Latest Action: 08/31/2008 - Cleared for White House.

Bill Text
To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. 2/7/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise and reauthorize HEA programs. Title I: Title I Amendments - (Sec. 101) Revises the general definition of an institution of higher education (IHE) to include schools that: (1) admit students whose secondary education was conducted in a home school setting; (2) award degrees (not necessarily bachelor's degrees) that are acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program; and (3) enroll students who will be dually or concurrently enrolled in a secondary school. Revises the definition of an IHE for purposes of title IV student assistance programs. Requires graduate medical schools located outside the country, that qualified as IHEs owing to their having a state-approved [...]

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Latest Action: 01/22/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Bill Text
To reauthorize certain programs under the Small Business Act for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009. 11/6/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Small Business Programs Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to reauthorize for FY2008-FY2009 certain small business assistance programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA) authorized under the Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, including: (1) a disaster mitigation pilot program; (2) general and start-up small business loans; (3) certified development company (CDC) financing; (4) disaster loans; (5) the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE); and (6) grants to microloan program intermediaries and technical assistance providers. Reauthorizes for such fiscal years: (1) the businessLINC grants program; (2) the small business development center (SBDC) program; (3) the women's business center program; (4) the HUBZone (heavily underutilized business [...]

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Latest Action: 08/04/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

Bill Text
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that certain tenants are able to return to affordable housing after a major disaster. 8/3/2007--Introduced. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide assistance to a person who owns or operates a rental dwelling unit damaged or destroyed by a major disaster for that unit's repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement if: (1) before the disaster the unit was made available for occupancy only by low- or moderate-income tenants; (2) the person will continue, for a specified minimum period, to make available rental dwelling units for occupancy only by such tenants; and (3) the person has applied for a disaster loan under the Small Business Act and either has been determined to be ineligible for such a loan or has obtained such a loan in the maximum amount for which the Small Business Administration (SBA) determines [...]

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Latest Action: 06/18/2007 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Byrd. With written report No. 110-84.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 6/18/2007--Reported to Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008 - Title I: Department of Homeland Security Departmental Management and Operations - Makes appropriations for FY2008 for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Offices of the Secretary of Homeland Security, 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: (1) Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology, air and marine interdiction, maintenance, procurement, and construction; (2) [...]

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