Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/18/2007 - Mr. Grijalva moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

Bill Text
Recognizing the rich and resounding impact 50 years of Memphis-originating soul music has offered to American music history.

6/18/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Recognizes: (1) the 50th anniversary of the founding of Stax Records and its role in launching the careers of many legendary soul music artists; (2) the important role Memphis, Tennessee played in immortalizing soul music; and (3) the continuing contributions and influence of soul music to America's music history and cultural life.

Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with amendments. Without written report.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings. 3/13/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2008 - Authorizes the presiding judge of a U.S. appellate court or U.S. district court to permit the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising to the public of court proceedings over which that judge presides except when such action would constitute a violation of the due process rights of any party.Directs: (1) a district court, upon the request of any witness in a trial proceeding other than a party, to order the face and voice of the witness to be disguised or otherwise obscured to render the witness unrecognizable to the broadcast audience of the trial proceeding; and (2) the presiding judge in a trial proceeding to inform each witness who is not a party of the right to make such request. Prohibits the presiding judge from permitting the photographing,[...]

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Latest Action: 01/31/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1421-1422)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide standards and procedures to guide both State and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, interrogation of law enforcement officers, and administrative disciplinary hearings, to ensure accountability of law enforcement officers, to guarantee the due process rights of law enforcement officers, and to require States to enact law enforcement discipline, accountability, and due process laws. 1/31/2007--Introduced. State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to set forth the due process rights, including procedures, that shall be afforded a law enforcement officer (officer) who is the subject of an investigation or disciplinary hearing. Declares that an officer shall not be: (1) prohibited from engaging in political activity or be [...]

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Latest Action: 01/24/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
To amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide standards and procedures to guide both State and local law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers during internal investigations, interrogation of law enforcement officers, and administrative disciplinary hearings, to ensure accountability of law enforcement officers, to guarantee the due process rights of law enforcement officers, and to require States to enact law enforcement discipline, accountability, and due process laws. 1/24/2007--Introduced. State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to set forth the due process rights, including procedures, that shall be afforded a law enforcement officer (officer) who is the subject of an investigation or disciplinary hearing. Declares that an officer shall not be: (1) prohibited from engaging in political activity or be denied [...]

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Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Bill Text
To direct the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out a joint project at the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights movement, and for other purposes.

2/12/2007--Introduced.

Civil Rights History Project Act of 2007 - Requires the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (acting through the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture) to establish an oral history project to: (1) collect video and audio recordings of, and visual and written materials relevant to the personal histories of, participants in the Civil Rights movement; and (2) make the collection available for public use through the Library of Congress and the Museum.

Latest Action: 03/28/2007 - Star Print ordered on S. 948.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for the establishment of a program on children and the media within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to study the role and impact of electronic media in the development of children. 3/21/2007--Introduced. Children and Media Research Advancement Act or the CAMRA Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Science or another appropriate entity to: (1) review, synthesize, and report on research regarding the roles and impact of electronic media (including television, motion pictures, DVD's, interactive video games, digital music, the Internet, and cell phones) and exposures to such media on youth in core areas of development; and (2) establish research priorities regarding such issues.[...]

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Latest Action: 03/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To amend title 17, United States Code, to promote innovation, to encourage the introduction of new technology, to enhance library preservation efforts, and to protect the fair use rights of consumers, and for other purposes. 2/27/2007--Introduced. Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 - Requires U.S. courts to remit statutory damages for secondary infringement of copyright, with the exception of cases in which the copyright owner sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that the act or acts constituting secondary infringement were done under circumstances in which no reasonable person could have believed such conduct to be lawful. Prohibits any person from being liable for copyright infringement based on the design, manufacture, or distribution of a hardware device or of a component of such device if the device is capable of substantial, commercially significant noninfringing use. Makes the prohibition on the circumvention [...]

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Latest Action: 07/29/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to nullify the determinations of the Copyright Royalty Judges with respect to webcasting, to modify the basis for making such a determination, and for other purposes. 5/10/2007--Introduced. Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007 - Declares to be ineffective: (1) the March 2, 2007, Determination of Rates and Terms of the U.S. Copyright Royalty Judges regarding rates and terms for the digital performance of sound recordings and ephemeral recordings; (2) the April 17, 2007, modification of that determination by an order denying motions for rehearing; and (3) the April 23, 2007, Final Determination of Rates and Terms and any subsequent modification by the Copyright Royalty Judges published in the Federal Register. Replaces standards for determining reasonable rates and terms of royalty payments for public performances of sound recordings by means of eligible nonsubscription transmission services and new subscription services with a requirement that such rates and terms [...]

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Latest Action: 01/15/2008 - The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 12/6/2007--Conference report filed in House.    (There are 4 other summaries) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; and (2) National Guard and reserve equipment. Subtitle [...]

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Latest Action: 06/26/2007 - Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Feinstein. With written report No. 110-91.

Bill Text
An original bill making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 6/26/2007--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 the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies for FY2008. Title I: Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for FY2008 to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for: (1) land and resource management; (2) wildland fire management (including transfer of funds); (3) construction; (4) land acquisition; (5) Oregon and California grant lands; (5) range improvements; (6) service charges, [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4033)

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.

5/12/2008--Introduced.

Declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.

Latest Action: 06/05/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
To reauthorize the sound recording and film preservation programs of the Library of Congress, and for other purposes. 6/4/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 to authorize appropriations through FY2016 for: (1) Library of Congress activities for the maintenance and preservation of sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant; and (2) the National Recording Preservation Foundation to accept and administer private gifts to promote and ensure the preservation and public accessibility of the nation's sound recording heritage held at the Library of Congress and other public and nonprofit archives.Revises the standards for removal by the Librarian of Congress of a member of the Library's National Recording Preservation Board.Allows board members [...]

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Latest Action: 03/11/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To protect employees from invasion of privacy by employers by prohibiting video and audio monitoring of employees when in an area where it is reasonable to expect employees to change clothing.

2/6/2008--Introduced.

Employee Changing Room Privacy Act - Prohibits employers from engaging in video or audio monitoring of employees in restroom facilities, dressing rooms, or other areas in which it is reasonable to expect employees to change clothing. Prohibits employers from using monitoring results for any purpose and requires employers to immediately destroy any violating recording. Prohibits retaliation.

Allows video monitoring or audio monitoring by a law enforcement agency as part of a criminal investigation and with a warrant.

Provides for enforcement by the Secretary of Labor. Allows private suits by aggrieved employees.

Asserts that this Act does not alter state law or collective bargaining agreements except where inconsistent with this Act.

Latest Action: 01/28/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To provide for the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as previously enrolled, with certain modifications to address the foreign sovereign immunities provisions of title 28, United States Code, with respect to the attachment of property in certain judgements against Iraq, the lapse of statutory authorities for the payment of bonuses, special pays, and similar benefits for members of the uniformed services, and for other purposes. 1/28/2008--Public Law.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on January 16, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for [...]

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Latest Action: 02/08/2008 - Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S821)

Bill Text
Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.

2/8/2008--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries)

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

Congratulates The Recording Academy during its 50th GRAMMY celebration for its important work in improving the environment for music and music makers.

Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Bill Text
To provide parity in radio performance rights under title 17, United States Code, and for other purposes.

12/18/2007--Introduced.

Performance Rights Act - Amends federal copyright law to: (1) grant performers of sound recordings equal rights to compensation from terrestrial broadcasters; (2) establish a flat annual fee in lieu of payment of royalties for individual terrestrial broadcast stations with gross revenues of less than $1.25 million and for non-commercial, public broadcast stations; (3) grant an exemption from royalty payments for broadcasts of religious services and for incidental uses of musical sound recordings; and (4) grant terrestrial broadcast stations that make limited feature uses of sound recordings a per program license option.

Provides that nothing in this Act shall adversely affect the public performance rights or royalties payable to songwriters or copyright owners of musical works.

Latest Action: 07/29/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to provide fair compensation to artists for use of their sound recordings.

12/18/2007--Introduced.

Performance Rights Act - Amends federal copyright law to: (1) grant performers of sound recordings equal rights to compensation from terrestrial broadcasters; (2) establish a flat annual fee in lieu of payment of royalties for individual terrestrial broadcast stations with gross revenues of less than $1.25 million and for non-commercial, public broadcast stations; (3) grant an exemption from royalty payments for broadcasts of religious services and for incidental uses of musical sound recordings; and (4) grant terrestrial broadcast stations that make limited feature uses of sound recordings a per program license option.

Provides that nothing in this Act shall adversely affect the public performance rights or royalties payable to songwriters or copyright owners of musical works.