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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 758.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 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, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation, and for other purposes. 3/31/2008--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation [...]

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Latest Action: 03/22/2007 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3647-3648; text as passed Senate: CR S3647-3648; text of measure as introduced: CR S3630-3631)

Bill Text
A resolution designating March 22, 2007, as National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.

3/22/2007--Passed 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.)

Designates March 22, 2007, as National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day. Commends the hard work and dedication that rehabilitation counselors provide and the efforts that professional organizations have made to assist those requiring rehabilitation.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S114)

Bill Text
A bill to allow the psychiatric or psychological examinations required under chapter 313 of title 18, United States Code, relating to offenders with mental disease or defect, to be conducted by a clinical social worker.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Psychiatric and Psychological Examinations Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to allow clinical social workers (in addition to licensed or certified psychiatrists or psychologists) to conduct psychiatric or psychological examinations on criminal defendants to determine mental capacity to stand trial and insanity at the time of a criminal offense.

Latest Action: 02/16/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Bill Text
Commending the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation for the many contributions it has made in Indian country through collaborative working relationships, State rehabilitation agencies, tribal health and social service programs, Capacity Building Projects, Federal service agencies, the United States Department of Education, and the United States Department of Labor.

2/16/2007--Introduced.

Commends the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation for the many contributions it has made in Indian country through collaborative working relationships, state rehabilitation agencies, tribal health and social service programs, Capacity Building Projects, federal service agencies, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Latest Action: 03/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, and for other purposes. 1/12/2007--Introduced. Christopher and Dana Reeve Quality of Life for Persons with Paralysis Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): (1) acting through the Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, to expand and coordinate NIH activities on paralysis research; (2) to award grants to plan, establish, improve, and provide basic operating support for Christopher Reeve Paralysis Research Consortia; (3) to educate and disseminate information and receive public comment on NIH programs and research regarding paralysis; (4) acting through the Director of the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development and the National Center for Rehabilitation Research, to expand and coordinate NIH [...]

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Latest Action: 03/28/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
To amend the Public Health Service Act to strengthen education, prevention, and treatment programs relating to stroke, and for other purposes. 3/27/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act - (Sec. 2) Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out an education and information campaign to promote stroke prevention and to increase the number of stroke patients who seek immediate treatment. Allows the Secretary to: (1) make public service announcements about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of treating stroke as a medical emergency; and (2) provide education regarding ways to prevent stroke and the effectiveness of stroke treatment. Requires the Secretary to evaluate the campaign and measure its impact every two years.Requires the Secretary, acting through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to maintain the Paul Coverdell [...]

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Latest Action: 12/12/2007 - S.AMDT.3832 Referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to improve Medicare beneficiary access by extending the 60 percent compliance threshold used to determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an inpatient rehabilitation facility under the Medicare program. 2/12/2007--Introduced. Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2007 - Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to revise the classification criterion used to determine whether a hospital or hospital unit is an inpatient rehabilitation facility under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Eliminates the current schedule of applicable percentages. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, instead, to require in the classification criterion a compliance rate no greater than the 60% compliance rate that became effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2005. Requires the Secretary, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2007, to include patients with comorbidity [...]

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Latest Action: 02/27/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2282)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and enhance educational assistance for survivors and dependents of veterans. 2/27/2007--Introduced. Veterans' Survivors Education Enhancement Act of 2007 - Revises provisions concerning educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to terminate the 45-month limitation on: (1) the use of such assistance for eligible veterans' survivors and dependents; and (2) the use of such assistance for special restorative training. Makes survivors and dependents eligible for educational assistance until their 30th (currently 26th) birthday. Makes the aggregate amount of educational assistance $80,000. (Currently, there are monthly limits for full-time, three quarter-time, or half-time educational pursuit.) Includes within authorized educational pursuits in such amounts: (1) a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training; and (2) a correspondence course. Makes survivors and dependents eligible for tutorial [...]

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Latest Action: 02/28/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2363-2364)

Bill Text
A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries. 2/28/2007--Introduced. Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007 - Requires each recovering servicemember who is assigned to a military barracks or dormitory to be assigned to one that is maintained at the highest service standard in effect for enlisted members of the Armed Forces. Requires at least semiannual inspections of, and appropriate repairs to, any such quarters, as well as alternate housing during periods of unremedied housing deficiencies. Outlines requirements to be implemented for recovering servicemembers and their families, including: (1) physical disability evaluation system changes; (2) supervising officer and caseworker support; (3) increased training for caseworkers and social workers on particular servicemember conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (4) increased support services, including an Ombudsman for Recovering Servicemembers; (5) [...]

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Latest Action: 04/28/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for the expansion and improvement of traumatic brain injury programs. 4/28/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 8, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise the national program for traumatic brain injury registries to make grants for state traumatic brain injury surveillance systems or registries (currently, only for registries) to: (1) determine the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain injury and related disability; (2) ensure the uniformity of reporting under each such system or registry; (3) link individuals with traumatic brain injury to services and supports; and (4) link such individuals with academic institutions to conduct applied research. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 758.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 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, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation, and for other purposes. 3/31/2008--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation [...]

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Latest Action: 03/14/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2166)

Bill Text
A resolution designating March 22, 2008, as National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.

3/14/2008--Passed 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.)

Designates March 22, 2008, as National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day. Commends the hard work and dedication that rehabilitation counselors provide and the efforts that professional organizations have made to assist those requiring rehabilitation.

Latest Action: 12/29/2007 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend provisions under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP programs, and for other purposes. 12/29/2007--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.) Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 - (Sec. 101) Title I: Increase in Physician Payment Update; Extension of the Physician Quality Reporting System - (Sec. 101) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) increase the physician payment update; (2) revise the Physician Assistance and Quality Initiative Fund, adding limitations on expenditures; and (3) extend through 2009 the physician quality reporting system Amends the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 to provide for transitional bonus incentive payments for quality reporting in 2008,[...]

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Latest Action: 12/11/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To impose a moratorium on certain Medicaid payment restrictions.

12/11/2007--Introduced.

Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, during the year following enactment of this Act, from taking any action to restrict coverage or payment under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for rehabilitation services, or school-based administration, transportation, or medical services if such restrictions are more restrictive in any aspect than those applied to such coverage or payment as of July 1, 2007.