Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 04/23/2008 - Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Bill Text
To establish a national policy for our oceans, to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a national and regional ocean governance structure, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act - Establishes a national policy to protect, maintain, and restore the health of marine ecosystems and requires that federal agencies administer U.S. policies and laws accordingly. Allows more stringent federal and state requirements. States that there shall be an agency known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), declares that Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (concerning NOAA) shall have no further force or effect, and sets forth NOAA's mission and functions. (Reestablishes NOAA and requires a reorganization plan.) Creates an Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and makes that person the Administrator of NOAA. Requires [...]

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Latest Action: 03/21/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3532-3533)

Bill Text
A resolution urging the Government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt.

3/21/2007--Introduced.

Urges the government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt that opened in the waters off the east coast of Canada on November 15, 2006.

Latest Action: 03/22/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3630)

Bill Text
A resolution urging the Government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt.

3/22/2007--Introduced.

Urges the government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt that opened in the waters off the east coast of Canada on November 15, 2006.

Latest Action: 07/30/2007 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 427.

Bill Text
Urging the Government of Canada to end the commercial seal hunt.

7/30/2007--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

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

Urges the Government of Canada to end the commercial hunt on seals.

Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-421.

Bill Text
To amend the provisions of law relating to the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, and for other purposes. 3/19/2007--Passed House 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.) Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to require the collection and updating of existing practices and procedures for rescuing and rehabilitating stranded or entangled (currently, only stranded) marine mammals. Authorizes entanglement response agreements. Authorizes appropriations through FY2010 to carry out the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Authorizes, subject to appropriations, cooperative agreements, contracts, or other arrangements to address stranding events requiring emergency assistance. [...]

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Latest Action: 02/16/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Bill Text
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal for reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations, and to modify the goal of take reduction plans for reducing such takings.

2/13/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal of reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations. Makes reduction of such incidental mortality and serious injury (but not to any specified percentage) the long-term goal.

Latest Action: 05/16/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to strengthen polar bear conservation efforts, and for other purposes.

5/16/2007--Introduced.

Polar Bear Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to prohibit issuing permits for the importation of polar bear parts taken in a sport hunt.

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 Action: 08/02/2007 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce predation on endangered Columbia River salmon, and for other purposes. 3/29/2007--Introduced. Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to issue one-year permits for the lethal taking of California sea lions if the Secretary determines that alternative measures to reduce sea lion predation on threatened or endangered salmonid stocks in the Columbia River do not adequately protect the salmonid stocks from such predation. Limits the cumulative annual taking of California sea lions to one percent of the annual potential biological removal level of such sea lions. Requires the Secretary to determine whether alternative measures to reduce sea lion predation on salmonid stocks will adequately protect such stocks. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) nonlethal means of preventing sea lion predation of salmonid stocks in [...]

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Latest Action: 02/05/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with amendments. With written report No. 110-261.

Bill Text
A bill to reauthorize the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes. 2/5/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - (Sec. 101) Title I: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Coast Guard for: (1) operations and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, renovation, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; (4) environmental compliance and restoration; (5) research, development, testing, and evaluation programs; (6) operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard reserve program; and (7) construction of a new Chelsea Street Bridge in Chelsea, Massachusetts. (Sec. 102) Authorizes FY2008 levels of Coast Guard active [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/08/2008 - Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 742.

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, and for other purposes. 5/20/2008--Introduced. Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) a federal greenhouse gas (GHG) registry, for which certain facilities must report information regarding fossil fuels and GHGs produced and consumed; and (2) specified quantities of GHG emission allowances, which decline for each of 2012 to 2050. Requires the Administrator to establish a GHG emission allowance transfer system for the following: (1) facilities that use more than 5,000 tons of coal in a year; (2) facilities in the natural gas sector; (3) facilities that produce or entities that import petroleum- or coal-based fuel the combustion of which will emit group I GHGs; (4) facilities that produce or entities that import, in any year, more than [...]

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Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Bill Text
A bill to establish uniform administrative and enforcement procedures and penalties for the enforcement of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and similar statutes, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Introduced. International Fisheries Stewardship and Enforcement Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to enforce specified laws concerning fisheries and fish products, including the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, and any other similar law designated by the Secretary. Sets civil and criminal penalties for violations. Revises specified Acts regarding one or more of the following: (1) enforcement of those Acts under this Act; (2) false labeling or identification of fish or fish products;[...]

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Latest Action: 02/19/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Bill Text
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize appropriations for marine mammal cooperative management agreements in Alaska, and for other purposes. 2/13/2008--Introduced. Marine Mammal Cooperative Agreements in Alaska Amendments Act of 2008 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize the Secretary of the department in which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is operating to enter into cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations to conserve and manage (currently, to conserve) any stock of marine mammals. Sets forth allowed contents of agreements and required aspects of harvest management plans. Makes it unlawful for any Alaska Native within the geographic area to which a harvest management plan applies to take, transport, sell, or possess a marine mammal in violation of the provisions of that plan. Modifies the uses of related grants to Alaska Native organizations, including allowing: (1) [...]

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Latest Action: 01/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Bill Text
To authorize the Marine Mammal Commission to establish a national research program to fund basic and applied research on marine mammals, and for other purposes. 1/23/2008--Introduced. National Marine Mammal Research Program Act of 2007 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to require the Marine Mammal Commission to establish the National Marine Mammal Research Program and a National Marine Mammal Research Program Office for the Research Program. Includes in the Program's purposes: (1) undertaking research on marine mammals, the factors that affect their populations and habitats, and related mitigation; and (2) coordinating and strengthening scientific research by developing partnerships among federal agencies, academia, industry, and other members of the oceanographic and marine mammal scientific communities. Authorizes the Commission to enter into contracts, make grants, or enter other arrangements as necessary to carry out the Program. Directs the President [...]

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Latest Action: 05/20/2008 - Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-337. Minority views filed.

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, and for other purposes. 10/18/2007--Introduced. America's Climate Security Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) a greenhouse gas (GHG) registry; and (2) a GHG emission allowance transfer system for covered facilities, including specified facilities within the electric power and industrial sectors and facilities that produce or entities that import petroleum- or coal- based transportation fuel or chemicals. Sets forth emission allowances for 2012-2050, with a declining cap on GHGs.Provides for selling, exchanging, transferring, submitting, retiring, or borrowing emission allowances. Establishes: (1) a domestic offset program to sequester GHGs in agriculture and forests; and (2) the Bonus Allowance Account. Establishes the Carbon Market Efficiency Board, which [...]

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Latest Action: 02/05/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with amendments. With written report No. 110-261.

Bill Text
A bill to reauthorize the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes. 2/5/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - (Sec. 101) Title I: Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Coast Guard for: (1) operations and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, renovation, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; (4) environmental compliance and restoration; (5) research, development, testing, and evaluation programs; (6) operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard reserve program; and (7) construction of a new Chelsea Street Bridge in Chelsea, Massachusetts. (Sec. 102) Authorizes FY2008 levels of Coast Guard active [...]

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