Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/11/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Bill Text
Expressing disapproval by the House of Representatives of the totalization agreement between the United States and Mexico signed by the Commissioner of Social Security and the Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute on June 29, 2004.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Disapproves the totalization agreement between the United States and Mexico, establishing totalization arrangements between the Social Security Systems of the two countries, which was signed by the Commissioner of Social Security and the Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute on June 29, 2004.

Latest Action: 01/11/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Bill Text
Expressing the disapproval of the House of Representatives of the Social Security totalization agreement between the United States and Mexico.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Disapproves the totalization agreement between the United States and Mexico, establishing totalization arrangements between the Social Security Systems of the two countries, which was signed by the Commissioner of Social Security and the Director General of the Mexican Social Security Institute on June 29, 2004.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Fair Tax Act of 2007 - Repeals the income tax, employment tax, and estate and gift tax. Redesignates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Internal Revenue Code of 2007. Imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. Sets the sales tax rate at 23 percent in 2009, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. Allows exemptions from the tax for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes and for state government functions. Sets forth rules relating to: (1) the collection and remittance of the sales tax; and (2) credits and refunds. Allows families a sales tax rebate.Grants states the primary authority for the collection [...]

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Latest Action: 01/22/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes. 1/22/2007--Introduced. Minimum Wage Act of 2007 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage to: (1) $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after enactment of this Act; (2) $6.55 an hour, beginning 12 months after that 60th day; and (3) $7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent accelerated cost recovery provisions for qualified leasehold improvement and restaurant property; (2) permit certain small businesses with gross receipts of not more than $10 million to use cash accounting methods and be exempt from the requirement of using inventories; (3) allow employers the work opportunity tax credit for hiring certain restaurant workers between the ages of 16 and 20; (4) set forth a definition and rules for evaluating the economic substance [...]

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Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Bill Text
To amend title II of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to coordinate the threshold requirement for coverage of domestic employees under Social Security with the amount required for a quarter of coverage.

1/12/2007--Introduced.

Retirement Security for America's Domestic Workers Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to provide that compensation paid for domestic services in an employer's private home will not be exempt from employment taxes unless such compensation is less than the greater of $1,500 or the amount of wages and self-employment income required for a quarter of coverage under the Social Security Act.

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1793-1795)

Bill Text
A bill to reduce income tax withholding deposits to reflect a FICA payroll tax credit for certain employers located in specified portions of the GO Zone, and for other purposes. 2/8/2007--Introduced. Work, Hope, and Opportunity for the Disaster Area Today Act - Allows small business employers (employers of not more than 100 full time employees) in specified areas of the Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone to claim a credit against the employment tax liabilities of their GO Zone employees. Limits to $15,000 per employee the amount of wages eligible for such credit in any calendar quarter. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a full tax deduction for business meal and entertainment expenses (normally, only 50% of such expenses are deductible) incurred in specified areas of the GO Zone prior to January 1, 2010. Extends through 2009: (1) the increased expensing allowance for GO Zone investment property; and (2) the work opportunity tax credit for hiring Hurricane Katrina [...]

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Latest Action: 01/29/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to restrict totalization agreements between the United States and other countries to providing for appropriate exchange of Social Security taxes or contributions between the parties to such agreements, and to prohibit crediting of individuals under such title with earnings from employment or self-employment in the United States performed while such individuals are not citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States and are not authorized by law to be employed in the United States. 1/29/2007--Introduced. Total Overhaul of Totalization Agreements Law of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for agreements establishing a totalization arrangement between the United States and another country with respect to the exchange of funds and information between the countries on behalf citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of [...]

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Latest Action: 02/07/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a married couple who operates a unincorporated business as co-owners to file separate self-employment tax returns.

2/7/2007--Introduced.

Family Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a married couple filing a joint tax return an election to conduct a trade or business as a qualified joint venture for purposes of determining separate net employment income. Defines "qualified joint venture" as an entity that is not treated as a partnership and that allows spouses to: (1) treat items of income and expense in accordance with their respective interests in the venture; and (2) conduct their business activities as sole proprietors.

Latest Action: 02/08/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from income and employment taxes and wage withholding property tax rebates and other benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders.

2/8/2007--Introduced.

Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income and to exempt from social security, unemployment taxes, and withholding of tax requirements rebates of real or personal property taxes or any other benefit provided by a State or local government to a member of a volunteer emergency response organization providing firefighting or emergency medical services.

Latest Action: 10/18/2007 - The Chair announced that the message and the accompanying bill would be referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means and that the Clerk would be directed to notify the Senate of the actions of the House.

Bill Text
An act to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes. 9/25/2007--House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment.    (There are 4 other summaries) Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Makes the amendments made by this Act effective on October 1, 2007, regardless of whether final regulations have been promulgated to carry them out. Allows certain state plans under titles XIX (Medicaid) or XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) (also known as SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) that require state legislation to meet additional requirements imposed by this Act additional time to make required plan changes. Sets forth a contingent effective date for CHIP funding for FY2008. Title I: Financing - Subtitle A: Funding - (Sec. 101) Amends SSA title XXI to reauthorize the CHIP program through FY2012 at [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/09/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 771.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. Extends through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against regular and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liabilities; and (2) the increased AMT exemption amounts. Extends through 2009: (1) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (2) the tax deductions for qualified tuition and related expenses and for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; (3) tax-free distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes; and (4) tax rules for treatment of [...]

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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: 06/17/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-245.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits for military personnel, and for other purposes. 6/17/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 -Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits and incentives for military personnel.Title I: Benefits for Military - (Sec 101) Exempts married taxpayers who file a joint tax return from the identification requirement for the 2008 recovery tax rebate if at least one of the filers is a current member of the Armed Forces.(Sec. 102) Makes permanent the election to treat combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit. (Sec. 103) Makes permanent the exemption from the first-time homebuyer rule for veterans using mortgage [...]

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Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.

Bill Text
To provide for a paid family and medical leave insurance program, and for other purposes. 4/22/2008--Introduced. Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, mandatory for certain covered employers.. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) contract for a state to provide benefits in that state through the Program, including expansion of a pre-existing state program; or (2) at a governor's request enter an interagency agreement with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to establish and provide Program benefits directly through a state Family and Medical Insurance Program. Entitles eligible employees to Program benefits that include specified percentages of their daily earnings for 12 workweeks of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 during any 12-month period. Authorizes any employer, with the Secretary's approval, to establish a voluntary [...]

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Latest Action: 04/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3156-3157)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to amend certain expiring provisions. 4/17/2008--Introduced. Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. Extends through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability; and (2) increased AMT exemption amounts.Extends through 2009: (1) the election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit; (2) tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans (IRAs) for individuals called or ordered to active military duty and for charitable purposes; (3) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (4) the tax deductions for qualified tuition [...]

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Latest Action: 04/10/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a tax on the amount of wages in excess of the contribution and benefit base, and for other purposes.

4/10/2008--Introduced.

Social Security Forever Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on employers, employees, and self-employed individuals an additional employment tax for wages in excess of the social security contribution and benefit base.

Requires all Treasury securities to bear a facsimile of the signatures of the President and the Secretary of the Treasury.

Latest Action: 03/14/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the commi

Bill Text
To provide public charter school options for those students that attend schools that are in need of improvement and have been identified for restructuring and those schools with a graduation rate of less than 60 percent, and for other purposes. 3/14/2008--Introduced. Pell Grants for Kids Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary, subject to advance appropriations, to award competitive grants to states, public chartering agencies, local educational agencies, or tax-exempt organizations to enhance the capacity of public charter schools to serve additional students, particularly those transferring from schools identified as needing restructuring under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for failing to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) pursuant to state academic performance standards for five consecutive school years. Limits grant use to providing subgrants to public charter schools, covering the administrative expenses of grantees and subgrantees, and enhancing [...]

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Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 3/14/2008 S2155)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Social Security Act to treat certain domestically controlled foreign persons performing services under contract with the United States Government as American employers for purposes of certain employment taxes and benefits.

3/13/2008--Introduced.

Fair Share Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefits) of the Social Security Act to treat certain foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies performing services under a contract with the U.S. government as U.S. employers for purposes of Social Security and Medicare employment taxes.

Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Social Security Act to treat certain domestically controlled foreign persons performing services under contract with the United States Government as American employers for purposes of certain employment taxes and benefits.

3/13/2008--Introduced.

Fair Share Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefits) of the Social Security Act to treat certain foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies performing services under a contract with the U.S. government as U.S. employers for purposes of Social Security and Medicare employment taxes.

Latest Action: 02/25/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from income and employment taxes real property tax abatements for seniors and disabled individuals in exchange for services.

2/25/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals who have attained age 60 or are disabled an exemption from income and employment taxes for real property tax abatements received under a state or local program in which such individuals have provided services in exchange for such abatements.