Top Legislation - View All

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

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the number vehicles for which the alternative motor vehicle credit is allowed.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 60,000 to 250,000 the number of vehicles sold for use in the United States that will trigger the phaseout period for the alternative motor vehicle tax credit.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S127-128)

Bill Text
A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. American Fuels Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Energy Security to oversee all federal energy security programs, including coordination of all federal agency efforts to assist the United States in achieving full energy independence. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide: (1) a tax credit, against both ordinary and alternative minimum tax, for production of qualified flexible fuel motor vehicles; and (2) an alternative fuel retail sales credit. Amends the Clayton Act and the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to prohibit restrictions on the installation of alternative fuel pumps within fuel franchise documents. Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator [...]

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Latest Action: 01/17/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S695)

Bill Text
A bill to require persons seeking approval for a liquefied natural gas facility to identify employees and agents engaged in activities to persuade communities of the benefits of the approval.

1/17/2007--Introduced.

Instructs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to: (1) require an applicant for approval under the Natural Gas Act or the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (DPA) of the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of a liquefied natural gas facility (including an off-shore facility under DPA), to identify each employee or agent engaged in activities to persuade communities of the benefits of such approval; and (2) maintain a publicly available database listing all such employees and agents.

Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. 1/18/2007--Introduced. Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act or DRIVE Act - Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish in the Federal Register an oil savings target and action plan for specified calendar years.Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop: (1) a fuel efficiency consumer education program for motor vehicle tires; (2) a fuel efficiency program for passenger automobile and light truck tires; and (3) a program to designate Transit-Oriented Development Corridors.Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop a testing and assessment program to determine heavy duty vehicle fuel economy; (2) establish a task force to develop minimum certification [...]

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Latest Action: 02/05/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and expand tax incentives for renewable fuels.

2/5/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend the alternative motor vehicle tax credit through 2014 (for all types of alternative vehicles); (2) extend the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property tax credit through 2024 and increase the amount of such credit; (3) extend the excise tax credit for alternative fuels and fuel mixtures through FY2014; (4) extend the income tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel through 2024; and (5) extend the small ethanol producer tax credit through 2024.

Latest Action: 08/03/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to expand and clarify the entities against which sanctions may be imposed. 7/31/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to redefine: (1) "person" to include financial institutions, insurers, underwriters, guarantors, other business organizations including foreign subsidiaries, and export credit agencies; and (2) "petroleum resources" to include petroleum refining capacity and liquified natural gas. States that such amendments shall not be construed to require the imposition of sanctions against any natural person or entity that is not specifically described in the definition of "person" (as redefined by this Act). Subjects a parent company to sanctions for activities of an entity for an act outside the United States which if committed in the United States or by a U.S. person would violate Executive Order No. 12959,[...]

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Latest Action: 09/23/2008 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Secretary of State to work with the Government of Brazil and other foreign governments to develop partnerships that will strengthen diplomatic relations and energy security by accelerating the development of biofuels production, research, and infrastructure to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and increase income, while improving energy security and protecting the environment. 3/28/2007--Introduced. United States-Brazil Energy Cooperation Pact of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum which should seek to: (1) strengthen relationships between the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere through cooperation on energy issues; and (2) enhance cooperation between major energy producers and major energy consumers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly among the governments of Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Directs the U.S. government to seek to implement: [...]

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Latest Action: 04/19/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4753)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to increase the use of renewable and alternative fuel, and for other purposes. 4/19/2007--Introduced. Alternative Fuel Standard Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to replace the renewable fuel program with an alternative fuel program. Includes within in the meaning of "alternative fuel" alcohols, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, coal-derived liquid fuels, fuels derived from biological materials, electricity, and other fuels that are not derived from crude oil and would yield energy security or environmental benefits.Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish an alternative fuel program that: (1) ensures that motor vehicle and nonroad fuel sold or introduced into U.S. commerce contains a specified volume of alternative fuel; (2) establishes compliance provisions for refineries, blenders, distributors, and importers; and (3) provides for the generation, banking, trading,[...]

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Latest Action: 04/19/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4780)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Natural Gas Act to modify a provision relating to the siting, construction, expansion, and operation of liquefied natural gas terminals.

4/19/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Natural Gas Act to repeal the exclusive authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny an application for the siting, construction, expansion, and operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Predicates FERC approval or denial authority regarding such application upon the express concurrence of each state affected by the application.

Latest Action: 09/26/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
To enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by imposing additional economic sanctions against Iran, and for other purposes. 9/25/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 - Title I: Support for Diplomatic Efforts Relating to Preventing Iran from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons - (Sec. 101) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should use diplomatic and economic means to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem; (2) the United States should continue to support efforts in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the U.N. Security Council to end Iran's uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons programs; (3) Security Council Resolution 1737 was a useful first step toward pressing Iran to end its nuclear weapons program; and (4) in light of Iran's continued defiance of the international community the Security Council should adopt additional measures against [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Dodd. With written report No. 110-443.

Bill Text
An original bill to impose sanctions with respect to Iran, to provide for the divestment of assets in Iran by State and local governments and other entities, to identify locations of concern with respect to transshipment, reexportation, or diversion of certain sensitive items to Iran, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 04/04/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2613-2614)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal a section of that Act relating to exportation or importation of natural gas.

4/4/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal provisions amending the Natural Gas Act to extend its jurisdiction to: (1) the exportation or importation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in it; and (2) liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

States that the Natural Gas Act shall be applied and administered as if such provisions and attendant amendments had not been enacted.

Latest Action: 10/25/2007 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 446.

Bill Text
An original bill to amend the Trade Act of 1974 to establish supplemental agricultural disaster assistance and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for conservation and alternative energy sources and to provide tax relief for farmers, and for other purposes. 10/25/2007--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.)Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act of 2007 - Title I: Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance from the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund - (Sec. 101) Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish a program of supplemental agricultural disaster assistance. Establishes an Agriculture Disaster Relief Trust Fund to provide payments to farmers and ranchers who suffer losses in areas declared as disaster areas by the [...]

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Latest Action: 04/28/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 721.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and title 18, United States Code, to combat the crime of alien smuggling and related activities, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 4 other summaries) Division A: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 - Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Authorization - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Coast Guard for: (1) Coast Guard operation and maintenance, with a portion to be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for certain purposes under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA purposes); (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including related equipment (designating an amount for the Integrated Deepwater System Program and a Fund amount for OPA purposes); (3) Coast [...]

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Latest Action: 06/12/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7554)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 46, United States Code, to improve port safety and security for especially hazardous cargos, and for other purposes. 6/12/2007--Introduced. Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act - Amends port security provisions to direct the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to: (1) establish an international committee for the safe and secure handling and transportation of especially hazardous cargo to the United States; (2) develop and implement a voluntary program under which foreign ports and facilities can certify their compliance with International Ship and Port Facility Code (ISPFC) standards (including a program under which independent, third-party entities are certified to validate such ports' and facilities' compliance with such standards); and (3) establish a strategic plan (under current law, program) to utilize assistance programs to assist foreign ports and facilities that lack effective antiterrorism measures in implementing [...]

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Latest Action: 06/07/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7366-7367)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act. 6/7/2007--Introduced. Coastal Zone Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to declare that it is the national policy to: (1) create and use a National Estuarine Research Reserve System; and (2) encourage innovative coastal management practices and coastal and estuarine environmental technologies to improve long-term conservation. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to coastal states for development of coastal zone management programs. Allows the use of state coastal zone management program grants to develop and implement coastal nonpoint pollution control program components. Revises the eligible uses of resource management improvement grants and resource management improvement grant requirements. Revises requirements for the Coastal Zone Management Fund. Requires state loan repayments to the Fund to be made available to make grants to states [...]

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Latest Action: 06/28/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Bill Text
To promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. 5/16/2007--Introduced. American Fuels Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Energy Security to oversee all federal energy security programs, including coordination of all federal agency efforts to assist the United States in achieving full energy independence. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide: (1) a tax credit, against both ordinary and alternative minimum tax, for production of qualified flexible fuel motor vehicles; and (2) an alternative fuel retail sales credit. Amends the Clayton Act and the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to prohibit restrictions on the installation of alternative fuel pumps within fuel franchise documents. Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator [...]

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