Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S91-92)

Bill Text
A bill to provide increased rail transportation security. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Rail Security Act of 2007 - Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct a vulnerability assessment of freight and passenger rail transportation, and develop specific prioritized recommendations for improving rail security. Directs the Assistant Secretary to conduct a study on requiring security screening for passengers, baggage, and cargo on passenger trains. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to Amtrak for fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor. Directs Amtrak to submit to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) a plan to address the needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents. Authorizes the Assistant Secretary to award grants to Amtrak for certain system-wide Amtrak, freight,[...]

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Latest Action: 05/23/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6551-6553)

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A bill to enhance the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, to assure protection of public health safety, to ensure the territorial integrity and security of the repository at Yucca Mountain, and for other purposes. 5/23/2007--Introduced. Nuclear Waste Access to Yucca Act - Withdraws specified lands in Nye County, Nevada, permanently from any form of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, including: (1) the mineral leasing laws; (2) the geothermal leasing laws; (3) materials sales laws; and (4) the mining laws. Transfers jurisdiction over such lands to the Secretary of Energy. Reserves use of such lands for certain activities associated with the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Requires the Secretary to manage the lands so withdrawn, and submit to Congress and the state of Nevada a management plan for their use. [...]

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Latest Action: 01/05/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Bill Text
To require the Surface Transportation Board to consider certain issues when deciding whether to authorize the construction of a railroad line.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Neighborhood Rail Accountability Act - Amends federal transportation law to require the Surface Transportation Board, in determining whether to issue a certificate authorizing the construction of an additional railroad line or of an extension to any railroad line, to: (1) give greater weight to local official statements and public comments in opposition to the proposed construction (especially construction in a residential area) if there is an unusually high level of public opposition; and (2) identify any disproportionate negative impacts on any socioeconomic population, including a discussion of alternatives that were considered that would have avoided such impacts.

Prescribes procedural requirements for dealing with any false or incorrect information provided by an applicant for a certificate for construction.

Latest Action: 03/05/2008 - For Further Action See Section 169 of H.R. 2764.

Bill Text
To repeal a prohibition on the use of certain funds for tunneling in certain areas with respect to the Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project, California.

12/3/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries)

Amends the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1986 to repeal the prohibition against use of certain funds for any segment of the downtown Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project unless the Southern California Rapid Transit District notifies the Urban Mass Transportation Administration that no part of the Metro Rail project will tunnel through any zone designated as a potential risk zone or high potential risk zone for methane gas.

Amends federal transportation law to extend the special rule for the allocation of urbanized area formula grants through FY2009. Sets forth the maximum amounts to be allocated for such grants for FY2008 and FY2009.

Latest Action: 07/23/2008 - Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill and House requests a conference.

Bill Text
A bill to reauthorize Amtrak, and for other purposes. 10/30/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Authorizations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2012 for: (1) Amtrak capital and operating grants, including capital grants to states; (2) the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); (3) Amtrak repayment of long-term debt and capital leases; (4) payment into the Railroad Retirement Account that portion of Amtrak's Railroad Retirement Tier II Tax which exceeds the Tier II annuities paid to Amtrak retirees; and (5) the rail cooperative research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for: (1) grants to Amtrak and states participating in the Next Generation Corridor Train Equipment Pool Committee; and (2) Amtrak to evaluate improvements necessary to make all existing intercity rail stations readily accessible to and usable by individuals with [...]

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Latest Action: 05/09/2007 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-141.

Bill Text
To amend the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 to authorize additional Federal contributions for maintaining and improving the transit system of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and for other purposes. 5/9/2007--Reported to House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) National Capital Transportation Amendments Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide additional funding through grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to finance in part the capital and preventive maintenance projects included in the Capital Improvement Program. Subjects such grants to specified limitations and conditions. Prohibits funding to WMATA until it notifies the Secretary that certain amendments to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact have taken effect, including: (1) requiring that all local payments for the [...]

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Latest Action: 02/06/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1638)

Bill Text
A bill to repeal a prohibition on the use of certain funds for tunneling in certain areas with respect to the Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project, California.

2/6/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1986 to repeal the prohibition against use of certain funds for any segment of the downtown Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project unless the Southern California Rapid Transit District notifies the Urban Mass Transportation Administration that no part of the Metro Rail project will tunnel through any zone designated as a potential risk zone or high potential risk zone for methane gas.

Latest Action: 01/29/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.

Bill Text
To provide for the security and safety of rail and rail transit transportation systems, and for other purposes. 1/17/2007--Introduced. Rail Transit Security and Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security to complete a vulnerability assessment of freight and passenger rail transportation, and develop specific prioritized recommendations for improving rail security. Directs the Under Secretary to establish the position of Federal Rail Security Manager. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to Amtrak for certain fire and life-safety improvements and infrastructure upgrades to tunnels on the Northeast Corridor. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to award grants directly to public transportation agencies for allowable capital and operational security improvements based on the prioritized rail security recommendations. Sets forth certain whistleblower protections for rail employees [...]

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Latest Action: 11/07/2007 - By Senator Boxer from Committee on Environment and Public Works filed written report. Report No. 110-225.

Bill Text
A bill to establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States. 8/2/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) National Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2007 - (Sec. 3) Establishes the National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States to ensure that U.S. infrastructure meets current and future demand, facilitates economic growth, is maintained in a manner that ensures public safety, and is developed or modified in a sustainable manner.(Sec. 4) Requires the Commission to study the state of U.S. infrastructure, including: (1) the capacity of infrastructure to sustain economic development and competitiveness; (2) the age and condition of public infrastructure; (3) the methods used to finance the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, and maintenance of infrastructure; (4) investment requirements needed to maintain and to improve infrastructure and the projected need of investment requirements [...]

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Latest Action: 03/14/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3136)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the railroad track maintenance credit.

3/14/2007--Introduced.

Short Line Railroad Investment Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the allowable amount of the railroad track maintenance tax credit; (2) extend such credit through 2010; and (3) allow such credit against alternative minimum tax liabilities.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5595-5597)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 6/12/2008--Introduced. Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend various provisions relating to energy production and conservation and to individual and business-related activities.Extends through 2009 the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities and through 2011 for closed and open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, and trash combustion facilities. Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource for purposes of such tax credit. Extends through 2014: (1) the energy tax credits for solar energy, fuel cell, and microturbine property; and (2) the residential energy efficient property tax credit. Allows a new investment tax credit for combined heat and power system property.Provides funding for new clean renewable energy [...]

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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: 07/29/2008 - Motion by Senator Reid to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure [Record Vote Number 150] agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7594)

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. 5/21/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 -Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend expiring tax provisions, and to extend tax benefits to individual and business taxpayers. Title I: Energy Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Energy Production Incentives - Part I: Renewable Energy Incentives - (Sec. 101) Extends: (1) through 2009 the tax credit for producing electricity from qualified wind facilities; and (2) through 2011 the tax credits for producing electricity [...]

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Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 779.

Bill Text
To reauthorize Amtrak, and for other purposes. 6/11/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 - Title I: Authorizations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for: (1) Amtrak capital and operating grants, including capital grants to states, to the Amtrak Office of the Inspector General, and for accessibility improvements and barrier removal for individuals with disabilities; (2) Amtrak repayment of long-term debt and capital leases; and (3) the rail cooperative research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for grants to Amtrak and states participating in the Next Generation Corridor Train Equipment Pool Committee. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to withhold up to one-half of 1% of certain funds for the costs of project management oversight of capital projects carried out by Amtrak.(Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations for costs [...]

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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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