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Latest Action: 02/05/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1577-1578)

Bill Text
A bill to improve efficiency in the Federal Government through the use of green buildings, and for other purposes. 2/5/2007--Introduced. Green Buildings Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of General Services to establish a position of, and appoint, a Director who shall: (1) establish an Office of Green Buildings (2) establish a Green Building Advisory Committee; (2) carry out public outreach; (3) develop and recommend a green building research plan; (4) analyze current budget and contracting practices that affect achievement of green buildings; and (5) develop and implement a comprehensive indoor air quality program for federal facilities. Defines a "green building" as one that, during its life-cycle: (1) reduces energy, water, and material resource use and the generation of waste; (2) improves indoor environmental quality; (3) improves impacts of the building on human health and the environment; (4) increases the use of environmentally preferable products;[...]

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Latest Action: 12/12/2007 - Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-241.

Bill Text
A bill to improve efficiency in the Federal Government through the use of high-performance green buildings, and for other purposes. 12/12/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007 - Defines "high-performance green building" as a building that, during its life-cycle: (1) reduces energy, water, and material resource use and the generation of waste; (2) improves indoor environmental quality; (3) improves indoor and outdoor impacts of the building on human health and the environment; (4) increases the use of environmentally preferable products; (5) increases reuse and recycling opportunities; and (6) integrates systems in the building. Title I: Office of High-Performance Green Buildings -(Sec. 101) Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide for the establishment of an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings (Office) and to appoint [...]

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Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Bill Text
To promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil through the use of alternative fuels and new vehicle technologies, and for other purposes. 1/24/2007--Introduced. Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act or DRIVE Act - Directs 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 Energy to conduct a national media campaign to decrease oil consumption in the United States over the next decade. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop: (1) a fuel efficiency program for passenger car and light truck tires; (2) a program to designate Transit-Oriented Development Corridors; and (3) pilot projects to save oil by reducing vehicle miles traveled. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) [...]

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Latest Action: 02/15/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2030-2031)

Bill Text
A bill to improve the allocation of grants through the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 2/15/2007--Introduced. Risk-Based Homeland Security Grants Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to set forth provisions governing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant funding for first responders pursuant to the State Homeland Security Grant Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, and the Citizen Corps Program. Makes eligible for a covered grant any state, region, or directly eligible tribe. Sets forth grant application requirements. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish: (1) a Homeland Security Grants Board; (2) clearly defined essential capabilities for state and local government preparedness for terrorism (sets forth factors to address in establishing such capabilities and lists critical infrastructure sectors and types of threats to consider); and [...]

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Latest Action: 02/28/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to equalize the exclusion from gross income of parking and transportation fringe benefits and to provide for a common cost-of-living adjustment, and for other purposes.

2/28/2007--Introduced.

Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to equalize and increase to $200, with a modified cost-of-living adjustment, the tax exclusion for both transportation and parking fringe benefits. Extends such benefits to federal employees.

Latest Action: 03/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3067-3068)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters.

3/13/2007--Introduced.

Bicycle Commuters Benefits Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a bicycle commuting allowance as a qualified transportation fringe benefit, excludable from gross income.

Latest Action: 03/28/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.

Bill Text
To strengthen national security and promote energy independence by reducing the Nation's reliance on foreign oil, improving vehicle technology and efficiency, increasing the distribution of alternative fuels, bolstering rail infrastructure, and expanding access to public transit. 3/1/2007--Introduced. Program for Real Energy Security Act or the PROGRESS Act - Establishes the National Commission on Energy Security and Transition to New Fuels. Sets forth the duties of the Commission, including to make recommendations to Congress and the President for: (1) preserving the national energy security in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster; and (2) reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil over a specified period. Establishes: (1) the New Manhattan Center for High Efficiency Vehicles; and (2) the Advisory Council on Federal Participation. Requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of grants to federal and private sector researchers (including the Center) [...]

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Latest Action: 04/26/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, close tax loopholes, impose windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies, provide a reserve fund for biofuels research and infrastructure, and payments for low-income households. 4/26/2007--Introduced. Energy Security and Corporate Accountability Act of 2007 - Requires major integrated oil companies to revalue their LIFO inventories of crude oil, natural gas, or other petroleum products according to a specified formula. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) set forth a special rule for the application of the foreign tax credit to major integrated oil companies which are dual capacity taxpayers; (2) provide for extended amortization (seven years instead of five) of geological and geophysical expenditures for major integrated oil companies; and (3) impose a windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies.Repeals provisions of the Energy Policy Act or 2005 suspending royalties [...]

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Latest Action: 03/12/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and equalize the exclusion from gross income for parking and transportation fringe benefits and to provide for a common cost-of-living adjustment, and for other purposes.

3/12/2007--Introduced.

Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to equalize and increase to $200, with a modified cost-of-living adjustment, the tax exclusion for both transportation and parking fringe benefits. Extends such benefits to federal employees.

Latest Action: 03/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E529)

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters.

3/13/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a bicycle commuting allowance as a qualified transportation fringe benefit, excludable from gross income.

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Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7575-7576)

Bill Text
A bill to increase energy assistance for low-income persons, to extend energy tax incentives, and for other purpose. 7/28/2008--Introduced. Energy Assistance Act of 2008 - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to authorize appropriations for FY2009-FY2011 for the home weatherization program. Establishes in the Treasury the Energy Assistance Fund to finance low interest loans for the purchase and installation of energy efficient property, idling reduction devices and advanced insulation for heavy trucks, and alternative refueling stations.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a tax credit, up to $500, for the cost of replacing a residential wood stove with: (1) a wood-burning stove that complies with current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards; and (2) a pellet or corn-burning stove. Extends the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities through 2009 and the credit for closed and open-loop [...]

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Latest Action: 06/27/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
To promote increased public transportation use, to promote increased use of alternative fuels in providing public transportation, and for other purposes. 6/26/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations for each of FY2008-FY2009 for public transportation formula grants for urbanized areas and for other areas. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make such grants for: (1) operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation or intercity bus service that the grant recipient is no longer able to pay as a result of reducing fares; (2) operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide transportation services or intercity bus service that the recipient incurs as a result of expanding such services; (3) the avoidance of increased fares for public transportation or intercity bus service [...]

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Latest Action: 05/01/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to provide emergency assistance for families receiving assistance under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act and low-income working families.

5/1/2008--Introduced.

Low-Income Gasoline Assistance Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to enable states to establish emergency assistance programs to make certain payments to eligible low-income households for the purchase of gasoline.

Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize a state to use funds from any TANF grant to carry out such a program.

Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-279.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for certain Federal employee benefits to be continued for certain employees of the Senate Restaurants after operations of the Senate Restaurants are contracted to be performed by a private business concern, and for other purposes. 7/17/2008--Public Law.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Authorizes specified Senate Restaurants employees who are employees of the Architect of the Capitol on the date of enactment of this Act and who become employees of a contractor under a food services contract to elect to continue coverage of federal benefits, including retirement benefits, life and health insurance, annual and sick leave balances and accrual rates, and transit subsidies, after operations of the Senate Restaurants are contracted to be performed by a private business concern.Prohibits the basic pay of such an employee [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-253. 10:00 a.m.

Bill Text
Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation.

5/21/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries)

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

Recognizes that increased and safe bicycle use for transportation and recreation is in the national interest of the United States.

Supports policies that increase bicycle use.

Encourages the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide leadership and coordination by reestablishing the federal bicycle task force to include representatives from all relevant federal agencies.

Latest Action: 02/28/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. 2/27/2008--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.)Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to renewable energy sources and energy conservation. Title I: Production Incentives - (Sec. 101) Extends through 2011 the tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources (e.g., wind, closed and open-loop biomass, geothermal energy, small irrigation power, municipal solid waste, and qualified hydropower). Imposes a limit on such tax credit based upon investment in renewable resource facilities placed in service after 2009 in lieu of the current phaseout provisions for [...]

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Latest Action: 10/01/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow long-distance rural commuters a deduction during periods when the local price of gasoline exceeds $3 per gallon.

10/1/2007--Introduced.

Rural Commuters Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers who reside in a rural area of not more than 30,000 people a $100 tax credit for commuting costs in any month in which the cost of gasoline is at least $3 per gallon (high gasoline price month). Allows an additional $100 credit for carpooling during a high gasoline price month. Allows individual taxpayers to claim such deduction whether or not they itemize their other deductions.

Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - For Further Action See Public Law 110-140 (H.R. 6).

Bill Text
To promote greater energy efficiency. 8/3/2007--Reported to House without amendment, Part I.    (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.) Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Promoting Energy Efficiency - Subtitle A: Appliance Efficiency - (Sec. 101) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to revise provisions that set energy standards, including standards for specified appliances, boilers, motors, and external power supplies. Provides procedures to amend or make standards. Subtitle B: Lighting Efficiency - (Sec. 121) Instructs the Secretary of Energy to issue regulations prohibiting the sale of: (1) 100 watt general service incandescent lamps after January 1, 2012, unless those lamps emit at least 60 lumens per watt; and (2) general service lamps manufactured after specified [...]

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