Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 04/20/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, and for other purposes. 4/19/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding - (Sec. 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements of the judicial branch.(Sec. 102) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize the Judicial Conference to allow redactions of personal information of family members of judges from financial disclosure forms filed by such judges; (2) extend through 2009 the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports; and (3) require [...]

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Latest Action: 01/07/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, and for other purposes. 1/7/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding - (Sec 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements for the U.S. judicial branch.(Sec. 102) Authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to provide for the security of the U.S. Tax Court.(Sec. 103) Authorizes additional amounts in FY2007-FY2011 for: (1) hiring deputy U.S. Marshals to provide security for judicial officers and U.S. attorneys; and (2) the Office of Protective Intelligence to provide secure computer systems.(Sec. 104) Amends the Ethics in Government Act [...]

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Latest Action: 03/21/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Bill Text
To establish a collaborative program to protect the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. 3/6/2007--Introduced. Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require certain vessels operating in U.S. waters to have invasive species management plans; (2) direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish vessel performance requirements, including provisions for ballast water exchange, treatment, and discharge, and civil and criminal penalties for violations; (3) require federal agencies to restrict the importation of live aquatic organisms of species not in trade without screening and approval; and (4) declare importation of such species to be unlawful and prescribe civil and criminal penalties for violations.Directs the Secretary of the Army to: (1) upgrade and make permanent the Chicago sanitary and ship canal dispersal barrier in Chicago, Illinois; (2) construct Barrier II; and [...]

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Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to reduce the disparity in punishment between crack and powder cocaine offenses, to more broadly focus the punishment for drug offenders on the seriousness of the offense and the culpability of the offender, and for other purposes. 5/14/2007--Introduced. Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to to decrease mandatory minimum sentencing thresholds for powder cocaine and increase such thresholds for crack cocaine. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines to: (1) reflect changes to mandatory minimum sentences made by this Act; (2) provide increased sentences for defendants who use violence or weapons in the course of a drug trafficking offense or who play an active role in the commission of such offenses; and (3) limit sentencing for defendants who play a lesser role in the commission of drug offenses and who receive little or no [...]

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Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to reduce the sentencing disparity between powder and crack cocaine violations, and to provide increased emphasis on aggravating factors relating to the seriousness of the offense and the culpability of the offender. 6/25/2007--Introduced. Fairness in Drug Sentencing Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase (by a factor of five) the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for trafficking in such controlled substance.Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine.Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and role of the defendant in [...]

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Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. 6/27/2007--Introduced. Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for crack cocaine trafficking to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and the role of the defendant in such crime, taking into account certain aggravating and mitigating [...]

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Latest Action: 09/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
To protect students and teachers.

8/1/2007--Introduced.

Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2007 - Requires local educational agencies to have in effect policies that deem to be reasonable and permissible a search of any minor student on public school grounds if conducted by a full-time teacher or school official, acting on any reasonable suspicion based on professional experience and judgment, to ensure that the school and students remain free from the threat of all weapons, dangerous materials, or illegal narcotics. Requires search measures to be reasonably related to search objectives, without being excessively intrusive in light of the nature of the offense and the student's age and sex.

Denies Safe and Drug Free School funds, provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, to local educational agencies that fail to comply with this Act.

Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S754-755)

Bill Text
A bill to authorize secure borders and comprehensive immigration reform, and for other purposes. 1/18/2007--Introduced. Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 - Provides for increases in the numbers of federal immigration enforcement-related positions and technological assets for use along the borders, including Department of Defense (DOD) equipment. Provides for: (1) recruitment of former military personnel; (2) border control facilities construction; (3) land border port of entry construction and improvements; (4) border patrol checkpoints; and (5) fencing, barrier, and road construction and improvements in the Yuma and Tucson sectors. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to develop: (1) a comprehensive land and maritime border surveillance plan; (2) a National Strategy for Border Security; (3) a plan to combat human smuggling; (4) a southern border study; and (5) a schedule for equippng all land border ports of entry with the [...]

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Latest Action: 08/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Bill Text
To increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to reform and facilitate prosecution of juvenile gang members who commit violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, and for other purposes. 7/24/2007--Introduced. Anti-Gang Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) prohibit certain criminal street gang crimes, including recruitment of persons into such gangs, participation in such gangs by committing two or more predicate gang crimes, and solicitation to commit a predicate gang crime; (2) impose or increase criminal penalties for committing certain violent crimes in aid of a criminal street gang or racketeering activity, for murder or other violent crimes while committing a drug trafficking crime, and for the use of interstate or foreign commerce facilities in the commission of two or more murders; and (3) provide for forfeiture [...]

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Latest Action: 11/08/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2368-2369)

Bill Text
To amend the Hobby Protection Act to require that imitation Civil War items be clearly marked as copies.

11/8/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Hobby Protection Act to declare as an unlawful, unfair, and deceptive act the manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction or distribution into commerce of any imitation Civil War item which is not plainly and permanently marked "copy" or "facsimile."

Requires the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules relating to such items that are substantially similar to the rules prescribed by the Commission relating to imitation numismatic items.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. 12/13/2007--Introduced. Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for crack cocaine trafficking to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and the role of the defendant in such crime, taking into account certain aggravating and mitigating [...]

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Latest Action: 11/08/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2368-2369)

Bill Text
To amend the Hobby Protection Act to require that imitation Civil War items be clearly marked as copies.

11/8/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Hobby Protection Act to declare as an unlawful, unfair, and deceptive act the manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction or distribution into commerce of any imitation Civil War item which is not plainly and permanently marked "copy" or "facsimile."

Requires the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules relating to such items that are substantially similar to the rules prescribed by the Commission relating to imitation numismatic items.

Latest Action: 09/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
To protect students and teachers.

8/1/2007--Introduced.

Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2007 - Requires local educational agencies to have in effect policies that deem to be reasonable and permissible a search of any minor student on public school grounds if conducted by a full-time teacher or school official, acting on any reasonable suspicion based on professional experience and judgment, to ensure that the school and students remain free from the threat of all weapons, dangerous materials, or illegal narcotics. Requires search measures to be reasonably related to search objectives, without being excessively intrusive in light of the nature of the offense and the student's age and sex.

Denies Safe and Drug Free School funds, provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, to local educational agencies that fail to comply with this Act.

Latest Action: 08/10/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Bill Text
To increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to reform and facilitate prosecution of juvenile gang members who commit violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, and for other purposes. 7/24/2007--Introduced. Anti-Gang Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) prohibit certain criminal street gang crimes, including recruitment of persons into such gangs, participation in such gangs by committing two or more predicate gang crimes, and solicitation to commit a predicate gang crime; (2) impose or increase criminal penalties for committing certain violent crimes in aid of a criminal street gang or racketeering activity, for murder or other violent crimes while committing a drug trafficking crime, and for the use of interstate or foreign commerce facilities in the commission of two or more murders; and (3) provide for forfeiture [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. 6/27/2007--Introduced. Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for crack cocaine trafficking to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and the role of the defendant in such crime, taking into account certain aggravating and mitigating [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to reduce the sentencing disparity between powder and crack cocaine violations, and to provide increased emphasis on aggravating factors relating to the seriousness of the offense and the culpability of the offender. 6/25/2007--Introduced. Fairness in Drug Sentencing Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase (by a factor of five) the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for trafficking in such controlled substance.Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine.Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and role of the defendant in [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/13/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to reduce the disparity in punishment between crack and powder cocaine offenses, to more broadly focus the punishment for drug offenders on the seriousness of the offense and the culpability of the offender, and for other purposes. 5/14/2007--Introduced. Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to to decrease mandatory minimum sentencing thresholds for powder cocaine and increase such thresholds for crack cocaine. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines to: (1) reflect changes to mandatory minimum sentences made by this Act; (2) provide increased sentences for defendants who use violence or weapons in the course of a drug trafficking offense or who play an active role in the commission of such offenses; and (3) limit sentencing for defendants who play a lesser role in the commission of drug offenses and who receive little or no [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/21/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.

Bill Text
To establish a collaborative program to protect the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. 3/6/2007--Introduced. Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require certain vessels operating in U.S. waters to have invasive species management plans; (2) direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish vessel performance requirements, including provisions for ballast water exchange, treatment, and discharge, and civil and criminal penalties for violations; (3) require federal agencies to restrict the importation of live aquatic organisms of species not in trade without screening and approval; and (4) declare importation of such species to be unlawful and prescribe civil and criminal penalties for violations.Directs the Secretary of the Army to: (1) upgrade and make permanent the Chicago sanitary and ship canal dispersal barrier in Chicago, Illinois; (2) construct Barrier II; and [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 04/20/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, and for other purposes. 4/19/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding - (Sec. 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements of the judicial branch.(Sec. 102) Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize the Judicial Conference to allow redactions of personal information of family members of judges from financial disclosure forms filed by such judges; (2) extend through 2009 the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact certain personal information of judges from financial disclosure reports; and (3) require [...]

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Latest Action: 01/07/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, and for other purposes. 1/7/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Judicial Security Improvements and Funding - (Sec 101) Amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with the Judicial Conference of the United States (Judicial Conference) on a continuing basis regarding the security requirements for the U.S. judicial branch.(Sec. 102) Authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to provide for the security of the U.S. Tax Court.(Sec. 103) Authorizes additional amounts in FY2007-FY2011 for: (1) hiring deputy U.S. Marshals to provide security for judicial officers and U.S. attorneys; and (2) the Office of Protective Intelligence to provide secure computer systems.(Sec. 104) Amends the Ethics in Government Act [...]

show full description