Mine safety Legislation - Federal Government

To prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment. 5/21/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 24, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here, with changes reflecting enrollment corrections.)Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 - Title I: Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance - (Sec. 101) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from adjusting premium or contribution amounts for a group on the basis of genetic information.Prohibits a group health plan from requesting or requiring an individual or family member of an individual from undergoing a genetic test. Provides that such prohibition does not: (1) limit the authority of [...]

show full description

A bill to establish improved mandatory standards to protect miners during emergencies, and for other purposes. 6/19/2007--Introduced. Miner Health and Safety Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) to require: (1) emergency response plans to incorporate new technology; and (2) the Secretary of Labor to require the installation of rescue chambers in underground coal mines.Amends the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 to repeal provisions concerning standards relating to the sealing of abandoned areas in mines and sets forth provisions concerning: (1) regulating mine seals; (2) regulating the survivability of mine ventilation controls; (3) directing the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to determine whether changes in rock dust requirements are needed; (4) publishing regulations on flame resistance requirements for conveyor belts in use in mines; (5) prohibiting belt haulage [...]

show full description

Making emergency supplemental appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for agricultural and other emergency assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes. 5/25/2007--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 - Title I: Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, International Affairs, and Other Security-Related Needs - Chapter 1 - Makes additional FY2007 appropriations to the Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, for commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad under Public Law 480 Title II Grants. Chapter 2 - Makes additional FY2007 appropriations to the Department of Justice, to remain available through FY2008, for general legal activities, U.S. Attorneys, the U.S. Marshals Service, the National Security Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation [...]

show full description

To establish improved mandatory standards to protect miners during emergencies, and for other purposes. 1/16/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007 or the S-MINER Act - (Sec. 4) Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) to require emergency response plans, to be in approved status, to: (1) provide for, within 120 days after enactment of this Act, a post communication system between underground and surface personnel and an electronic tracking system permitting surface personnel to locate persons trapped underground that utilizes a system at least as effective as a leaky feeder or wireless mesh type communication and tracking system currently in use in the industry; and (2) be revised to incorporate new technology that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certifies can be added to the existing system to improve its ability [...]

show full description

To establish improved mandatory standards to protect and enhance the health of miners. 6/19/2007--Introduced. Miner Health Enhancement Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that essential standards to protect miner health are out of date and congressional intervention is needed.Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to require: (1) the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to forward to the Secretary of Labor its Recommended Exposure Limits for chemical and other hazards to miners; (2) the Secretary to require the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to adopt such limits as the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for the mining industry; (3) NIOSH to annually submit to the Secretary any additional or revised recommended exposure limits for hazardous substances utilized in the industry; (4) the Secretary to adopt such limits as PELs for the industry; (4) MSHA to adopt the health standard for asbestos established by [...]

show full description

Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 11/7/2007--Senate receded and concurred with amendment.    (There are 4 other summaries) Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for FY2008. Title I: Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes appropriations for FY2008 to the Department of Labor for: (1) the Employment and Training Administration, including training and employment services; (2) community service employment for older Americans; (3) federal unemployment benefits and allowances; (4) state unemployment insurance and employment service operations; (5) advances to the Unemployment [...]

show full description

To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish an initiative to promote the research, development, and demonstration of miner tracking and communications systems and to promote the establishment of standards and other measurement services regarding underground communications to protect miners in the United States. 10/29/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration, including the establishment of best practices, adaptation of existing technology, and efforts to accelerate the development of next generation technology and tracking systems for mine communications.Requires the Director to evaluate areas of research and development and best practices that will be most promising in protecting miner safety.[...]

show full description

A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment. 3/29/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 - Title I: Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance - (Sec. 101) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to specify that genetic information that an issuer of group health insurance may not establish as an enrollment eligibility factor includes information about a request for or receipt of genetic services by an individual or family member. Prohibits a group health plan or a health insurance issuer from: (1) adjusting premiums on the basis of genetic information; or (2) requesting or requiring an individual or a family member of such individual to undergo a genetic test.Applies such provisions to small group health plans.Allows [...]

show full description

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 [...]

show full description

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 [...]

show full description