Latest Action: 06/30/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to enhance beneficiary protections under parts C and D of the Medicare Program. 6/24/2008--Introduced. Medicare Beneficiary Protection Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and maintain a Medicare plan complaint system. Requires non-network Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service plans to disclose providers that refuse to accept certain enrollees in the plan. Prohibits certain marketing practices with respect to Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans, including provision for meals or other items of monetary value, telemarketing, cross-selling, and up-selling. Revises enrollment requirements under Medicare parts C (Medicare+Choice) and D (Voluntary Prescription Drugs). Allows an individual to discontinue an election of a Medicare+Choice plan if enrolled fewer than 60 days. Changes the beginning [...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5699)

Bill Text
A bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay and reform the Medicare competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. 6/17/2008--Introduced. Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014.Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards.Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors.Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay and reform the Medicare competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies. 6/12/2008--Introduced. Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014. Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards. Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [...]

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Latest Action: 03/03/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to enhance beneficiary protections under parts C and D of the Medicare program. 3/3/2008--Introduced. Medicare Beneficiary Protection Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and maintain a Medicare plan complaint system. Requires non-network Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service plans to disclose providers that refuse to accept certain enrollees in the plan. Prohibits certain marketing practices with respect to Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans, including provision for meals or other items of monetary value, telemarketing, cross-selling, and up-selling. Revises enrollment requirements under Medicare parts C (Medicare+Choice) and D (Voluntary Prescription Drugs). Allows an individual to discontinue an election of a Medicare+Choice plan if enrolled fewer than 60 days. Changes the beginning [...]

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Latest Action: 01/23/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Bill Text
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot project on the use of educational assistance under programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs to defray training costs associated with the purchase of certain franchise enterprises.

12/19/2007--Introduced.

Veterans Self-Employment Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of the use of educational assistance under certain programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for training costs associated with the purchase of a franchise enterprise. Prohibits the use of such assistance unless: (1) training is required and provided in connection with the purchase and operation of a franchise; and (2) such training, and the training entity, are approved by the Secretary. Provides training and entity approval requirements.

Latest Action: 04/30/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act to require the Council to establish a single telephone number that consumers with complaints or inquiries could call and be routed to the appropriate Federal banking agency or State bank supervisor, and for other purposes. 4/29/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to require federal financial institution regulatory agencies, coordinating through the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, to establish: (1) a single, toll-free telephone number for consumer complaints and inquiries concerning institutions under their jurisdiction; and (2) a system for routing such calls to the federal financial institution regulatory [...]

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Latest Action: 11/09/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the commi

Bill Text
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to impose minimum nurse staffing ratios in Medicare participating hospitals, and for other purposes.

11/9/2007--Introduced.

Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) require each participating hospital to adopt and implement a staffing system that ensures a number of registered nurses on each shift and in each unit of the hospital to ensure appropriate staffing levels for patient care; (2) provide for the public reporting of certain staffing information, including a daily posting for each shift in the hospital of the current number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible for patient care; (3) prescribe recordkeeping, data collection, and evaluation requirements for participating hospitals; (4) specify civil monetary penalties for violations of such requirements; and (5) provide whistleblower protections.

Latest Action: 09/20/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Bill Text
To establish a comprehensive program to ensure the safety of food products intended for human consumption which are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. 9/20/2007--Introduced. Consumer Food Safety Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) administer a national program to protect human health by ensuring that the food industry has effective programs to assure the safety of food; (2) prescribe regulations regarding harmful substances in food, registration of facilities, sanitary food processing, proper labeling, processing controls, and inspections of registered facilities; (3) establish tolerances to limit the quantity of contaminants in food; (4) establish a system to ensure the safety of imported food; (5) include food in an active surveillance system; (6) establish guidelines for a sampling system of food products; (7) rank food categories based on their health hazard and identify approaches to minimize such hazards; and (8) design [...]

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Latest Action: 07/23/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to States, units of general local government, and nonprofit organizations for counseling and education programs for the prevention of predatory lending and to establish a toll-free telephone number for complaints regarding predatory lending, and for other purposes. 7/23/2007--Introduced. Financial Literacy for Homeowners Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to make grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to implement anti-predatory lending activities, including: (1) consumer education programs; (2) certified home ownership counseling programs; and (3) referral services for homeowners and prospective homeowners. Directs the Secretary provide for establishment, operation, and publication of a nationwide toll-free telephone number to receive consumer complaints regarding predatory and unscrupulous lending practices relating to home loans. Establishes the Predatory Lending [...]

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Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Bill Text
To amend chapter 1 of title 9 of United States Code with respect to arbitration.

7/12/2007--Introduced.

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of: (1) an employment, consumer, or franchise dispute, or (2) a dispute arising under any statute intended to protect civil rights or to regulate contracts or transactions between parties of unequal bargaining power.

Declares, further, that the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement.

Exempts arbitration provisions in collective bargaining agreements from this Act.

Latest Action: 07/12/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide comprehensive improvements to the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, and for other purposes. 7/12/2007--Introduced. Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) offer one or more Medicare operated prescription drug plans (PDPs) with a service area consisting of the entire United States; and (2) negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce the purchase cost of covered part D drugs. Requires the monthly beneficiary premium for qualified prescription drug coverage and access to negotiated prices to be uniform nationally. Provides for auto-enrollment of subsidy eligible individuals in Medicare operated PDPs.Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to provide for the use of 2005 [...]

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Latest Action: 12/12/2007 - Subcommittee on the Constitution. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-226. 9:30 a.m.

Bill Text
A bill to amend chapter 1 of title 9 of United States Code with respect to arbitration.

7/12/2007--Introduced.

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of: (1) an employment, consumer, or franchise dispute, or (2) a dispute arising under any statute intended to protect civil rights or to regulate contracts or transactions between parties of unequal bargaining power.

Declares, further, that the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement.

Exempts arbitration provisions in collective bargaining agreements from this Act.

Latest Action: 09/11/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Bill Text
To establish a United States Health Service to provide high quality comprehensive health care for all Americans and to overcome the deficiencies in the present system of health care delivery. 7/11/2007--Introduced. Josephine Butler United States Health Service Act - Establishes the United States Health Service as an independent executive branch entity to provide health care and supplemental health services to all individuals within the United States. Requires the President to appoint members to a National Health Board to exercise the authority of the Service. Establishes an Office of the Inspector General for Health Services. Requires the Service to ensure that every individual is given certain basic health rights, including the right to receive high quality care and supplemental services from any facility within the Service capable of providing such services without charge and without discrimination. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide [...]

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Latest Action: 05/07/2008 - Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 383.

Bill Text
To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, to improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes. 9/20/2007--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Title I: Authorizations - Subtitle A: Funding of FAA Programs - (Sec. 101) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011 for: (1) airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs; (2) air navigation facilities and equipment; (3) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations; and (4) FAA research, engineering, and development. Authorizes additional authorizations of appropriations from the general fund of the Treasury for aviation programs through FY2011. Subtitle B: Passenger Facility Charges - (Sec. 111) Amends the airport improvement program (AIP) [...]

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Latest Action: 05/20/2008 - Committee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To amend the Credit Repair Organizations Act to clarify the applicability of certain provisions to credit monitoring services, and for other purposes. 6/27/2007--Introduced. Credit Monitoring Clarification Act - Amends the Credit Repair Organizations Act to cite conditions under which provision to a consumer of credit reports, credit score analysis, and assistance in a case of identity theft shall not be considered as an activity to improve a consumer's credit status, which is subject to regulation under such Act. Exempts from regulation under such Act any person (credit repair organization, or CRO) representing that it can modify or remove, or assist the consumer in modifying or removing, any information in the consumer's credit report if the CRO gives clear and conspicuous notice, before the consumer pays or agrees to pay it, that: (1) neither the consumer nor anyone else has the right to have accurate and current information removed from a credit report; and (2) [...]

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Latest Action: 05/03/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5570-5571)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the management of medical care, personnel actions, and quality of life issues for members of the Armed Forces who are receiving medical care in an outpatient status, and for other purposes. 5/3/2007--Introduced. Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 - Requires a member of the Armed Forces (member) in an outpatient status at a military medical treatment facility (facility) to be assigned a medical care case manager and a service member advocate, each of whom have completed a training program and curriculum for such management. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a: (1) Department of Defense (DOD)-wide Ombudsman Office; (2) toll-free hotline for reporting deficiencies in medical services and medical support facilities; (3) standardized training program and curriculum for military personnel and health care professionals involved in the disability evaluation system; and (4) pilot program to track and assist [...]

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Latest Action: 05/04/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Bill Text
To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure competition in the rail industry, enable rail customers to obtain reliable rail service, and provide those customers with a reasonable process for challenging rate and service disputes. 5/3/2007--Introduced. Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007 - Sets forth Surface Transportation Board directives calling for effective competition among rail carriers and reliable rail transportation service for rail customers.Requires a rail carrier, upon shipper request, to establish rates for transportation and provide requested service between any two points on the carrier's system. Prohibits the Board from issuing a certificate authorizing construction and operation of railroad lines, short line purchases by Class II and Class III rail carriers, or consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control of rail carriers, or exempt from such certificate requirements any person, transaction, or service with respect [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H10456)

Bill Text
To protect home buyers from predatory lending practices. 4/26/2007--Introduced. Predatory Mortgage Lending Practices Reduction Act - Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to prohibit any person, in connection with a subprime federally related mortgage loan, from providing mortgage lending services or mortgage brokerage services unless such person is certified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as having been adequately trained with regard to subprime lending. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require lenders to establish a best practices plan, meeting certain criteria, to ensure compliance with such Act for high cost mortgages. Proscribes unfair or deceptive acts or practices in providing: (1) mortgage lending services for either a subprime federally related mortgage loan; (2) mortgage brokerage services for such a loan; and (3) appraisal of a property offered as security for repayment of the loan.Sets forth civil penalties [...]

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Latest Action: 06/07/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

Bill Text
To clarify the applicability of State law to national banks and Federal savings associations, and for other purposes. 4/23/2007--Introduced. Preservation of Federalism in Banking Act - Amends the Revised Statutes of the United States and the Home Owners' Loan Act to declare applicable to either a national bank or federal savings association any consumer protection in state consumer law of general application (including unfair or deceptive acts or practices, consumer fraud law and repossession, foreclosure, and collection). Declares that when a national bank or federal savings association avails itself of state law for its benefit, all related consumer protections in such state law shall apply. Declares applicable to a national bank or federal savings association: (1) state banking or thrift laws enacted pursuant to federal law; and (2) state laws providing greater protection in high cost mortgage loans (predatory mortgage loans). Permits the Comptroller [...]

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Latest Action: 09/05/2007 - Senate ordered measure printed as passed.

Bill Text
To amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the management of medical care, personnel actions, and quality of life issues for members of the Armed Forces who are receiving medical care in an outpatient status, and for other purposes. 7/25/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act - Title I: Wounded Warrior Matters - Subtitle A: Policy on Care, Management, and Transition of Servicemembers With Serious Injuries or Illnesses - (Sec. 111) Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Secretaries) to: (1) jointly develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the care and management of members of the Armed Forces (members) who are undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, are in medical hold or holdover status, or are otherwise on the temporary disability retired list for a serious injury or illness (recovering members); (2) jointly update the policy on a [...]

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