Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4803)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Dental Health Improvement Act.

5/22/2008--Introduced.

Dental Health Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to condition eligibility for loan repayment programs on dentists meeting any (rather than all) of the following requirements: (1) agreeing to practice in designated dental health professional shortage areas; (2) being dental school graduates and agreeing to serve as public health dentists for the federal, state, or local government; or (3) agreeing to provide services to patients regardless of ability to pay and using a sliding payment scale for patients who are unable to pay the total cost of services.

Reauthorizes appropriations for grants to states for programs to address the dental workforce needs of designated dental health professional shortage areas.

Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Introduced. Veterans' Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to appoint personnel for health care positions within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) not specifically listed as authorized categories for appointment, as long as the Secretary provides prior notification to the congressional veterans' committees and the Office of Management and Budget. Requires newly-appointed nurses to serve a probationary period. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) appoint nurse assistants; and (2) waive required pay offsets for federal annuitants reemployed in VA health care positions. Sets the minimum rate of basic pay for appointees to certain positions in the Office of the [...]

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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make a technical correction to ensure that all physicians, as defined for purposes of the Medicare Program, are permitted to perform required face-to-face examinations and prescribe Medicare covered durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies.

5/21/2008--Introduced.

Amends part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to ensure that all physicians, as defined for Medicare purposes (including doctors of dental surgery or of dental medicine, of podiatric medicine, or of optometry, and chiropractors), are permitted to perform required face-to-face examinations and prescribe Medicare-covered durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (including motorized or power wheelchairs).

Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 9/17/2008--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for defense-wide procurement.Subtitle B: Army Programs - (Sec. 111) Provides that, if the Secretary of the Army certifies to Congress the operational effectiveness of the Stryker Mobile Gun System, or the Secretary [...]

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Latest Action: 10/14/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 10/14/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 24, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Honorable Duncan Hunter, Representative from California, has discharged his official duties with integrity and distinction, has served the House of Representatives and the American people selflessly, and deserves the sincere gratitude of Congress and the Nation. Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 110-473. Supplemental views filed.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to recruit and retain nurses and other critical health-care professionals, and for other purposes. 9/18/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Department Personnel Matters - (Sec. 101) Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to appoint personnel for health care positions within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) not specifically listed in authorized classes for appointment, as long as the Secretary provides prior notification to the congressional veterans committees and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Requires, before submitting notification, the Secretary to solicit comments from any labor organization representing employees in any such class and include such comments in such notification. [...]

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Latest Action: 04/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3160, S3161)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve veterans' health care benefits, and for other purposes. 4/17/2008--Introduced. Veterans Health Care Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract to provide specialized residential care and rehabilitation services to a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom who suffers from a traumatic brain injury, has an accumulation of deficits in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living and, because of these deficits, would otherwise require nursing home admission even though such care would generally exceed the veteran's nursing needs. Directs the Secretary to provide full-time board-certified physicians and dentists the opportunity to continue their professional education through VA sponsored continuing education programs. Authorizes (currently, directs) the Secretary to reimburse such physicians or dentists up to $1,000 per year for continuing [...]

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Latest Action: 03/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2234)

Bill Text
A bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2009, and for other purposes. 3/31/2008--Introduced. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation and maintenance, including working capital funds, the Defense Health Program, chemical agents and munitions destruction, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, and the Defense Inspector General; (6) active and reserve military personnel, including [...]

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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 758.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec.[...]

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Latest Action: 03/06/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to expand the dental workforce and improve dental access, prevention, and data reporting, and for other purposes. 3/6/2008--Introduced. Deamonte Driver Dental Care Access Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to schools of dentistry and hospitals with accredited training programs in pediatric dentistry. Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the Secretary to provide for a pilot program to increase access to dental care for underserved populations through the use of new allied dental health professionals. Requires the Secretary to award grants to federally qualified health centers to expand and improve the provision of dental services to medically underserved populations. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to develop, implement, and evaluate public health and clinical strategies to prevent and [...]

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Latest Action: 03/06/2008 - 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 expand the dental workforce and improve dental access, prevention, and data reporting, and for other purposes. 3/6/2008--Introduced. Deamonte Driver Dental Care Access Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to schools of dentistry and hospitals with accredited training programs in pediatric dentistry.Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the Secretary to provide for a pilot program to increase access to dental care for underserved populations through the use of new allied dental health professionals.Requires the Secretary to award grants to federally qualified health centers to expand and improve the provision of dental services to medically underserved populations.Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to develop, implement, and evaluate public health and clinical strategies to prevent and manage early [...]

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