All Congressional investigations Legislation - Federal Government
S.RES.708 - An original resolution authorizing the President of the Senate to certify the facts of the failure of Karl Rove to appear and testify before the Committee on the Judiciary and to produce documents as required by Committee subpoena.
Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Leahy with a preamble. With written report No. 110-522. Minority views filed. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10675) Bill Text An original resolution authorizing the President of the Senate to certify the facts of the failure of Karl Rove to appear and testify before the Committee on the Judiciary and to produce documents as required by Committee subpoena. Comment on Bill S.RES.707 - An original resolution authorizing the President of the Senate to certify the facts of the failure of Joshua Bolten, as the Custodian of Records at the White House, to appear before the Committee on the Judiciary and produce documents as required by Committee subpoena.
Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Leahy with a preamble. With written report No. 110-522. Minority views filed. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10674-10675) Bill Text An original resolution authorizing the President of the Senate to certify the facts of the failure of Joshua Bolten, as the Custodian of Records at the White House, to appear before the Committee on the Judiciary and produce documents as required by Committee subpoena. S.3652 - A bill to provide for financial market investigation, oversight, and reform.
Latest Action: 09/29/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Bill Text A bill to provide for financial market investigation, oversight, and reform. H.R.7222 - To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 10/16/2008 - Signed by President. Bill Text To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, and for other purposes. H.R.6999 - To restructure the Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater Program, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - Mr. Oberstar moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Bill Text To restructure the Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater Program, and for other purposes. 9/27/2008--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Title I: Integrated Deepwater Program - Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act of 2008 - (Sec. 102) Prohibits the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating from using a private sector entity as a lead systems integrator (LSI) for Integrated Deepwater Program (IDP) acquisitions, subject to stated exceptions. Requires the Secretary and the IDP LSI, subject to exception, to use full and open competition for any IDP acquisition for which an outside contractor is used. Prohibits an LSI and any tier 1 subcontractor from having a financial interest in a subcontractor below the tier 1, subject to exception. (Sec. 103) Requires any IDP contract, delivery order, or task order to require, among other things, that: (1) IDP procurement certifications be conducted by the Secretary or [...] show full description S.3509 - A bill to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and potential security breakdown resulting from the mass displacement of Iraqis inside Iraq and as refugees into neighboring countries.
Latest Action: 09/17/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Bill Text A bill to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and potential security breakdown resulting from the mass displacement of Iraqis inside Iraq and as refugees into neighboring countries. 9/17/2008--Introduced. Support for Vulnerable and Displaced Iraqis Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive regional strategy to address the mass displacement of Iraqis inside Iraq and as refugees into neighboring countries. Requires that such strategy: (1) address the challenges facing Iraqi refugees; (2) address the government of Iraq's responsibility to help meet the humanitarian needs of its citizens in Iraq and the region and related U.S. support; (3) assess the needs of vulnerable Iraqis in Iraq, especially internally displaced persons and Iraqi refugees in the region; (4) include the number of refugees from Iraq that the United States plans to resettle in the United States; (5) describe U.S. government steps to engage the international community [...] show full description H.R.6983 - To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, and section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/23/2008 - Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Bill Text To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, and section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans, and for other purposes. 9/23/2008--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan that provides both medical and surgical benefits and mental health or substance use disorder benefits to ensure that: (1) the financial requirements, such as deductibles and copayments, applicable to such mental health or substance use disorder benefits are no more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements applied [...] show full description S.3408 - A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7960-7961) Bill Text A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 - Amends title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, and Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to provide for a program of comparative effectiveness research for health care. Defines "comparative effectiveness research" as research evaluating and comparing the implications and outcomes of two or more health care strategies to address a particular medical condition. Establishes the Health Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Institute as a nonprofit, nongovernmental, corporation to conduct research on the effectiveness of health care treatments, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices and procedures, and other therapies.[...] show full description S.RES.642 - A resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7981; text as passed Senate: CR S7981; text of measure as introduced: CR S7977) Bill Text A resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 7/31/2008--Passed Senate 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.) Authorizes the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, acting jointly, to provide to law enforcement officials, regulatory agencies, and other entities or individuals duly authorized by federal, state, or foreign governments, records of the Subcommittee's investigation into tax haven financial institutions, their formation and administration of offshore entities and accounts for use by U.S. clients, and the impact of those activities on tax compliance in the United States. S.3362 - A bill to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 08/22/2008 - Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Kerry under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/01/2008 without amendment. With written report No. 110-447. Bill Text A bill to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes. 8/22/2008--Reported to Senate 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.) SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR Programs - (Sec. 101) Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to reauthorize through: (1) FY2022 the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR); and (2) FY2023 the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA). (Sec. 102) Directs the SBA to maintain an Office of Technology to carry out oversight, reporting, and public database responsibilities as assigned by the SBA Administrator. (Sec. 103) Increases by 0.1% per year, from FY2010-FY2019, the percentage of participating federal agencies' extramural [...] show full description S.3360 - A bill to increase the availability of domestically manufactured passenger cars for intercity passenger rail service, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/29/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7633) Bill Text A bill to increase the availability of domestically manufactured passenger cars for intercity passenger rail service, and for other purposes. 7/29/2008--Introduced. Creating American Rolling Stock Act of 2008 or the Train CARS Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to award grants to eligible applicants to purchase or rehabilitate domestically manufactured rolling stock for intercity passenger rail transportation. Prohibits Secretary approval of a grant project without a state rail plan. Sets forth certain Buy American requirements. Directs Amtrak to establish a Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create an Intercity Passenger Rail Rolling Stock Account. Allows a tax credit to a holder of a qualified Amtrak bond issued for projects to purchase or rehabilitate domestically manufactured rolling stock for intercity passenger rail transportation (rail infrastructure investment). Requires [...] show full description H.R.6633 - To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries.
Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Bill Text To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries. 7/31/2008--Introduced. (There is 1 other summary) Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the employment eligibility confirmation pilot programs (which includes the E-Verify basic pilot program). Directs the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into a fiscal year agreement which shall: (1) provide funds to the Commissioner for such programs' full costs in quarterly advances; and (2) require an annual accounting and reconciliation of costs incurred and funds provided. Provides for funding continuation in the absence of an agreement. Requires that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct studies regarding: (1) erroneous tentative nonconfirmations [...] show full description S.3338 - A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges, to strengthen bridge inspection standards and processes, to increase investment in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/10/2008 - Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Bill Text A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges, to strengthen bridge inspection standards and processes, to increase investment in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System, and for other purposes. 7/25/2008--Introduced. National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2008 - Revises the national highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a risk-based priority process under which states shall assign priority for the replacement or rehabilitation of all federal-aid highways bridges, public roads bridges, and Indian reservation and park bridges found to be structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Requires states, as a condition of receiving federal assistance, to develop, and update annually, an approved five-year performance plan for highway bridge inspection and rehabilitation and replacement. [...] show full description S.3327 - A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/24/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7291-7292) Bill Text A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes. 7/24/2008--Introduced. Empowered at Home Act of 2008 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the income eligibility level for home and community-based (HCBS) services for elderly and disabled individuals. Gives states the option to provide HCBS services under a waiver to eligible individuals whose income does not exceed 300% of the supplemental security income (SSI) benefit rate. Gives states the option to provide HCBS waiver services to individuals for whom such services are likely to prevent, delay, or decrease the likelihood of an individual's need for institutionalized care. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award assistance grants to states electing to provide HCBS waiver services under Medicaid through [...] show full description S.3325 - A bill to enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 10/13/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-403. Bill Text A bill to enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, and for other purposes. 10/13/2008--Public Law. (There is 1 other summary) Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 - Title I: Enhancements to Civil Intellectual Property Laws - (Sec. 101) Amends federal copyright law to provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions and provide a safe harbor for copyright registrations that contain inaccurate information.(Sec. 102) Allows a court, while an infringement action is pending, to impound records documenting the manufacture, sale, or receipt of related things, requiring a protective order to ensure that confidential, private, proprietary, or privileged information is not improperly disclosed or used.Amends trademark seizure provisions to broaden protective order requirements.(Sec. 103) Amends the Trademark Act to revise [...] show full description H.R.6568 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to encourage research and carry out an educational campaign with respect to pulmonary hypertension, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/26/2008 - Received in the Senate. Bill Text To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to encourage research and carry out an educational campaign with respect to pulmonary hypertension, and for other purposes. 7/22/2008--Introduced. Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, should continue aggressive work on pulmonary hypertension; and (2) the Director of the Institute should continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, pulmonary hypertension.Requires inclusion of information on the status of pulmonary hypertension research at NIH in biennial reports to Congress. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to carry out an educational [...] show full description H.R.6560 - To establish an earned import allowance program under Public Law 109-53, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Bill Text To establish an earned import allowance program under Public Law 109-53, and for other purposes. 7/29/2008--Passed House amended. (There is 1 other summary) Amends the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an earned import allowance program, which shall provide earned import allowance certificates to any producer or entity controlling production of eligible apparel articles in the Dominican Republic, based on specified elements. Specifies as eligible apparel articles cotton (but not denim) trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, skirts and divided skirts, and pants. Declares that such apparel articles wholly assembled in, and imported directly from, the Dominican Republic shall enter the United States free of duty, without regard to the source of the fabric or yarns from which the articles are made, if they are accompanied by an [...] show full description H.R.6552 - To provide incentives for the reduction of green house gases.
Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. Bill Text To provide incentives for the reduction of green house gases. 7/17/2008--Introduced. Incentivizing Renewable Energy Production Act of 2008 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to allow loan guarantees for closed-loop ethanol plants. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a tax credit for the production of livestock-derived renewable energy; (2) allow an increased tax credit for research expenses relating to any clean-burning fuel and closed-loop system (including any anaerobic digester); (3) allow a tax credit for the production of biomaterials from certain renewable resources; and (4) increase the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures.Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to: (1) require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to support development in biofuel technologies; and (2) authorize appropriations through FY2019 for the grant program for the production of advanced biofuels.Directs [...] show full description S.3274 - A bill to reauthorize the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-253. 10:00 a.m. Bill Text A bill to reauthorize the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, and for other purposes. S.3270 - An original bill to reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/16/2008 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Inouye. With written report No. 110-422. Bill Text An original bill to reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes. 7/16/2008--Reported to Senate 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.)National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for FY2009 for: (1) science; (2) aeronautics; (3) exploration; (4) education; (5) space operations; (6) cross-agency support programs; and (7) the inspector general. Authorizes additional appropriations to accelerate the initial operational capability of a U.S.-owned human spacecraft capability.(Sec. 4) Affirms congressional support for the broad goals of U.S. space exploration policy, utilization of lunar exploration, activity related to Mars exploration,[...] show full description S.3268 - A bill to amend the Commodity Exchange Act, to prevent excessive price speculation with respect to energy commodities, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/25/2008 - Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7435-7436) Bill Text A bill to amend the Commodity Exchange Act, to prevent excessive price speculation with respect to energy commodities, and for other purposes. 7/15/2008--Introduced. Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to extend its coverage to energy commodities such as petroleum products and natural gas.Prohibits the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from permitting a foreign board of trade to provide its members or other participants subject to CFTC jurisdiction direct access to its electronic trading and order matching system unless it meets specified requirements.Authorizes the CFTC to require recordkeeping by any person either located within the United States or entering trades directly into the trade matching system of a foreign board of trade from the United States.Subjects such persons to liability for violation of CFTC rules and regulations.Directs the CFTC to convene a working group of international [...] show full description S.3266 - A bill to require Congress and Federal departments and agencies to reduce the annual consumption of gasoline of the Federal Government.
Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Bill Text A bill to require Congress and Federal departments and agencies to reduce the annual consumption of gasoline of the Federal Government. 7/15/2008--Introduced.
Immediate Steps to Conserve Gasoline Act - Requires federal departments, agencies, and Congress, for FY2009, to develop and carry out initiatives to reduce their annual consumption of gasoline by at least 3%. Requires the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to study and report to Congress on the potential transportation fuel savings of imposing a national speed limit on highways on the Interstate System of 60 miles per hour. Requires the Comptroller General of the United States to study and report to specified congressional committees on whether additional gasoline reduction measures by federal departments, agencies, and Congress are technically feasible.
S.3252 - A bill to amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act, to ban abusive credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures, protect underage consumers, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 07/10/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6572-6574) Bill Text A bill to amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act, to ban abusive credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures, protect underage consumers, and for other purposes. 7/10/2008--Introduced. Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2008, or the Credit CARD Act of 2008 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require advance notice of any increase in the annual percentage rate of interest (APR) pertaining to a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan. Imposes a freeze on interest rate terms and fees on canceled cards. Sets limits on fees and interest charges, including a prohibition against penalties for on-time payments. Prohibits a creditor from furnishing information to a consumer reporting agency concerning a newly opened credit card account until the credit card has been used or activated by the consumer. Revises requirements for prompt and fair crediting of card payments. Prohibits universal default [...] show full description |
