Latest Action: 09/24/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing, administering, or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget entitled "Requirements for DOL Agencies' Assessment of Occupational Health Risks" (RIN: 1290-AA23).

9/24/2008--Introduced.

Prohibits the Secretary of Labor from issuing, administering, or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) entitled Requirements for DOL Agencies' Assessment of Occupational Health Risks.

Latest Action: 09/24/2008 - Committee on Environment and Public Works. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Boxer. With written report No. 110-499. Minority views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to restore the value of every American in environmental decisions, and for other purposes.
Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 110-862, by Mr. Price (NC).

Bill Text
Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 9/18/2008--Reported to House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009 - Title I: Departmental Management and Operations - Makes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2009 for executive management, analysis and operations, and the Offices of the Secretary, the Under Secretary for Management, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Information Officer, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, and the Inspector General.Title II: Security, Enforcement, and Investigations - Makes appropriations for FY2009 for: (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including for automation modernization, customs and border protection fencing, infrastructure, and technology (with obligations subject to the DHS Secretary [...]

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Latest Action: 09/29/2008 - Received in the Senate.

Bill Text
To establish and operate a National Center for Campus Public Safety. 9/27/2008--Passed House 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.) Center to Advance, Monitor, and Preserve University Security Safety Act of 2008, or the CAMPUS Safety Act of 2008 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to establish and operate a National Center for Campus Public Safety. Tasks the Center with strengthening the safety and security of institutions of higher education (IHEs) by: (1) training IHE public safety agencies and their collaborative partners; (2) fostering safety-related research; (3) collecting, coordinating, and disseminating information and best practices regarding campus safety; (4) developing protocols [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7933-7934)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply. 7/31/2008--Introduced. FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to regulate food, including by authorizing the Secretary to: (1) suspend the registration of a food facility; and (2) order a cessation on distribution or recall of food.Directs the Secretary to allocate resources based on the risk profile of food facilities or food.Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare a National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy.Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist state, local, and tribal governments in preparing for, assessing, decontaminating, and recovering from an agriculture or food emergency. Requires the Secretary to: (1) assess fees on domestic food [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Bill Text
A bill to amend Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an appeal and redress process for passengers wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight, or denied a right, benefit, or privilege, and for other purposes. 7/31/2008--Introduced. Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely Redress Act of 2008 or the FAST Redress Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish: (1) a timely and fair appeal and redress process for individuals delayed or prohibited from boarding a commercial aircraft because they were wrongly identified as a threat when screened against any terrorist watchlist or database used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) component; and (2) an Office of Appeals and Redress within DHS to implement the process. Requires the process to include the establishment of a method for maintaining and disseminating a Comprehensive Cleared List [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1632)

Bill Text
To prohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing, administering, or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget entitled "Requirements for DOL Agencies' Assessment of Occupational Health Risks" (RIN:1290-AA23).

7/30/2008--Introduced.

Prohibiting the Department of Labor's Secret Rule Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Labor from issuing, administering, or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) entitled Requirements for DOL Agencies' Assessment of Occupational Health Risks.

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. [...]

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Latest Action: 07/14/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Bill Text
To direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish both a process by which asset-backed instruments can be deemed eligible for NRSRO ratings and an initial list of such eligible asset-backed instruments. 7/14/2008--Introduced. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise regulations relating to "asset-backed securities" to define an "NRSRO asset-backed securities" subset, which shall: (1) be the only asset-backed securities for which a credit rating agency may register and issue ratings as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO); and (2) be restricted to securities representing interests in pools of assets whose performance can be evaluated based on a documented history of predictable performance of similar assets, and which are contained in structures which also have a documented history of predictable performance. Requires the revision of such regulations [...]

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Latest Action: 09/09/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 110-835.

Bill Text
To ensure uniform and accurate credit rating of municipal bonds and provide for a review of the municipal bond insurance industry. 6/19/2008--Introduced. Municipal Bond Fairness Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require each registered nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NSRO) (credit rating agency) to: (1) establish and maintain credit ratings with respect to securities and money market instruments designed to assess the risk that investors in such instruments may not receive payment in accordance with their terms of issuance; and (2) define clearly any rating symbol and apply it consistently. Prohibits the SEC from imposing any requirement that prevents an NSRO from establishing ratings that are complementary to such mandatory ratings and that are created to measure a discrete aspect of risk.Directs the SEC to establish performance measures to determine when to review [...]

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Latest Action: 10/15/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-422.

Bill Text
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes. 6/18/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009 - (Sec. 101) 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 for use to accelerate the initial operational capability of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. Title II: Earth Science - (Sec. 201) Declares that the goal for NASA's Earth Science program shall be to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and applications activities to better understand [...]

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Latest Action: 06/19/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Bill Text
To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, for purposes of transportation security, to conduct a study on how airports can transition to uniform, standards-based, and interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers with unescorted access to secure or sterile areas of an airport, and for other purposes. 6/18/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration (TSA)), to: (1) study and report to Congress on how airports can transition to uniform, standards-based, and interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers with unescorted access to secure or sterile areas of an airport; and (2) conduct a risk-based analysis of selected Category X and I airports and other airports to identify where implementation of such systems [...]

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Latest Action: 05/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3708-3710)

Bill Text
A bill to modernize credit union net worth standards, advance credit union efforts to promote economic growth, and modify credit union regularity standards and reduce burdens, and for other purposes. 5/1/2008--Introduced. Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to reduce the minimum net worth ratio requirements of credit unions. Revises the minimum risk-based net ratio for such capitalizations.Transfers from the federal banking agencies to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) the authority to adjust the net worth levels of credit unions.Instructs the National Credit Union Administration Board (Board) to design the risk-based net worth requirement to take account of material risks to insured credit unions that are taken account of by comparable standards applicable to FDIC-insured institutions.Establishes a temporary waiver of the net worth restoration plan requirement for an undercapitalized [...]

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Latest Action: 04/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish new procedures and requirements to improve the safety of food, whether produced and distributed domestically or imported into the United States, by providing for improved information technology to identify high-risk imports and for enhanced capacity in the United States and in foreign governments to identify and address food safety issues on a scientific basis, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Introduced. Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards and Targeting Act of 2008 or Safe FEAST Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to grant the Secretary of Health and Human Services access to certain records relating to an article of food during a food-related emergency. Requires: (1) owners and operators of facilities engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding food for consumption in the United States (with specified exceptions) to take specified steps regarding hazard [...]

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Latest Action: 05/05/2008 - Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 110-619.

Bill Text
To create a voluntary FHA program that provides mortgage refinancing assistance to allow families to stay in their homes, protect neighborhoods, and help stabilize the housing market. 5/5/2008--Reported to House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008 - Title I: Homeownership Retention - (Sec. 102) Amends the National Housing Act (NHA) to create the Refinance Program Oversight Board, which shall establish and oversee a program for insuring homeownership retention mortgages. Instructs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure any homeownership retention mortgage covering a one- to four-family residence made to pay or prepay outstanding obligations under an existing mortgage on the residence. Sets forth mortgagor eligibility criteria, including mortgagor certification that: (1) the residence is the only residence in which the mortgagor has any present [...]

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Latest Action: 04/02/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology.

Bill Text
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to secure domestic sources of radiological materials that could be used to make a radiological dispersion device against access by terrorists, and for other purposes. 3/13/2008--Introduced. Radiological Materials Security Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism by conducting a risk assessment regarding the threat of, vulnerability to, and consequences of theft or other procurement of radiological materials that could be used by a terrorist in a radiological dispersion device.Requires the Secretary to: (1) disseminate the findings of, and specific risk information developed in, the assessment to participants in the radiological sources security system; (2) develop a classification system for information regarding radiological materials and classify the assessment under such system; (3) share the assessment [...]

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Latest Action: 10/03/2008 - House Committee on Energy and Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Jan. 3, 2009.

Bill Text
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend, modify, and recodify the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance security and protect against acts of terrorism against chemical facilities, and for other purposes. 3/14/2008--Reported to House without amendment, Part I.    (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.)Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Homeland Security should: (1) extend and modify the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards; (2) take a holistic approach to securing sources of chemicals against a terrorist attack; and (3) expediently exercise existing authority to ensure that by focusing on chemicals at fixed site facilities, risk is not transferred to other potential sources of such chemicals.(Sec. 4) Amends [...]

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Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To revise and extend the chemical-facility security program under Public Law 109-295, and for other purposes.

3/5/2008--Introduced.

Chemical Facilities Security Act of 2008 - Extends and transfers provisions requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish risk-based performance standards, require vulnerability assessments, and implement site plans for the security of chemical facilities from the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

Eliminates the condition that an actual conflict with such provisions would preempt related state or local regulatory authority.

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify criteria for certification relating to Advanced Spectroscopic Portal monitors, and for other purposes. 7/30/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Next Generation Radiation Screening Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require: (1) the Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enter into an agreement regarding the minimum required functionality for the deployment of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal monitors (ASP) by CBP; and (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide Congress with the signed memorandum of understanding between the Office and CBP. Directs the Secretary to develop quantitative metrics that demonstrate any significant increased operational effectiveness of deploying ASP in primary and secondary screening sites. Requires such metrics to include: (1) a quantitative definition [...]

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Latest Action: 03/18/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight.

Bill Text
To ensure the coordination and integration of Indian tribes in the National Homeland Security strategy and to establish an Office of Tribal Government Homeland Security within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 3/4/2008--Introduced. Tribal Government Homeland Security Coordination and Integration Act - Establishes the Office of Tribal Government Homeland Security (Office) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to appoint a Director to head the Office.Prescribes the Secretary's and the Director's duties of coordination, infrastructure and equipment readiness, training, and inclusion of Indian tribes in homeland security preparedness.Requires the Secretary to treat Indian tribes as states, as appropriate, for the purpose of homeland security. Authorizes the Secretary to delegate to Indian tribes primary responsibility for homeland security activities within their respective jurisdictions.[...]

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