Latest Action: 09/29/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.

Bill Text
To amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget.

9/29/2008--Introduced.

Children's Budget Act - Requires the President's annual budget to Congress to include a detailed, separate analysis for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, and the ensuing fiscal year identifying the amounts of gross and net appropriations or obligational authority and outlays directed to children and children's programs within the United States and territories.

Latest Action: 11/18/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1124 under authority of the order of the Senate of 11/17/2008.

Bill Text
Making supplemental appropriations for job creation and preservation, infrastructure investment, and economic and energy assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. 9/26/2008--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.) Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008 - Title I: Infrastructure Investments - Chapter I: Transportation - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY2009 for infrastructure investments to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for: (1) the Federal Aviation Administration, grants-in-aid for airports; (2) Federal Highway Administration, highway infrastructure investment; (3) Federal Railroad Administration, capital and debt service grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK); (4) Federal Transit Administration,[...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Bill Text
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require annual reviews by Inspectors General of the operations, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal programs. 7/29/2008--Introduced. Federal Agency Performance Review and Efficiency Act - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to make it the principal duty and responsibility of each Inspector General to review annually the operations, efficiency, and effectiveness of all federal programs within his or her establishment and to report to Congress and the President any recommendations, along with proposed legislation, on whether an abolishment, reorganization, consolidation, or transfer of existing federal programs and agencies is necessary to: (1) reduce federal expenditures; (2) increase efficiency of government operations; (3) eliminate overlap and duplication in federal programs and offices; (4) abolish agencies or programs that no longer serve an important governmental purpose; and (5) identify reductions in amounts of [...]

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Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Bill Text
To require the submission by the President of recommendations and proposed legislation to modernize, consolidate, reprioritize, and where necessary, terminate Federal programs, agencies, and activities.

7/29/2008--Introduced.

Federal Efficiency and Performance Act of 2008 - Requires the President to recommend to Congress, with proposed legislation, which existing federal programs and agencies should be modernized, consolidated, reprioritized, and where necessary, terminated in order to: (1) reduce federal expenditures; (2) increase efficiency and effectiveness of government operations; (3) eliminate overlap and duplication in federal programs and offices; (4) abolish agencies, programs, and activities that no longer serve an important governmental purpose; and (5) identify reductions in amounts of discretionary budget authority or direct spending that can be dedicated to federal deficit reduction.

Latest Action: 07/16/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget.

7/16/2008--Introduced.

Children's Budget Act - Requires the President's annual budget to Congress to include a detailed, separate analysis for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, and the ensuing fiscal year identifying the amounts of gross and net appropriations or obligational authority and outlays directed to children and children's programs within the United States and territories.

Latest Action: 06/26/2008 - Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdi

Bill Text
To prevent Members of Congress from receiving the automatic pay adjustment scheduled to take effect in 2009.

6/26/2008--Introduced.

Provides that no automatic pay adjustment shall be considered to have taken effect in FY2009 in the rates of basic pay for Members of Congress under the statutory pay system (thus eliminating the pay adjustment for Members for such fiscal year).

Expresses the sense of Congress that any savings resulting from the enactment of this Act should be dedicated to reducing the federal budget deficit.

Latest Action: 06/16/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for greater accountability and transparency in the Federal contracting process, and for other purposes. 6/16/2008--Introduced. Oversight of the Performance and Effectiveness of National Contracting Act of 2008 - States the policy of the U.S. government concerning the award of contracts or grants to companies organized in an offshore secrecy jurisdiction to avoid federal tax obligations. Prohibits such awards. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt and revise regulations and guidance as necessary to effect this prohibition.Prohibits for one year (with exceptions) entry into or approval of any contract or subcontract with a company that files periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that has failed to certify the most recently due financial report as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.Prohibits award of a contract with an executive agency unless [...]

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Latest Action: 05/21/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, the Budget, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall

Bill Text
To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require that concurrent resolutions on the budget limit the growth of Federal spending to the mean of annual percentage growth of wages and gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States, and for other purposes. 5/21/2008--Introduced. Fiscal Integrity through Transparency (FIT) Act of 2008 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or in the Senate to consider any budget resolution for any fiscal year if the percentage increase for the projected total outlays compared to the projected total outlays for the preceding fiscal year exceeds the allowable growth percentage, as determined according to a specified formula. Requires a super majority vote in either chamber to waive or suspend such prohibition. Requires federal departments and agencies to report annually to the Comptroller General, and federal intelligence departments and [...]

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Latest Action: 05/13/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 committee conc

Bill Text
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes. 5/13/2008--Introduced. Clean Global War on Terror Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes emergency supplemental FY2008 appropriations for specified activities related to the war on terror, international affairs, and national defense matters to the Departments of Agriculture (including food relief to certain foreign countries), of Justice, of Defense (military, including funds for Afghan and Iraqi security forces), of Defense (military construction), and of State (including international peacekeeping activities). Rescinds certain funds made available in: (1) the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 for the Defense Health Program; and (2) the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund. Makes additional supplemental appropriations [...]

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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to control spending.

4/30/2008--Introduced.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for any fiscal year (except for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding an amount that would cause outlays to have increased by a rate that exceeds growth in the U.S. economy over the period since 2007, unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific increase of outlays above this amount.

Directs the President, before each fiscal year, to transmit to Congress a proposed budget for such fiscal year and all ensuing fiscal years covered by it, in which total outlays do not exceed the outlays from the previous year after taking into account an increase to reflect such average growth.

Authorizes a waiver of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect.

Latest Action: 04/23/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
To amend the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to establish the Office of Trade Promotion in the Executive Office of the President, and for other purposes.

4/23/2008--Introduced.

Export Promotion Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to establish in the Executive Office of the President the Office of Trade Promotion. (Currently, there exists a Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), which the Office shall replace.)

Requires the Office to perform duties currently assigned to the TPCC, as well as advise the President and others within the Executive Office on matters relating to trade promotion policies and programs of the U.S. Government.

Requires the President to appoint an Office Director. Authorizes the President to appoint up to two Associate Directors.

Directs the President to establish the Advisory Board on Trade Promotion to advise the Office Director.

Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Bill Text
To amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to establish a Federal wildland fire emergency suppression fund to facilitate accountable fire suppression activities by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to unanticipated large fire events, to encourage enhanced management efficiencies and cost controls of wildland fire suppression, and to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to communities, and for other purposes. 3/14/2008--Introduced. Emergency Wildland Fire Response Act of 2008 - Establishes a Federal Wildland Fire Emergency Suppression Fund to cover the costs of federal wildland fire suppression activities associated with a declared emergency wildland fire incident. Sets forth the criteria for which declarations of emergency wildland fire incidents may be made under this Act. Requires a declaration of such an incident to only be made by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, or a designee of the Secretary [...]

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Latest Action: 04/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Bill Text
To promote wildland firefighter safety.

12/18/2007--Introduced.

Wildland Fire Safety and Transparency Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Directors of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, (the Secretaries) to jointly submit annual reports to Congress on the wildland firefighter safety practices of the Secretaries, including training programs and activities for wildland fire suppression, prescribed burning, and wildland fire use.

Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Rules, 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 co

Bill Text
To provide for investment and protection of the Social Security surplus. 12/13/2007--Introduced. Social Security Surplus Protection Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to direct the Managing Trustee to ensure that amounts in either the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (Social Security Trust Funds) equivalent to the annual surplus for such Fund for any calendar year are made available to the Social Security Surplus Investment Board (SSSIB) on a timely basis for purposes of investment. Requires the Managing Trustee also to ensure that Trust Fund assets are available for payment of benefits. Establishes the SSSIB in the executive branch to provide for the investment of such amounts. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any concurrent resolution [...]

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Latest Action: 11/13/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

11/13/2007--Introduced.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a two-thirds rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.

Requires a two-thirds rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit.

Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.

Requires a two-thirds rollcall vote of each chamber for final adoption of any bill to increase the internal revenue.

Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Latest Action: 10/25/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Bill Text
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that rescission bills always be considered under open rules every year, and for other purposes. 10/25/2007--Introduced. Cut the Unnecessary Tab Resolution, or CUT Resolution - Amends Rule XIII (Calendars and Committee Reports) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the Committee on Rules from reporting a rule or order that would limit any amendment that would otherwise be in order to a rescission bill. Amends Rule X (Organization of Committees) to require the House Budget Committee, whenever a rescission bill passes the House, to reduce the applicable committee allocations by the total amount of resulting reductions in budget authority and outlays. Amends Rule XIII to require the Majority Leader to introduce a rescission bill by certain dates in each session. Makes any motion to discharge the committee from consideration of such a bill privileged 10 legislative days after its introduction,[...]

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Latest Action: 11/14/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Bill Text
To amend title 31, United States Code, to require certain additional calculations to be included in the annual financial statement submitted under section 331(e) of that title, and for other purposes. 10/24/2007--Introduced. Truth in Accounting Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to include in the audited financial statement of executive branch accounts of the previous year a calculation of the net present value of the overall fiscal exposures of the U.S. government. Requires such financial statement to include a program-by-program calculation of: (1) the generational imbalance; (2) the fiscal imbalance; and (3) the total amount of the fiscal imbalance plus the public debt. Instructs the President, in preparing the federal budget, to take this financial statement into consideration, including the effect of the overall budget upon: (1) the generational imbalance calculation and the fiscal imbalance calculation; and (2) the net present value of [...]

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Latest Action: 10/01/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which requires (except during time of war and subject to suspension by Congress) that the total amount of money expended by the United States during any fiscal year not exceed the amount of certain revenue received by the United States during such fiscal year and not exceed 20 per centum of the gross national product of the United States during the previous calendar year. 10/1/2007--Introduced. Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits, except in time of a congressionally declared war, federal fiscal year expenditures from exceeding: (1) federal revenues for that fiscal year, except revenue received from the issuance of bonds, notes, or other obligations of the United States; and (2) 20% of the gross national product for the preceding calendar year. Authorizes suspension of these prohibitions by concurrent resolution approved [...]

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Latest Action: 06/24/2008 - Committee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To establish a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, and for other purposes. 9/25/2007--Introduced. Securing America's Future Economy Commission Act, or SAFE Commission Act - Establishes the Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission to develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues. Requires the Commission to: (1) develop one or two methods for estimating the cost of legislation as an alternative to the current Congressional Budget Office (CBO) method; and (2) hold at least one town-hall [...]

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Latest Action: 09/25/2007 - Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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 committee concerned.

Bill Text
To establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future prosperity and growth for all Americans.

9/25/2007--Introduced.

Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action to address, and report to the President and Congress on, the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances, including those attributable to the Medicare and Social Security programs and the gap between their projected revenues and expenditures.

Provides for expedited legislative consideration of Task Force recommendations.

Latest Action: 10/31/2007 - Committee on the Budget. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future prosperity and growth for all Americans.

9/18/2007--Introduced.

Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2007 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action to address, and report to the President and Congress on, the nation's long-term fiscal imbalances, including those attributable to the Medicare and Social Security programs and the gap between their projected revenues and expenditures.

Provides for expedited legislative consideration of Task Force recommendations.

Latest Action: 08/04/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Bill Text
To fund capital projects of State and local governments, and for other purposes.

8/3/2007--Introduced.

Rebuilding America's Infrastructure - Establishes the Federal Bank for Infrastructure Modernization. Authorizes the Bank to make loans to any state, local government, Indian tribe, and regional or multistate organization for the development of certain transportation- and educational- and water and hazardous treatment-related capital infrastructure facility projects. Sets forth specified requirements with respect to: (1) loan and borrower eligibility; and (2) compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Buy American Act, and the Davis-Bacon Act (wages) as they relate to the development of such projects.

Latest Action: 07/23/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate income tax overpayments as contributions to the Federal Government on their income tax returns.

7/23/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to designate on their income tax returns a specified portion (not less than $1) of any income tax overpayment as a contribution to the general fund of the Treasury.

Latest Action: 07/16/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Bill Text
To safeguard the Crime Victims Fund.

6/28/2007--Introduced.

Victims of Crime Act Preservation Fund Act of 2007 - Excludes receipts and disbursements of the Crime Victims Fund from executive and congressional budgets.

Prohibits the consideration of any legislation in the House of Representatives or the Senate that would authorize the use of amounts in the Crime Victims Fund for a purpose not authorized by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. Allows the Senate to waive or suspend such prohibition by a three-fifths vote.