Latest Action: 09/15/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8530-8531)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a tax credit for qualified donations of employee services.

9/15/2008--Introduced.

Incentive to Serve Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit for 25% of wages paid to employees while such employees are performing certain services (e.g., services advancing the improvement of education, health care access, energy conservation, economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals, and disaster preparedness and response) for charitable organizations and community agencies. Limits the amount of wages eligible for such credit to $100,000 per employee.

Latest Action: 10/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10338)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of certain excessive employee remuneration, and for other purposes.

10/1/2008--Introduced.

Compensation Fairness Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an annual inflation adjustment to the $1 million limitation on the tax deduction for employee remuneration; and (2) repeal exceptions to such limitation for remuneration payable on a commission basis and for other performance-based compensation.

Latest Action: 09/25/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to require continued application of budget neutrality on a national basis in calculation of the Medicare urban hospital wage floor.

9/25/2008--Introduced.

Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the case of discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008, to continue to apply budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the urban hospital wage floor for discharges occurring during FY2008 under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (through a uniform, national adjustment to the area wage index).

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

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance charitable giving and improve disclosure and tax administration. 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.)Charity Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify rules and definitions relating to the excise tax on distributions from donor advised funds (charitable funds in which a donor has, or reasonably expects to have, advisory privileges with respect to the distribution or investment of amounts held in such funds by reason of his or her status as a donor). Excludes from the definition of "donor advised fund" charitable funds that receive contributions or are advised solely by one or more public charities or governmental entities. Exempts certain scholarship distributions from the [...]

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Latest Action: 09/18/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To require continued application of budget neutrality on a national basis in calculation of the Medicare urban hospital wage floor.

9/18/2008--Introduced.

Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the case of discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008, to continue to apply budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the urban hospital wage floor for discharges occurring during FY2008 under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (through a uniform, national adjustment to the area wage index).

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: 09/12/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8482-8498)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to expand and improve opportunities for service, and for other purposes. 9/12/2008--Introduced. Serve America Act - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to create two new service-learning programs: (1) a Youth Engagement Zones to Strengthen Communities program, providing competitive grants to partnerships between local educational agencies that serve high-need, low-income communities and certain community-based or state entities to engage students and out-of-school youth in service-learning addressing specific challenges faced by their communities; and (2) a Campus of Service program, which annually grants up to 30 institutions of higher education (IHEs) with exemplary service-learning programs the funds to assist their students' pursuit of public service careers, and the right to nominate additional individuals for ServeAmerica Fellowships. Directs the Corporation for National and Community [...]

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Latest Action: 09/12/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8480-8481)

Bill Text
A bill to provide for a delay in the phase out of the hospice budget neutrality adjustment factor under title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

9/12/2008--Introduced.

Hospice Protection Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from phasing out or eliminating the budget neutrality adjustment factor in the Medicare hospice wage index before October 1, 2009.

Latest Action: 09/11/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1774)

Bill Text
To delay any application of the phase out of the Medicare hospice budget neutrality adjustment factor during fiscal year 2009.

9/11/2008--Introduced.

Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from phasing out or eliminating the budget neutrality adjustment factor in the Medicare hospice wage index before October 1, 2009.

Directs the Secretary to recompute and apply the final Medicare hospice wage index for FY2009 as if there had been no reduction in the budget neutrality adjustment factor.

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
A bill to make technical corrections to the laws affecting certain administrative authorities of the United States Capitol Police, and for other purposes.

7/31/2008--Introduced.

United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2008 - Makes technical amendments to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 with respect to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Capitol Police. Requires the CAO to report to and serve at the pleasure of the Chief of the Capitol Police. Repeals the CAO's authority over the personnel of the Capitol Police Office of Administration.

Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 to authorize the Chief of Police to discipline and suspend Capitol Police employees with or without pay.

Establishes a General Counsel to the Chief of Police and the U.S. Capitol Police.

Prohibits lump sum payments to terminated U.S. Capitol Police officers or employees for unused compensatory time.

Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7786)

Bill Text
A bill to promote industry growth and competitiveness and to improve worker training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes. 7/30/2008--Introduced. Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success Act of 2008 or the SECTORS Act of 2008 - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to require the Secretary of Labor to award competitive industry or sector partnership grants to eligible entities to develop strategies that: (1) encourage growth and competitiveness through work with high road employers within a targeted industry cluster; (2) help workers move toward economic self-sufficiency and ensure that they have access to supportive services; (3) address the needs of firms with limited human resources or in-house training capacity, including small- and medium-sized firms; and (4) coordinate with entities that carry out state and local workforce investment, economic development, and education activities. Requires federal agency coordination [...]

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Latest Action: 07/28/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that wages earned, and self-employment income derived, by individuals while such individuals were not citizens or nationals of the United States and were illegally in the United States shall not be credited for coverage under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program under such title.

7/28/2008--Introduced.

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide that wages earned, and self-employment income derived by, individuals while they were not U.S. citizens or nationals, and were in the United States illegally, shall not be credited for coverage under the OASDI program.


Latest Action: 07/24/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7299)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the deduction for domestic production activities for film and television productions, and for other purposes.

7/24/2008--Introduced.

Domestic Film Production Equity Act of 2008 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the tax deduction for domestic film and television production activities to: (1) include within the income base for such deduction compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, production personnel, directors, and producers and any copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles with respect to a film production; and (2) allow a deduction for partners or S corporation shareholders who own at least a 20% interest in a film project.

Latest Action: 06/19/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Bill Text
To amend chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Davis-Bacon Act) to provide an exemption from the prevailing wage requirements for certain non-profit organizations.

6/19/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to exempt parties to a contract with a tax-exempt nonprofit organization from the Act's prevailing wage requirements for laborers and mechanics.

Latest Action: 06/12/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5595-5597)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 6/12/2008--Introduced. Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend various provisions relating to energy production and conservation and to individual and business-related activities.Extends through 2009 the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities and through 2011 for closed and open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, and trash combustion facilities. Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource for purposes of such tax credit. Extends through 2014: (1) the energy tax credits for solar energy, fuel cell, and microturbine property; and (2) the residential energy efficient property tax credit. Allows a new investment tax credit for combined heat and power system property.Provides funding for new clean renewable energy [...]

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Latest Action: 11/19/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture.

Bill Text
To make the Davis-Bacon Act applicable to rural development loan and loan guarantee programs.

6/12/2008--Introduced.

Requires that laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on construction and minor remodeling projects assisted under a rural development loan or loan guarantee program be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar projects in the locality pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act.

Latest Action: 06/09/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Bill Text
To make bills implementing trade agreements subject to a point of order unless certain conditions are met, and for other purposes. 5/22/2008--Introduced. Trade Agreement Benchmarks and Accountability Act - Subjects bills implementing trade agreements to a point of order in both the Senate and the House of Representatives unless certain conditions are met. Withdraws congressional approval of a bill implementing a trade agreement if a report by the International Trade Commission (ITC) indicates that certain benchmarks and predictions made with respect to an agreement are not being met unless a joint resolution waiving such benchmarks and predictions is enacted by Congress. Describes the benchmarks as analyses of the following effects of the agreement: (1) resulting job creation and job losses; (2) resulting improvement in wages for U.S. workers; (3) implementation and enforcement of the labor and environmental standards by each country that is a party to the agreement;[...]

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Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-245.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits for military personnel, and for other purposes. 6/17/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 20, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 -Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits and incentives for military personnel.Title I: Benefits for Military - (Sec 101) Exempts married taxpayers who file a joint tax return from the identification requirement for the 2008 recovery tax rebate if at least one of the filers is a current member of the Armed Forces.(Sec. 102) Makes permanent the election to treat combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit. (Sec. 103) Makes permanent the exemption from the first-time homebuyer rule for veterans using mortgage [...]

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Latest Action: 10/15/2008 - Became Public Law No: 110-423.

Bill Text
To provide that Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer shall be given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically.

10/15/2008--Public Law.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to ensure that executive agency employees who receive their pay by electronic funds transfer are given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically.

Latest Action: 05/13/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E897-898)

Bill Text
To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector. 5/13/2008--Introduced. Family-Friendly Workplace Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to authorize private employers to provide compensatory time off to private employees, at a rate of 1 1/2 hours per hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required. Authorizes an employer to provide compensatory time only if it is in accordance with an applicable collective bargaining agreement or, in the absence of such an agreement, an agreement between the employer and employee. Prohibits an employee from accruing more than 160 hours of compensatory time. Requires an employee's employer to provide monetary compensation, after the end of a calendar year, for any unused compensatory time off accrued during the preceding year. Requires an employer to give employees 30-day notice before discontinuing compensatory time off. Prohibits [...]

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Latest Action: 06/05/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
To make technical corrections to the laws affecting certain administrative authorities of the United States Capitol Police, and for other purposes. 6/4/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2008 - Makes technical amendments to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 with respect to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Capitol Police. Repeals requirements that the Comptroller General be involved in the process of hiring and evaluating the CAO. (Thus, grants such authority solely to the Chief of the Capitol Police.)Transfers the CAO's authority to the Chief of Police over the personnel of the Capitol Police Office of Administration.Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2008 to terminate the Chief of Police's authority at the end of FY2012 to make advance payments for U.S. Capitol Police obligations for subscription [...]

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Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To provide a Federal income tax credit for Eagle employers, and for other purposes.

4/24/2008--Introduced.

Eagle Employers Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer certified as an Eagle employer by the Secretary of the Treasury a tax credit for one percent of such employer's taxable income. Defines an " Eagle employer" as any taxpayer who: (1) maintains its headquarters in the United States; (2) pays at least 60% of the health care premiums of its employees; (3) maintains or increases the number of its full-time workers in the United States relative to its full-time workers outside of the United States; (4) provides full differential salary and insurance benefits for all National Guard and Reserve employees called to active duty; and (5) provides its employees with a certain level of compensation and retirement benefits.

Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.

Bill Text
To provide for a paid family and medical leave insurance program, and for other purposes. 4/22/2008--Introduced. Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, mandatory for certain covered employers.. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) contract for a state to provide benefits in that state through the Program, including expansion of a pre-existing state program; or (2) at a governor's request enter an interagency agreement with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to establish and provide Program benefits directly through a state Family and Medical Insurance Program. Entitles eligible employees to Program benefits that include specified percentages of their daily earnings for 12 workweeks of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 during any 12-month period. Authorizes any employer, with the Secretary's approval, to establish a voluntary [...]

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Latest Action: 04/22/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the targeting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. 4/15/2008--Introduced. Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities to make available, upon request, ownership and affiliated parties information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other responsible parties.Outlines accountability requirements for such institutions.Requires specified additional information to appear on the Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Home Compare Website.Requires SNFs to separately report expenditures for wages and benefits for different levels of nursing staff.Directs the Secretary to [...]

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Latest Action: 04/15/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide taxpayers a flat tax alternative to the current income tax system. 4/15/2008--Introduced. Optional One Page Flat Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize an individual or a person engaged in business activity to make an irrevocable election to be subject to a flat tax (in lieu of the existing tax provisions) of 19% for the first two years after an election is made, and 17% thereafter. Calculates taxable income for individual taxpayers by subtracting a basic standard deduction and an additional standard deduction for each dependent from the total of wages, retirement distributions, and unemployment compensation. Defines "business taxable income" to mean gross active income reduced by the cost of certain business inputs. Imposes an employer tax on the value of excludable compensation provided to employees not engaged in business activity of 19% for the first two years after an election [...]

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Latest Action: 04/08/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax for employing members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard.

4/8/2008--Introduced.

National Guard and Ready Reserves Employment Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for 15% of the first $10,000 of wages paid to an employee who is a member of the National Guard or Ready Reserve. Terminates such credit after 2011.