Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 43. Record Vote Number: 192. (consideration: CR S7722; text: CR S7722)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 7/24/2008--Introduced. Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster 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 the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities through 2009 and the tax credit for closed and open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, and trash combustion facilities through 2011. Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource for purposes of such tax credit. Extends the energy tax credit for solar energy and the residential energy efficient property tax credit through 2016. Extends the energy tax credits for fuel cell and microturbine property through 2017. Allows a new investment tax credit for combined heat and power system property.[...]

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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: 06/11/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5525-5526)

Bill Text
A bill to reauthorize the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act and the Randolph-Sheppard Act, and for other purposes. 6/11/2008--Introduced. Javits-Wagner-O'Day and Randolph-Sheppard Modernization Act of 2008 - Establishes the Committee for the Advancement of Individuals with Disabilities. Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act - Reauthorizes the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program providing for government procurement of goods and services from qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals who are blind or with significant disabilities. Directs the Committee to designate central nonprofit agencies to: (1) facilitate government procurement of such goods and services; (2) establish permanent Javits-Wagner-O'Day Endowment Funds; and (3) makes grants or enter contracts with nonprofit agencies to carry out demonstration projects for the employment of students with significant disabilities. Randolph-Sheppard Act - Reauthorizes the Randolph-Sheppard Act program providing self-support opportunities [...]

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Latest Action: 06/09/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 771.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. Extends through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against regular and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liabilities; and (2) the increased AMT exemption amounts. Extends through 2009: (1) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (2) the tax deductions for qualified tuition and related expenses and for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; (3) tax-free distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes; and (4) tax rules for treatment of [...]

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Latest Action: 04/28/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 720.

Bill Text
A bill to reauthorize and improve the financing and entrepreneurial development programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. 4/24/2008--Introduced. SBA Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act (the Act) to reauthorize for FY2008-FY2010 certain small business assistance programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA), including: (1) the microloan program (loans made to very small businesses for start-up, expansion, or equipment); (2) section 7(a) loans (SBA-guaranteed general business loans); (3) certified development company (CDC) financings; (4) assistance to small businesses affected by a Department of Defense base closure or realignment or the termination of a defense contract or subcontract; (5) the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME); and (6) small business disaster loans. Revises or adds provisions concerning the microloan program, including: (1) increased loan amounts; and (2) making [...]

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Latest Action: 04/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3156-3157)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to amend certain expiring provisions. 4/17/2008--Introduced. Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. Extends through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability; and (2) increased AMT exemption amounts.Extends through 2009: (1) the election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit; (2) tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans (IRAs) for individuals called or ordered to active military duty and for charitable purposes; (3) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (4) the tax deductions for qualified tuition [...]

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Latest Action: 03/13/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Bill Text
A bill to authorize the exploration, leasing, development, production, and economically feasible and prudent transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain in Alaska. 3/13/2008--Introduced. American Energy Independence and Security Act of 2008 - Authorizes the exploration, leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain in Alaska. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a competitive oil and gas leasing program for oil and gas exploration, development, and production in the Coastal Plain. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to repeal the prohibition against production of oil and gas from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. States that, in connection with specified environmental protection laws, the Secretary shall not be required to: (1) identify nonleasing alternative courses of action; or (2) analyze the environmental effects of those actions. Authorizes [...]

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Latest Action: 03/03/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 587.

Bill Text
A bill to promote home ownership, manufacturing, and economic growth. 2/29/2008--Introduced. Homeownership, Manufacturing, and Economic Growth Act or the HOME Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring income, excise, and alternative minimum tax (AMT) provisions and expand other individual and business-related tax incentives. Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to undertake certain initiatives to help small businesses and imposes restrictions on litigation deemed frivolous. Extends through 2009 certain expiring tax provisions affecting individual and business taxpayers, including: (1) tax credits for nonbusiness energy property, residential energy efficient property, increasing research activities, Indian employment, railroad track maintenance, energy efficient appliances, and investment in new markets; (2) tax deductions for educational expenses, state and local sales taxes, food and book inventories, and energy efficient commercial [...]

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Latest Action: 02/28/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to make technical corrections to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and for other purposes. 2/28/2008--Introduced. Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to revise requirements for the exemption of Indian land from gaming prohibitions.Requires: (1) the governor and the legislative body of the state in which a gaming activity is proposed to concur with the Secretary of the Interior's determination that the activity would be in the best interest of the tribe and not have a negative impact; and (2) the land to be land within a state in which the tribe is primarily located and land on which the primary geographic, social, and historical nexus is located.Adds as conditions for class II or class III gaming that it be conducted on: (1) lands that were Indian lands before enactment of this Act; or (2) land taken into trust for an Indian tribe after enactment, but only if the application requesting that the land [...]

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Latest Action: 09/09/2008 - Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Dorgan without amendment. With written report No. 110-450.

Bill Text
A bill to provide for equitable compensation to the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for the use of tribal land for the production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam, and for other purposes. 12/17/2007--Introduced. Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Spokane Tribe of Indians Settlement Fund. Requires the payment of compensation to the Spokane Business Council for the use of tribal lands for the generation of hydropower from the Grand Coulee Dam. Requires the use of such funds, in part, for a Cultural Resource Repository and Interpretive Center concerning the culture and history of the Spokane Tribe. Directs the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration to make specified settlement payments to the Spokane Tribe. Allows payments made to the Spokane Business Council or Spokane Tribe to be used or invested by the [...]

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Latest Action: 09/25/2008 - Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Dorgan without amendment. With written report No. 110-506.

Bill Text
A bill to enhance and provide to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Angostura Irrigation Project certain benefits of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River basin program. 12/14/2007--Introduced. Oglala Sioux Tribe Angostura Irrigation Project Modernization and Development Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) carry out the modernization and improvement of the facilities at the Angostura Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River basin program; and (2) provide for the delivery of water saved through such modernization and improvement for fish and wildlife purposes and environmental restoration on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (South Dakota).Establishes the Oglala Sioux Tribal Development Trust Fund.Requires the Tribal Council of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota to prepare a plan for the use of payments to the Tribe out of the Fund.Prohibits distribution of any payment to any member of the Tribe on a per capita basis.States that no payment made [...]

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Latest Action: 02/27/2008 - Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-368.

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a demonstration program to adapt the lessons of providing foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to the provision of Federal economic development assistance to certain similarly situated individuals, and for other purposes. 10/25/2007--Introduced. Foreign Aid Lessons for Domestic Economic Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement the Native American Millennium Challenge Demonstration Project through which federal economic development assistance may be provided for certain Native American communities. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such assistance to consortia of Alaska Native nonprofit organizations, Native Hawaiian community organizations, and other Indian tribes that enter into Native American Challenge Compacts. Requires such Compacts to establish a multiyear plan for achieving certain development objectives, including promoting economic growth and the elimination [...]

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Latest Action: 10/24/2007 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 439.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the Indian employment credit and the depreciation rules for property used predominantly within an Indian reservation.

10/23/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008 the Indian employment tax credit and the accelerated depreciation of business property used on Indian reservations.

Latest Action: 10/18/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the Indian employment credit and the depreciation rules for property used predominantly within an Indian reservation.

10/18/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2008 the Indian employment tax credit and the accelerated depreciation of business property used on Indian reservations.

Latest Action: 10/17/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Bill Text
A bill to promote the development of Native American small business concerns, and for other purposes. 10/17/2007--Introduced. Native American Small Business Development Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) the Office of Native American Affairs, headed by an Assistant Administrator, to implement SBA programs for the development of business enterprises by Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians). Requires the Office to assist Native American entrepreneurs to: (1) start, operate, and grow small businesses; (2) develop management and technical skills; (3) seek federal procurement opportunities; (4) increase Native American employment opportunities; and (5) increase Native American access to capital markets. Requires the Administrator of the SBA to provide financial assistance to tribal governments, tribal colleges, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Alaska Native corporations [...]

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Latest Action: 10/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

Bill Text
To improve the further development of water resources in Colorado and New Mexico, and for other purposes.

10/16/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 to require: (1) the Secretary of the Interior to assure that not less than one-third of funds appropriated for economic development through each tribe's Tribal Resource Fund be expended for municipal or rural water development; and (2) funds appropriated by this Act and placed in the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Tribal Resource Funds which have not been disbursed by December 31, 2020, to be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.

Latest Action: 06/05/2008 - Committee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To provide for the use and distribution of the funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota Chippewa Tribe v. United States, Docket Nos. 19 and 188, United States Court of Federal Claims. 9/27/2007--Introduced. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to distribute the funds awarded to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota Chippewa Tribe v. United States, Docket Nos. 19 and 188 in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims together with all interest and investment income accrued on deposit in trust account JA1041696 in equal shares to each of the following constituent bands of the Tribe: (1) the Bois Forte Band; (2) the Fond du Lac Band; (3) the Grand Portage Band; (4) the Leech Lake Band; (5) the Mille Lacs Band; and (6) the White Earth Band. Requires that the shares of such Bands be made available for use in the manner determined by the governing body of each Band, except that at least 20% of such funds shall be set aside for social and economic development,[...]

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Latest Action: 07/17/2008 - Mr. Roskam moved that the House instruct conferees. (consideration: CR H6681-6688; text: CR H6681)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to reauthorize that Act, and for other purposes. 7/16/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007 - (Sec.2) Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012 for block grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) for Indian tribe affordable housing activities. Considers, for purposes of the procurement and supply of personal property and nonpersonal services for executive agencies, a tribe or tribally designated housing entity to be an executive agency when carrying out housing programs, services, functions, and activities under such tribe or entity, and its employees to be eligible to have access to such supply sources as executive agency employees. Requires, with respect to any grant made under NAHASDA [...]

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Latest Action: 11/14/2007 - Committee Hearings Held.

Bill Text
To adapt the lessons of foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to the provision of Federal economic development assistance to similarly situated remote Native American communities, and for other purposes. 8/2/2007--Introduced. Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project through which federal economic development assistance may be provided for certain Native American communities. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such assistance to eligible entities that enter into Native American Challenge Compacts with the United States pursuant to this Act. Requires that Compacts establish a multi-year plan for achieving development objectives in furthering the purposes of this Act, including to adapt the lessons of foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to the provision of federal economic development assistance to similarly situated remote Native [...]

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Latest Action: 07/23/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of Indian tribal governments as State governments for purposes of issuing tax-exempt governmental bonds, and for other purposes. 7/23/2007--Introduced. Tribal Government Tax-Exempt Bond Parity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by an Indian tribal government or subdivision if: (1) at least 95 percent of the net proceeds are used to finance facilities on the Indian reservation of such Indian tribal government; or (2) the obligation is part of an issue substantially all of whose proceeds are to be used in the exercise of an essential government function. Excludes an obligation used to finance any part of a building in which class II or III gaming is conducted or housed or any other property actually used in the conduct of such gaming. Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to exempt obligations issued by an Indian tribal government or subdivision [...]

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