Latest Action: 06/25/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain shipping from the harbor maintenance tax.

6/25/2008--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax commercial cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded at: (1) a port in the U.S. mainland and unloaded at another such port after transport solely by coastal route or river or unloaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System; or (2) such a port in Canada and unloaded at a port in the U.S. mainland.

Defines the "Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System" as the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota, and Sept Iles, Quebec, Canada, encompassing the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and the Saint Lawrence River.

Latest Action: 06/20/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Bill Text
A bill to improve port and intermodal supply chain security. 6/20/2008--Introduced. Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Port Security Task Force Implementation Act of 2008 - Amends federal port security law to revise mandatory elements of the secure system of transportation program. Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, acting through the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, to establish minimum program standards and procedures for verifying, at the point goods are placed in a cargo container for shipping, that such container is free of unauthorized contents, including hazardous chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear material, and is securely sealed after verification of its contents. Prohibits the entry of any container that has not complied with such standards and procedures. Requires Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans to establish regional response and recovery protocols for transportation [...]

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Latest Action: 05/23/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Port of Guam Improvement Enterprise Program, and for other purposes.

5/8/2008--Introduced.

Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, to establish a Port of Guam Improvement Enterprise Program for the planning, design, and construction of projects for the Port of Guam to improve port facilities, relieve congestion, increase port security, and provide greater access to port facilities.

Expands intermodal surface freight transfer facility project eligibility for federal loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit to include an intermodal or marine facility project under the Program.

Establishes the Port of Guam Improvement Enterprise Fund.

Latest Action: 05/14/2008 - Rule H. Res. 1190 passed House.

Bill Text
Revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. 3/13/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Revises and replaces the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2008. Sets forth the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2009, including the appropriate budgetary levels for FY2010-FY2013. Title I: Recommended Levels and Amounts - (Sec. 101) Recommends budgetary levels and amounts for FY2008-FY2013 for: (1) federal revenues; (2) new budget authority; (3) budget outlays; (4) deficits (on-budget); (5) debt subject to limit; [...]

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Latest Action: 01/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Bill Text
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish and collect a fee based on the fair market value of articles imported into the United States and articles exported from the United States in commerce and to use amounts collected from the fee to make grants to carry out certain transportation projects in the transportation trade corridors for which the fee is collected, and for other purposes. 1/23/2008--Introduced. Our Nation's Trade, Infrastructure, Mobility, and Efficiency Act of 2007 or the ON TIME Act of 2007 - Declares that it is the purpose of this Act to: (1) address major transportation investment needs in national trade gateway corridors; (2) reduce freight congestion along current and future trade corridors along surface transportation routes that are or will be congested as a result of current or future growth in international trade; and (3) develop corridors that will increase freight transportation system reliability. Directs the Secretary of Transportation [...]

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Latest Action: 01/31/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.

Bill Text
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border security, and for other purposes. 11/1/2007--Introduced. Border Enforcement, Employment Verification, and Illegal Immigration Control Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to: (1) take all appropriate actions, including development of a national border strategy, to maintain operational control over the U.S. international land and maritime borders; (2) report on cross-border security agreements with Mexico and Canada; (3) provide for biometric data enhancements; (4) increase port of entry inspection personnel; (5) report on the airspace security mission's impact on the National Capital Region; (6) reimburse private owners along the border for certain property damage; (7) establish at least one Border Patrol unit for the Virgin Islands; (8) report on Central American gang travel across the U.S.-Mexico border; and (9) deploy radiation portal [...]

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Latest Action: 06/22/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax certain commercial cargo loaded or unloaded at United States ports in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System.

6/22/2007--Introduced.

Great Lakes Short Sea Shipping Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax commercial cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded or unloaded at U.S. ports in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System. Defines the "Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System" as the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota and Sept. Iles, Quebec, Canada, encompassing the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and the Saint Lawrence River.

Latest Action: 06/07/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.

Bill Text
To authorize appropriations for border and transportation security personnel and technology, and for other purposes. 5/22/2007--Introduced. Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) increase, during FY2008-FY2012, the number of agents in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the DHS and the number of officers and agricultural specialists in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the DHS; and (2) provide such agents, officers, and agricultural specialists new technology training to a level of proficiency acceptable to protect U.S. borders. Directs the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review and update, and submit to Congress, the Port of Entry Infrastructure Assessment Study and the nationwide strategy to prioritize and address the infrastructure needs at the land ports-of-entry. Directs the Secretary to prepare annually, and [...]

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Latest Action: 05/25/2007 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Bill Text
Making emergency supplemental appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for agricultural and other emergency assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes. 5/25/2007--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 - Title I: Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, International Affairs, and Other Security-Related Needs - Chapter 1 - Makes additional FY2007 appropriations to the Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, for commodities supplied in connection with dispositions abroad under Public Law 480 Title II Grants. Chapter 2 - Makes additional FY2007 appropriations to the Department of Justice, to remain available through FY2008, for general legal activities, U.S. Attorneys, the U.S. Marshals Service, the National Security Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation [...]

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Latest Action: 05/31/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Bill Text
To strengthen the Food Stamp Act of 1977. 5/3/2007--Introduced. Feeding America's Families Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 with respect to: (1) inflation adjustments; (2) standard deduction increases; (3) combat pay, retirement account, and education account exclusions; (4) minimum benefit increases; (5) countable resource increases; (6) legal immigrant eligibility; (7) work requirements; (8) state option to provide food assistance to foster community reintegration; (9) program administration; (10) cash payment pilot projects; (11) food stamp program reauthorization; (12) block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa; (13) outreach; (14) food stamp use at farmers' markets; (15) community food projects, community food assistance, and food bank infrastructure; (16) creation of the national food for the hungry transportation, self-help, and job-training fund; and (17) hunger-free communities collaborative grants. Establishes in the Department of Agriculture [...]

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Latest Action: 07/16/2007 - DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 375.

Bill Text
Honoring United Parcel Service and its 100 years of commitment and leadership in the United States.

7/16/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 13, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes United Parcel Service's role in the global transportation system as the world's largest package delivery company.

Celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Latest Action: 03/26/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E647-648)

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exemption from the harbor maintenance tax for certain shipping between United States mainland ports.

3/26/2007--Introduced.

Blue Water Highway Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax certain cargo shipped between U.S. mainland ports.

Latest Action: 03/14/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3141-3142)

Bill Text
A bill to restore import and entry agricultural inspection functions to the Department of Agriculture.

3/14/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Homeland Security Act to repeal the transfer of agricultural import and entry inspection functions from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service the international agricultural inspection program to carry out import and entry agricultural inspections.

Latest Action: 03/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2464)

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax certain commercial cargo loaded or unloaded at United States ports.

3/13/2007--Introduced.

Short Sea Shipping Promotion Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax cargo contained in intermodal cargo containers and loaded by crane on a vessel, or cargo loaded on a vessel by means of wheeled technology, that is: (1) loaded at a U.S. port and unloaded at another U.S. port or a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System; or (2) loaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System and unloaded at a U.S. port.

Defines the "Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System" as the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota and Sept. Iles, Quebec, Canada, encompassing the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and the Saint Lawrence River.