Latest Action: 11/18/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1118 under authority of the order of the Senate of 11/17/2008.

Bill Text
To advance the national security interests of the United States by reducing its dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies while building a bridge to the future through expanded access to Federal oil and natural gas resources, revising the relationship between the oil and gas industry and the consumers who own those resources and deserve a fair return from the development of publicly owned oil and gas, ending tax subsidies for large oil and gas companies, and facilitating energy efficiencies in the building, housing, and transportation sectors, and for other purposes. 9/16/2008--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.) Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act - Title I: Federal Oil and Gas Leasing - Subtitle A: Outer Continental [...]

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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: 04/24/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to ensure greater transparency in the Federal contracting process, and to help prevent contractors that violate criminal laws from obtaining Federal contracts. 4/24/2008--Introduced. Guaranteeing Real Accountability in Federal Transactions Act - Requires a government contractor that has reasonable grounds to believe it has violated a criminal law or received a significant overpayment in connection with the award or performance of a covered contract to notify the Office of Inspector General of the awarding executive agency within 14 days of becoming aware of the violation or overpayment. Provides for debarment or suspension for knowingly failing to notify.Defines a "covered contract" as one for more than $1 million. Requires reported violations and overpayments to be listed on the searchable website established and maintained under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.Requires the Director of the Office of Management [...]

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Latest Action: 04/24/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to require disclosure by Federal contractors of certain violations relating to the award or performance of Federal contracts.

4/24/2008--Introduced.

Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act - Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be amended within 180 days after this Act's enactment to include provisions that require timely notification by federal contractors of violations of federal criminal law or overpayments in connection with the award or performance of covered contracts or subcontracts, including those performed outside the United States and those for commercial items.

Defines the term "covered contract" to mean any contract in an amount greater than $5 million and more than 120 days' duration.

Latest Action: 05/07/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To ensure continued availability of access to the Federal student loan program for students and families. 5/7/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on April 30, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase, by $2,000, the maximum annual unsubsidized Stafford loan amounts that may be provided to undergraduate students under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Sets the aggregate limit on such loans at $31,000 for dependent undergraduates and $57,500 for independent undergraduates. (Sec. 3) Gives parent borrowers of PLUS FFELs the option to defer loan principal repayment for up to six months after the students for whom such loans are borrowed cease to carry at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload. [...]

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Latest Action: 04/30/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Bill Text
To require disclosure by Federal contractors of certain violations relating to the award or performance of Federal contracts.

4/23/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on April 22, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act - Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be amended within 180 days after enactment of this Act to include provisions that require timely notification by federal contractors of violations of federal criminal law or overpayments in connection with the award or performance of covered contracts or subcontracts, including those performed outside the United States and those for commercial items.

Defines the term "covered contract" to mean any contract in an amount greater than $5 million and of more than 120 days' duration.

Latest Action: 02/04/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
To express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted and denied their rights in foreign countries on account of gender, and for other purposes. 10/2/2007--Introduced. International Women's Freedom Act of 2007 - Establishes within the Department of State an Office of International Women's Rights to be headed by an Ambassador at Large for International Women's Rights. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) establish a women's rights Internet site; and (2) maintain prisoner lists and issue briefs on women's rights concerns. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include instruction on the internationally recognized rights of women and the various aspects and manifestations of violations of women's rights in Foreign Service officer training. Establishes the United States Commission on International Women's Rights. (Terminates the Commission 12 years after the date of the initial [...]

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Latest Action: 08/03/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, 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 jurisdiction

Bill Text
To require internal ethics compliance programs by Department of Defense contractors, and for other purposes. 8/3/2007--Introduced. Defense Contracting Ethics Oversight Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to prescribe in regulations a requirement that a Department of Defense (DOD) contracting officer may not determine a contractor to be responsible for the award of a covered contract for DOD (one in excess of $5 million) unless the contracting entity has in place, within 30 days after contract award, an internal ethics compliance program to facilitate the timely detection and disclosure of improper conduct in connection with the award or performance of the contract, and to ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken with respect to such conduct. Allows for the suspension or debarment of contractors determined not to have reported suspected improper conduct. Requires a report from the Administrator of Federal Procurement Policy to Congress on personal [...]

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Latest Action: 09/07/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.

Bill Text
To require persons to certify that they have not violated foreign corrupt practices statutes before being awarded Government contracts, and for other purposes.

8/3/2007--Introduced.

Prohibits an executive agency from: (1) entering into a contract for the procurement of goods or services with any person or entity unless that person or entity has certified that the person or entity, and each of its officers, employees, and agents, have not violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or any comparable law of other countries; or (2) allowing any contractor awarded a contract by the agency to enter into a subcontract (at any tier) with any person or entity that has not made such certification.

Latest Action: 06/21/2007 - Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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

Bill Text
To amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to establish the Angel Investment Program. 6/21/2007--Introduced. Angels Nurture Growing Entrepreneurs into Long-Term Successes (ANGELS) Act - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to establish within the Investment Division of the Small Business Administration (SBA) the Office of Angel Investment, headed by a Director, to provide support for the development of angel investment opportunities for small businesses. Requires the Director to: (1) establish and carry out a program, to be known as the Angel Finance Program, to provide financing to approved angel groups; (2) establish and maintain a searchable database, to be known as the Federal Angel Network, to assist small businesses in identifying angel investors; and (3) establish and carry out a program to make grants for the development of new or existing angel groups and to increase awareness and education about angel investing. Amends the Internal [...]

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Latest Action: 03/04/2008 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-273.

Bill Text
To reauthorize the programs of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and for other purposes. 3/4/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Overseas Private Investment Corporation Reauthorization Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) authority to make loans and issue investment insurance and investment guarantees through September 30, 2011.(Sec. 3) States that OPIC may insure, reinsure, guaranty, or finance a project only if the country in which the project is to be undertaken: (1) is eligible for designation as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and has not been determined to be ineligible for such designation based upon its record on worker rights or child labor; or (2) if not eligible for such GSP designation, the government has taken or is taking steps to afford workers internationally [...]

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Latest Action: 06/29/2007 - Select Committee on Intelligence. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. With written report No. 110-125. Additional views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 6/5/2007--Reported to Senate 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.) National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Division A: Department of Defense Authorizations - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations [...]

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Latest Action: 06/29/2007 - Select Committee on Intelligence. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. Without written report.

Bill Text
An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 6/29/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is