Latest Action: 02/04/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Bill Text
A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to designate the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace and Childhood Home in Cresco, Iowa, as a National Historic Site and as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

2/4/2008--Introduced.

Requires, if the Secretary of the Interior acquires by donation from the Borlaug Heritage Foundation fee simple and unencumbered title to the Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace site and the Norman E. Borlaug Childhood Home site (both in Cresco, Iowa) and any related personal property, designation of all such property as a National Historic Site and as a unit of the National Park System, to be known as the "Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace Home National Historic Site."

Latest Action: 01/28/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to designate the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace and Childhood Home in Cresco, Iowa, as a National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

1/23/2008--Introduced.

Requires, if the Secretary of the Interior acquires by donation from the Borlaug Heritage Foundation fee simple and unencumbered title to the Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace site and the Norman E. Borlaug Childhood Home site (both in Cresco, Iowa) and any related personal property, designation of all such property as a National Historic Site and as a unit of the National Park System, to be known as the "Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace Home National Historic Site."

Latest Action: 11/02/2007 - Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Harkin. With written report No. 110-220. Additional views filed.

Bill Text
An original bill to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

11/2/2007--Introduced.

Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 - Revises agricultural and related programs and provisions respecting: (1) producer income; (2) conservation; (3) trade; (4) nutrition; (5) credit; (6) rural development and investment; (7) research and related matters; (8) forestry; (9) energy; (10) livestock marketing; and (11) agricultural security.

Latest Action: 06/15/2007 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Bill Text
Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.

6/14/2007--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There are 2 other summaries)

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

Authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda on July 17, 2007, for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.

Latest Action: 05/22/2008 - Veto message received in Senate. Ordered held at the desk.

Bill Text
To provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

5/22/2007--Introduced.

Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 - Extends and revises agricultural and related programs respecting: (1) commodities; (2) sugar; (3) dairy; (4) conservation; (5) exports and trade assistance; (6) food stamps and nutrition; (7) agricultural credit; (8) rural development; (9) rural electrification; (10) agricultural research; (11) forestry; (12) energy; (13) specialty crops; and (14) livestock.

Latest Action: 07/17/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

Bill Text
To extend and enhance farm, nutrition, and community development programs of the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 5/3/2007--Introduced. Farm, Nutrition, and Community Investment Act of 2007 - Establishes the farm and ranch profitability grant program. Extends the market access program. Revises (and extends certain of) the following conservation programs: (1) the environmental quality incentives program; (2) the conservation innovation grant program; (3) the cost share and incentive payment program; (4) state performance incentives; (5) the wildlife habitat incentive program; (6) the conservation reserve program; and (7) the wetlands reserve program. Establishes: (1) the cooperative conservation partnership initiative; (2) the comprehensive conservation planning pilot program; (3) the farmland protection program; (4) the debt for agricultural easements program; (5) the conservation risk management pilot program; (6) the (Delmarva) conservation [...]

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Latest Action: 04/19/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4754)

Bill Text
A bill to ensure an abundant and affordable supply of highly nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops for American consumers and international markets by enhancing the competitiveness of United States-grown specialty crops. 4/19/2007--Introduced. Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007 - Defines "specialty crop" as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, nursery crops, floriculture, and horticulture. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to provide for marketing order specialty crop food safety programs. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) carry out fruit and vegetable market news activities; (2) make grants to states to enhance specialty crop competitiveness; (3) prepare a foreign market access strategy plan; (4) establish in the Department of Agriculture an office for the protection of intellectual property rights in plants and plant-derived materials; (5) make grants for market analysis of antidumping and countervailing duty [...]

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Latest Action: 02/13/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges.

2/12/2007--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

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

Establishes a pilot program in certain U.S. district courts under which: (1) those district judges who request to hear cases involving patent or plant variety protection issues are designated by the chief judge to hear them; (2) such cases are randomly assigned to the district court judges, regardless of whether they are designated; (3) a judge not designated to whom such a case is assigned may decline to accept the case; and (4) a case so declined is randomly reassigned to one of those judges so designated.