Latest Action: 04/03/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2444-2445)

Bill Text
A bill to establish the National Park Centennial Fund, and for other purposes. 4/3/2008--Introduced. National Park Centennial Fund Act - Establishes a revolving fund in the Treasury to be known as the National Park Centennial Fund, into which, not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, on October 1, 2008, and each October 1 thereafter through 2016, there shall be transferred, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $100 million to carry out this Act. Requires the annual budget submission of the President for the Department of the Interior to include a list of National Park Centennial proposals. Requires the list to include projects under the following initiatives: (1) an Education in Parks Centennial Initiative; (2) a Diversity in Parks Centennial Initiative; (3) a Supporting Park Professionals Centennial Initiative; (4) an Environmental Leadership Centennial Initiative; (5) a Natural Resource Protection Centennial Initiative; (6) [...]

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Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - H.AMDT.1182 Amendment (A001) in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Altmire. (consideration: CR H10195; text: CR H10195) Amendment inserted a new preamble.

Bill Text
Honoring and supporting the Hadley School for the Blind.

9/27/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary)

Honors the effect the Hadley School for the Blind has had on the lives of thousands of visually impaired people across the globe.

Supports the school's mission to promote independent living through lifelong, distance education programs for the blind, their families, and blindness service providers.

Latest Action: 10/31/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13629)

Bill Text
A bill to enhance United States competitiveness in aeronautics, and for other purposes. 10/31/2007--Introduced. Aeronautics Competitiveness Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2011 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Science, Aeronautics, and Exploration for aeronautics research.Establishes an advisory committee on priorities in aeronautics research.Requires the NASA Administrator to develop particular aeronautics technologies, including for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, to a demonstration ready level.Sets the maximum number of NASA aeronautics scholarships at no more than seven at any one time. Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a program to provide fellowships for graduate students in research in aviation or aeronautics.Requires the Secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD) to prescribe regulations governing DOD's payment of contractors' [...]

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Latest Action: 02/25/2008 - By Senator Inouye from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 110-265.

Bill Text
A bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide greater protection for children's products, to improve the screening of noncompliant consumer products, to improve the effectiveness of consumer product recall programs, and for other purposes. 12/5/2007--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) CPSC Reform Act of 2007 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to authorize appropriations: (1) to carry out the Act; (2) for the office of Inspector General; (3) to make capital improvements to the research, development, and testing facility of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); and (4) for research into safety issues related to the use of nanotechnology in consumer products.(Sec. 4) Requires the CPSC, subject to the availability of appropriations, to increase by at least 500 the number of its full time employees and by at least 50 the number of its port of entry and overseas production facility inspectors.[...]

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Latest Action: 09/11/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Bill Text
To promote the construction of green buildings in the United States, and for other purposes. 7/12/2007--Introduced. Advanced Design in Energy for Living Efficiently Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) coordinate and provide information on green building design and practices; (2) establish a program to create and distribute information on green building design principles; and (3) establish criteria for education and training of architects, engineers, and developers in green building design and application.Requires the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) to establish a blue ribbon panel to: (1) provide independent counsel to the Administrator on policy issues associated with green building design and practices; (2) report on the results of a study to determine best practices for quantifying the information necessary to make informed property investment decisions; (3) report on funding necessary for research [...]

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Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - By Senator Kennedy from Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions filed written report. Report No. 110-231.

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A bill to extend the authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. 7/24/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Higher Education Amendments of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise HEA programs and to extend the authorization of appropriations for them through FY2013. Title I: General Provisions - (Sec. 101) Adds definitions of a critical foreign language, distance education, and poverty line. Provides that critical foreign languages are those contained on the list designated by the Secretary of Education in the Federal Register on August 5, 1985, but allows the Secretary to set language priorities according to the purposes of a specific program and national security, economic competitiveness, and educational needs. States that poverty line refers to the poverty line applicable to a family of the size involved. (Sec. 102) Revises [...]

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Latest Action: 06/05/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

Bill Text
To provide grants to eligible consortia to provide professional development to superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals. 2/16/2007--Introduced. Investment in Quality School Leadership Act - Establishes a program of grants to consortia for professional development of superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals. Directs the Secretary of Education to award such competitive grants to consortia to establish programs that serve a state or region and provide superintendents, principals, and prospective superintendents and principals, particularly those serving, or intending to serve, in high-poverty, low-performing school districts and schools, with ongoing, intensive professional development opportunities to improve their capacity to serve as effective leaders and successfully implement standards-based reforms. Requires a consortium, to be eligible to apply for such a grant, to include at least: (1) one [...]

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Latest Action: 10/14/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of the Inspectors General, to create a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and for other purposes. 10/14/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require Inspectors General (IGs) for designated federal entities to be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.(Sec. 3) Requires the President and the heads of designated federal entities to communicate to Congress in writing the reasons for removing or transferring an IG no later than 30 days before such removal or transfer.(Sec. 4) Sets the pay for presidentially appointed IGs at Executive Schedule III plus 3%. Requires [...]

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