United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2009
FVPSA Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Revises requirements for and reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act at increased levels for FY2010-FY2014. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish grant programs for: (1) specialized services for abused parents and their children; (2) domestic violence prevention enhancement and leadership through alliances; and (3) enhancement of culturally competent services for adult and youth victims of domestic violence from racial and ethnic minority groups.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2009
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) aviators who were shot down over or otherwise forced to land in hostile territory yet evaded enemy capture, or were captured but subsequently escaped to return to their units and resume their service to the United States, should be recognized for their extraordinary service; and (2) the Secretaries of the military departments should consider these aviators for appropriate recognition within their branch of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2009
Expresses the gratitude of the House of Representatives to the members of the Army National Guard of the state of Illinois and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States. Commends the members of the 33rd Brigade Combat Team of the Illinois Army National Guard on the completion of their deployment to Afghanistan. Recognizes that Team's achievements and all other formerly and presently deployed Illinois Army National Guard members for their exemplary service.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2009
Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of National Diabetes Month; and (2) decreasing the prevalence of diabetes, developing better treatments, and working toward an eventual cure for type I and type II diabetes through increased research, treatment, and prevention. Recognizes the importance of early detection of diabetes and awareness of the symptoms of diabetes and risk factors for type II diabetes.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2009
Fort Hood Families Benefits Protection Act - Treats members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DOD) who were killed or wounded in the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, as members killed or wounded in a combat zone or civilian employees killed or wounded in a terrorist attack or while serving in a contingency operation, respectively, for purposes of specified laws, regulations, and policies concerning compensation, awards, and other benefits for which such members and employees are eligible. Provides the maximum amount of coverage ($400,000) under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for any member killed in such shootings, as well as any member who dies of wounds sustained in the shootings, notwithstanding that the member elected to be insured in a lesser amount. Excludes from the above provisions members whose wounds or death is the result of willful misconduct.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2009
Veterans to Work Pilot Program Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish the Veterans to Work pilot program to determine: (1) the maximum extent to which apprentices may be employed on designated military construction projects; (2) the maximum extent to which such apprentices are veterans; and (3) the feasibility of expanding the employment of apprentices to military construction projects other than those designated. Requires the Secretary, for each of FY2011-FY2015, to designate for the pilot program at least 20 military construction projects, taking into account specified considerations. Requires each contractor or subcontractor on a designated project to assure that it participates in a qualified apprenticeship or other training program for each craft or trade classification of worker that it intends to employ on the construction project.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2009
Supports the goals and ideals of a Cold War Veterans Recognition Day to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the Armed Forces during the Cold War. Encourages the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities honoring such sacrifices and contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2009
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to lease portions of the Airborne and Special Operations Museum facility to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum Foundation for generating revenue for Museum activities and to support Museum operations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2009
Puget Sound Recovery Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) establish a Puget Sound Program Office, to be co-located with the Puget Sound Partnership in Washington; and (2) appoint a Director of the Office. Requires the Administrator, acting through the Director, to: (1) assist and support the implementation of the Puget Sound Action Agenda; (2) provide funding and make grants for implementation of the Agenda and related projects; (3) promote methodologies and technologies that are cost-effective and consistent with the goals and objectives of the Agenda and the EPA permitting processes; (4) coordinate the major functions of the federal government relating to the implementation of the Agenda; (5) coordinate the research and planning projects authorized under this Act with federal and state agencies, tribes, universities, and the Puget Sound Partnership's Science Panel; (6) track progress toward meeting the identified goals and objectives of the Agenda; (7) coordinate projects, programs, and studies for the protection of Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca with Canadian authorities; (8) collect and make available to the public publications and information relating to the environmental quality of Puget Sound; and (9) implement projects, programs, and studies to implement the Agenda. Requires the Administrator to establish a Puget Sound Program Advisory Council to provide advice on the implementation of the Agenda's goals and objectives. Requires the Administrator and the Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership to a report, biennially, to Congress on implementation of the Agenda. Allows the Administrator, acting through the Director, to make grants for projects, programs, and studies to implement the Agenda, including a comprehensive grant to the Partnership to manage such implementation. Requires the President, as part of the annual budget, to submit information regarding expenditures and roles of each federal agency involved in Puget Sound protection and restoration.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2009
Expresses support for Chinese human rights activists Huang Qi and Tan Zuoren for engaging in peaceful expression as they seek answers and justice for the parents whose children were killed as a result of the collapse of numerous school buildings in the Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2009
Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to list permissible sources of dogs and cats used by research facilities to include dogs and cats obtained: (1) from a licensed dealer; (2) from a publicly owned and operated pound or shelter that meets specified requirements; (3) by donation from a person who bred and raised the dog or cat or owned it for not less than one year; or (4) from a research facility licensed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Sets forth additional monetary penalties for related violations. Prohibits federal facilities from purchasing or otherwise acquiring dogs or cats for exhibition purposes (currently, for research, experimentation, or exhibition purposes) except from: (1) the operator of an auction that comports with legal requirements; or (2) a person holding a valid dealer or exhibitor license. Prohibits dealers from selling or otherwise providing any research facility (currently, any individual or entity) with random source dogs or cats unless specified certification requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2009
Calls on people of Madagascar to restore constitutional governance, culminating in free and peaceful elections. Condemns the illegal extraction of Madagascar's natural resources and its impact on biodiversity and livelihoods of rural communities. Calls upon importing countries to intensify their monitoring processes to ensure that they do not contribute to the demand for illegally sourced precious woods from Madagascar.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 2009
Recognizes Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) as the leading cause of death and disability in the United States for children and young adults from birth until 25 years of age. Endorses the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan and encourages its implementation by federal, state, and local governments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 2009
Mourns the loss of life and expresses deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the September 2009 earthquake that struck Indonesia. Recognizes the ties between the United States and Indonesia and expresses continued solidarity with the people of Indonesia during this time of crisis. Applauds the response of Indonesian and international rescue workers. Supports President Obama's offer of U.S. assistance to Indonesia.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2009
Supports the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Declares that the House of Representatives intends to work with federal agencies, national organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to encourage the development and implementation of existing and future security consensus standards, practices, and technologies in order to enhance the state of cyber security in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2009
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act - Identifies roadless areas within the National Forest System set forth in specified maps as National Forest Inventoried Roadless Areas, and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to manage such Areas to maintain their roadless character. Authorizes the Forest Service to modify such maps for the sole purpose of improving their accuracy or inclusiveness. Requires any substantial modification of those maps to be made through the national forest management planning process and documented in an environmental impact statement.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2009
Healthcare Innovation Zone Pilot Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone (HIZ) pilot program to increase health care provider integration and align provider incentives to reduce the rate of growth of health care costs while improving quality of care for Medicare, Medicaid, and privately insured patients. Defines an "HIZ" as a geographic region that contains clinical and other entities that provide a full spectrum of health care to such patients and a teaching hospital that has the capacity to conduct health services research and provide clinical training for health professionals. Requires the HIZ program to: (1) incorporate innovative clinical initiatives for training health professionals in a new model of cost-effective, high-quality health care; and (2) consist of an HIZ planning grant program and an HIZ pilot project. Directs the Secretary to make up to 25 HIZ planning grants to eligible health care entities for researching and preparing HIZ design plans, which shall describe the HIZ Coordinating Entity (who will receive and administer payments under the program), how care will be provided, how spending will be reduced, how providers will be integrated and delivery processes changed to reduce costs and improve care, the target population,quality improvement metrics, training, data collection mechanisms, methods for monitoring health costs and use, a strategy to improve prevention, mechanisms to achieve community involvement, payment methodology options, and startup and operating costs. Directs the Secretary to establish an HIZ pilot project to test the effectiveness of HIZs in reducing the rate of growth of health care costs while improving quality of care.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2009
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for FY2012-FY2016 for: (1) type I diabetes research; and (2) diabetes prevention and treatment through Indian health facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2009
Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require personnel who perform or plan the technical component of either medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes to possess, effective January 1, 2013: (1) certification in each medical imaging or radiation therapy modality and service provided from a certification organization designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS); or (2) state licensure or certification where such services and modalities are within the scope of practice as defined by the state for such profession and where the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration meet or exceed the standards established by the Secretary. Exempts physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish minimum standards for personnel who perform, plan, evaluate, or verify patient dose for medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures; (2) establish a program for designating certification organizations after consideration of specified criteria; (3) provide a method for the recognition of individuals whose training or experience are determined to be equal to, or in excess of, those of a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty; and (4) approve and publish a list of accrediting bodies for such certification organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to develop alternative standards for rural or health professional shortage areas as appropriate to assure access to quality medical imaging. Amends the Social Security Act to allow Medicare payment for medical imaging and radiation therapy services furnished on or after January 1, 2013, only if the examination or procedure is planned or performed by an individual who meets this Act's requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2009
Recognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month as a study of the advancement of Filipino Americans and as a time to renew efforts toward the examination of history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the United States to learn more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2009
Supports the goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims. Acknowledges the epidemic of intimate partner homicide and its disproportionate impact on women.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2009
Congratulates Ichiro Suzuki, outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, for becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history with at least 200 base hits in nine consecutive seasons.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2009
21st Century Global Health Technology Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the Health Technology Program which shall: (1) coordinate and lead research and development efforts; (2) be funded by USAID on a competitive basis; and (3) serve as a national laboratory and technology development program for global health.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2009
National Guard Education Equality Act - Includes as qualifying service for veterans educational assistance purposes (Post-9/11 Educational Assistance): (1) certain active duty service in the reserve components (including service such as part of an airport security mission or counterdrug activity); and (2) discharge from active duty service in the reserve components because of a service connected disability.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2009
Expresses support for the designation of a National Health Information Technology Week. Recognizes the value of information technology and management systems to transforming health care. Encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling upon all stakeholders to promote the use of such systems to transform the U.S. health care system.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2009
Export Control Improvements Act - Securing Exports Through Coordination and Technology Act - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to set forth requirements regarding conferences and seminars to educate exporters about U.S. export laws and the Automated Export System (AES). Revises filing requirements under the AES to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) register agents to file information in the AES; and (2) revoke, suspend, or deny a registration. Provides for administrative and judicial appeal of registration revocations, suspensions, or denials. Requires the Secretary to ensure that the AES will identify filings with respect to exports that would violate U.S. export control laws or trade sanctions regulations. Export Enforcement Act of 2009 - Delineates general authorities for the enforcement of the Export Administration Regulations, in particular to the Secretary for enforcement of their restrictive trade practices and boycott provisions. Subjects to forfeiture any tangible items lawfully seized by U.S. designated officers or employees. Specifies the use of funds made available for undercover investigation operations by the Office of Export Enforcement. Authorizes the Secretary, without fiscal year limitations, to expend funds transferred to, paid to, received by, or made available to the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce as a reimbursement. Requires the President to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on all countries identified to be of concern with respect to transshipment, reexportation, or diversion of sensitive items to Iran. Requires the Secretary to designate a country as a Destination of Possible Diversion Concern if appropriate to carry out activities to strengthen that country's export control systems. Requires the United States to initiate such activities on a government-to-government basis. Defines a Destination of Diversion Concern as any country whose government is directly involved in the transshipment, reexportation, or diversion of U.S.-originating controlled items to unverifiable end users or to Iran, or that has failed to strengthen adequately its export control systems. Requires a license to export to a country designated a Destination of Diversion Concern any controlled items that could contribute to Iran's obtaining nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, defense technologies, components for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), or other defense items, or its support for acts of international terrorism. Requires the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) any country that may be may be transshipping, reexporting, or diverting controlled items to another country if such other country is seeking to obtain nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, defense technologies, components for IEDs, or other defense items, or provides support for acts of international terrorism; and (2) the feasibility and advisability of including such countries in the system for designating countries as Destinations of Possible Diversion Concern and Destinations of Diversion Concern. Requires the President to report to Congress on transfers of military sensitive technology to countries and entities of concern during the preceding year.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2009
Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act - Prohibits any unit of the regular Armed Forces from being deployed for Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom unless the period between the most recent previous deployment and a subsequent deployment is equal to or longer than the period of the most recent previous deployment. Expresses the sense of Congress that the optimal minimum period between such deployments should be equal to or longer than twice the period of the most recent previous deployment. Prohibits any unit of the reserves from being deployed for such Operations unless the period between the most recent previous deployment and a subsequent deployment is at least three times longer than the period of the most recent previous deployment. Expresses the sense of Congress that units of the reserves should not be mobilized continuously for more than one year, and that the optimal minimum period between such deployments should be five years. Provides exceptions from deployment requirements. Authorizes the President or chief of staff of the military department concerned to waive such requirements under certain circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2009
Requires a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage in the group market or health insurance coverage in the individual market, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2010, to provide premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conclude a rulemaking procedure to determine the appropriate premium discount applicable to each healthy behavior and each improvement toward healthy behavior. Describes "healthy behavior" (and improvements toward such behavior) as indicated by factors related to smoking, blood pressure, body mass index, lipoprotein levels, and hemoglobin A1c levels. Requires any healthy behavior or improvement toward healthy behavior to be supported by medical test result information which is certified by a licensed physician, and the individual to whom it relates, as being complete, accurate, and current. Imposes civil penalties for false certifications.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2009
Taxpayer Responsibility, Accountability and Consistency Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require reporting to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of payments of $600 or more made to corporations; (2) set forth criteria and rules relating to the treatment of workers as employees or independent contractors; and (3) increase penalties for failure to file correct tax return information or comply with other information reporting requirements. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue an annual report on worker misclassification.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2009
Protect America's Wildlife Act of 2009 - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to impose criminal penalties on anyone who knowingly violates any regulation prohibiting the shooting or harassing of birds, fish, or other animals from aircraft (airborne hunting). Increases the monetary penalty for airborne hunting from $5,000 to $50,000. Expands the exceptions to the prohibition against airborne hunting to include enhancing the propagation and survival of wildlife or preventing the extinction of a species threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2009
Medicare and Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAP IT) Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish at least one two-year project to demonstrate the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management under the Medicare and Medicaid programs under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2009
Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion, and Supporting Parents Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services ( HHS) to make matching grants for projects to provide comprehensive education on preventing teen pregnancies. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize appropriations for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the Carol M. White Physical Education Program. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize appropriations for Federal TRIO Programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP). Amends part A of title IV (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to award grants to states for reducing teen pregnancy and teen births. Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to require the Secretary to establish a national goal of reducing teen pregnancy by at least one-third over ten years. Authorizes the Secretary to make matching grants to assist entities in demonstrating innovative approaches to teen pregnancies, such as facilitating communication between parents and children. Requires the Secretary to award grants to organizations to establish and operate a national initiative for parents of adolescents to reduce teen pregnancy. Directs the Secretary of Education to award demonstration grants to community colleges for the purpose of developing and implementing innovative approaches to prevent unplanned pregnancy and promote healthy relationships among women and men in community colleges. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of SSA to expand coverage of family planning services. Expands and extends postpartum health care coverage for women under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP). Expands the definition of "low-income child" under CHIP. Title X Family Planning Services Act of 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the establishment and operation of voluntary family planning projects. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit individual health insurance issuers from imposing any preexisting condition exclusions relating to pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Requires such issuers to provide coverage for maternity services. Authorizes the HHS Secretary to make grants for the purchase of ultrasound equipment. Requires the HHS Secretary to make grants to enable states to better identify and treat women who are victims of, or at risk of, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual coercion, or stalking. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to institutions of higher education to assist students who have decided to carry their pregnancies to term in continuing their studies and graduating. Requires the HHS Secretary to award grants for a national information campaign to educate the public about adoption. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and make refundable the tax credit for adoption expenses. Revises and authorizes appropriations for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC program). Requires the HHS Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine to study the range of choices women make in response to unintended pregnancy.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2009
Derivative Trading Accountability and Disclosure Act - Establishes within the Department of the Treasury the Office of Derivatives Supervision (Office) to: (1) implement this Act and oversee the registration of derivatives traders; (2) coordinate with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in developing comprehensive, standardized regulations for derivatives transactions; and (3) facilitate information exchange among specified agencies regarding the development of derivatives regulations. Makes it unlawful for any unregistered derivatives trader to make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce to effect any transactions in, or to induce or attempt to induce the purchase or sale of any type of derivative. Prescribes registration requirements for derivatives traders. Grants the SEC and CFTC authority to: (1) issue separate proposed regulations imposing specified requirements governing trading in the derivative instruments over which each Commission has jurisdiction; (2) impose civil penalties; (3) issue cease and desist orders; and (4) order an accounting and disgorgement. Requires the Office to invite representatives of the SEC, the CFTC, regulators of domestic and foreign boards of trade, and other experts, to participate in a working group of international regulators to review international standards in order to evaluate international regulations regarding harmonization of substantive commodities and securities regulation for economically equivalent instruments.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2009
Earmark Transparency and Accountability Reform Act - Amends Rule XXI (House and Senate Relations) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order to consider any legislation containing a congressional earmark that has not been posted on the website of the reporting committee for at least 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays except when the House is in session on such a day). Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) to require a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner (Member) requesting a congressional earmark, within 24 hours of making such request, to: (1) submit the amount requested, the project name, a project description of its subject matter, and the name of the earmark's recipient to the Clerk for posting on the Clerk's website; (2) provide a written statement to the chairman and ranking minority member of the committee of jurisdiction certifying whether the Member or the Member's spouse has any financial interest in it; and (3) provide an accompanying letter of support from a supporting public entity if such earmark is for a non-public entity. Amends Rule II (Other Officers and Officials) to require the Clerk's website to include an up-to-date list of all such requests under a heading entitled "Member Spending Requests." Amends Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) to make it out of order to consider any legislation if a committee report or the joint explanatory statement of the managers accompanying a conference report contains any congressional earmark. Prohibits a conference report from including a modification of any congressional earmark or limited tax or tariff benefit committed to the conference committee by either or both chambers if that modification is beyond the scope of that specific matter as committed to such committee. Provides for consideration of a point of order against a conference report that contains a violation of this prohibition. Makes it out of order to consider legislation containing an earmark for an entity named after a sitting Member or Senator. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the repeal of any congressional earmark or the cancellation of any limited tariff or targeted tax benefit. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed repeal or cancellation. Dedicates only to deficit reduction or increase of a surplus any earmark or limited tax or tariff benefit repealed or cancelled. Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission. Authorizes the President, when transmitting a special message to Congress, to direct that any congressional earmark to be repealed in that special message shall not be made available for obligation for a specified period of time after transmittal of the message. Grants similar authority to the President to suspend implementation of a limited tax or tariff benefit proposed for cancellation in a special message to Congress. Requires the Comptroller General to develop and implement a systematic process to audit and report to Congress annually on programs, projects, and activities funded through earmarks. Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require any nonpublic recipient of federal funds to file a lobbying disclosure report containing the name of any registered lobbyist to whom the recipient paid money to lobby on behalf of such funds, including the amount. Establishes the Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform. Expresses the sense of the Congress on: (1) disclosure of earmarks requested by the President; (2) official visits by earmark-requesting Members to project sites; and (3) hearings by the subcommittees of the House Committee on Appropriations for earmark-requesting Members to testify.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2009
Military Family Leave Act of 2009 - Entitles an employed family member of a member of the Armed Forces who receives notification of a call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation, or who is deployed in connection with a contingency operation, to two workweeks of leave per year for each family member who is so called or deployed. Allows such leave to: (1) be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule; and (2) consist of paid or unpaid leave, as the employer considers appropriate. Allows an employer to require certification of entitlement to such leave within a leave request. Provides employment and benefits protection for employees upon their return from such leave. Prohibits an employer from interfering with or otherwise denying the exercise of such leave rights.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2009
Honors the 150th anniversary of the peaceful resolution of the Pig War crisis and applauds the close ties and lasting friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2009
Expresses the gratitude of the House of Representatives to the members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Washington and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States. Commends the members of the 81st Brigade Combat Team (Heavy) of the Washington Army National Guard on the completion of their most-recent deployment to Iraq. Recognizes that Team's achievements and all other formerly and presently deployed Washington Army and Air National Guard units and members for their exemplary service.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2009
Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, to treat a critical access hospital as rural, notwithstanding the reclassification of its location county as an urban county ("Lugar county") under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, in order to permit pass-through payment for the reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) services. Counts on-call and standby costs for such services as reasonable CRNA costs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2009
Medicare Adult Day Care Services Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of substitute adult day care services.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2009
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims. Prohibits related retaliation. Makes this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; and (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces. Declares that this Act does not repeal or modify any federal, state, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran. Provides for the construction of this Act regarding: (1) enforcement by employers of rules and policies; (2) sexual harassment; (3) certain shared facilities such as showers or dressing facilities; (4) construction of new or additional facilities; (5) dress and grooming standards; and (6) provision of employee benefits to married vs. unmarried couples. Declares that, in this Act, "married" refers to a legal union between one man and one woman. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from collecting statistics from covered entities on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or compelling the collection by covered entities of such statistics. Provides for enforcement, including giving the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress, the Attorney General, and U.S. courts the same enforcement powers as they have under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and other specified laws. Allows actions and proceedings, subject to exception, against the United States and the states.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2009
Applauds the work of citizen diplomacy organizations and individual citizen ambassadors who deepen friendships and mutual understanding through volunteer service. Endorses the goals of the Call to Action for Global Citizen Diplomacy. Encourages President Obama to convene a Presidential Summit on Global Citizen Diplomacy that would commend the activities of citizen diplomacy organizations and citizen ambassadors and that would seek to inspire other people in the United States to participate in national and international service.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2009
Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend through FY2012 the current authorization of appropriations for the national public awareness campaign for gynecologic cancers (Johanna's law). Authorizes appropriations in subsequent fiscal years at levels necessary to carry out such campaign. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) collaborate with nonprofit gynecologic cancer organizations to determine the best practices for providing gynecologic cancer information and outreach services to varied populations; and (2) make grants to nonprofit private entities to carry out demonstration projects to test outreach and education strategies to increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers regarding gynecologic cancers.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2009
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009 - Requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), as soon as practicable after Congress completes action on any Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) legislation, to provide an estimate of its budgetary effects to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Requires OMB to maintain and make publicly available a document containing a PAYGO ledger and, within seven days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) after the enactment of any PAYGO legislation, record on such ledger its estimate of the legislation's budgetary effects in each fiscal year, applying the look-back and averaging requirements of this Act. Exempts from the requirements of this Act any PAYGO legislation designated as an emergency requirement by the President and enacted by Congress. (Requires OMB to display the budgetary effects of such legislation as an addendum in the document containing the PAYGO ledger but not record the budgetary effects in it.) Requires OMB: (1) to make publicly available an annual PAYGO report and publish a notice of it in the Federal Register, including information on how it can be obtained; and (2) if such report shows a debit on the PAYGO ledger for the budget year, to prepare and the President to issue a sequestration order for submission to Congress. Prescribes requirements for calculating a sequestration for certain nonexempt and Medicare mandatory programs. Sets forth a special temporary rule to address the scoring of legislation affecting current policy for: (1) payments made under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for physician services; (2) the Estate and Gift Tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) under the Internal Revenue Code; and (3) provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 or the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act of 2003 that amended the Code extending middle-class tax cuts for individuals (or provisions in later statutes further amending such amendments). Makes such rule effective through December 31, 2010, or, in specified circumstances, until December 31, 2011. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to modify the assumptions used to calculate the baseline. Requires: (1) temporary mandatory funding and tax provisions related to major natural or man-made disasters to be assumed to expire on schedule, and discretionary funding for them to not be projected; and (2) the baseline to include a disaster allowance that is not designated as mandatory or discretionary and is not allocated to any congressional committee. Amends the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act to specify additional Social Security, veterans, Tier I Railroad Retirement benefits and other programs and activities exempt from a sequestration order as well as certain economic recovery programs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2009
Amends Rule XIII (Calendars and Committee Reports) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order in the House to consider a measure or matter until 72 hours (currently, until the third day) (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays unless the House is in session on such a day) after its text (and, if any, the text of all accompanying reports) have been made available to Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner (Members), and the general public. Requires the full text of the legislation and each committee report, without further amendment before floor consideration, to be posted continuously by means of the Internet. Prohibits consideration in the House of a general appropriation bill reported by the Committee on Appropriations until 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays unless the House is in session on such a day) after printed hearings of the Committee have been available to Members. Prohibits the Committee on Rules from reporting a rule or order proposing a waiver of this resolution or of Rule XXII (House and Senate Relations) unless a question of consideration of the rule is adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the Members voting, a quorum being present. Amends Rule XXII (House and Senate Relations) to make it out of order in the House to consider a conference report, the accompanying signed joint explanatory statement, or a motion to dispose of a Senate amendment reported in disagreement by a conference committee until after: (1) the 72-hour availability requirement has been met; and (2) posting on the Internet. Declares that nothing in this resolution or any amendment made by it shall be interpreted to require or permit the declassification or posting on the Internet of classified information in the custody of the House. Requires such classified information to be made available to Members in a timely manner as appropriate under existing laws and rules. Expresses the sense of the House that, with the objective of preventing circumvention of this resolution, that the Committee on Rules should develop standardized policies and procedures to require that proposed amendments (except those offered under an open rule) that are major in size, scope, or cost be posted on the Internet for an appropriate number of hours.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2009
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2009 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to revise requirements for the audit capacity of voting systems, particularly those for a permanent paper record. Requires the voting system to require the use of an individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballot of the voter's vote that shall be marked and made available for inspection by the voter before the voter's vote is cast and counted, and which shall be counted by hand or read by an optical scanner or other counting device. Requires the voting system to provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any system-made error in the voter-verified paper ballot before it is permanently preserved. Requires each paper ballot used to be: (1) suitable for a manual audit; and (2) counted by hand in any recount or audit conducted with respect to any federal election. Sets forth a special rule for treatment of disputes when paper ballots have been shown to be compromised. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to make grants to eligible entities to study, test, and develop accessible ballot voting, verification, and casting mechanisms and devices and best practices to enhance the accessibility of paper ballot voting and verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy. Specifies additional voting system requirements and prohibitions. Requires the NSF Director to make grants to eligible entities to conduct research on the development of election-dedicated voting system software. Makes available additional funding to enable states to meet the costs of the requirements imposed by this Act. Provides for complaints to the Attorney General by persons aggrieved by violations of HAVA. Requires each state to administer audits of federal election results, without advance notice to the precincts selected, consisting of random hand counts of the voter-verified paper ballots. Makes an exception from this requirement for elections in which the winning candidate had no opponent or received 80% or more of the vote total. Prescribes requirements for determination of the number of ballots counted under the audit. Prescribes the process for administering audits. Requires the Election Auditor of a state, as soon as practicable after the completion of an audit, to submit the results to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for publication. Prohibits certification of the results of any election until completion of audits. Provides for payments to states for the costs of conducting audits. Exempts from this Act any election for which a recount under state law will commence before certification of the election results. Repeals the EAC's exemption from certain federal government contracting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2009
Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) repeal the exemption from restrictions on underground injection of fluids near drinking water sources granted to hydraulic fracturing operations under such Act; and (2) require oil and gas companies to disclose the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2009
Automobile Dealer Economic Rights Restoration Act of 2009 - Prohibits an automobile manufacturer (manufacturer) in which the federal government has an ownership interest, or which receives loans from the federal government, from depriving an automobile dealer (dealer) of its economic rights. Requires the manufacturer to honor those rights as they existed for Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corporation dealers prior to the commencement of the bankruptcy cases of each corporation, including dealer rights to recourse under state law. Requires the appropriate manufacturer to restore the franchise agreement between the dealers and Chrysler LLC or General Motors that was in effect prior to the commencement of their respective bankruptcy cases, and to take assignment of such agreements. States that nothing in this Act is intended to make null and void the transfer of substantially all the assets of such corporations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_wa_9_smith_adam_200.jpg)