United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2010
European Bailout Protection Act - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to: (1) prohibit U.S. loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance to any European Union (EU) member state until the ratio of the total outstanding public debt of each member state to its gross domestic product (as of the end of the most recent fiscal year of the member state ending in the preceding calendar year) is not more than 60%; and (2) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to oppose any IMF loans to member states until all member states are in compliance with such debt ratio.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2010
Internet Investment, Innovation, and Competition Preservation Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating the rates, terms, conditions, provisioning, or use of an information service or an Internet access service unless: (1) there is a market failure in the provision of such service; (2) there is substantial evidence such failure is preventing a substantial number of consumers nationwide from accessing a substantial amount of lawful Internet content, applications, and services of their choice on a continuing basis; (3) regulations are necessary to ameliorate such consumer harm; and (4) the FCC has performed a cost-benefit analysis determining that the benefit of such regulation exceeds its costs. Requires any FCC regulation to: (1) be the least restrictive necessary to address market failure and consumer harm; and (2) not prohibit network management from addressing quality of service or measures to prevent unauthorized or illegal activity, including copyright infringement. Requires the FCC to enforce any such regulation on a nondiscriminatory basis between and among broadband network providers, service providers, application providers, and content providers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2010
Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require an abortion provider who knowingly performs an abortion of a pain-capable unborn child (defined as an unborn child who has reached a probable stage of development of 20 weeks or more after fertilization), to first: (1) inform the woman of the probable age of the child; (2) provide to the woman an Unborn Child Pain Awareness Brochure (unless she waives receipt); (3) provide information that pain medicine administered to the mother may not prevent pain in the child, but in some cases anesthesia or pain-reducing drugs can be administered directly to the child; (4) give the woman the provider's best medical judgment of the risks and costs of such anesthesia or analgesic; and (5) obtain the woman's signature on the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Decision Form and her explicit request for or refusal of the administration of drugs to the child. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Brochure that includes a statement that there is substantial evidence that the process of being killed in an abortion will cause the unborn child pain and that the mother has the option of having pain-reducing drugs administered directly to the child. Creates an exception to save the life of the mother. Establishes civil penalties for willfully failing to comply with this Act. Authorizes: (1) the U.S. Attorney General to bring a civil action under this Act; and (2) private rights of action for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2010
Declares that imposing a value-added tax (VAT) would be a massive tax increase that would cripple families on fixed income and only further push back the U.S. economic recovery and that the House of Representatives opposes a VAT.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2010
Expresses condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or property as the result of flooding beginning on May 2, 2010, in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Expresses: (1) appreciation to the people of Tennessee and the surrounding states who continue to work to protect people from the floodwaters and aid in recovery efforts; and (2) support as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to respond to needs of the affected communities. Honors the emergency responders across Tennessee for their bravery and sacrifice.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2010
Recognizes that trust in God is embedded into the fabric of this country's society and history. Rejects the notion that the laws and Constitution of this country require the exclusion of God from matters of government and public life. Reaffirms "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States. Supports and encourages its display in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2010
Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal a provision (added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) that extends to corporations that are not tax-exempt the requirement to report payments of $600 or more.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2010
Helping Save Americans' Health Care Choices Act of 2010 - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) providing for: (1) an increased penalty for distributions from a health savings account or Archer medical savings account not used for qualified medical expenses; (2) a restriction of payments from health savings accounts, Archer medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements for medications to prescription drugs or insulin; and (3) a $2,500 limitation on annual salary reduction contributions to health flexible spending arrangements under cafeteria plans. Amends PPACA to treat a high deductible health plan as a qualified health plan for purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2010
Supports the designation of National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day to honor those who are serving and have served in the Armed Forces in the noble and self-sacrificing profession of explosive ordnance disposal.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2010
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) Democratic Members of the House should join its Republican Members in a total ban on earmarks for one year; (2) discretionary spending should be reduced in the concurrent budget resolution for FY2011 by the total amount that was spent on requests for earmarks in FY2010; (3) if spending in that resolution is not reduced by such amount, an amendment to that resolution to effectuate this change should be made in order; and (4) a complete review and overhaul of the congressional budgetary, spending, and earmark processes should be commenced by creating a bipartisan, bicameral committee to study the issue and report to the House and Senate with its recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2010
Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or maximum prison term of five years for anyone who knowingly sells or offers to sell an animal crush video in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain. States that this prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit the selling or offering to sell videos that depict hunting. Defines "animal crush video" as any visual depiction of animals being intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, or impaled that: (1) depicts actual conduct in which a living animal is tortured, maimed, or mutilated that violates any criminal prohibition on intentional cruelty under federal law or the law of the state in which the depiction is sold; and (2) taken as a whole, does not have religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2010
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the government of Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and (2) the U.S. government should take a leading role in gaining international support for granting Taiwan observer status in the ICAO.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2010
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the National Day of Prayer is constitutional, a needed tribute to the value of prayer, and a fitting acknowledgment of our nation's religious history.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2010
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court should uphold laws that allow the families and friends of fallen members of the Armed Forces to mourn their loved ones in peace and privacy.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2010
Directs the President, by the earlier of January 1, 2011, or 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to submit to Congress a plan for the safe, orderly, and expeditious redeployment of U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan, including military and security-related contractors, together with a timetable for the completion of such redeployment and information regarding variables that could alter that timetable. Requires plan updates every 90 days. Directs the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to: (1) issue recommendations for increasing oversight of contractors in Afghanistan that have a record of engaging in waste, fraud, or abuse; and (2) report on the status of efforts of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the State Department to implement existing recommendations regarding oversight of such contractors. Requires the recommendations issued to include recommendations for reducing U.S. reliance on security contractors or subcontractors responsible for the deaths of Afghan civilians and on Afghan militias, contractors, subcontractors, or other armed groups that are not part of the Afghan National Security Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2010
Prohibits either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) from taking action on public lands which impede the activities of the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the border on such lands.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2010
End the Mandate Act of 2010 - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 that require individuals to maintain minimum essential health care coverage and require large employers to offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2010
Reclaiming Individual Liberty Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requiring individuals to purchase and maintain minimum essential health care coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2010
Preserve Land Freedom For Americans Act of 2010 - Requires the President to obtain congressional approval of proposed national monuments situated upon land owned or controlled by the federal government and certify compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 prior to declaring national monuments. Bars the Secretary of the Interior from implementing any restrictions on the public use of a national monument until the expiration of an appropriate review period providing for public output and congressional approval.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2010
Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2010 - Repeals sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care (PPACA) (and restores provisions of law amended by such sections) related to the establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board to develop and submit detailed proposals to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending to the President for Congress to consider.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2010
Informed Taxpayers' Federal Government Annual Reporting Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prepare for each fiscal year and include in any published instructions for filling out a federal income tax return and on the homepage of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website a three-part report containing: (1) federal revenues, outlays, the budget deficit or surplus, and total gross federal debt for the fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year; (2) the number of income tax filers and nonfilers among U.S. households, the number of filers who have an income tax liability greater than zero for the current taxable year, the amount of the total gross federal debt for the fiscal year per such filer, and the difference between the debt per filer for the fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year; and (3) estimates, for the succeeding fiscal year and each of the next 10 fiscal years, of the federal revenues, outlays, and budget deficits or surpluses, the aggregate of such revenues and outlays and the net of such deficits and surpluses, and the average total amount of the total gross federal debt.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2010
Stop Oxy Abuse Act of 2010 - Directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA), within 90 days, to take such actions as may be necessary to modify the approval of, and limit any subsequent approval of, any drug containing controlled-release oxycodone hychloride to use for the relief of severe-only pain instead of moderate-to-severe pain. Applies any such modification to drugs introduced into interstate commerce 180 days after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2010
Supports the designation of a National Child Awareness Month to promote awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2010
Prohibits any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to any federal department or agency from being used to implement or enforce any federal mandate to purchase health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2010
GSE Bailout Elimination and Taxpayer Protection Act - Sets a deadline for the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to terminate the conservatorship of either the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) if the Director determines that it is financially viable. (Refers to both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as enterprises.) Requires the Director to appoint the FHFA immediately as receiver of either enterprise if it is found not to be financially viable. Amends the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (FHEFSSA) to repeal: (1) its housing goals if the Director determines that an enterprise is financially viable; and (2) the new housing price index. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to restrict the authority of an enterprise to acquire mortgage assets following its emergence from conservatorship. Increases the minimum capital level required for each enterprise. Instructs the Director to establish minimum levels of capital for the enterprises. Authorizes the Director to: (1) establish minimum capital levels in excess of levels specified in the FHEFSSA; and (2) deem failure of an enterprise to maintain revised minimum capital levels to constitute an unsafe and unsound condition. Amends the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2010, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 to repeal temporary increases to conforming loan limits. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to repeal provisions governing enterprise authority to purchase and sell certain insured and conventional mortgages and to engage in certain lending activities (general limit and permanent high-cost area increases). Amends the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 to repeal its conforming loan limits. Prescribes conforming loan limits for conventional mortgages that may be purchased by the enterprises. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to: (1) prohibit the enterprises from purchasing mortgages that exceed the median area price for the affected property; (2) prohibit the enterprises from purchasing mortgages if the mortgagor has paid less than the specified minimum downpayment; and (3) require the enterprises to pay state and local taxes. Instructs the Director of FHFA to assess each enterprise for the amount necessary to recoup to the federal government the full value of the benefit received from the federal guarantee of its obligations and financial viability. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on a risk-based pricing mechanism to determine accurately the value of the benefit the enterprises receive from the federal guarantee of their obligations and financial viability. Prescribes a deadline and procedures for the wind down of operations and dissolution of an enterprise.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2010
Commends Lance Mackey on his record-breaking fourth consecutive Iditarod victory during the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Applauds each musher who was courageous enough to compete in the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Expresses appreciation to all volunteers and staff who help make this Alaskan race possible every year.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2010
Prohibits the Committee on Rules from reporting a rule or order that provides for disposition of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3590 (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA]) unless it provides for: (1) at least one hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the majority leader and the minority leader; and (2) a requirement that the Speaker put the question on disposition of the Senate amendments and that the yeas and nays be considered as ordered thereon.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2010
Critical Infrastructure Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2010 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to make grants to state and local governments to assist them in projects that improve the ability of trauma center hospitals and/or airports in hazardous seismic zones to withstand an earthquake. Directs the Administrator to require each state and local government, as a condition for receiving a grant, to submit to the Administrator: (1) a comprehensive strategic earthquake response plan for such facility; and (2) a list of grant activities that analyzes their impact.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2010
Requires the total budget resources for expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for harbor maintenance programs to equal the level of receipts plus interest credited to such Fund for that fiscal year. Limits the use of such resources to such programs only. Declares that it shall be out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report that would cause total budget resources for the Fund in a fiscal year for harbor maintenance programs to be less than the level of receipts plus interest credited to the Fund for that fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2010
Recognizes the significant contributions of Irish-Americans in the history and progress of the United States. Supports the designation of Irish-American History Month.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2010
Terrorist Notification Act of 2010 - Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to direct the head of an element of the intelligence community (IC) to provide to the Secretary of Defense any intelligence information obtained by such IC element that indicates that a member of the Armed Forces, a civilian employee of the Department of Defense (DOD), or a DOD contractor employee has communicated with a person that seeks to harm the United States or U.S. interests. Allows an exception when the IC head determines that providing such information would negatively affect an ongoing investigation. Requires: (1) the Secretary to prescribe a process for expediting an official response to any information submitted, and to seek to achieve such response within 24 hours after receipt of the information; (2) such response to include whether the contact of the member or employee with such a person is directly related to his or her duties; (3) the Secretary to annually review and revise the response process as necessary; and (4) the Secretary to report annually to Congress concerning the instances in which such information was provided and the response to the information.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2010
Repeals: (1) provisions in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 terminating tax reductions made by such Act after December 31, 2010; and (2) the provision in the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 terminating after 2008 reductions in tax rates on dividends and net capital gain. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent: (1) the tax deductions for state and local sales taxes and for tuition and related expenses; and (2) the increased expensing allowance (i.e., $125,000) for depreciable business assets.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2010
Disapproves the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on December 15, 2009, relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2010
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of the Treasury should direct the U.S. Executive Directors to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to use U.S. influence to ensure that any loan made by such institutions to the government of Antigua and Barbuda is conditioned on providing complete redress to the victims of the Stanford Financial Group fraud, including through specified actions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2010
National Manufacturing Strategy Act of 2010 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. government should promote policies related to the nation's manufacturing sector that, among other things: (1) create sustainable economic growth and increased employment; (2) recruit, improve, and educate the workforce; (3) increase productivity, exports, and global competitiveness; and (4) maintain and improve national and homeland security. Directs the President, every four years, to: (1) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the nation's manufacturing sector; and (2) submit to Congress a National Manufacturing Strategy (Strategy). Requires the President, in developing each Strategy, to convene a Manufacturing Strategy Task Force to make recommendations regarding specified matters for incorporation into the Strategy, including short- and long-term goals for the manufacturing sector. Directs that: (1) each final Strategy be published on a public website; and (2) the first Strategy be issued by February 28, 2011. Directs the Comptroller General, three years after publication of a Strategy, to review its recommendations. Requires the President to convene a President's Manufacturing Strategy Board to provide information and recommendations regarding the needs of, and opportunities for, the nation's manufacturing sector. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to: (1) conduct quadrennial studies concerning U.S. manufacturing; and (2) report each study's results to Congress and the President. Provides for additional required and discretionary studies. Requires the President, in preparing each annual budget, to include information regarding that budget's consistency with the goals and recommendations included in the latest Strategy.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2010
Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2010 - Directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (with respect to drugs, devices, cosmetics, and biological products), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (with respect to consumer products), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (with respect to chemical substances, new chemical substances, and pesticides) to require foreign manufacturers and producers of such products (or components used to manufacture them), in excess of a minimum value or quantity, to establish a registered agent in the United States who is authorized to accept service of process on their behalf for the purpose of all civil and regulatory actions in state and federal courts. Requires the registered agent to be located in a state with a substantial connection to the importation, distribution, or sale of the products. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish, maintain, and make available to the public a registry of such agents. Deems a foreign manufacturer or producer of products covered under this Act that registers an agent to consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state or federal courts of the state in which the agent is located for the purpose of any civil or regulatory proceeding. Prohibits importation into the United States of a covered product (or component part that will be used in the United States to manufacture a covered product) if the product (or component part) or any part of the product (or component part) was manufactured or produced outside the United States by a manufacturer or producer who does not have a registered agent whose authority is in effect on the date of the importation. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to jointly study the feasibility and advisability of requiring foreign producers of food distributed in commerce to establish a registered agent in the United States who is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of such producers for the purpose of all civil and regulatory actions in state and federal courts.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2010
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and make available for sale not more than 2 million silver national medals, containing one ounce of silver each, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. Declares that all sales of medals under this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per medal, which shall be paid to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center to support its operations and maintenance.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2010
Benton MacKaye Cherokee National Forest Land Consolidation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) convey to the Towee Falls Baptist Church a parcel of National Forest System land in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, which surrounds the Church; and (2) acquire from the Monroe County Tennessee Board of Education a parcel of land in Monroe County, Tennessee, known as the Doc Rogers tract. Requires Towee Fall Baptist Church to pay an amount that is equal to the fair market value of such parcel, as determined by an appraisal satisfactory to the parties.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2010
Accurate Accounting of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Act - Requires the receipts and disbursements of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to be counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of: (1) the federal budget submitted by the President; (2) the congressional budget; or (3) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the costs of purchases of mortgages, and mortgage-backed securities issued, by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be calculated by adjusting a specified discount rate for market risks under the Credit Reform Act of 1990. Subjects to the statutory public debt limit the face amount of obligations issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and outstanding at one time.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2010
Commends the personnel of the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their efforts to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2010
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (including those for debt service and other debt functions) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Prohibits outlays for the total budget from exceeding the previous fiscal years' outlays plus population growth and inflation, unless a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, provides for such increase. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect only by a vote of a majority of both chambers. Requires all: (1) outlays above revenues from the previous fiscal year to be accounted for in the outlays and budgets of the following fiscal year; and (2) surplus revenues at the end of a fiscal year to be allocated to a fund to be returned to the taxpayers, determined by legislation before the end of the subsequent fiscal year.
![Official portrait of Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000533_200.jpg)