United States · United States Congress · 5 January 2007
Fair Wages for Americans with Disabilities Act - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Secuirty Act to prescribe formulae to exclude any increase in the federal minimum wage from calculation of an individual's (or spouse's) income for SSI eligibility purposes (thus preventing ineligibility for SSI benefits by reason of such an increase).
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Amends veterans' benefit provisions to provide for the payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the survivors of veterans rated totally disabled at the time of death who were former prisoners of war (currently, to the survivors of such veterans who died after September 30, 1999).
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Employment Eligibility Verification and Anti-Identity Theft Act - Directs the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to notify a person or entity each time that the combination of name and Social Security account number it has submitted for an individual does not match Social Security Administration records. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (HS) to notify a person or entity each time that: (1) an immigration status or employment authorization document presented or referenced by an individual during the employment eligibility verification process was assigned to another person; or (2) there is no agency record that the document was assigned to any person. Directs the HS Secretary to establish a system, meeting specified requirements, for verifying an individual's identity and employment eligibility. Requires any person or entity that has received a discrepancy notice under this Act to verify the individual's employment authorization and identity through such system. Places the burden of resolving errors in the verification mechanism on the individual whose employment eligibility and identity have not been verified. Requires the individual to terminate any employment in the United States if a final nonverification is received. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide the last known name, address, and location of a nonverified individual to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Provides for sanctions against employers who continue to employ an individual after receiving a final nonverification. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require any person or entity that receives written notice about more than 20 individuals in one calendar year to: (1) participate in a basic pilot project for employment eligibility confirmation; and (2) comply with specified terms and conditions. Provides for: (1) a remedy under the Federal Tort Claims Act for job dismissals occasioned by verification mechanism errors; and (2) protection from civil and criminal liability for persons or entities that take action in good faith on the basis of verification mechanism information.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
American Child Support Enforcement Immigration Act of 2006 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) from approving a family-based immigration petition or fiance/fiancee nonimmigrant petition by a petitioner certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as owing child support arrearages. Authorizes the Secretary to revoke a previously-approved petition (if a visa has not been issued or a status adjustment has not been effected) if such petition would not have been approved had the provisions of this Act been in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Identity Theft Notification Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require the Commissioner of Social Security to notify individuals and appropriate authorities of evidence of a certain misuse of individual Social Security account numbers. Requires the Commissioner to determine, in certain instances of wage reports involving multiple addresses for the same employee name, whether there is evidence that the wages were not paid to the individual to whom the Social Security account number was assigned.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) sponsoring or exhibiting a bird in a fighting venture in a state where it would not otherwise be in violation of the law, only if the person knew that any bird in the venture was knowingly bought, sold, delivered, transported, or received in interstate or foreign commerce for such purpose; or (2) knowingly sponsoring or exhibiting in an animal fighting venture any other animal that was moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Prohibits knowingly: (1) selling, buying, transporting, delivering, or receiving, for purposes of transportation in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal to participate in an animal fighting venture; (2) using interstate mail service for commercial speech promoting an animal fighting venture except as performed outside the limits of the states (with an exception for bird fights in states whose laws allow them); or (3) selling, buying, transporting, or delivering in interstate or foreign commerce a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument to be attached to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture. Increases the penalties to a fine and up to three years' imprisonment for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
401Kids Family Savings Act of 2007 - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to extend through 2015 provisions allowing increased annual contributions to Coverdell education savings accounts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow tax-free distributions from a Coverdell education savings account for first-time homebuyer expenses; (2) permit rollovers from Coverdell education savings accounts to Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs); and (3) rename Coverdell education savings accounts as 401Kids Savings Accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Public Housing Drug Elimination Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to authorize appropriations for the assisted housing drug elimination program. Limits activities for programs designed to reduce drug use in and around assisted low-income housing to: (1) providing drug abuse treatment through rehabilitation or relapse prevention; (2) providing education about the dangers and consequences of drug use or violent crime; (3) identifying drug users, and assisting drug use discontinuance through education or treatment programs; (4) providing after school youth activities; and (5) providing capital improvements and security services to discourage or eliminate drug use or violent crime.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to extend the Act through FY2013. Revises requirements regarding the merchantable material contracting pilot program. Requires counties participating in county projects to submit a specified notification for each project for which the participating county obligated county funds. Provides for the review of such notifications.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Representatives to be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by counting the number of persons in each state who are U.S. citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Prohibits an individual (or a survivor or beneficiary thereof) from receiving federal annuity or retired pay if such individual is convicted, indicted, or has outstanding charges against him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for specified offenses concerning: (1) bribery, graft, or conflicts of interest related to public officials and witnesses, Members of Congress, government officers or employees, or obtaining appointive public office; (2) embezzlement or theft of public money, property, or records; (3) the solicitation or use of gifts; (4) fraud and false statements or entries; (5) perjury; (6) subornation of perjury; or (7) false declarations before a grand jury or court. Refunds annuity contributions and deposits, excluding interest earned, to a convicted individual.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Social Security for Americans Only Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) prohibit the wages earned, and self-employment income derived, by individuals who are not U.S. citizens or nationals from being credited for coverage under the OASDI program; and (2) authorize the President to enter into (totalization) agreements with other nations to resolve entitlement and participation questions about their respective social security systems, taking into account such limitation on the crediting of wages and self-employment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Recognizes the special legal and political relationship the Indian tribes have with the United States and the solemn covenant with the land we share. Commends and honors the Native Peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land. Acknowledges years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the Federal Government regarding Indian tribes. Apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native Peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on them by U.S. citizens. Expresses the regret of the United States for the ramifications of former offenses and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward reconciliation. Urges the President to acknowledge the offenses of the United States against Indian tribes in U.S. history. Commends the State governments that have begun reconciliation efforts with recognized Indian tribes located in their boundaries, and encourages all State governments to do the same. Declares that nothing in this Joint Resolution authorizes any claim against the United States or serves as a settlement of any claim against it.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each chamber by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) government pension offset requirements applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to OASDI payments; and (2) windfall elimination requirements with respect to computation of an individual's primary insurance amount.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Establishes in the House of Representatives a House Democracy Assistance Commission to: (1) work with the parliaments of selected countries that have established or are developing democratic parliaments which would benefit from assistance under this resolution; (2) enable members and staff of partner country legislatures to study House operations and support agencies; and (3) make recommendations to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) regarding the provision of needed material assistance to such parliaments to improve the efficiency and transparency of their work. Authorizes the Commission to: (1) conduct studies on the feasibility of programs of assistance for select partner legislatures; and (2) continue programs of assistance with partner country legislatures initiated by the former House Democracy Assistance Commission. States that the Commission shall carry out its duties using the staff and resources of the Committee on International Relations, including the use of consultants or temporary employees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2006
Condemns the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Danny Faulkner. Urges the municipal government of St. Denis, France, to change the name of Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal and, if such action is not taken by the municipal government of St. Denis, urges the government of France to take appropriate action against St. Denis to change the name of Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal. Commends all police officers in the United States and throughout the world for their commitment to public service and public safety.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize appropriations through FY2012 for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Specifies Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) fund amounts to be used for the Program in each of FY2008-FY2012. Makes the Secretary of Agriculture responsible for specified program administration provisions currently delegated to the President.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006
Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prescribe requirements for a long-term care hospital (LTCH) and patient criteria for prospective payment to an LTCH. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) determine the LTCH diagnosis related groups (LTCH-DRGs) associated with a high severity of illness for specified medical conditions; and (2) study and report to Congress on appropriate quality measures for Medicare patients receiving care in LTCHs. Directs the Secretary to choose three quality measures from the study for LTCHs to report. Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 to require annual updates of LTCH base rates and wage indices and the reweighting of LTCH-DRGs. Prohibits the Secretary from extending application of the 25% (or applicable percentage) patient threshold payment adjustment to freestanding LTCHs.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to: (1) trade adjustment assistance; (2) data collection; (3) industry-wide certifications; (4) trade assistance for farmers; (5) trade adjustment assistance for firms; and (6) trade adjustment assistance for service workers and firms and industries. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise and increase the health care tax credit. Establishes in the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce an Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Truman Scholarship Fund Modernization Act - Amends the Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to invest amounts appropriated and contributed to the Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund: (1) only at the request of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation; and (2) only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States issued directly to such Fund. Repeals the Secretary's discretion to invest in obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States. Repeals the condition that such obligations shall be issued only if it is not in the public interest to purchase other interest-bearing obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States. Makes all requests of the Board binding on the Secretary. Repeals the authority of the Secretary to sell any obligation acquired by the fund (except special obligations issued exclusively to it) at the market price. Requires the Secretary, at the Board's request, to redeem any obligation issued directly to the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Alternative Energy Research and Development Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application (R&D) for: (1) production of motor and other fuels from biomass; (2) technologies to enable practical onboard storage of hydrogen for use as a fuel for light-duty motor vehicles; (3) advanced solar photovoltaic technologies; and (4) advanced wind energy technologies. Instructs the Secretary to continue R&D activities targeting: (1) distributed energy; (2) micro-cogeneration technology; and (3) geothermal energy, hydropower, and ocean energy authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement an R&D program for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric drive transportation; and (2) establish a pilot program to provide competitive grants to state governments, local governments and public entities, and metropolitan transportation authorities for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle demonstration projects. Solar Utilization Now Demonstration Act of 2006, or the SUN Act of 2006 - Instructs the Secretary to establish a program of grants to states to demonstrate advanced photovoltaic technology. Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot grants program for new builidng construction or renovation to demonstrate innovative energy efficiency technologies. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise the guidelines for a geographically dispersed network of Advanced Energy Technology Transfer Centers. Authorizes the Secretary to contribute funds to the National Science Foundation for the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program. Directs the Secretary to arrange for the National Academy of Sciences to study its October 2005 recommendation to establish an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). Directs the Secretary to establish R&D programs for commercial application of: (1) coal gasification facilities that convert coal into pipeline quality gaseous fuels (methanation); and (2) materials to be added to alternative biobased fuels and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuels. Directs the Secretary, in making awards for integrated biorefinery demonstration projects, to encourage the commercial application of biomass technologies for biodegradable natural plastics from biomass.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Automatic IRA Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require certain small employers who do not offer qualified retirement plans or arrangements to their employees to allow eligible employees to participate in a payroll deposit individual retirement account (IRA) arrangement (automatic IRAs); (2) allow employers who do not have more than 100 employees a tax credit for costs associated with establishing a payroll deposit IRA arrangement; and (3) treat automatic IRAs as individual retirement accounts (and as Roth IRAs) for income tax purposes. Establishes in the executive branch the TSP II Board to establish policies and procedures relating to payroll deposit IRA arrangements.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat income earned by mutual funds from interests holding certain gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bullion that are regularly traded on an established U.S. securities market as qualifying income (i.e., passed through and taxed at individual income tax rates).
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Religious Freedom for Providers of Adoption, Foster Care, and Child Welfare Services Act - Amends the Social Security Act to prohibit federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance to a state or local government that discriminates against any entity that provides adoption or foster care services to only those couples who are united in marriage (defined as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife) and to only those individuals whose conduct is in accordance with such entity's religious principles and practices.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Reiterates support for democracy in Nepal. Recognizes that the full participation of the people of Nepal will be required to hold elections for a constituent assembly and draft a new constitution. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Seven-Party Alliance Government should: (1) continue its role in developing a new democracy; (2) hold an election for a constituent assembly; (3) draft a constitution; and (4) implement the will of the people of Nepal. States that the Maoists must: (1) lay down their weapons before joining the interim government; (2) respect human rights; (3) implement what they have agreed to with the Seven Party Alliance; (4) implement steps to show their commitment to competitive politics and a multiparty system; and (5) follow the rule of law and commit to press freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006
Medicare Academic Anesthesiology and CRNA Payment Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to set forth a special payment rule for teaching anesthesiologists (TAs) and teaching certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Requires payment of 100% of the fee schedule amount otherwise applicable for anesthesia services personally performed by the TA alone when the TA is training physician residents or student nurse anesthetists in a single anesthesia case or two concurrent anesthesia cases, if: (1) the TA is present during all critical or key portions of the anesthesia service or case involved; and (2) either the TA or an anesthesiologist or a CRNA with whom the TA has made special arrangements is immediately available to furnish anesthesia services during the entire case. States that this special payment rule shall not apply in the case of physician services furnished by an anesthesiologist who medically directs a CRNA involved in the training of student nurse anesthetists in a single anesthesia case or two concurrent anesthesia cases. Applies to a CRNA medically directed or medically supervised by a physician in the performance of anesthesia services the current fee schedule amount of one-half of the amount for a physician's medical direction of the performance of such services, regardless of whether or not the CRNA is involved in the training of student nurse anesthetists in a single case or two concurrent cases. Requires payment, however, of 100% of the fee schedule amount otherwise applicable for anesthesia services personally performed by a teaching CRNA alone when the teaching CRNA is not medically directed but is involved in the training of student nurse anesthetists in a single anesthesia case or two concurrent anesthesia cases, if: (1) the teaching CRNA is present during all critical or key portions of the anesthesia service or case involved; and (2) the teaching CRNA (or other CRNA or anesthesiologist with whom the CRNA has made special arrangements) is immediately available to furnish anesthesia services during the entire case.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006
Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act or the EAT Healthy America Act - Amends provisions with respect to: (1) specialty crops; (2) the tree assistance program; (3) the conservation reserve program; (4) the wetlands reserve program; (5) the farmland protection program; (6) the grassland reserve program; (7) the wildlife habitat incentive program; (8) the environmental qualities incentives program; (9) air quality improvement; (10) integrated pest management initiative; (11) native plant habitat restoration; (12) agricultural trade; (13) invasive pests and diseases; (14) nutrition; (15) agricultural research; and (16) renewable energy, including crop biomass waste.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006
Medigap Access Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for guaranteed issue of replacement Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies for beneficiaries under age 65 upon first enrolling under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006
Victim-Activated Landmine Abolition Act of 2006 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the government should continue to set an example for other countries by banning procurement of victim-activated landmines and other weapons designed to be victim-activated. Prohibits the federal government from procuring such landmines or weapons in any circumstance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2006
Congressional Pension Forfeiture Act of 2006 - Requires the Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) to prescribe regulations that prohibit eligibility in the governmental retirement system for a Member convicted of certain felony offenses in which: (1) every act or omission of such individual that is needed to satisfy the elements of the offense occurs while the individual is a Member; (2) such act or omission relates to the performance of the individual's official duties as a Member; and (3) the offense is committed after the enactment of this Act. Requires refund of annuity contributions and deposits, excluding interest earned, to a convicted individual. Defines Member as the Vice President, a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006
Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise national quality assurance standards to assure consistent performance by laboratories of valid and reliable cytology services, to include requirements that each clinical laboratory: (1) ensure that all individuals involved in screening and interpreting cytological preparations participate annually in an approved continuing medical education program in gynecologic cytology that provides each participant with gynecologic cytologic preparations designed to improve locator, recognition, and interpretive skills; and (2) maintain a record of program results. Requires the Secretary to terminate individual proficiency testing that was in effect before enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006
Securing Effective and Necessary Individual Outpatient Rehabilitation Services (SENIORS) Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the temporary process for obtaining an exception from the uniform dollar limitation on Medicare payment for medically necessary physical therapy services (Medicare therapy cap exceptions process). Extends the exceptions process period from the beginning of calendar 2006 through calendar 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006
Margaret Thatcher Congressional Gold Medal Act - Provides for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to Margaret Thatcher in recognition of her dedication to the values of free markets and free minds.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2006
Medicare Physician Assistant Continuity of Care Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit a physician assistant, when delegated by a physician, to: (1) certify that inpatient psychiatric hospital services or post-hospital extended care services are required; (2) establish and review a plan for home health services; and (3) certify a terminal illness with respect to hospice care. Covers as hospice care any legally authorized services of a physician assistant performed under a physician's supervision.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2006
Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2006 - 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 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 for certified medical emergencies. Establishes civil penalties for willfully failing to comply with this Act. Authorizes: (1) the 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 · 19 September 2006
Stop Endangering the Records of Veterans (SERVE) Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) physically secure all sensitive personal information processed or maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and all equipment containing such information; (2) encrypt all sensitive personal information; and (3) require VA contractors with access to sensitive personal information to encrypt or encode such information and physically secure all equipment containing such information. Defines "sensitive personal information" to include social security numbers, dates of birth, and individual financial information. Imposes criminal penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal information.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2006
Transit System Flexibility Protection Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make public transportation formula grants for operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation in an urbanized area with a population of more than 200,000 if the transit system operates fewer than 100 buses on fixed route service during peak hours.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2006
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 East Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania, as the "Robert J. Thompson Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2006
Resources Origin and Commodity Knowledge Act - Establishes the Mineral Commodity Information Administration under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Vests management of the Administration in an Administrator and Assistant Administrators whose functions include: (1) commodity information development and analysis; (2) mineral industry analysis; and (3) data acquisition and analysis. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Administrator: (1) at least 200 full-time equivalent positions from the U.S. Geological Survey; and (2) at least 100 full time equivalent positions of an administrative nature from the Department of the Interior. Sets forth the duties of the Administrator, including: (1) implementation of a Mineral Commodity Data and Information Program; (2) continuance of the Mineral Commodity Data Time Series; (3) projections of usage patterns; (4) publication of mineral commodity reports; and (5) analyses of the foreign and domestic mineral commodities that will be required by the United States to sustain the energy supply, demand, and prices projected by the Annual Energy Outlook analysis. Directs the Administrator to establish the Mineral Commodity Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2006
Secure Fence Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control (as defined by this Act) over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including: (1) systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by United States Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors extending: (1) from ten miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to ten miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry; (2) from ten miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to five miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry (with specified priority areas); (3) from five miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, Texas; (4) from five miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to five miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and (5) 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry (with specified priority areas). Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a study and report to Congress respecting the necessity and feasibility of constructing a state-of-the-art barrier system along the U.S. northern international land and maritime border; and (2) evaluate and report to Congress respecting United States Customs and Border Protection authority to stop fleeing vehicles that enter the United States illegally, including related training, technology, and equipment reviews.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2006
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an inflation adjustment based upon the gross domestic product deflator to the adjusted basis of certain assets (including C corporation common stock and tangible property used in a trade or business) held by a taxpayer for more than three years for purposes of determining gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of such assets. Sets forth rules for applying such inflation adjustment to short sales, regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts, partnerships and other pass-thru entities, and dispositions of assets between related persons.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2006
Classroom Commitment Partnership Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Education to provide demonstration grants to states to extend the academic year at elementary and secondary schools to at least 200 academic days, each day comprising at least seven hours of actual instruction. Conditions a state's grant eligibility on its having laws and policies ensuring such school year length and hours of daily instruction for the three consecutive academic years covered by the grant.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2006
Declares that the House of Representatives has learned with profound sorrow of the death of Bob O'Connor. Recognizes Bob O'Connor as a role model of entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and public service in southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the entire Nation. Expresses its deep gratitude to Bob O'Connor for working tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Extends condolences to his wife, Judy, his children, Heidy, Terrence, and Corey, his extended family, his many friends, and to the residents of Pittsburgh.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006
Biennial Budgeting Act of 2006 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require: (1) biennial (currently, annual) budget resolutions; (2) biennial appropriations Acts; and (3) biennial government strategic and performance plans. Makes conforming amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Requires: (1) a federal agency, upon request by a congressional committee, to provide appropriate information regarding its appropriations requests and program administration; (2) the Comptroller General to furnish to such committee summaries of any audits or reviews of such program which the Comptroller General has completed during the preceding six years; and (3) the Comptroller General, Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and the Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to furnish such committee appropriate information, studies, analyses, and reports. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine and report to Congress on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year, and the budget process based on that definition, to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on such period. Requires the President's budget submission for FY2008 to include: (1) an identification of the budget accounts for which an appropriation should be made for each fiscal year of the FY2008-FY2009 biennium; and (2) budget authority that should be provided for each such fiscal year for the budget accounts. Directs: (1) the House and Senate committees, during the first session of the 110th Congress, to work with the Comptroller General to develop plans to transition program authorizations to a multi-year schedule; and (2) the Comptroller General, during such Congress, to continue to provide assistance to Congress with respect to programmatic oversight, and in particular to assist the congressional committees in designing and conforming programmatic oversight procedures for FY2009-FY2010 biennium.
![Official portrait of Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/e000187_200.jpg)