United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2008
Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from phasing out or eliminating the budget neutrality adjustment factor in the Medicare hospice wage index before October 1, 2009. Directs the Secretary to recompute and apply the final Medicare hospice wage index for FY2009 as if there had been no reduction in the budget neutrality adjustment factor.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2008
Congratulates Michael Phelps for his outstanding athletic achievements during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. Recognizes the achievements of all the members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic swim team.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Civil Rights Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 - Requires quarter dollars to have designs on the reverse emblematic of prominent civil rights leaders and important events that have advanced civil rights in America. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to select such leaders and events. Requires five coin designs in each year of the period of issuance. Instructs the Secretary to strike and make available for sale silver bullion coins that are exact duplicates of such quarter dollars.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Oil for Iraq Liberation Act of 2008 - Prohibits: (1) the entry into or the performance by a U.S. person or an entity owned or controlled by such person of a contract that includes overall management responsibility for petroleum development in Iraq, a contract for financing petroleum development in Iraq, or the guaranty of another person's performance under either such contract; (2) any investment by such person in Iraq's petroleum resources; and (3) any transaction by such person that evades or violates such prohibitions. Sets forth penalties for violation of such prohibitions. Defines specified terms.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2008
Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase from 12 to 24 the number of months allowed for vocational educational training that are counted as a work activity under TANF.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2008
Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act - Provides that nothing shall prohibit the use of federal funds to establish or carry out a program of distributing sterile syringes to reduce the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2008
Veteran Voting Support Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit a state to designate facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) located in the state as voter registration agencies under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Requires any VA facility designated as a voter registration agency to: (1) provide information relating to the opportunity to request an absentee ballot; (2) make available absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots upon request, as well as assistance in completing them; and (3) work with local election officials to ensure the proper delivery of such applications and ballots. Directs the Secretary to permit a meaningful opportunity for nonpartisan organizations to provide voter registration information and assistance at VA facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from banning any election administration official, whether state or local, party-affiliated or non-party affiliated, or elected or appointed, from providing nonpartisan voting information to veterans at any VA facility. Directs the Secretary to provide reasonable access to VA facilities to state and local election officials for the purpose of providing nonpartisan voter registration services to individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2008
Calls for the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase and encourage investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and rape cases in the military. Sets forth elements to be included in such strategy, including: (1) requiring commanders to be held accountable for sexual assaults and rapes in their units and for disposition of such cases; (2) developing prevention and response programs to create a culture that prevents sexual assault and rape in the military and encourages more reporting by victims; (3) reviewing the capacity of the legal infrastructure in the military to investigate and prosecute effectively sexual assault cases; (4) examining any barriers on military facilities to conducting effective investigations of sexual assault and rape cases; and (5) ensuring that the command affords an alleged sexual assault victim an opportunity for a base transfer should a military protection order be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2008
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for possessing, shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering, or receiving any horse, horse flesh, or carcass with the intent that it be used for human consumption. Reduces the prison term to one year if the offense involves less than five horses or less than 2,000 pounds of horse flesh or carcass and the offender has no prior conviction for this offense.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2008
Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish cost-effective procedures to ensure that Social Security account numbers are not included on Medicare cards.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2008
Appropriates funds to the Secretary of Agriculture for payments to growers and first handlers of fresh tomatoes that experienced crop and/or market losses resulting from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Public Health Advisory issued on June 7, 2008. Limits payments to not more than 75% of the greater of: (1) the value of the unmarketed tomatoes; and (2) the actual loss incurred by the grower or handler.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2008
Recognizes the vital role of nongovernmental organizations in peace-building efforts between Israel and Palestinians. Affirms the importance of U.S. support to such nongovernmental organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1750 Lundy Avenue in San Jose, California, as the "Gordon N. Chan Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2008
Sanctuary Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to require that the National Marine Sanctuary System consist of national marine sanctuaries authorized or established by an Act of Congress (in addition to sanctuaries currently designated by the Secretary of Commerce) and marine national monuments. Sets forth the System's mission. Requires the Secretary to prepare, maintain, and update an ecological classification of the nation's marine environment and an identification of maritime heritage resources as a national inventory of marine ecoregions and maritime heritage resources under U.S. jurisdiction. Requires the Secretary to strive to include in the System, by 2030, sites that will incorporate a full range of the nation's marine ecoregions and rare and unique marine habitats, and a full range of maritime heritage resource areas. Modifies various requirements regarding the designation and implementation of marine sanctuaries. Expands the list of prohibited activities. Amends provisions making a violation of a prohibited activity a criminal offense to: (1) exclude from those provisions foreign governments and their entities; and (2) add a requirement that a violation be knowing. Increases the maximum term of imprisonment and the maximum civil fine. Revises requirements regarding the preparation of fishing regulations applicable to a marine sanctuary. Requires that System research and monitoring conducted, supported, or permitted by the Secretary be made available to the public unless the Secretary determines that public disclosure may result in the destruction of, loss of, or injury to any System resource. Modifies requirements regarding special use permits.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2008
Recognizes and honors Anne d'Hanoncourt for her contributions as an internationally-esteemed museum leader and art scholar. Expresses condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Anne d'Hanoncourt to her husband Joseph J. Rishel, and her surviving family members and friends at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, across the Philadelphia region and around the world.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2008
Timley Due Process for the Disabled Act of 2008 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) establish time frames, within specified limits, to ensure timely disability determinations; and (2) establish a program for the monitoring of disability determinations in reconsideration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2008
Access to America's Orthopedic Services Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish criteria for accounting and reporting the effort expended by researchers on musculoskeletal research funded with certain grants. Sets forth reporting requirements related to musculoskeletal health, including on: (1) research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); (2) federal programs and activities relating to musculoskeletal trauma care; (3) a standard unit for the measurement of bone mass under the Medicare program; (4) access to orthopedic services by certain federal health program beneficiaries; and (5) childhood musculoskeletal diseases, conditions, and injuries in the United States. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to establish the Transplantation Transmission Sentinel Network to track disease transmission from organ, tissue, or eye transplants. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations relating to the accreditation of: (1) establishments engaged in the manufacture of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products; and (2) personnel who participate in related activities. Requires the Secretary to conduct studies related to: (1) a national registry of artificial joint replacements in Medicare beneficiaries; (2) severe trauma to extremities resulting from motor vehicle crashes; (3) workplace-related musculoskeletal injuries and conditions; (4) funding available for graduate medical education in orthopedics; (5) methods for measuring bone mass in Medicare beneficiaries; and (6) aging in the United States. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct a national public awareness program on musculoskeletal health; and (2) award grants for certain health and aging activities for seniors. Provides for musculoskeletal diseases and conditions to be treated as a priority within the Office of Minority Health.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2008
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex Establishment Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex) as an urban ecosystem wildlife refuge and to publish notice of its establishment in the Federal Register. Establishes boundaries for the Refuge Complex and authorizes the Secretary to make corrections to its boundaries. Repeals Public Law 92-330 (providing for the establishment of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge) as of the date on which the Secretary publishes notice of the establishment of the Refuge Complex in the Federal Register.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2008
Gasoline Savings and Speed Limit Reduction Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from approving a federal-aid highway project for a state: (1) with a maximum speed limit in excess of 60 miles per hour on any state highway (other than a highway on the National Highway System (NHS) located outside of an urbanized area), or in excess of 65 miles per hour on any such NHS highway; and (2) that has failed to certify to the Secretary that it is enforcing such national maximum speed limits. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a federal-aid highway project also for a state with a speed limit on any portion of a public highway within its jurisdiction which is not uniformly applicable to all types of motor vehicles using such portion of highway, if on July 1, 2008, such highway portion had a speed limit which was uniformly applicable to all types of motor vehicles using it. Allows a lower speed limit, however, for a vehicle under a special permit based on the weight or dimension of such vehicle. Makes the requirement inapplicable, also, during any time that the condition of the highway, weather, or an accident creates a temporary hazard to the safety of traffic. Requires the Secretary to transfer up to a specified annual percentage of the aggregate amount of federal-aid highway funds to state safety projects in states that fail to enforce the national maximum speed limits. Directs the Secretary to arrange with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to study, and report to the Secretary and Congress on, the benefits of the national maximum speed limits program and the effectiveness of state enforcement of such limits.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2008
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States should not maintain a military presence in Iraq without the approval of Congress; and (2) it should be the policy of the United States to accept the principle of setting a deadline or timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2008
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Recognizes that a strong, sustained commitment of resources is needed to learn what causes pancreatic cancer, ways to detect and diagnose it earlier, and test compounds that will extend survival and improve quality of life.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2008
Calls on the President to: (1) respect Iraq's sovereignty and redeploy our military if asked to do so by the government of Iraq; and (2) present plans to Congress for the redeployment of our troops and military contractors from Iraq.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2008
Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008 - Prohibits cruise vessels calling on U.S. ports from discharging sewage, graywater, or bilge water into U.S. waters unless: (1) the treated effluent meets specified effluent limits and management standards; (2) the vessel is proceeding at not less than six knots; (3) the vessel is not less than 12 nautical miles from shore; and (4) the vessel is not in a no discharge zone. Prohibits the discharge of sewage sludge, incinerator ash, or hazardous waste into U.S. waters and requires it to be off-loaded at appropriate land-based facilities. Prescribes exceptions for: (1) discharges solely to secure the safety of a vessel or to save a life at sea; and (2) Alaskan vessels until 10 years after enactment. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate such effluent limits that: (1) are consistent with the capability of the best available technology to treat effluent; (2) require compliance with state and federal water quality standards; (3) take into account the best available scientific information on environmental effects; and (4) require treated discharges to meet specified standards for minimum effluent quality, fecal coliform, and residual chlorine. Requires the EPA Administrator to implement a sampling and testing program, and requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to implement an inspection program, sufficient to verify that such vessels are in compliance with this Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and other applicable federal laws and international agreements. Requires the Commandant to establish a program for the placement of trained independent observers on vessels to monitor and inspect vessel operations, equipment, and discharges. Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to carry out a pilot program to develop and promote commercialization of technologies to provide federal agencies data regarding discharges from vessels and functioning of vessel components relating to fuel consumption and air and water pollution control. Calls for enactment of standards for: (1) ballast water; and (2) air quality regarding incineration and engine activities of vessels. Establishes the Cruise Vessel Pollution Control Fund. Requires the Commandant to collect fees from vessels for paying passengers to be deposited in such Fund for use in carrying out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2008
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Night Out. Requests that the President: (1) focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention, community policing, and reduction of school crime by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing the Administration to make crime reduction an important priority; and (2) coordinate the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the USA Freedom Corps, the Citizen Corps, the National Senior Service Corps, and AmeriCorps to participate by supporting local efforts, neighborhood watches, and local officials, including law enforcement personnel, to provide homeland security and combat terrorism in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2008
Commends firefighters for their courageous actions and sacrifices in fighting wildfires on National Forest System land and other public lands in California. Acknowledges their continued work to protect public lands and private property from further damage. Praises the people of California for their courage in this time of crisis. Extends sympathies to the families of those who have lost loved ones or their homes, businesses, or other property in the wildfires.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008
Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008 - Sets forth cruise vessel security and safety requirements concerning: (1) vessel design and construction; (2) crew access to passenger staterooms; (3) log book entry and reporting of deaths, missing individuals, and alleged crimes; (4) database of crewmembers terminated due to commission of a crime; (5) maintenance of rape kits on board; (6) crime scene investigation training and certification for vessel crewmembers; (7) video surveillance to monitor crime; and (8) posting of certain safety information. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to revise the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (Secretary) to dispatch Coast Guard personnel on vessels to deter or respond to terrorism or transportation security incidents. Authorizes use of such personnel to act as: (1) environmental observers to monitor compliance with federal laws regarding the discharge of waste into U.S. waters; and (2) public safety officers to assist vessel passengers and crew with reporting and investigation of crimes, securing of suspects, and collection of crime evidence. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the security needs of a passenger vessel depending on the number of passengers on the vessel, with recommendations for security improvements. Amends the Death on the High Seas Act to extend from three to 12 miles from the U.S. shore the high seas jurisdiction wherein a death by a wrongful act, neglect, or default of a person or vessel will allow the personal representative of the decedent to bring a civil action in admiralty.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008
Energy Markets Emergency Act of 2008 - Directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to utilize all its authority, including its emergency powers, to: (1) curb immediately the role of excessive speculation in any contract market within its jurisdiction and control on or through which energy futures or swaps are traded; and (2) eliminate excessive speculation, price distortion, sudden or unreasonable fluctuations or unwarranted changes in prices, or other unlawful activity that is causing major market disturbances that prevent the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand for energy commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008
Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act - Makes appropriations for FY2008 for payments under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (LIHEAP Program).
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income for income tax purposes AmeriCorps educational awards awarded under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008
Commemorates Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Recognizes the important cultural, artistic, agricultural, and environmental achievements of Bhutan and the Bhutanese people. Commends the Bhutanese people, the government of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck for their commitment to conducting parliamentary elections and transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a parliamentary democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2008
Recognizes the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations. Urges the President to exert U.S. leadership to ensure that substantive U.N. reforms are fully implemented and that further reforms are adopted.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2008
Climate Market, Auction, Trust & Trade Emissions Reduction System Act of 2008, or the Climate MATTERS Act of 2008 - Declares the purpose of this Act to establish a federal program to reduce US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions substantially enough by 2050 to avert the catastrophic impacts of global climate change. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish an international reserve GHG emission allowance program, whose allowance sales proceeds shall be used to mitigate the negative impacts of global climate change on disadvantaged communities in World Trade Organization (WTO) participant countries. Establishes the International Climate Change Commission to determine annually whether a WTO participant country has taken certain action to limit its GHG emissions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a system for issuing, auctioning, recording, and tracking GHG emission allowances; and (2) impose an excess emissions penalty on owners or operators of covered facilities that fail to submit one or more emission allowances to the Secretary for any year. Establishes a Carbon Market Efficiency Board to: (1) analyze information on the GHG emission allowance market; and (2) authorize the Secretary to carry out cost relief measures if the market poses a substantial harm to the U.S. economy. Provides for the distribution of emission allowances to owners and operators of fossil fuel-fired electric power generating facilities and of energy intensive manufacturing facilities. Establishes: (1) the Deficit Reduction Trust Fund; and (2) the Citizen Protection Trust Fund (CPTF). Directs the Secretary to administer a Climate Change Rebate Program. Provides for a healthy families fund. Sets forth allocations of specified CPTF account funds for: (1) investment in natural resource adaptation to impacts of climate change and ocean acidification; (2) owners and operators of covered facilities who take actions that result in verified GHG emission reductions; (3) states that comply with certain federal building energy standards; (4) states with GHG emission reduction programs exceeding federal GHG emission reduction targets; (5) reductions in GHG emissions from the agriculture and forestry sectors, including those from deforestation activities in foreign countries; and (6) states and load-serving entities that implement energy-efficiency programs. Requires distribution of certain funds for grants for fixed guideway transit and other specified alternative transportation projects. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) develop a federal greenhouse gas registry; (2) make certain GHG emission determinations for covered facilities; and (3) promulgate regulations that require that U.S. GHG emissions in uncovered sectors do not grow.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1025 Nevin Avenue in Richmond, California, as the "Harold D. McCraw, Sr. Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2008
Recognizes and honors the contributions of Timothy John Russert, Jr., as an award-winning political analyst. Expresses condolences upon his death to his wife, Maureen Orth, his son Luke, and his surviving family members and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Responsible Ownership of Public Land Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish an annual production incentive fee for federal onshore and offshore lands subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas under which production is not occurring. Prescribes the fee amount for each acre of land from which oil or natural gas is produced for less than 90 days in a calendar year. Establishes the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund to serve as depository for fees received under this Act. Enumerates energy programs to be funded with such fees, including: (1) low-income home energy assistance; (2) advanced vehicles research, development, and demonstration; (3) new technologies to improve the energy efficiency of and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings; (4) energy storage systems to support electric drive vehicles, stationary applications, and electricity transmission and distribution; (5) next-generation wind turbines; (6) weatherization assistance low income housing; and (7) wind and solar energy research and development.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to make it unlawful for a person to enter into or execute an otherwise excluded swap transaction or exempt transaction involving crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, or diesel fuel (specified energy commodity), unless the person has been certified by the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) as having the capacity of accepting physical delivery of the commodity. Makes it unlawful, as well, for any person to hold a contract or agreement of sale of a specified energy commodity for future delivery, which is otherwise an excluded swap transaction or an exempt transaction, unless the CFTC has certified that the person has the capacity to produce or manufacture the commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing any new lease for exploration or production of oil or natural gas unless the lessee: (1) certifies for each existing lease that the lessee has diligently developed the lands in order to produce oil or natural gas, or is producing oil or natural gas from such lands; or (2) has relinquished all federal oil and gas leases that are not being diligently developed. Instructs the Secretary to promulgate diligent development regulations that: (1) include benchmarks for oil and gas development to ensure that leaseholders produce oil and gas from each lease within the five-year original term of the lease; and (2) require each leaseholder to submit a diligent development plan showing how the lessee will meet the benchmarks. Establishes a civil penalty for noncompliance with this Act. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Mineral Leasing Act, and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands Act to set forth lease terms for an initial period of five years, renewable for additional one-year periods, subject to specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014. Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards. Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to respond to complaints and inquiries by suppliers and individuals. Specifies topics for the Comptroller General's required study and report to Congress on the impact of competitive acquisition of DME on suppliers, manufacturers, and patients. Sets forth a special rule for the competitive acquisition program for diabetic testing strips.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Recognizes the efforts of: (1) southern African trade unions, religious leaders, and advocacy groups to raise awareness about a possible weapons transfer to Zimbabwe as part of a campaign to address Zimbabwe's worsening political, economic, and humanitarian crisis; and (2) southern African governments which denied access through their territories for a weapons shipment destined for a regime that continues to perpetuate gross human rights violations against its own citizens. Urges the United States to continue to work with African governments and multilateral institutions to compel Robert Mugabe's regime to respect the will of its citizens and find a peaceful solution to the current political standoff. Urges the U.S. Permanent Representative at the United Nations to advocate for an international moratorium on arms shipments to Zimbabwe until democracy, human rights, and the rule of law are respected by the government of Zimbabwe.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2008
Supports the comprehensive modernization of the U.S. foreign assistance apparatus to meet 21st century global challenges. Calls for a renewed partnership between Congress and the Administration to define a common vision of the role and management of U.S. foreign assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2008
Impeaches President George W. Bush for high crimes and misdemeanors. Sets forth articles of impeachment stating that President Bush, in violation of his oath of office: (1) illegally spent public dollars on a secret propaganda program to manufacture a false cause for war against Iraq; (2) misused intelligence reports to deceive Congress and the public about a connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda and the the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; (3) mislead Congress and the public into believing that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed an imminent threat to the United States; (4) illegally misspent funds to begin a war in secret prior to congressional authorization; (5) invaded Iraq in violation of U.S. law, the United Nations Charter, and international criminal law and failed to obtain a declaration of war; (6) failed to protect U.S. troops in Iraq by not providing them with body and vehicle armor and promoted false stories about the deaths and injuries of members of the U.S. military; (7) used public funds to construct permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq; (8) invaded Iraq to obtain control of its oil resources; (9) created a secret task force to guide U.S. energy and military policy in usurpation of the role of Congress in legislating such policy; (10) misused classified intelligence information and conspired to identify a covert agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); (11) established policies granting U.S. government contractors in Iraq immunity from prosecution; (12) recklessly misspent public dollars on private contractors in Iraq; (13) detained U.S. citizens and foreign captives indefinitely and without charge; (14) authorized torture of captives in Afghanistan and Iraq; (15) kidnapped and transported individuals to countries known to practice torture; (16) authorized the arrest and detention of at least 2,500 children as enemy combatants in violation of the Geneva Convention; (17) mislead Congress and the public about threats from Iran; (18) created secret laws through the issuance of legal opinions by the Department of Justice and violated the Posse Comitatus Act; (19) authorized warrantless electronic surveillance of U.S. citizens; (20) directed telecommunication companies to create databases of the private telephone numbers and emails of U.S. citizens; (21) used signing statements to claim the right to violate laws enacted by Congress; (22) failed to comply with congressional subpoenas and instructed former executive branch employees not to comply with such subpoenas; (23) tampered with the conduct of free and fair elections and corrupted the administration of justice; (24) conspired to violate the voting rights of U.S. citizens; (25) pursued policies calculated to destroy the Medicare program; (26) failed to prepare for the predictable disasters caused by Hurricane Katrina; (27) mislead Congress and the public in an effort to undermine efforts to address global climate change; and (28) failed to take proper steps to protect the United States against the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, obstructed investigations into such attacks, and recklessly endangered the health of first responders near the site of such attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2008
Congratulates East High School of Denver, Colorado, on winning the 2008 "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" national competition.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2008
Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe a regulation prohibiting advertisements accompanying video programming from: (1) being excessively noisy or strident; (2) having modulation levels substantially higher than the accompanying program; and (3) having an average maximum loudness substantially higher than that of the accompanying program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2008
Expresses concern that the government of the Republic of Iraq refuses to recognize the existence of Israel and urges Iraq to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Calls on the Administration to use its influence to persuade Iraq and other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations to recognize the right of Israel to exist and to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2008
Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act of 2008, or the TRADE Act of 2008 - Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to: (1) review biennially certain free trade agreements (including Uruguay Round Agreements) between the United States and foreign countries; and (2) report to the Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee regarding such agreements, including analyses of specified subjects and of each agreement, as well as whether the country has a democratic form of government that respects certain core labor rights and fundamental human rights, protects intellectual property rights, and enforces environmental laws. Declares that implementing bills of new trade agreements shall not be subject to expedited consideration or special procedures limiting amendment,unless such agreements include certain standards with respect to: (1) labor; (2) environment and public safety; (3) food and product health and safety; (4) provision of services; (5) investment; (6) procurement; (7) intellectual property; (8) agriculture; (9) trade remedies and safeguards; (10) rules of origin; (11) dispute resolution and enforcement; (12) technical assistance; (13) national security; and (14) taxation. Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan for the renegotiation of existing trade agreements to bring them into compliance with such standards. Establishes a Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) certain requirements urging the attainment of certain trade goals shall apply to all existing and new trade agreements; and (2) a certain process for U.S. trade negotiations should be followed when Congress considers legislation providing special procedures for implementing bills of trade agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
The White House Conference on Food and Nutrition - Directs: (1) the President to call the White House Conference on Food and Nutrition to be convened in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to end hunger and to improve nutrition in the United States; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Treasury to plan and conduct the Conference. Sets forth Conference provisions.
![Official portrait of Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000030_200.jpg)