Rep. Ford, Harold E., Jr. [D-TN-9]

An amendment numbered 16 printed in House Report 109-49 to authorize a total of $3 billion over ten years for a program to encourage the domestic production of hybrid and advanced vehicle diesel vehicles by providing grants to manufacturers and incentives to customers to purchase such vehicles.

United States · United States Congress

Congratulating the St. Louis Cardinals on winning the 2006 World Series.

United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2006

Congratulates the St. Louis Cardinals on winning the 2006 World Series.

Honoring the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006

Honors the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Public Service Academy Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006

Public Service Academy Act of 2006 - Establishes, in the Department of Homeland Security, a United States Public Service Academy providing a fully subsidized liberal arts education to students selected from a pool of candidates nominated by Congress and the President. Reserves 100 first-year seats for international students, whose tuition and expenses are to be covered by their home countries. Requires incoming students to sign an Honor Code and be at least 17 years old, unmarried, and without dependents. Requires students to: (1) participate in daily public service programming and, during their final year, plan and implement a one-year public service project; (2) take foreign language and international relations courses in preparation for spending their junior year studying abroad and interning at a U.S. mission; (3) spend eight weeks each summer engaged in specified training and internship activities; and (4) by the completion of their fourth semester, choose a public service concentration in the economy, education, emergency management, the environment, foreign policy, health care, law enforcement, or the public infrastructure. Directs the Academy to assign graduates to public service employment in their field of concentrated study, where they must serve for at least five years. Includes private nonprofit organizations and private entities deemed to meet critical national needs, among acceptable public service employers. Requires foreign students to sign an agreement with the student's home country that meets the same conditions applicable to U.S. students. Authorizes the Academy to subsidize a student's graduate education in return for an extended public service commitment. Requires the Academy to raise 20% of its annual budget from private sources.

Older Kids Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006

Older Kids Act of 2006 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions allowing a tax credit for adoption expenses to increase: (1) the dollar limitation on the amount of adoption expenses eligible for the credit for children with special needs or children age nine or older; and (2) the adjusted gross income limitation applicable to such credit.

Pregnant Women Support Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006

Pregnant Women Support Act - Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to make grants to states for collecting and reporting abortion surveillance data. Requires health facilities that perform abortions to obtained informed consent from a pregnant woman seeking an abortion, except in a medical emergency. Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to allow states to extend health care coverage to an unborn child. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a health insurance issuer offering individual coverage from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion or a waiting period or otherwise discriminating against a woman on the basis that she is pregnant. Allows the Secretary to make grants for the purchase of ultrasound equipment for examinations of pregnant women. Provides for the collection and dissemination of information on Down syndrome and other prenatally diagnosed conditions. Provides for services to pregnant women and mothers who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Requires states to have a pregnant "box check" on homicide death certificates. Allows the Secretary to make grants to public institutions of higher education to assist pregnant and parenting students in continuing their studies and graduating. Requires the Secretary to provide for programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to finish high school. Requires group homes for pregnant and parenting women to provide counseling on adoption and parenting skills. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and make refundable the tax credit for adoption expenses. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to increase the eligibility threshold for food stamps.

Celebrating the first Milwaukee Mujeres Against Domestic Violence Brides Walk and recognizing all brides walks in protest of domestic violence.

United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2006

Honors the memory of domestic violence victims. Celebrates the Milwaukee Mujeres Against Domestic Violence Brides Walk. Recognizes all bride walks in protest of domestic violence.

Congratulating The Professional Golfers' Association of America on its 90th anniversary and commending the members of The Professional Golfers' Association of America and The PGA Foundation for the charitable contributions they provide to the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2006

Congratulates the Professional Golfers' Association of America on its 90th anniversary and applauds its contributions to employment and economic growth.

Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2006

Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to provide education on preventing teen pregnancies. Provides for: (1) grants to prevent teen pregnancy; and (2) a national center for parents of adolescents to support parents in preventing teen pregnancy. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of Social Security Act to expand coverage of family planning services. Sets forth requirements for primary care clinics that receive federal financial assistance and provide abortion services. Expands state options to provide health care coverage to low-income pregnant women. Title X Family Planning Services Act of 2006 - Authorizes appropriations for voluntary family planning projects. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit individual health insurance coverage from excluding pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Provides for: (1) grants for ultrasound equipment and prenatal testing for pregnant women; and (2) programs to better identify and treat pregnant women and mothers who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Allows the Secretary to make grants to public institutions of higher education to assist students who have decided to carry their pregnancies to term and parenting students in continuing their studies and graduating. Requires the Secretary to require that federally funded group homes for pregnant and parenting women provide, upon request, adoption counseling and counseling on parenting skills. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the tax credit for adoption expenses; (2) make such tax credit refundable; and (3) increase the exclusion from gross income for employer-paid adoption expenses. Provides for: (1) education of teen and first-time mothers through home visits by registered nurses; and (2) the collection and reporting of abortion surveillance data.

Butterfield Overland Trail Study Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006

Butterfield Overland Trail Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource study along the "Ox-Bow Route" of the Butterfield Overland Trail in the states of Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Requires that the study evaluate a range of alternatives for protecting and interpreting the resources of the trail area, including alternatives for potential addition of such area to the National Trails System.

Linking Educators and Developing Entrepreneurs for Reaching Success (LEADERS) Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006

Linking Educators and Developing Entrepreneurs for Reaching Success (LEADERS) Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to support business incubation at institutions of higher education that award associate or baccalaureate degrees. Directs the Secretary to make competitive, matching awards to: (1) a nonprofit entity that manages or provides technical assistance to a degree-granting institution's affiliated incubator (or to the institution that manages in the absence of such an entity), for helping acquire or renovate space for incubators, and for developing curricula, providing services, or providing programming for entrepreneurs housed in an incubator; and (2) a degree-granting institution or a nonprofit local government or community development organization, for feasibility studies to determine the need for or siting of incubators. Requires the Secretary to reserve certain amounts for research regarding best practices for incubator programs, including the development of a benchmarking system based on uniform measures, and for dissemination of information regarding such practices. Authorizes contracts for such purposes with organizations with expertise in business incubation practices.

Recognizing Financial Planning Week, recognizing the significant impact of sound financial planning on achieving life's goals, and honoring families and the financial planning profession for their adherence and dedication to the financial planning process.

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006

Supports the goals and ideals of Financial Planning Week, and encourages Americans to observe it with appropriate programs and activities. Recognizes the significant impact that sound financial planning can have on securing financial independence and achieving life's goals and dreams.

PROGRESS Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006

Program for Real Energy Security Act or the PROGRESS Act - Establishes the National Commission on Energy Security and Transition to New Fuels. Sets forth the duties of the Commission, including to make recommendations to Congress and the President for: (1) preserving the national energy security in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster; and (2) reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil over a specified period. Establishes: (1) the New Manhattan Center for High Efficiency Vehicles; and (2) the Advisory Council on Federal Participation. Requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of grants to federal and private sector researchers (including the Center) to research and develop alternative fuels and technologies to improve the productivity of U.S. automotive firms in the manufacture of high efficiency vehicles. Establishes a grant program to provide assistance to retail and wholesale motor fuel dealers or other entities to install, replace, or convert motor fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure for use in the storage and dispensing of biobased fuels. Sets forth requirements calling for: (1) the production and distribution of biobased fuels (ethanol) and deployment of new engine technologies for fuel-flexible, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and biodiesel vehicles; (2) greater use of alternative fuels in dual fueled vehicles operating in the federal fleet; and (3) the increase and expansion of employer-provided mass transit fringe benefits. Transit Rail Accommodation Improvement and Needs Act - Allows for the shared use of rail carrier trackage and rail rights-of-way by mass transportation authorities. Authorizes capital investment grants to improve intercity passenger rail service. Allows a tax credit to holders of qualified high-speed rail infrastructure bonds. Railroad Track Modernization Act of 2006 - Establishes a capital grant program for the rehabilitation, preservation, or improvement of railroad track of class II and class III railroads. Requires the issuance of regulations implementing reliability standards for the safe transportation of energy supplies by rail.

Observing the one year anniversary of the date on which the Gulf Coast region was struck by Hurricane Katrina, acknowledging the significant deficiencies that still exist in the ability of cities in the Gulf Coast region to provide necessary social services and subsistence to their residents or to attract the return of many displaced residents, and reaffirming the commitment of Congress to assist in rebuilding the Gulf Coast region, improving the quality of life for all its residents, and ending poverty in America.

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006

Expresses support for the people still affected by Hurricane Katrina. Acknowledges deficiencies in the ability of Gulf Coast cities to provide social services and to attract the return of displaced residents. Reaffirms Congress's commitment to assist in rebuilding the Gulf Coast region, improving the quality of life for its residents, and ending poverty in America.

Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2006

Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006 - Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to create a Math and Science Teaching Corps to significantly improve mathematics and science achievement among secondary school students. Requires the Director of the Corps to carry out a program that awards: (1) Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for Prospective Teachers (MSTC Fellowships) to teachers possessing comprehensive subject area knowledge; (2) grants to partner institutions to pay the tuition, fees, and overhead costs of the fellows; and (3) grants to participating local educational agencies to pay the expenses associated with facilitating the induction and professional development services for the fellows. Requires MSTC Fellowship recipients to: (1) receive specified pedagogical training; (2) teach mathematics or science, for a specified stipend, in a public secondary school for four years, and participate in induction and professional development programs; (3) participate in additional weekend or summer professional development activities in their first two years of teaching; and (4) receive mentoring training in their third year of teaching, and provide mentoring in their fourth year. Requires the Director to carry out a program that awards Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for Experienced Teachers (MSTC Master Fellowships). Requires an MSTC Master Fellowship recipient to: (1) continue to teach mathematics or science, for a specified stipend, in a secondary school of a participating agency for at least five of the seven years after receiving such fellowship; (2) serve as a leader and mentor within the individual's department and school; and (3) attend subject or pedagogy workshops offered by the participating local educational agency. Requires that at least 30% of the recipients in each category of fellowship teach at hard-to-staff schools. Provides bonus stipends to such recipients.

Recognizing and honoring York for his role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2006

Honors York, the first African American to explore the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, for his contributions to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Urges students of American history to study his role in the expedition.

Civil Rights History Project Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2006

Civil Rights History Project Act of 2006 - Requires the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (acting through the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture) to establish an oral history project to: (1) collect video and audio recordings of, and visual and written materials relevant to the personal histories of, participants in the Civil Rights movement; and (2) make the collection available for public use through the Library of Congress and the Museum.

To require budgeting for ongoing military operations.

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2006

Requires the President's budget for each fiscal year after FY2007 to include: (1) a request for funds for ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; (2) an estimate of all funds expected to be required in that fiscal year for such operations; and (3) a detailed justification of the funds requested.

Energy Efficient Buildings Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2006

Energy Efficient Buildings Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the allowable amount of the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial building costs; and (2) extend such deduction through 2010.

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2006

Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive program for reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans. Requires the program to include: (1) mandatory training for appropriate staff and contractors of the Department of Veterans Affairs who interact with veterans; (2) screening of veterans who receive medical care at a Department facility for suicide risk factors; (3) referral of at-risk veterans for counseling and treatment; (4) a suicide prevention counselor at each Department medical facility; (5) research for suicide prevention and for mental health care for veterans who have experienced sexual trauma while in military service; (6) 24-hour veterans' mental health care availability; and (7) a toll-free hotline. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) suicide among veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious problem; and (2) the Secretary should take in the special needs of PTSD-afflicted veterans in developing and implementing the program.

Green Vehicles Promotion Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2006

Green Vehicles Promotion Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits through 2010 for the purchase of a qualified flexible fuel motor vehicle and for the conversion of an existing motor vehicle into a qualified flexible fuel motor vehicle. Defines "qualified flexible fuel vehicle" to include a vehicle using fuel with an 85% ethanol content. Establishes in the Treasury the Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Trust Fund to create a grant program for the construction and operation of alternative fuel refueling stations. Defines "alternative fuels" to mean: (1) fuels with an 85% ethanol content, liquefied petroleum gas, or hydrogen; or (2) biodiesel mixtures. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to remit 90% of the civil penalties collected for violations of automobile fuel economy standards to the Trust Fund.

Empowerment Zone and Renewal Community Enhancement Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2006

Empowerment Zone and Renewal Community Enhancement Act of 2006 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to tax-preferred empowerment zones, enterprise communities, and renewal communities to: (1) extend the period of designation for empowerment zones and renewal communities through 2015; (2) provide a safe harbor standard for employee residency requirements in empowerment zones; (3) eliminate certain residency requirements for the empowerment zone employment tax credit; (4) grant authority to expand the boundaries of empowerment zones and enterprise communities; (5) allow carryovers of unused expensing allowances for enterprise zone businesses; (6) allow certain empowerment zone businesses to elect to receive payments in lieu of tax benefits; and (7) allow federal guarantees and tax exemptions for enterprise zone facility bonds.

Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2006

Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income and excise tax credits for alcohol and biodiesel used as fuel.

Safe Climate Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2006

Safe Climate Act of 2006 - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate: (1) targets for a 2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions each year from 2010-2050 ; and (2) regulations requiring reductions to meet such targets, including by setting caps on emissions of sources and sectors with the largest emissions or the best opportunities to reduce them, by issuing and authorizing trading of emission allowances, and by imposing penalties for excess emissions. Requires relevant federal agencies to finalize a rule to carry out the National Academies' recommendations for regulatory action needed to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations or explain their reasons for declining to act. Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan for the distribution of emission allowances (including through auctions) and the use of proceeds (to be deposited in a Climate Reinvestment Fund) for specified goals, including mitigating the effects of energy cost increases and climate change. Requires the EPA to ensure that emissions and allowances are accurately tracked, reported, and verified. Authorizes the emission reduction regulations to include: (1) additional requirements for any source or sector; and (2) performance standards, best management practices, and technology-based requirements. Requires such regulations to set standards for the reduction of greenhouse emissions from motor vehicles at least as quickly as the standards adopted by the California Air Resources Board at its September 2004 hearing. Requires the EPA to revise such standards in 2014 and every five years thereafter to further reduce emissions. Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary of Energy to: (1) require, beginning in 2009, an annual increase in the percentage of electric energy generated from renewable sources that is sold at the retail level in the United States and to require such percentage to be at least 20% of the total electricity sold by 2020; and (2) set end-user savings targets for retail electric-energy and natural gas suppliers. Authorizes DOE to: (1) increase the required percentage of end-user savings for years after 2020; and (2) allow suppliers to achieve the targets through a market-based trading system.