United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2008
Recognizes that respect for human rights is a fundamental value and that the bilateral relationship between the United States and Egypt should be a platform for promoting the rule of law and fundamental freedoms. Calls on the Egyptian government to: (1) respect human rights, minority rights, and freedoms of religion and expression; and (2) release Ayman Nour and all political activists. Welcomes Egypt's efforts to secure the border with Gaza and fight smuggling. Urges the President and the Secretary of State to put human rights and religious freedom developments in Egypt very high on the U.S. government's agenda during meetings with Egyptian officials.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2008
Eminent Domain Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income gain from the conversion of property by reason of eminent domain.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2008
Responsive Government Act of 2008 - Amends the federal judicial code to authorize the chief judge of a district or court of appeals to delay, toll, or otherwise grant relief from time deadlines applicable to pending civil and criminal cases in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situation requiring the closure of courts or rendering it impracticable to comply with such deadlines. Grants the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office authority to: (1) waive statutory provisions governing the filing, processing, renewal, and maintenance of patents, trademark registrations, and patent and trademark applications in certain emergencies; and (2) accept late application filings for patent extensions in certain cases of unintentional delay. Prescribes filing fees for patent extensions, including: (1) $65 million for an anticoagulant drug intended for use in humans; and (2) a formula for other items.
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
High School Sports Anti-Drug Act - Directs the Secretary of Education, acting through the Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, to award competitive grants to states to develop and carry out statewide pilot programs that randomly test secondary school students for performance-enhancing drug use. Requires a parent's or guardian's written consent before a student may be tested. Directs grantees to: (1) provide recovery, counseling, and treatment programs for students who test positive for performance-enhancing drug use; and (2) spend at least 10% of grant funds on preventing such drug use.
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
Requires that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, be managed in accordance with the Interim Protected Species Management Strategy/Environmental Assessment issued by the National Park Service (NPS) until the NPS issues a special regulation and long-term off-road vehicle management plan for the use of that seashore by the public. Invalidates the consent decree filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina regarding off-road vehicle use at that seashore.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2008
Congratulates Albania and Croatia on being invited by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to begin accession talks. Supports: (1) the invitations to initiate an Intensified Dialogue between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia; and (2) the enlargement of NATO, and the NATO declaration at the Bucharest Summit that NATO should remain open to European democracies able to assume membership responsibilities. Affirms that any decision about NATO membership will be made through member consensus and that no country outside of NATO has a vote or veto with respect to such decisions.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2008
Praises the efforts by those countries in Central and Eastern Europe that have enacted legislation for the restitution of, or compensation for, private and communal religious property confiscated during the Nazi and Communist eras. Urges the countries in Central and Eastern Europe that have not already done so to return confiscated properties to their rightful owners or, where restitution is not possible, pay equitable compensation. Calls on the governments of Poland and of Lithuania to enact legislation so that persons (or their heirs) whose property was confiscated during the Nazi or Communist eras are able to obtain restitution of, or compensation for, such property. Calls on the Secretary of State to report to Congress every six months, regarding implementation of this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2008
Private Property Rights Protection and Government Accountability Act - Makes any state or political subdivision thereof that carries out a public taking for any private purpose in or affecting interstate commerce ineligible for any federal economic development funds for ten fiscal years. Entitles any owner of private property subject to such a taking to injunctive and declaratory relief. Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Commerce for FY2009-FY2013.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2008
Oil Shale Opportunity Act of 2008 - Directs the President to limit the application of law as necessary to expedite the exploration and production of oil and gas from oil shale and tar sands, including, but not limited to, the issuance of any federal permit. Grants U.S. district courts exclusive jurisdiction to hear all causes or claims arising from any action undertaken, or any decision made, by the President pursuant to this Act. Declares that one half of royalties due to the federal government from production under this Act shall be dedicated to fund private grants for: (1) research and development to limit or capture carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels; (2) alternative fuels; and (3) energy efficiency.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2008
Illegal Alien Crime Reporting Act of 2008 - Prohibits a state or political subdivision thereof from receiving funds under any program or activity administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless the state: (1) compiles statistics on each person who is arrested, charged with a crime, convicted, or incarcerated after being convicted of a crime by the state or political subdivision, including each person's crime, immigration status, and country of origin; (2) reports such statistics monthly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and (3) certifies compliance with these requirements monthly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Requires each federal agency to: (1) compile such statistics for any person it arrests, charges, prosecutes to conviction, or incarcerates after conviction of a crime; and (2) report such statistics monthly to the FBI. Directs the FBI to publish all statistics reported under this Act annually as a separate data collection of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), upon the request of a state governor, or in the case of Native American tribes or tribal territories, the designated leader of the tribe or tribal community, to provide financial assistance to hire additional personnel to assist the state or tribe or tribal community with expertise in fields relevant to consideration of federal refinery authorizations. Requires a federal agency responsible for refinery authorization to provide, upon the request of a state governor, or in the case of Native American tribes or tribal territories, the designated leader of the tribe or tribal community, technical, legal, or other nonfinancial assistance to facilitate state or tribal consideration of such authorizations. Directs the President to appoint a federal coordinator to facilitate such authorizations. Requires the coordinator, upon the request of an applicant seeking a federal refinery authorization, to establish a memorandum of agreement, executed by relevant federal and state agencies, setting forth the most expeditious coordinated schedule possible for completion of all such authorizations. Instructs the President to designate at least three closed military installations as potentially suitable for the construction of a refinery. Requires that at least one such site be designated as potentially suitable for construction of a refinery to refine biomass in order to produce biofuel. Requires the redevelopment authority, in preparing or revising the redevelopment plan for each such designated installation, to consider the feasibility and practicability of siting a refinery on the installation. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal certain requirements regarding refinery revitalization.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 to repeal the prohibition on using certain funds to issue regulations for: (1) a commercial leasing program for oil shale resources on public lands; or (2) an oil shale lease sale.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize the President to waive the requirement concerning the applicable volume of renewable fuels in gasoline in any year after 2007 through 2022 if the President finds that complying with such requirement in that year is not technologically feasible or that the fuel concerned is not commercially available in the required volume for that year.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an unconventional aviation fuel mixture credit. Defines "unconventional aviation fuel mixture" as an aviation-grade fuel consisting of a mixture of unconventional fuel (any liquid fuel derived from coal and any oil produced from shale) and aviation-grade kerosene. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into contracts or other agreements to procure liquid fuel derived from coal to meet the fuel requirements of the Department of Defense (DOD), including multi-year contracts for up to 25 years.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Directs the Secretary of Energy to award at least 65 four-year grants per year to undergraduate institutions to fund scholarships for students majoring in nuclear science or nuclear engineering. Requires the Secretary to provide Congress with recommendations for developing a robust nuclear workforce in this country.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2013 the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, open and closed-loop biomass, geothermal or solar energy, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash combustion, refined coal, and hydropower facilities; (2) include marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a resource eligible for such credit; (3) extend through 2017 the investment tax credit for solar, fuel cell, and microturbine property; (4) repeal the dollar per kilowatt limitation for fuel cell property for purposes of the investment tax credit; and (5) allow public utility property to qualify for the investment tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Renewable Fuel Adjustment Act of 2008 - Repeals specified amendments made to renewable fuel program provisions of the Clean Air Act by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, including the renewable fuel standards and related definitions prescribed by such Act. Requires the President to recommend changes to renewable fuel standards based upon the findings of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study of the impact of the renewable fuel program on producers of feed grains, livestock, food, forest products, and energy when the Secretary of Energy submits it to Congress. Requires the Secretary to enter into an arrangement with NAS to assess the impact of federal and state requirements to use ethanol on such producers and producers of other consumer goods. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for reductions in the ethanol blender credits for ethanol derived from corn kernels, soybeans, or any other substances that are suitable for human food or livestock feed consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to authorize the Secretary of Energy to use amounts in the Nuclear Waste Fund to make competitive grants to or enter into long-term contracts with private sector entities for the recycling of spent nuclear fuel. Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to complete a rulemaking establishing a process for licensing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, of facilities for the recycling of spent nuclear fuel. Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to provide that the receipt and disbursements of the Nuclear Waste Fund shall not be counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficits or surplus for purposes of the executive budget, the congressional budget, or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) (thereby moving the Fund off-budget).
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Energy Information Agency to conduct a joint study and report to specified congressional committees on the effects of speculation in the domestic and foreign futures markets for natural gas, crude oil, and gasoline on cash market and retail prices for the commodities. Requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to: (1) issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding how the CFTC determines whether regulation of futures contracts and derivatives by a foreign country is comparable to regulation of such under the Commodity Exchange Act; (2) evaluate any comments submitted; and (3) determine whether the CFTC should issue a proposed rule regarding the matter.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Supports the goals and ideals of Vietnam Veterans Day. Calls on the American people to remember those men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the nation in Vietnam, recognize the prisoners of war and Armed Forces members who are missing in action, and honor all Vietnam veterans who served the nation faithfully to protect its freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Declares that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability through economic, political, and diplomatic means is vital to U.S. national security. Urges the President to use his authority to impose sanctions on: (1) Iranian banks engaged in proliferation activities or the support of terrorist groups; (2) international banks which conduct financial transactions with proscribed Iranian banks; (3) energy companies with large investments in the Iranian petroleum or natural gas sector; and (4) all companies which do business with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Demands that the President initiate an international effort to increase economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities. Urges the President to lead a regional diplomatic effort to support the legitimate governments in the region against Iranian destabilization efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2008
American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a competitive leasing program for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas resources on the Coastal Plain of Alaska. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Deems any oil and gas leasing programs and activities authorized by this Act to be in compliance with ANWR purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to designate up to 45,000 acres of the Coastal Plain as a Special Area, after consultation with the state of Alaska, the city of Kaktovik, and the North Slope Borough. Permits directional drilling in the Special Area. Prescribes procedures governing Coastal Plain lease sales, as well as terms and conditions, including: (1) environmental protection; (2) federal and state distribution of revenues; (3) rights-of-way; and (4) local government impact aid and community service assistance. Sets forth: (1) a "no significant adverse effect" standard to govern Coastal Plain activities; and (2) guidelines for expedited judicial review of complaints. Establishes the ANWR Alternative Energy Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2008
Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008 - Requires the President to establish, in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, a Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM education) within the National Science and Technology Council. Establishes an Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education in the Department of Education, to be administered by an Assistant Secretary. Requires the Assistant Secretary to conduct an annual evaluation of the STEM education programs administered by the department. Requires the Secretary of Education to award a grant to establish a voluntary State Consortium on STEM Education and a grant to the National Science Digital Library to establish a National STEM Education Research Repository.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 42222 Rancho Las Palmas Drive in Rancho Mirage, California, as the "Gerald R. Ford Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2008
Save Medicare Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to: (1) increase the Medicare physician payment update for 2009; and (2) extend the physician quality reporting system, the incentive payment program for physician scarcity areas, the floor on the work geographic adjustment to the physician fee schedule, and the accommodation for physicians ordered to active duty in the armed services. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act should be deficit neutral over the five year period beginning on October 1, 2008; and (2) Congress should address the challenges facing the Medicare program in a fiscally responsible manner. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Medicare program should provide payments to physicians and other health professionals that serve as positive incentives for participation in voluntary initiatives to improve health care quality; and (2) financing for such initiatives should be non-punitive and exempt from the Medicare physician fee schedule budget neutrality requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2008
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and provide an equal number of annual immigrant visas (55,0000) to certain employment-based aliens who obtain an advanced degree in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2008
Authorizes the National District Attorneys Association to use the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, for a training program to improve the professional skills of state and local prosecutors and to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local prosecutors to work together. Authorizes the National Advocacy Center to provide comprehensive legal education in trial practice, provide substantive legal updates, and support staff training.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2008
Military Spouses Residency Relief Act - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to prohibit, for purposes of voting for a federal, state, or local office, deeming a person to have lost a residence or domicile in a state, acquired a residence or domicile in any other state, or become a resident in or of any other state solely because the person is absent from a state because the person is accompanying the person's spouse who is absent from the state in compliance with military or naval orders. Prohibits a servicemember's spouse from either losing or acquiring a residence or domicile for purposes of taxation because of being absent or present in any U.S. tax jurisdiction solely to be with the servicemember in compliance with the servicemember's military orders if the residence or domicile is the same for the servicemember and the spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2008
Supports the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day to improve the education, life skills, and employment potential of America's high school dropouts though public awareness, scholarships, higher education assistance, mentoring, and job development programs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2008
Commends the people and the government of Montenegro for the manner in which the April 2008 presidential election was conducted. Supports the decision by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to initiate an Intensified Dialogue with Montenegro. Welcomes the close relationship between the United States and Montenegro and urges the people and the government of Montenegro to continue to embrace the principles of a democratic government, a free market economy, and an open society.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2008
Clean Global War on Terror Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes emergency supplemental FY2008 appropriations for specified activities related to the war on terror, international affairs, and national defense matters to the Departments of Agriculture (including food relief to certain foreign countries), of Justice, of Defense (military, including funds for Afghan and Iraqi security forces), of Defense (military construction), and of State (including international peacekeeping activities). Rescinds certain funds made available in: (1) the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 for the Defense Health Program; and (2) the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund. Makes additional supplemental appropriations for the war on terror, international affairs, and national defense matters to the Departments of Agriculture (including food relief to certain foreign countries), of Justice, of Defense (military, including funds for Afghan and Iraqi security forces), and of State and related agencies. Designates each amount in this Act as an emergency requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2008
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY2012 the grant program for armor vests for law enforcement officers.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2008
Freedom to Serve Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties for: (1) using force or the threat of force or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate or interfere with anyone providing federal or state military recruiting services or anyone seeking to inquire about or volunteer for military service in the active or reserve Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state; or (2) intentionally damaging or destroying facilities that house or host military recruiting services.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2008
Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend certain tax incentives for energy production and conservation. Extends through 2009 the tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources (e.g., biomass, geothermal energy, landfill gas, and trash combustion). Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource eligible for such credit. Allows sales of electricity produced from renewable resources to regulated public utilities. Extends through 2016 the energy investment tax credit for solar energy, fuel cell, and microturbine property. Repeals the dollar per kilowatt limitation for fuel cell property under the energy investment tax credit. Allows public electric utilities to qualify for such credit. Extends through 2009 the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures. Repeals the $2,000 limitation on the tax credit for solar electric property. Allows an offset against the alternative minimum tax (AMT) of tax credit amounts. Extends through 2009 the tax credit for investment in clean renewable energy bonds. Increases the national limitation amount for such bonds. Extends through 2009 deferral provisions relating to the recognition of gain by certain electric utilities. Extends through 2009 the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property. Includes residential biomass fuel stoves (pellet stoves) as eligible energy property for purposes of such credit. Extends through 2010 the tax credit for energy efficient new homes. Extends through 2009 the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings and increases the allowable amount of such deduction. Extends the tax credit for energy efficient appliances to include appliances produced in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Revises and updates energy efficiency standards for such appliances in accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2008
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the People's Republic of China and its government-owned and controlled enterprises should be required to properly disclose material information concerning the selective default status of specified bonds in all prospectuses and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2008
American Elections Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require, except as provided for under this Act, that all ballots and balloting material used in federal elections be only in the English language. Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the requirement that certain jurisdictions provide ballots and other voting materials in languages other than English. Restricts such requirement to certain political subdivisions with populations of American Indians or Alaska Natives.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2008
Homeowner Opportunity Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act, and the National Housing Act to make permanent certain increases in the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage that may be purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Expresses the sense of the Congress to encourage Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to securitize mortgages acquired under the increased conforming loan limits to the extent that such securitizations do not impose additional costs for mortgages originated, purchased, or securitized under the existing limits, or interfere with the goal of adding liquidity to the market. Amends the National Housing Act to: (1) increase the mortgage loan limit for mortgage insurance in high-cost areas; and (2) direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to publish the median house prices and mortgage principal obligation limits for all areas each year.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2008
Declares that Congress: (1) recognizes the Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke for her public service in many positions, including as the first African-American woman on the House Appropriations Committee; (2) believes that her record demonstrates she is a woman of indomitable compassion, courage, character, and commitment; (3) believes she will be remembered for the changes she made in the lives of minorities, women, and the economically disadvantaged; and (4) congratulates her on her retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2008
Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 350,000 $1 coins in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. Requires the coin design to be emblematic of the 100 years of the organization. Restricts issuance of such coins to February 8 through December 31, 2010. Subjects coin sales to a surcharge of $10 per coin. Requires payment of such surcharges to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation, to be made available to local councils in the form of grants for the extension of Scouting in hard-to-serve areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2008
Homeownership Protection and Housing Market Stabilization Act of 2008 - Sets forth a licensing and registry system for residential mortgage loan originators. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require additional creditor disclosures on residential mortgage loans. Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish the Office of Housing Counseling in the Office of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to grant community investment credit for certain lender practices. Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2008 - Amends the National Housing Act to revise the single family mortgage insurance program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), including Hawaiian home lands and Indian reservations, and home equity conversion (reverse) mortgages. Amends the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 to grant a temporary increase in the maximum loan guaranty amount for veterans' housing loans guaranteed by Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Directs the Secretary of Defense to implement a mortgage foreclosure prevention counseling program for members of the Armed Forces returning from active duty abroad. Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend the period of protection against mortgage foreclosures. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) require escrow and impound accounts for periodic payments for certain credit transactions; and (2) set forth property appraisal requirements. Authorizes appropriations for federal prosecution of mortgage fraud. Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to establish: (1) the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to exercise oversight authority over the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) (enterprises) ; and (2) the Federal Housing Enterprise Board. Prescribes: (1) minimum and critical capital levels for regulated entities; and (2) special enforcement powers. Requires the FHFA Director to establish standards for enterprise assets and liabilities. Abolishes: (1) the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight; and (2) the Federal Housing Finance Board. Transfers their functions, personnel, and property to the FHFA. Terminates enterprise-related functions of HUD.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2008
Hubbard Act - Amends federal employment, armed forces, military pay, and veterans' benefits law to authorize the provision of the following benefits to a member of the Armed Forces who is discharged at the member's request pursuant to a Department of Defense (DOD) policy permitting the early discharge of a member who is the only surviving child in a family in which the father or mother, or one or more siblings, served in the Armed Forces and, incident to such service, was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently disabled: (1) continued payment, through the original agreed-upon service period, of any bonus, incentive, or similar benefit to which the member was entitled during service; (2) separation pay, even though the member has completed less than six years of active service before discharge; (3) transitional health care, on the same basis as an active-duty member, for 180 days after discharge; (4) transitional commissary and exchange benefits, on the same basis as an active-duty member, for two years after discharge; (5) veterans' housing loan, employment and training, and basic educational assistance; (6) federal unemployment compensation; and (7) veteran's preference for federal employment purposes. Makes this Act effective with respect to any such discharge granted after September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2008
Federal Sunset Act of 2008 - Establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each agency; (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; (3) recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and (4) report to Congress on all legislation introduced that would establish a new agency or a new program to be carried out by an existing agency. Requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review, unless the agency is reauthorized by Congress. Authorizes the deadline for abolishing an agency to be extended for an additional two years by legislation enacted by a super majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Terminates the Commission on December 31, 2033. Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of federal programs within each agency for the purpose of advising and assisting Congress and the Commission in carrying out the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2008
Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2008 - Prohibits states or local governments from imposing any new discriminatory tax on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property for five years after the enactment of this Act. Defines "new discriminatory tax" as a tax imposed on mobile services, providers, or property that is not generally imposed on other types of services or property, or that is generally imposed at a lower rate.
![Official portrait of Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-24]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000021_200.jpg)