United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2005
Fuel Supply Improvement Act of 2005 - Prescribes guidelines to expedite federal permitting procedures for construction or expansion of a domestic petroleum refining facility. Applies such expedited permit procedures exclusively to permits under specified environmental protection statutes. Directs the Secretary of Energy, upon applicant request, to provide direct legal representation to a refining facility applicant to defend against a lawsuit regarding the permit approval procedure, or facility construction or expansion, if the Secretary believes the lawsuit is without merit, is brought solely to delay facility completion, or will have the effect of delaying facility completion in a period when U.S. domestic refining capability is insufficient. Instructs the Secretary to establish an office of regulatory assistance whose sole purpose is to assist applicants with permit applications, planning, and otherwise pursuing the construction or expansion of a domestic petroleum refining facility. Grants the Secretary contracting authority with sponsors of new large-sized petroleum refining facilities. Establishes in the Department of Energy the Refinery Standby Support Program Account and the Refinery Standby Support Grant Account to cover loan costs and costs resulting from certain construction delays. Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide within new source review regulations that equipment replacement shall be considered routine maintenance and repair if it: (1) does not increase actual emissions of any air pollutant by more than 5%; and (2) does not increase actual emissions of any air pollutant by more than 40 tons per year. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to charge a discounted price in any sale to a qualified small refinery of crude oil obtained by the United States as royalty-in-kind.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2005
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the phrase "one Nation, under God" should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance; and (2) voluntary recitation of the Pledge in public school classrooms should be encouraged. Recognizes and commends the Elk Grove Unified School District in California for its continued support of the Pledge. Urges the Attorney General to appeal the ruling in Newdow, et al. v. U.S. Congress, et al. (holding that the policy of daily teacher-led recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school students violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution) to the Supreme Court.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2005
Oversight of Vital Emergency Recovery Spending Enhancement and Enforcement Act of 2005 - Establishes within the Executive Office of the President the Office of Hurricane Katrina Recovery Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Makes the CFO responsible for the efficient and effective use of federal funds in all activities relating to the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Requires the CFO to strive to ensure that priority in the distribution of federal: (1) relief funds is given to individuals and organizations most in need of financial assistance; and (2) reconstruction funds is given to business entities based in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or business entities that hire workers who resided in those States before August 29, 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2005
Prohibits funds from being expended for the construction or lease of buildings or space for any branch of the U.S. government or any entity within such branch, unless a contract for such construction or lease was entered into before the date of enactment of this Act. Provides exceptions in any case in which funds are expended for: (1) construction to rebuild the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricane Katrina; and (2) purposes necessary in the interests of national security. Terminates such prohibition on January 1, 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2005
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend the personal use tax rules for dwellings that are used to provide free housing to persons displaced by Hurricane Katrina
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2005
Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Supreme Court should speedily find the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools to be consistent with the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2005
Urges U.N. member states to: (1) stop supporting resolutions that unfairly castigate Israel; and (2) promote within the United Nations General Assembly more balanced and constructive approaches to resolving Middle East conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2005
Home School Non-Discrimination Act of 2005 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) with respect to: (1) student aid eligibility of home-schooled students who have satisfied certain secondary education standards; and (2) institutional aid eligibility of the higher education institutions that such students attend. Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide that, if a parent does not consent to an initial evaluation or special education or related services for a child with a disability, the local educational agency shall not be required to convene an individualized education program (IEP) meeting or develop an IEP for such child. Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to qualified elementary and secondary education expenses (the Coverdell Education Savings Account) to include home schools if they are treated as a home school or private school under state law. Amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to prohibit release of certain information on and educational records of students in nonpublic education, including any student educated at home or in a private school in accordance with state law, without written parental consent. Amends HEA to include students at home schools, whether treated as a home school or a private school under state law, among those prospective secondary school graduates eligible to apply for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program for higher education. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to direct the Secretary of Labor to extend the hours and periods of permissible employment of employees between the ages of 14 and 16 years who are privately educated at a home school, whether the home school is treated as a home school or a private school under state law, beyond those hours and periods applicable to employees of such ages who are educated in traditional public schools. (Thus allows home-school students to be employed during the traditional school day.) Amends specified federal law with respect to policies on recruitment and enlistment of home schooled students in the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2005
Welcome President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan upon his September 2005 visit to the United States. Recognizes: (1) President Chen Shui-bian's visit as a significant step toward broadening U.S-Taiwan friendship and cooperation; and (2) President Chen Shui-bian's commitment to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Congratulates President Chen Shui-bian on his receiving the Human Rights Award from the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. Thanks President Chen Shui-bian and the government and people of Taiwan for their contribution to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2005
Cleanup and Reconstruction Enhancement Act (CARE Act) - Suspends Davis-Bacon Act wage rate requirements for federal contracts in areas declared national disasters, for a one-year period after such declaration.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
Confers standing on any member of a state legislative body (upon the adoption of a resolution by the body authorizing suit on the state's behalf) and on the governor of a state to bring an action on the ground that a federal statute, rule, regulation, or program: (1) violates the residual core sovereign authority of the state under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution; or (2) diminishes the republican form of government in the state.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
Border Protection Corps Act - Authorizes the governor of a state to establish and command a militia, to be known as the Border Protection Corps, for that state. Allows such a Corps to include only U.S. citizens with no criminal history and no history of mental illness. Requires such militia to be called into service to patrol and defend its international border to prevent individuals from entering the United States at any location other than an authorized port of entry. Requires militia members to work in cooperation with state and local law enforcement officials and the U.S. Border Patrol. Allows militia members to take individuals into custody, but requires individuals taken to be promptly delivered to a federal law enforcement authority. Provides reimbursement through the Department of Homeland Security for a state's militia costs.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2005
American Heroes Act - Authorizes each state to provide one statue of an individual representing that state to be displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center. Specifies criteria for such statues. Requires the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate to assign jointly to one of their employees the post of the American Hero Administrator to prepare statue guidelines. Requires: (1) a state to establish an American Hero Commission to select the individual to represent that state; and (2) the Architect of the Capitol to procure and install a statue honoring the passengers of United Airlines flight number 93 who died on September 11, 2001, for their heroic role in protecting Washington, D.C. from attack.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2005
Education Savings Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income employer contributions to a qualified tuition plan or a Coverdell education savings account held by an employee or the employee's spouse.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2005
Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2005 - Amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to: (1) revise capital stock ownership requirements for directors of national banks and national bank dividends; and (2) repeal the capital requirements for new intrastate branches, including capital stock and surplus requirements. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to prescribe guidelines for investments by a federal savings association to promote the public welfare of low- and moderate-income communities or families through housing, services, and jobs. Permits mergers of federal savings association with nondepository institution affiliates. Increases the limits placed on commercial real estate loans. Repeals the one limit on loans to one borrower. Cites circumstances that would permit interstate acquisitions by a savings and loan holding company. Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to permit certain privately insured credit unions to become Federal Home Loan Bank members. Amends the Federal Credit Union Act (FCUA) to: (1) authorize a credit union to make investment securities for its own account; (2) increase the 12-year loan limitation to 15 years; (3) increase the investment limit in credit union service organizations; (4) exempt loans to nonprofit religious organizations from the restrictions relating to credit union net worth or capitalization standards; and (5) exempt multiple common-bond credit union mergers and conversions from numerical limitations. Authorizes State regulatory authorities to examine and enforce compliance relating to nonfederally insured credit unions. Amends the FDIA to permit interstate bank mergers between insured banks with different home states. Prohibits interstate branching by subsidiaries of commercial firms. Amends the National Bank Consolidation and Merger Act to permit the merger of a national bank which is a trust company with any trust company with a different home state under the same terms and conditions as though they were located in the same state. Amends the National Bank Receivership Act and the FDIA to permit a bank placed in receivership to bring an action for a federal court order requiring removal of the receiver. Amends the FRA and the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 to repeal specified insider lending reporting requirements. Amends the Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act to quintuple the size of the assets of a small depository institution exempt from the prohibition against depository institution management interlocks in the same metropolitan statistical area. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to exempt from the proscription against cross marketing of commercial activities those depository institutions that are controlled by a twenty-five percent (or less) holding-company-shareholder. Sets forth banking agency provisions which authorize: (1) waiver of examination schedules; (2) interagency data sharing; (3) destruction of old records of a depository institution by the FDIC after its appointment as receiver; and (4) short form reports of condition for certain community banks. Modifies guidelines governing the currency transaction reporting system.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2005
Local Control of Education Act of 2005 - Prohibits the Secretary of Education from providing any funds to a state for any program under the Elementary and Secondary Education act of 1965 (ESEA), and prohibits such program from operating in that state, unless the state legislature has by law expressly and specifically authorized operation of the program and, in doing so, has waived the state's rights and authorities to act inconsistently with any requirement that might be imposed as a condition of receiving federal funds under the program. Requires such state authorization of the program's operation before any federal officer, employee, or authority may enforce any requirement of the program against a state authority, and before any state authority may be obliged to obey any such requirement. Prohibits the Secretary from providing any funds under an ESEA program to a local governmental entity unless the state's chief law enforcement officer certifies that participation by the entity in the program is consistent with any applicable requirements under state law.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2005
Small Business Protection Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small business owners a tax deduction for cash contributions to a Small Business Protection Account. Limits the amount of such deduction to 50 percent of a taxpayer's net profits. Directs the Small Business Administration, through the Small Business Development Center Program, to assist small businesses in establishing and operating Small Business Protection Accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2005
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Russian Federation should provide effective protection of intellectual property rights or it risks losing its eligibility to participate in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2005
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax free rollovers of military death gratuities to Roth individual retirement accounts, health savings and Archer medical savings accounts, and Coverdell education savings accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2005
States that the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security should: (1) use every available tool to secure the borders against illegal entry; (2) seek state and local law enforcement assistance in enforcing immigration laws, whether through formal cooperation agreements or through the elimination of sanctuary policies; and (3) warn Mexico that any further actions it takes to encourage illegal immigration to the United States will be viewed as domestic interference in violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. States that the President should announce his opposition to granting legal status, or amnesty, to illegal aliens and that he and the Secretary will use every available tool to stop illegal immigration into the United States and to announce efforts to remove illegal aliens from the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005
Expecting Parents Relief Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the child tax credit for a child born within nine months after the close of the taxable year and to a child who is stillborn or who dies in the mother's womb during the taxable year, whose death was not the result of a medical procedure, the ingestion of a drug, or other action intended by the child's mother to result in the abortion of the child.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005
The OTC Medicine Tax Fairness Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the provision limiting the tax deduction for medicine and drugs to prescribed drugs and insulin (thus allowing a tax deduction for over-the-counter medications).
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005
Condemns the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime. Expresses support for the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties. Calls on: (1) the Secretary of State to initiate an international solidarity campaign on behalf of all Cuban political prisoners; (2) the European Union (EU) to reexamine its current policy toward the Cuban regime before June of 2006; and (3) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and other international organizations, to work with United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) member countries to ensure a resolution that strongly condemns the July 2005 measures of repression on opposition activists and of all the human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2005
Strengthening the Ownership of Private Property Act of 2005 or STOPP Act of 2005 - Prohibits the provision of federal financial assistance under federal economic development programs to any state or unit of local government that: (1) uses the power of eminent domain to take property from one private individual or entity for economic development purposes and transfer ownership to another private individual or entity; or (2) fails to pay relocation costs to any person displaced by the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes. Allows the head of a federal agency to rely upon a certification by the chief executive officer of a state or unit of local government that such state or unit has not engaged in such acts. Specifies the federal economic development programs from which assistance will be prohibited.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2005
Federal Tax Withholding Act of 2005 - Amend the Internal Revenue Code to repeal withholding of tax requirements for income, railroad retirement, and social security taxes. Requires estimated tax payments for social security and railroad retirement taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2005
United States Trademark Defense Act of 2005 - Amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to repeal the prohibition against U.S. courts recognizing, enforcing, or otherwise validating any assertion of rights by a designated Cuban national of a mark, trade name, or commercial name that was used in connection with a business or assets that were confiscated by the Cuban government. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue regulations as necessary to repeal such provisions, including removing any applicable prohibition on transactions or payments. Authorizes U.S. courts to recognize, enforce, or otherwise validate an assertion of rights in any mark or trade name based on common law rights or registration or under any applicable provision of law or any applicable treaty to which the United States is a party. Requires the United States Trade Representative to examine policies and practices of Cuba with respect to protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2005
Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2005 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, during the period between July 1, 2005, and the date two years after the enactment of this Act, from: (1) requiring a compliance rate, pursuant to the criterion (commonly known as the "75 percent rule") used to determine whether a hospital or hospital unit is an inpatient rehabilitation facility, that is greater than the 50 percent compliance threshold that became effective on July 1, 2004; (2) changing the designation of any inpatient rehabilitation facility in compliance with the 50 percent threshold; or (3) conducting medical necessity review of inpatient rehabilitation facilities using any guidelines other than the national criteria established in the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual. Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for: (1) making any necessary retroactive adjustment to restore the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility as a result of this Act; (2) making any necessary payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities based on such adjustment for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005, and before enactment of this Act; and (3) developing and implementing an appeals process that provides for expedited review of any adjustment to the status of a facility as an inpatient rehabilitation facility made during such period Directs the Secretary to establish the National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation to provide advice and recommendations to: (1) Congress and the Secretary concerning the coverage of rehabilitation services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; and (2) appropriate federal agencies on how best to utilize available research funds and authorities focused on medical rehabilitation research.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2005
Recognizes the historical significance of the 75th anniversary of the death of Glenn Hammond Curtiss. Supports the establishment of Glenn Hammond Curtiss Day to recognize his contributions to motorcycle design and racing, naval aviation, and the American aircraft industry.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2005
South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005 - Prohibits U.S. assistance to develop or promote rail connections or railway-related connections that do not traverse or connect with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2005
Stolen Valor Act of 2005 - Amends the federal criminal code to expand the prohibition against wearing, manufacturing, or selling military decorations or medals without legal authorization to prohibit purchasing, soliciting, mailing, shipping, importing, exporting, producing blank certificates of receipt for, advertising, or exchanging such decorations or medals without authorization. Prohibits falsely representing oneself as having been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces or any of the service medals or badges. Increases penalties for violations if the offense involves a Distinguished Service Cross, an Air Force Cross, a Navy Cross, a silver star, or a Purple Heart.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2005
Safe Aviation and Flight Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring all commercial aircraft that must carry both a cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder to be equipped with a second recorder system that utilizes deployable combination cockpit voice and digital flight data recording technology. Requires the second deployable recorder system to be mounted as far rear on the airframe as practicable. Sets forth minimum deployable recorder capabilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) purchase and make available, at no cost, to an air carrier such deployable recorder systems as may be necessary for it to comply with regulations; and (2) reimburse aircraft manufacturers owned or controlled by a U.S. citizen for engineering, certification, and installation costs incurred in developing and installing deployable recorder systems to comply with regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2005
Congratulates Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and the government and people of Israel on Israel's election as Vice-President of the 60th General Assembly of the United Nations. Supports continued expansion of Israel's U.N. role. Notes that Israel: (1) remains the object of vilification by many U.N. members; and (2) remains excluded from the U.N. Asian regional grouping. Calls upon U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to work to end Israel's vilification at the United Nations and to use his good offices to support Israel's bid to join the Asian regional grouping.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2005
Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005 - 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. 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 · 13 July 2005
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005 - Sets forth the sense of Congress with respect to the situation in Darfur, Sudan, including the sense of Congress that the atrocities unfolding in Darfur are genocide. Amends the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act of 2004 to direct the President, with waiver authority upon congressional notification, to block the assets and deny visas and entry to any individual (and family member) responsible for acts of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity in Sudan. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to reinforce the deployment and operations of an expanded African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Directs the President to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to advocate NATO reinforcement of AMIS, upon request of the African Union. Amends the Sudan Peace Act to include entry denial at U.S. ports to certain cargo ships or oil tankers among the measures available to the President if the government of Sudan fails to take specified peace measures in Darfur. Prohibits, with waiver authority, U.S. assistance to a country in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1591(embargo on military assistance to Sudan). Directs the President to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to urge the adoption of a Security Council resolution supporting AMIS' expansion.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005 - Prohibits a state or political subdivision from using economic development as a reason for exercising its power of eminent domain if federal funds would contribute in any way to: (1) the project for which eminent domain is exercised; or (2) the exercise and enforcement of eminent domain over the project. Renders a state or political subdivision that violations this prohibition ineligible for any such federal funds and directs the federal agency involved to withhold those funds. Prohibits the federal government from using economic development as a reason for exercising eminent domain. Defines "economic development" to mean any activity other than making private property available in substantial part for use by the general public or by an entity that makes the property available for use by the general public, or as a public facility, or to remove harmful effects.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2005 or CLEAR Act of 2005 - States that: (1) state and local law enforcement personnel are fully authorized to investigate, apprehend, or transfer to federal custody aliens in the United States (including interstate transportation of such aliens to detention centers) in order to assist in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws; and (2) a state that does not have a statute permitting enforcement of federal immigration laws within two years of enactment of this Act shall not receive certain federal incarceration assistance. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to illegal aliens to: (1) establish criminal penalties for aliens unlawfully present in the United States; (2) increase specified criminal penalties for illegal entry and failure to depart violations; and (3) expand the scope of, and increase, civil penalties for improper entry or failure to depart. Provides for the listing of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center database. Encourages states and localities to provide the Department of Homeland Security with specified information about apprehended illegal aliens. Provides federal reimbursement for related State and local costs. (States that such provision shall not require state or local enforcement officials to provide the Department with information related to a victim of a crime or witness to a criminal offense.) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to states and political subdivisions that enforce immigration laws in the course of their routine law enforcement duties for special equipment and facilities related to arresting, detaining, or transporting illegal aliens. Directs the Secretary to: (1) construct or acquire 20 additional detention facilities for aliens detained pending removal (or a decision on removal); and (2) consider the transfer of military installations under base closure laws for such purposes. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to illegal aliens apprehended by state or local authorities to provide for: (1) federal custody upon state or local request; and (2) state or local compensation for related incarceration and transportation costs. States with respect to an alien subject to removal that the Attorney General or Secretary shall ensure such alien's detention in an adequate (as defined by this Act) state or local prison, detention center, or other comparable facility prior to his or her removal examination. Directs the Secretary to establish immigration-related training for state and local personnel. Provides: (1) personal liability immunity to the same extent as corresponding federal immunity for state or local personnel enforcing immigration laws within the scope of their duties under this Act; and (2) civil rights money damage immunity for state or local agencies enforcing immigration laws unless their personnel violated criminal law in such enforcement. States that the Department shall continue to operate the institutional removal program (IRP), which shall be expanded to all states. Authorizes state or local detention of an illegal alien after completion of such alien's prison sentence for: (1) up to 14 days to facilitate federal transfer; or (2) until transfer to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permanently authorize appropriations for the state criminal alien assistance program (SCAAP).
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat attorney fees and court costs incurred in connection with a civil lawsuit as deductible expenses for purposes of computing regular and alternative minium tax liability.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the tax deduction for meal and entertainment expenses to 80 percent (currently 50 percent) of such expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Right-To-Know National Payroll Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require that each employer of more than 100 employees show on the W-2 form of each employee the employer's share of taxes for old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) and for hospital insurance (Medicare) for the employee, as well as the total amount of such taxes for such employee. Requires a W-2 also to show any tier 1 railroad retirement tax with respect to OASDI and Medicare the employer has paid.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Major Regulation Cost Review Act of 2005 - Amends Federal civil service law to require each Federal agency to publish in the Federal Register a plan, which may be amended at any time by publishing a revision, for the periodic review of all the major rules issued by the agency. Requires that the plan provide for review within five years after publication as a final rule, with a five year extension permitted. Directs the agency, in reviewing major rules, to consider: (1) the continued need for the rule; (2) the nature of complaints or comments received from the public concerning the rule; (3) the complexity of the rule; (4) the extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal rules, and with State and local governmental rules; and (5) the length of time since the rule has been evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected by the rule. Requires that: (1) the review include a cost-benefit analysis of the rule, including an identification and consideration of a range of less costly regulatory alternatives; and (2) each year each agency publish a list of the major rules which are to be reviewed and which are to be included in the accounting statement and associated report submitted to Congress by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Makes conforming changes to the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2005
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that people retain the right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools. Prohibits the United States or the states from establishing any official religion or requiring any person to join in prayer or religious activity.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2005
New IDEA (Illegal Deduction Elimination Act) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow a tax deduction for wages paid to or on behalf of an unauthorized alien.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2005
Parents' Tax Relief Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for a minimum tax credit for household and dependent care services for dependents under the age of six; (2) increase to $5,000 the amount of the personal tax exemption; (3) eliminate the marriage penalty in all income tax brackets; (4) establish a standard tax deduction for expenses related to business usage of a home; (5) make permanent increases in the child tax credit and adjust the amount of such credit for inflation on an annual basis after 2005; (6) allow employers a tax credit for employees who telecommute; and (7) allow an exclusion from employee gross income for employer-provided computer equipment used to work at home. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to award social security credits to parents who stay at home, instead of working outside the home, to care for children who are either under age six or under age 10 and disabled. Authorizes transfers from the general fund to specified Social Security trust funds to cover the cost of such credits.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2005
Expresses disagreement with the majority opinion in Kelo et al. v. City of New London et al. ( Kelo) and its holdings that effectively negate the public use requirement of the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that state and local governments: (1) should only execute the power of eminent domain for the public good; (2) must always justly compensate affected individuals in accordance with the Fifth Amendment; (3) should never use eminent domain to advantage one private party over another; and (4) should not construe Kelo as justification to abuse the power of eminent domain. Reserves to Congress the right to address through legislation any abuses of eminent domain by state and local government in light of Kelo .
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2005
Parent's Right to Know Act of 2005 - Prohibits any funds appropriated for carrying out federal family planning programs from being made available to any family planning project if any service provider in the project knowingly provides contraceptive drugs or devices to a minor, unless: (1) such provider has given actual written notice to a custodial parent or legal guardian at least five business days prior to providing the drugs or prescription devices; (2) the minor has written consent of a parent or legal guardian; (3) the minor is emancipated; or (4) a court has directed that the minor may receive such drugs or prescription devices. Requires providers to certify to the Secretary of Health and Human Services compliance with this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Garrett, Scott [R-NJ-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000548_200.jpg)