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United States · Official source
3,632 records where Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act - Provides that nothing shall prohibit the use of federal funds to establish or carry out a program of distributing sterile syringes to reduce the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1987 to allow the Clerk of the House of Representatives, at the request of a Member of the House, to donate computers and related peripheral tools previously used by the Member to a public elementary or secondary school designated by such Member without regard to whether the donation: (1) is a cost to the government; or (2) has a recoverable value.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth specified expenditure limitations for House of Representatives general elections. Permits additional expenditures by eligible major party, third party, and independent candidates. Establishes in the Treasury the Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund, which shall provide public funding for House candidates' expenditures. Authorizes certain additional amounts from state and national party committees. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize taxpayers to designate specified overpayments and contributions for the Fund; and (2) increase corporate tax rates on taxable income above $10 million, and require payment of the amounts received by reason of such increase to the Fund. Amends FECA to: (1) ban independent expenditures in House elections; (2) ban the use of nonfederal funds for certain disbursements; and (3) set forth specified House limitations for expenditures for elections other than general elections.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act - Designates specified lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Requires government contributions for health benefits for an individual who first becomes an annuitant by reason of retirement from employment with the United States Postal Service on or after July 1, 1971, or for a survivor of such an individual or of an individual who died on or after that date while employed by the Postal Service, to be paid first from the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund up to the amount contained in the Fund, with any remaining amount paid by the Postal Service (current law requires such contributions to be paid by the Postal Service through September 30, 2016).
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Captive Primate Safety Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to add nonhuman primates to the definition of "prohibited wildlife species" for purposes of the prohibition against the sale or purchase of such species in interstate or foreign commerce. Makes it unlawful for a person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase a live animal of any prohibited wildlife species in interstate or foreign commerce (i.e., for pet trade purposes). Sets forth exceptions to such prohibition, including, under certain conditions, for: (1) transporting a nonhuman primate to or from a veterinarian; (2) transporting a nonhuman primate to a legally designated caregiver as a result of the death of the preceding owner; and (3) transporting a single primate of the genus Cebus that was obtained from and trained by a charitable organization to assist a permanently disabled individual with a severe mobility impairment. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of the requirements of this Act. Extends the authorization of appropriations to carry out such prohibition for FY2010-FY2014. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY2010 to hire additional law enforcement personnel of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to enforce the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Paycheck Fairness Act - Amends the portion of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) known as the Equal Pay Act to revise remedies for, enforcement of, and exceptions to prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages. Revises the exception to the prohibition for a wage rate differential based on any other factor other than sex. Limits such factors to bona fide factors, such as education, training, or experience. States that the bona fide factor defense shall apply only if the employer demonstrates that such factor: (1) is not based upon or derived from a sex-based differential in compensation; (2) is job-related with respect to the position in question; and (3) is consistent with business necessity. Avers that such defense shall not apply where the employee demonstrates that: (1) an alternative employment practice exists that would serve the same business purpose without producing such differential; and (2) the employer has refused to adopt such alternative practice. Revises the prohibition against employer retaliation for employee complaints. Prohibits retaliation for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing the wages of the employee or another employee in response to a complaint or charge, or in furtherance of a sex discrimination investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, or an investigation conducted by the employer. Makes employers who violate sex discrimination prohibitions liable in a civil action for either compensatory or (except for the federal government) punitive damages. States that any action brought to enforce the prohibition against sex discrimination may be maintained as a class action in which individuals may be joined as party plaintiffs without their written consent. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in a sex discrimination action. Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to train EEOC employees and affected individuals and entities on matters involving wage discrimination. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities for negotiation skills training programs for girls and women. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Education to issue regulations or policy guidance to integrate such training into certain programs under their Departments. Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. Establishes the Secretary of Labor's National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace for an employer has made substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require the EEOC to collect from employers pay information data regarding the sex, race, and national origin of employees for use in the enforcement of federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination. Directs: (1) the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to continue to collect data on woman workers in the Current Employment Statistics survey; (2) the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to use specified types of methods in investigating compensation discrimination and in enforcing pay equity; and (3) the Secretary to make accurate information on compensation discrimination readily available to the public. Directs the Secretary and the Commissioner of the EEOC jointly to develop technical assistance material to assist small businesses to comply with the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the full realization of the rights of women is vital to the development and well-being of people of all nations; and (2) the Senate should, therefore, give its advice and consent to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2008
Condemns the barbaric November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 46-02 21st Street in Long Island City, New York, as the "Geraldine Ferraro Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2008
Preserving Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act of 2008 - Declares that between October 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, specified regulations regarding the formula for determining the federal rate for inpatient hospital capital-related costs under the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) shall apply without the mandatory phase out of the indirect medical education adjustment factor. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to delay for six months following enactment of this Act any implementation of the Medicaid outpatient hospital services regulation proposed on September 28, 2007. Prohibits the Secretary from phasing out or eliminating the Medicare hospice wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor before April 1, 2009. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and upon the request of the state of California, to extend approval, and full federal financial participation, of the state's Medicaid family planning demonstration project until June 30, 2009, under the eligibility requirements and processes that were in place before the project's first extension period. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2008
Protecting Hospital Outpatient and Community Clinic Services Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from taking any action before April 1, 2009 (including promulgation of regulations, issuance of regulatory guidance, use of federal payment audit procedures, or other administrative action, policy, or practice, including a Medical Assistance Manual transmittal or letter to state Medicaid directors), to impose any restrictions relating to a specified proposed regulation, if such restrictions are more restrictive in any aspect than those that applied to the subject matter of the proposed regulation as of September 27, 2007. Identifies the proposed regulation as the one published on September 28, 2007, relating to the outpatient clinic and hospital facility services definition and upper payment limit under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2008
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC program) to provide: (1) medical monitoring and treatment benefits to eligible emergency responders and recovery and cleanup workers who responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and (2) screening and treatment benefits to residents and other building occupants and area workers who were directly impacted and adversely affected by such attacks. Requires the WTC program administrator to: (1) implement a quality assurance program; (2) establish the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee; (3) establish the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Community Program Steering Committee; (4) provide for education and outreach on services under the WTC program; (5) provide for the uniform collection of data related to WTC-related health conditions; (6) conduct research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11 terrorist attacks; and (7) extend and expand arrangements with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide for the World Trade Center Health Registry. Authorizes the administrator to make grants to the Department to address mental health needs relating to the terrorist attacks. Amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to: (1) make individuals eligible for compensation under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 for harm as a result of debris removal; and (2) extend the deadline for making a claim for compensation. Sets forth provisions governing the application of the economic substance doctrine to transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2008
Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute to a Clean Technology Fund to promote accelerated deployment in developing countries of technologies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Requires that such Fund be established and administered by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Prohibits the Fund from providing more than approximately 15% of Fund resources to any one country. Sets forth requirements for a country to be eligible for support from the Fund, which shall be used to cover the incremental costs of deploying clean energy technologies that result in substantial and additional reductions from baseline greenhouse gas emissions. Prohibits the Fund from providing support for any new coal-fired electricity generation facility unless certain requirements are met. Requires transparency in all aspects of the governance of the Fund. Directs the Secretary to: (1) direct the U.S. representative to oppose any proposal that would result in the Fund failing to meet the requirements of this Act; (2) encourage all the multilateral development banks to apply environmental assessment procedures in their consideration of Fund proposals; and (3) ensure that the Fund complements the International Clean Energy Foundation. Amends the the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary to seek to ensure that multilateral development banks: (1) adopt and implement greenhouse gas accounting in analyzing the benefits and costs of all projects for which bank funding is sought; and (2) expand their activities supporting climate change mitigation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2008
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2008
Elder Care Tax Credit Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the tax credit for dependent care expenses for parents (or ancestors of such parents) of the taxpayer who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care, regardless of whether such a parent has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer for more than one-half of the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2008
Urges the Secretary of State to take measures to certify that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) operates in full compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act and that no American taxpayer dollars are being directed to terrorists or to further terrorist propaganda. Calls on UNRWA to improve the transparency of educational materials used in UNRWA-administered schools. Urges UNRWA to implement terrorist name recognition software and other screening procedures to help ensure that UNRWA staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries are neither terrorists nor affiliated with terrorist organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy, after consultation with the Energy Technology Advisory Council of the 21st Century Energy Deployment Corporation (both established by this Act), to develop and publish near-, medium-, and long-term goals for the deployment of clean energy technologies through the Corporation to establish or promote specified energy generation, transmission, and use and energy technology manufacturing capacities. Requires the Advisory Council to publish 5- and 10-year performance targets and to establish initial targets until those are published. Allows the Corporation to purchase, and make commitments to purchase, debt instruments associated with the deployment of clean energy technologies. Describes lending authorities of the Corporation. Allows the Corporation to issue securities for purchase by the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires annual reports to Congress on the technologies supported and on Corporation performance. Requires the Secretary to oversee Corporation operations and finances. Allows the Corporation to prepare a strategic plan to issue common stock to enable expansion of its operations and requires the plan to include consideration of Board restructuring alternatives.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
Middle Class College Tuition Tax Credit Expansion Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credits with a tax credit for 50% of qualified tuition and related expenses (including required books), up to $10,000, for attendance at an institution of higher education.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
Family Work Flexibility Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit for the cost of teleworking equipment used by employees to telework and for expenses to maintain such equipment. Limits the dollar amount of such credit to the lesser of $500 for each teleworking employee or $50,000.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
Elder Caregiver Support and Information Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize additional FY2009-FY2011 appropriations for the family caregiver support program. Authorizes additional FY2009-FY2011 appropriations for the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
Health Insurance Stability Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a refundable tax credit for amounts paid to continue health care coverage for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and dependents under the applicable continuation provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Limits the amount of such credit and disqualifies taxpayers who, in any month, have employer-provided coverage, are covered under Medicare, Medicaid, or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act, or are imprisoned. Denies such credit to individuals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents or who are dependents of a taxpayer. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program for advancing payments of credit amounts to health insurance providers of the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2008
Authorizes the burial in a national cemetery of a parent of a deceased veteran or qualified reserve member if there is no eligible spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of such veteran or member.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Public Service Scholarship Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Public Service Scholarship program authorizing the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for scholarships to exceptionally able students who show promise of continued excellence and agree to serve as federal employees for at least five years. Allocates scholarship funds among states on the basis of each state's share of the nation's population of five- through 17-year olds; but sets the minimum allocation at a level allowing grantees to award at least 10 scholarships per year.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $2,000 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. Provides for an inflation adjustment to such deduction amount beginning after 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2008
Revises TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program) to authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide extended health care services and treatment, by way of contract with private providers, for dependent autism-diagnosed children of military retirees not entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and not enrolled under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of such title.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2008
Freedom of Religious Expression in the Home Act of 2008 - Amends the Fair Housing Act with respect to discrimination in the sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices. Makes it unlawful to establish a rule or policy that prevents a person from displaying, on the basis of that person's religious belief, a religious symbol, object, or sign on the door, doorpost, entrance, or otherwise on the exterior of that person's dwelling, or that is visible from the exterior of that dwelling, unless the rule or policy is reasonable and is necessary to prevent significant damage to property, physical harm to persons, a public nuisance, or similar undue hardship.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2008
National Commission to Study the Establishment of the National Museum of the American People Act of 2008 - Establishes the National Commission to Study the Establishment of the National Museum of the American People to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of establishing a National Museum of the American People in Washington, D.C. that tells the story of the making of the American people. Specifies a summary of issues of which the Commission shall examine and report on, including the following possible components for the Museum: (1) a Center for Advanced Studies of the American People; (2) a National Genealogical Center; (3) a National Archives and Library of American Migration and Immigration; (4) an Education Resource Center; and (5) a Peopling of America Center.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2008
Medicare Hospice Protection Act of 2008 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from phasing out or eliminating the budget neutrality adjustment factor in the Medicare hospice wage index before October 1, 2009. Directs the Secretary to recompute and apply the final Medicare hospice wage index for FY2009 as if there had been no reduction in the budget neutrality adjustment factor.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2008
National Cancer Fund Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish in the Treasury the National Cancer Fund for programs to fight cancer, including for expenditures for cancer research, early detection and treatment, and tobacco cessation; (2) increase the excise tax rate on tobacco products and dedicate increased tax revenues to the Fund; and (3) impose permit, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements on manufacturers of processed tobacco. Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) revise the membership and duties of the President's Cancer Panel; and (2) require the Panel to study the feasibility of additional funding sources for the National Cancer Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Economic Credit Opportunity for Businesses Acting Green Act of 2008 or the ECOBAG Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow retailers a tax credit for up to 15% of the amount paid to implement an at-store recycling program for one or more types of plastic carry-out bags, film plastic, and other types of plastic specified by Treasury regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Oncology Quality Care Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish budget neutral demonstration projects to test and evaluate methods that: (1) improve the quality of care provided to eligible beneficiaries with certain cancer diagnoses; and (2) reduce expenditures that would otherwise be made under the Medicare program on behalf of such individuals for such diagnoses. Authorizes the participation of oncology care groups of physicians, or of physicians and oncology nurse practitioners, in such demonstration projects, subject to certain conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2018 the tax credit for producing electricity from certain renewable resources, including wind, biomass, geothermal energy, landfill gas, refined coal, and hydropower; (2) include marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource for purposes of such tax credit; (3) extend through 2018 the energy tax credit for solar, fuel cell, and microturbine property; (4) repeal the dollar per kilowatt limitation for fuel cell property for purposes of the energy tax credit; (5) extend the energy tax credit to public electric utilities; and (6) expand and extend through 2018 the tax credit for residential energy efficient property.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Natural Gas Strategy - Establishes the Commission on Comprehensive Strategies for the Placement of Natural Gas Infrastructure to conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. natural gas policy to identify problems and make recommendations that will ensure that specified goals of such policy are met.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2008
Liberia Stabilization, Economic Empowerment, Development and Security Act of 2008 or the Liberia SEEDS Act of 2008 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance to Liberia for the following: (1) roads and bridges; (2) rehabilitation of Monrovia Freeport; (3) water and sanitation; (4) the electricity sector; (5) vocational education programs for war-affected youth and ex-combatants; (6) establishment of a government employee training institute and enhancement of government accountability and effectiveness; (7) narcotics control and law enforcement; (8) educational exchanges; and (9) the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Liberia.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2008
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for possessing, shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering, or receiving any horse, horse flesh, or carcass with the intent that it be used for human consumption. Reduces the prison term to one year if the offense involves less than five horses or less than 2,000 pounds of horse flesh or carcass and the offender has no prior conviction for this offense.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2008
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC program) to provide medical monitoring and treatment benefits to: (1) eligible emergency responders and recovery and cleanup workers who responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and (2) residents and other building occupants and area workers who were directly impacted and adversely affected by such attacks. Provides for cost-sharing with workers' compensation and health insurance plans, but not with eligible individuals. Requires the WTC program administrator to: (1) implement a quality assurance program; (2) review the program's health care expenditures to detect fraudulent or duplicate billing and payment for inappropriate services; (3) establish the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee; (4) establish the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Community Program Steering Committee; (5) institute a program that provides education and outreach on the existence and availability of services under the WTC program; and (6) provide for the uniform collection of data related to WTC-related health conditions. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish similar programs with respect to the terrorist attack at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Requires the administrator to conduct or support research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Requires the administrator to extend and expand arrangements with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide for the World Trade Center Health Registry. Authorizes the administrator to make grants to the Department to address mental health needs relating to the terrorist attacks. Amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to provide, under certain circumstances, for an extension of time for filing claims under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2008
Recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2008
Open Fuel Standard Act of 2008 or the OFS Act - Amends federal transportation law to require each light-duty automobile manufacturer's annual inventory to comprise at least: (1) 50% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in years 2012-2014; and (2) 80% fuel choice-enabling automobiles in 2015, and in each subsequent year. Defines "fuel choice-enabling automobile" as: (1) a flexible fuel automobile capable of operating on gasoline, E85, and M85; or (2) an automobile capable of operating on biodiesel fuel. Authorizes a manufacturer to request an exemption from such requirement from the Secretary of Transportation. Requires: (1) each manufacturer that receives an exemption to place a label on each exempted automobile; and (2) each exempted light-duty automobile delivered to a dealer and first purchaser to be accompanied with a written notification of such exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2008
Acknowledges that the 2001 World Conference Against Racism marked an important recognition of the historic wounds caused by slavery, colonialism, and racial discrimination. Calls on the President to urge other heads of state to condition participation in the 2009 Durban Review Conference process on concrete action by the United Nations and member states to ensure that it and they will reject any effort to inject anti-Semitism, hatred, and discrimination onto the Conference agenda.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to transfer from the Treasury $8.017 billion to the Highway Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2008
Honors Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, on the 150th anniversary of his birth for his invaluable contributions to the nation as a soldier, naturalist, statesman, and public servant.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2008
Honors the 28th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army for serving and protecting the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2008
States that: (1) it shall be U.S. policy that the President and the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations work with the international community to increase political and financial support for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to prevent and resolve problems related to de jure and de facto statelessness and to promote the rights of de jure or de facto stateless persons; (2) the President shall make prevention and reduction of de jure or de facto statelessness an important goal of U.S. foreign policy and human rights efforts; and (3) it shall be U.S. policy to comply with the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Directs the Secretary of State to increase staff and resources in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration to work toward the prevention and resolution of de jure and de facto statelessness and the protection of de jure or de facto stateless persons.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2008
Iraqi Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Security Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of Congress concerning Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. Directs the Secretary of State, with respect to vulnerable populations in Iraq (including internally displaced persons) and with respect to countries containing a significant population of Iraqi refugees (including Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and Iran), to provide such countries or appropriate international organizations and nongovernmental organizations with specified humanitarian assistance. Directs the Secretary to make every effort to ensure that the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations (including internally displaced persons) in Iraq and Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries are met. Authorizes appropriations to Jordan for humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees and to provide the necessary infrastructure to support both the needs of Iraqi refugees and the Jordanian people. Requires that related fund monitoring mechanisms be established. Increases refugee admission limitations for the purpose of admitting Iraqi citizens or nationals who became refugees on or after March 19, 2003. Directs the Secretary, by a specified date and subject to the availability of appropriations, to have increased by 100% the number of federal personnel in Iraq and in other appropriate countries who are conducting security reviews of Iraqi refugee applicants. Directs the Secretary to work with the international community to provide: (1) financial assistance to vulnerable populations in Iraq (including internally displaced persons) and to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries; and (2) technical and financial assistance to international organizations in order to process refugees. Defines "vulnerable populations in Iraq."
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2008
Timley Due Process for the Disabled Act of 2008 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) establish time frames, within specified limits, to ensure timely disability determinations; and (2) establish a program for the monitoring of disability determinations in reconsideration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2008
Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008 - Directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to determine the average annual price per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel for each of the five Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts for 2007. Requires: (1) the average annual price per gallon to be based solely on data reported by the Energy Information Administration; and (2) that price to serve as the baseline fuel cost for each District. Requires FEMA to reimburse a qualified volunteer fire department for 75% of the difference between: (1) the actual expenditures of the department for gasoline and diesel fuel for a year; and (2) the amount that such expenditures would have been using the baseline fuel costs. Directs each qualified volunteer fire department seeking reimbursement to submit to the FEMA at the end of each year: (1) all of its receipts and bills of sales documenting the amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel purchased during that year; and (2) a sum total of the aggregate number of gallons and the costs of gasoline and diesel fuel purchased.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2008
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Tay-Sachs Awareness Month. Encourages and expresses support for education and research efforts with respect to Tay-Sachs disease.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2008
Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) to extend the regulatory authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to certain transactions in derivatives involving specified energy commodities ("included energy transactions"), including those on foreign boards of trade. Defines "included energy transaction" as a contract, agreement, or transaction in an energy commodity for future delivery that: (1) provides for a delivery point in the United States; or (2) is transacted on a computer terminal located in the United States. Prohibits the CFTC from exempting from regulation any "included energy transaction" unless certain notice to Congress and public comment requirements are met. Declares null and void any CFTC "no-action letter" exemptions from CEA requirements for "included energy transactions." Requires the CFTC to establish uniform limits on the aggregate number of positions with respect to "included energy transactions" which may be held by any person for the prompt month, for each month, and for all months in all markets subject to CFTC jurisdiction. Excludes swaps involving "included energy transactions" from any CEA exemption for bona fide hedging transactions. Defines "bilateral included energy transaction" as an included energy transaction executed or traded other than on or through a trading facility. Exempts such transactions from the requirement that transactions be made on or through a designated contract market. Applies to "bilateral included energy transactions" certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Instructs the CFTC to publish monthly on its website: (1) the aggregate number and value of long and short positions held by a person in any portfolio constructed to match or track the components of an index of all commodities; and (2) the portion of the positions that are net long positions in "included energy transactions." Amends the Natural Gas Act and the Federal Power Act to set forth enforcement powers of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including cease-and-desist proceedings, temporary orders, and general implementation authority.