United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Requires the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display in a prominent location within the Capitol Visitor Center suitable exhibits which: (1) depict the congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, including the two African-American Senators, beginning with Congressman Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina (1870-1879) and ending with Congressman George H. White of North Carolina (1897-1901); and (2) acknowledge the use of slave labor in the construction of the U.S. Capitol.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) government pension offset requirements applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to OASDI payments; and (2) windfall elimination requirements with respect to computation of an individual's primary insurance amount.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Calls on the Board of Directors of the National High School Mock Trial Championship to: (1) accommodate the religious beliefs of students participating in the competition; and (2) restructure the competition's rules to allow qualifying students of all faiths to compete fully without betraying their religious beliefs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Urges the League of Arab States to: (1) declare the systematic torture, rape, and displacement of Darfurians a genocide; (2) pass a resolution to support and accept U.N. peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure access to humanitarian assistance in Darfur; and (3) work with the United Nations, the African Union, and the United States Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan, Andrew Natsios, to bring about peace and stability to Darfur, the refugee camps, and along the Chadian border.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. Postal Service should issue a commemorative postage stamp honoring former Representative Shirley Chisholm; and (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2006
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should: (1) instruct the U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China and the U.S. Trade Representative to send a letter of support for the workers' rights and protection provisions of China's "Draft Labor Contract Law" to the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC); and (2) publicly repudiate the efforts of some U.S. corporations to weaken or obstruct the workers' rights and protection provisions of such Law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2006
Geneva Distinctive Emblems Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the wearing or displaying of the Red Crescent or the Third Protocol Emblem (the Red Crystal) for the fraudulent purpose of claiming membership in an authorized national society using such emblems. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to six month for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2006
Study of Ways to Improve the Accuracy of the Collection of Federal Oil, Condensate, and Natural Gas Royalties Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to arrange with the National Academy of Engineering to study and report to the Secretary regarding whether the accuracy of collection of royalties on production of oil, condensate, and natural gas under leases of federal lands (including submerged, deep water, and Indian lands) would be improved by implementing certain prescribed measures. Requires the Secretary to award a contract under which the contractor shall: (1) compare royalty payments made under federal oil and gas lease provisions for covered lands against data supplied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; (2) make such comparison retroactive to June 1, 1974; (3) determine whether the correct production standard volume and heating content analysis was used to calculate such payments; and (4) determine whether such payments were adequate under the terms of the oil and gas leases.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2006
Condemns Iran's commitment to hold an international Holocaust denial conference in December 2006, and all anti-Semitic statements made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranian leaders. Calls on: (1) the United Nations to officially and publicly repudiate all of Iran's anti-Semitic statements made at such conference and hold accountable U.N. member states that encourage or echo such statements; and (2) President George W. Bush to condemn President Ahmadinejad's stated intent to hold an international Holocaust denial conference. Calls on the U.N. Security Council to strengthen its commitment to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear power. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to prevent a nuclear Iran. Reaffirms the long-standing friendship of the United States and Israel. Vows to never forget the murder of millions in the Holocaust and affirms that such genocide should never happen again.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2006
Honors Arnold "Red" Auerbach as a basketball genius, a leader in the effort to removal racial barriers and allow merit to prevail in professional sports, and one of the greatest coaches and executives of all time.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2006
Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 with respect to the Troops-to-Teachers program (which provides armed forces veterans with teacher certification stipends in exchange for three years of service in a high-need local educational agency (LEA) or public charter school). Allows a program participant, if a high-need LEA or public charter school is not located within 50 miles of his or her residence, to teach within an LEA or at a public charter school: (1) experiencing a shortage of highly qualified teachers, especially in science, mathematics, special education, or vocational or technical education; or (2) receiving grant funds because of concentrations of children from low-income families.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2006
Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act - Defines "modern-day slavery." Establishes a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery which shall: (1) study matters relating to modern-day slavery; (2) review programs of relevant governmental agencies; (3) examine efforts by foreign countries and multilateral organizations to combat modern-day slavery; and (4) convene additional experts from nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's review. States that the Commission shall: (1) advise Congress on how the United States could support efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery; (2) provide a comprehensive evaluation of best practices to prevent modern-day slavery, to rescue and rehabilitate its victims, and to prosecute traffickers and increase accountability within countries; (3) examine the economic impact on communities and countries that demonstrate measured success in fighting modern-day slavery; (4) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of U.S. laws prohibiting the importation of goods produced through forced labor or child labor, as well as policies with regard to countries that tolerate modern-day slavery; and (5) increase education and awareness about modern-day slavery.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2006
Urges the House of Representatives to raise awareness of teen dating violence by supporting the goals and ideals of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2006
Recognizes and honors the contributions of Edward R. Bradley as an award-winning American journalist. Expresses deepest condolences to his wife, Patricia Blanchet, surviving family members, and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2006
Expresses condolences to the families of women and girls murdered in Guatemala. Condemns the ongoing abductions and murders of women and girls in Guatemala. Urges the government of Guatemala to recognize domestic violence and sexual harassment as criminal acts and encourages the government of Guatemala to investigate the killings of women, prosecute those responsible, and eliminate the tolerance of violence against women. Supports efforts to identify perpetrators and unknown victims through forensic analysis, including DNA testing. Encourages the Secretary of State to urge the government of Guatemala to: (1) honor the victims of the brutal murders and to continue to include in the Department of State's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices all instances of improper investigatory methods, threats against human rights activists, and the use of torture with respect to cases involving the murder and abduction of women and girls in Guatemala; (2) hold accountable those law enforcement and judicial officials who fail to investigate and prosecute the murders adequately; and (3) take measures to ensure that the special Guatemalan police and prosecutorial units are adequately staffed and have sufficient resources. Recommends that the Secretary develop a comprehensive plan to combat the growing problem of violence against women in Latin America.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2006
Provides that, for purposes of carrying out the duties of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (Inspector General), any funds appropriated or otherwise made available for FY2007 for the Iraq Security Forces Fund shall be treated as amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. Amends the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 to terminate the Office of the Inspector General ten months after the date on which 80 percent of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to both the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund and the Iraq Security Forces Fund have been expended.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2006
National Archives 75th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins whose design: (1) is emblematic of the National Archives Building; and (2) honors the National Archives and Records Administration as a public trust on which American democracy depends and of the Charters of Freedom that the Administration enshrines for posterity. Requires the obverse of the coins to be representative of the 75th Anniversary of the National Archives Building. Requires such coins to feature an image of: (1) the Declaration of Independence; (2) the Constitution of the United States; and (3) the Bill of Rights. Declares that: (1) only one U.S. Mint facility may be used to strike any particular combination of denomination and quality of such coins; and (2) the coins may be issued only during calendar 2010. Prescribes guidelines for coin sales and a coin surcharge.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2006
Medicare Prescription Drug Savings for Our Seniors (Medicare Prescription Drug SOS) Act of 2006 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) offer one or more Medicare operated prescription drug plans (PDPs) with a service area consisting of the entire United States; and (2) negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce the purchase cost of covered part D drugs. Requires the monthly beneficiary premium for qualified prescription drug coverage and access to negotiated prices to be uniform nationally. Provides for auto-enrollment of subsidy eligible individuals in Medicare operated PDPs. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to provide for the use of 2005 as base in computing the state clawback provision. Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to: (1) eliminate cost-sharing for certain full-benefit dual eligibles, and the indexing on the price sharing for dual-eligibles and qualifying low income beneficiaries; (2) expedite low-income subsidies under the Medicare PDP; (3) increase permitted resources to obtain low-income subsidies; and (4) waive the late enrollment penalty for subsidy eligible individuals for first 24 months of non-enrollment. Sets forth anti-fraud and abuse provisions. Provides for protection of Social Security benefits against a decrease owing to part D Medicare premium increases. Extends the annual enrollment periods of the Medicare PDP. Prohibits a PDP sponsor from removing a covered part D drug from the plan formulary, or otherwise introduce a barrier to access to covered part D drugs, without advance notice. Directs the Secretary to review benzodiazepine prescription policies to assure appropriateness and avoid abuse. Eliminates the MA Regional Stabilization Fund and certain Medicare Advantage overpayments. Requires prompt payment of clean claims by Medicare and Medicare Advantage PDPs. Prohibits co-branding. Provides for the: (1) payment of minimum dispensing fees to encourage use of generic drugs; and (2) provision of medication therapy management services.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2006
International Women's Freedom Act of 2006 - Establishes within the Department of State an Office of International Women's Rights to be headed by an Ambassador at Large for International Women's Rights. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) establish a women's rights Internet site; and (2) maintain prisoner lists and issue briefs on women's rights concerns. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include instruction on the internationally recognized rights of women and the various aspects and manifestations of violations of women's rights in Foreign Service officer training. Establishes the United States Commission on International Women's Rights. (Terminates the Commission four years after the date of the initial appointment of its members.) Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to express the sense of Congress that there should be within the National Security Council (NSC) staff a Special Adviser to the President on International Women's Rights. Directs the President to take specified actions in response to women's rights violations, including actions in response to particularly severe rights violations. Provides for prohibition of economic, multilateral, military, and export assistance in instances of particularly severe women's rights violations. Provides for the promotion of women's rights. Provides for women's rights-related training with respect to refugee, asylum, and consular matters. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the inadmissibility of foreign government officials who have engaged in particularly severe women's rights violations. Expresses the sense of Congress that transnational corporations operating overseas should adopt codes of conduct upholding the rights of their female employees.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2006
Recognizes the Reverend Waitstill Sharp and Martha Sharp as genuine American heroes, and pays tribute to them as their names are added to the Wall of Rescuers in the permanent exhibition of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on September 14, 2006. Commends the organization founded to support the Sharps' work, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, for its efforts to rescue Jews and opponents of the Nazi regime in Europe and for carrying on the Sharps' legacy by working to save the lives of the people of Darfur, Sudan, and to protect human rights worldwide.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2006
Requests Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) outline the federal government's responsibilities to support a program for medically monitoring and treating all individuals who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero on 9/11; and (2) submit the outline to Congress and the President as quickly as practical.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2006
States that the Republic of Turkey should demonstrate that it is meeting Copenhagen European Council criteria for European Union (EU) accession. Calls on Turkey to: (1) adhere to all EU accession criteria and EU laws, extend its customs union to all EU members, and recognize all EU members, including the Republic of Cyprus; and (2) pledge to uphold and safeguard human, religious, and cultural rights. Urges the removal of Turkish occupation forces from the northern one-third of Cyprus in accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 353. States that Turkey should recognize the fundamental rights of all Cypriots, including the rights of property ownership, free movement, free settlement, and refugee return. Encourages Turkey to continue to modernize and democratize its own society.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006
Act to Save America's Forests - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to revise eligibility criteria for members of the land and resource management scientific committee. Revises the committee termination date. Directs the Chief of the Forest Service, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to each prepare a continuous inventory of forest land administered by each agency head and to document whole-system measures that will be taken as a result of the inventory. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for conservation and restoration of native biodiversity in forested areas. Prohibits clearcutting or other even-age logging operations on any stand or watershed on certain federal land, National Forest System land, and National Wildlife Refuge System land. Provides for federal enforcement and a private right of action. Designates special areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Requires the Secretaries concerned to appoint a committee of independent scientists to recommend additional special areas. Restricts road construction and logging on federal land in ancient forests, special areas, roadless areas, and watershed protection areas. Provides for federal enforcement and a private right of action. States that this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not apply to federal wilderness areas designated under the Wilderness Act. Adds specified land to the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Transfers administrative jurisdiction over the Monument from the Secretary to the Secretary of the Interior. Establishes the Giant Sequoia National Monument Advisory Board. Adds specified parts of Sequoia National Forest that are not included in the Monument to: (1) Sierra National Forest; and (2) Inyo National Forest.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006
FDA Scientific Fairness for Women Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish the Office of Women's Health within the Office of the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finding that a reasonable assurance of safety has been shown for an application for premarket approval for a class III device for a breast implant unless the applicant involved has established the lifetime of the implant and demonstrates that safety has been demonstrated for the life of the implant. Requires the Secretary to determine appropriate clinical care and removal and replacement requirements for the implant, including appropriate coverage by government health care systems. Sets forth provisions governing any FDA advisory committee that considers issues concerning breast implants, including that the Secretary may not grant any exemption for conflicts related to personal financial interests. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for a study on the ionization and levels of platinum in silicone breast implants; and (2) establish a panel of independent scientists for the purpose of designing and conducting the study. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to convene a scientific workshop to review and evaluate current scientific data on the use of emergency contraception by females of childbearing potential under the age of 18, including scientific questions identified in the recent limited approval of Plan B emergency contraception.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006
Contractors Accountability Act of 2006 - Directs the Administrator of General Services to establish and maintain a database of information regarding integrity and performance of federal contracts and assistance recipients for use by federal procurement award officials and federal officials having authority to debar or suspend persons from federal contracts or assistance. Includes within required database information all judicial and administrative proceedings against such contractors or assistance recipients. Requires such information to be available to all federal agencies and the public. Requires federal agency suspension and debarment regulations to be amended to provide that an entity shall be presumed to be nonresponsible with respect to the award of a federal contract or assistance if a judgment or conviction for the same offense constituting a cause for federal debarment has been rendered against the entity twice within any three-year period. Requires an entity to disclose in any contract or assistance solicitation, bid, or offer all debarments or suspensions, judicial and administrative proceedings against the entity, and agreements that the entity is performing to avoid suspension or debarment within the last five years. Requires the Interagency Committee on Debarment and Suspension to take certain actions with respect to federal suspension or debarment proceedings, including resolving issues and coordinating actions among federal agencies. Allows: (1) federal agencies, commissions, or organizations not currently participating in the federal suspension and debarment system to do so; and (2) payments received under administrative agreements to avoid suspension or debarment to be used for costs associated with the database.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2006
Honors the life and public service of Jacob Birnbaum on the occasion of his 80th birthday, especially his commitment to freeing Soviet Jews from religious, cultural, and communal extinction.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Access to Books for Children Act, or the ABC Act - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to local agencies to provide vouchers to women participating in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) for the purchase of educational books for their infants and children. Limits to one $5 voucher the maximum amount any one woman may receive, regardless of the number of her infants or children.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Toxic Right-to-Know Protection Act - Amends the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 to repeal provisions authorizing the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to modify the frequency of submitting toxic chemical release forms. Requires the Administrator to establish the eligibility threshold regarding the use of a form A certification statement under the toxic release inventory program at not greater than 500 pounds for nonpersistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals. Prohibits the use of such form with respect to any chemical of special concern identified by the Administrator. Prohibits the Administrator from implementing the proposed rule dated October 4, 2005, to revise requirements under such program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Paper Ballot Act of 2006 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a state, for a regularly scheduled general election for President and Vice President, to: (1) conduct the election using only paper ballots; and (2) ensure that the number of ballots cast at a precinct or equivalent location which are placed inside a single box or similar container does not exceed 500. Requires the ballots cast at a precinct or equivalent location to be counted by hand by election officials at the precinct. Allows a representative of each political party with a candidate on the ballot, as well as any interested member of the public, to observe the officials as they count the ballots. Amends federal law to move observation of Washington's Birthday to Election Day during presidential election years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Honors the life and accomplishments of the late Ann Richards, former Governor of Texas. Recognizes her contributions to the state of Texas, to the progress of women in politics, and to the progress of women throughout the United States. Expresses condolences to her family and loved ones.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit to the House of Representatives all documents in the Director's possession concerning the impact of the war in Iraq on terrorism and terrorist threats, including any actual or pending National Intelligence Estimates concerning Iraq.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2006
Commends the New York Institute for Special Education for educating students with blindness and visual disabilities for 175 years and for broadening its mission to educate students with emotional and learning disabilities. Recognizes the importance of, and supports efforts to improve, education for physical, emotional, and learning disabled children.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006
Authorizes appropriations for FY2007 to carry out title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act (popularly known as the Ryan White Care Act). Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in determining the amounts of formula grants for FY2007, from using a methodology for counting the number of AIDS or HIV cases that is different than the methodology used by the Secretary for FY2006.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2006
Confidence in Voting Act of 2006 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Election Assistance Commission to pay to each jurisdiction that conducts a general election on November 7, 2006, and uses a voting system other than an optical scan or other paper ballot voting system, an amount equal to the documented costs it pays or incurs for the preparation, production, and use of contingency paper ballots for such election. Sets a maximum payment of 75 cents for each contingency paper ballot printed. Sets forth conditions for payment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006
Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2006 - Supports state, city, and university efforts to divest funds from, or restrict investments in, companies that conduct business operations in Sudan. Directs: (1) the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require all companies trading in registered securities that conduct business operations directly or through parent or subsidiary companies in Sudan to disclose the nature of such operations; and (2) the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the existence and extent of such companies' Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board investments. Prohibits U.S. government contracts with such companies, with exceptions for companies whose activities are related to: (1) southern Sudan, southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains State, Blue Nile State, or Abyei; (2) the implementation of the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement; (3) the provision of military equipment for nongovernmental organizations in the Darfur region of Sudan, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), or the United Nations; or (4) the provision of humanitarian assistance that is of immediate and substantial benefit to the majority of people of the Darfur region of Sudan or the majority of people of eastern Sudan, including the Red Sea, Kassala, and Gedaref States. Authorizes a national security waiver of such prohibition on a case-by-case basis.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006
Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2006 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to make grants to states to carry out: (1) prostate cancer prevention programs (including screening and referrals for treatment); and (2) demonstration projects to provide preventive health services with respect to prostate cancer (including blood pressure and cholesterol screenings). Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow states to provide medical assistance to individuals who have been screened for prostate cancer under this Act and who need treatment for prostate cancer. Applies provisions related to breast and cervical cancer programs to programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2006
Requests the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and submit to Congress by December 1, 2006, a plan for a comprehensive and permanent program to: (1) medically monitor all individuals who were exposed to toxins of the 9/11 Ground Zero in New York City; and (2) provide medical treatment for all such individuals who are sick as a result of the toxins.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2006
Remember 9/11 Health Act - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to deem certain emergency service, rescue and recovery, and law enforcement personnel and transit and cleanup workers who responded to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, residents of and persons employed or attending school, child care, or adult day care in the declared disaster area, and persons employed at the Fresh Kills recovery site on Staten Island between September 11, 2001, and August 31, 2002 (eligible recipients) to be civil employees under provisions relating to: (1) compensation to federal employees for work injuries; and (2) claims relating to damage to, or loss of, personal property incident to federal service, except that such an eligible recipient shall not be responsible for the payment of any health care expenses that result from exposure to the adverse conditions after such attack. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants or cooperative agreements to specified programs, including one established by the New York City Fire Department, to carry out screening and clinical examinations and long-term health monitoring and analysis for eligible recipients. Limits such monitoring to 20 years and 40,000 individuals. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a similar program for those affected by the September 11, 2001, Pentagon attack. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct or support diagnostic or treatment research for adverse health conditions considered to be associated with the terrorist attacks. Requires the Secretary to convene a 9/11 Health Emergency Coordinating Council to examine and formulate recommendations on the adequacy of the: (1) responses by the federal, state, and local governments and the private sector to the attacks; (2) care and compensation for the victims; (3) federal tracking of the monitoring and treatment of individuals suffering health effects from the attacks; and (4) coordination among the Council members to the attacks. Allows the Council, upon request, to issue advisory opinions on the relative obligation of the federal government and any insurance company resulting from the attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2006
Authorizes appropriations to establish an office in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to focus on violations of tax law by individuals under investigation for criminal commercial sex activity. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) revise requirements for making awards to individuals who disclose tax law violations to the IRS (whistleblowers); and (2) increase criminal monetary and other penalties for attempts to evade or defeat tax, willful failure to file a tax return, supply information, or pay tax, aggravated failure to file tax returns, fraud and false statements, and underpayment or overpayment of tax due to fraud. Establishes in the IRS a Whitleblower Office to analyze whistleblower information and manage the whistleblower awards program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2006
Honors the memory of domestic violence victims. Celebrates the Milwaukee Mujeres Against Domestic Violence Brides Walk. Recognizes all bride walks in protest of domestic violence.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2006
Calls on Turkey to: (1) continue to demonstrate its willingness to uphold European standards for the protection of human rights; (2) eliminate all forms of discrimination; (3) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate international recognition, ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all nationalities, and respect for its property rights and human rights; and (4) safeguard religious and human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2006
James Zadroga Act of 2006 - Amends the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 (Fund), part of the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act, to extend the current December 22, 2003, deadline for filing claims under the Fund for five years following enactment of this Act if the Special Master determines that the individual: (1) was unaware that he or she had suffered physical harm as the result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist-related aircraft crashes until after the deadline and before enactment of this Act; (2) was unaware of his or her eligibility to file a claim until after December 22, 2003; (3) suffered psychological harm as a result of the crashes; or (4) in the case of an individual who had previously filed a claim, suffered a significantly greater physical harm than was known to the individual as of the date the claim was filed, but did not know its full extent until after the claim was filed and before enactment of this Act. Allows the filing of a claim also during the five years after the individual first knew that he or she had suffered physical or psychological harm as the result of such crashes, if he or she did not know that until on or after enactment of this Act. Extends the same five-year filing allowance to anyone who did not know the full extent of the harm suffered until on or after the enactment of this Act, even though he or she had previously filed a claim and had suffered a significantly greater physical or psychological harm than was known to the individual as of the date the claim was filed. Waives the single claim requirement in such circumstances. Makes a claimant eligible for compensation based on the psychological harm suffered as a result of the crashes. Defines "immediate aftermath" for compensation eligibility purposes as any period of time after the crashes that was sufficiently close in time to them that there was a demonstrable risk to the claimant of resulting physical or psychological harm, including the period of time during which related rescue, recovery, and cleanup activities were conducted.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2006
Commends the efforts of U.S. officials who have helped secure the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Darfur Peace Agreement. Supports the appointment of an adequately staffed Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan to develop and coordinate U.S. policy toward Sudan. Urges the Envoy's mandate to include: (1) deterring further escalation of violence and humanitarian disaster in the Darfur region of Sudan while ensuring civilian protection and implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement; (2) facilitating the development of an international peacekeeping mission to Darfur; (3) coordinating reconstruction in Southern Sudan and other marginalized areas; (4) coordinating the return of refugees and displaced people in Darfur and southern Sudan; (5) consolidating peace in Northern Uganda; (6) coordinating efforts to ensure transformation of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) into a professional armed force; (7) working toward achieving a peaceful and democratic Sudan by ensuring that free and fair elections are held; and (8) coordinating efforts toward achieving accountability for the crimes committed in Darfur.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2006
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 39-25 61st Street in Woodside, New York, as the "Thomas J. Manton Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006
Linking Educators and Developing Entrepreneurs for Reaching Success (LEADERS) Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to support business incubation at institutions of higher education that award associate or baccalaureate degrees. Directs the Secretary to make competitive, matching awards to: (1) a nonprofit entity that manages or provides technical assistance to a degree-granting institution's affiliated incubator (or to the institution that manages in the absence of such an entity), for helping acquire or renovate space for incubators, and for developing curricula, providing services, or providing programming for entrepreneurs housed in an incubator; and (2) a degree-granting institution or a nonprofit local government or community development organization, for feasibility studies to determine the need for or siting of incubators. Requires the Secretary to reserve certain amounts for research regarding best practices for incubator programs, including the development of a benchmarking system based on uniform measures, and for dissemination of information regarding such practices. Authorizes contracts for such purposes with organizations with expertise in business incubation practices.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2006
Program for Real Energy Security Act or the PROGRESS Act - Establishes the National Commission on Energy Security and Transition to New Fuels. Sets forth the duties of the Commission, including to make recommendations to Congress and the President for: (1) preserving the national energy security in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster; and (2) reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil over a specified period. Establishes: (1) the New Manhattan Center for High Efficiency Vehicles; and (2) the Advisory Council on Federal Participation. Requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of grants to federal and private sector researchers (including the Center) to research and develop alternative fuels and technologies to improve the productivity of U.S. automotive firms in the manufacture of high efficiency vehicles. Establishes a grant program to provide assistance to retail and wholesale motor fuel dealers or other entities to install, replace, or convert motor fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure for use in the storage and dispensing of biobased fuels. Sets forth requirements calling for: (1) the production and distribution of biobased fuels (ethanol) and deployment of new engine technologies for fuel-flexible, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and biodiesel vehicles; (2) greater use of alternative fuels in dual fueled vehicles operating in the federal fleet; and (3) the increase and expansion of employer-provided mass transit fringe benefits. Transit Rail Accommodation Improvement and Needs Act - Allows for the shared use of rail carrier trackage and rail rights-of-way by mass transportation authorities. Authorizes capital investment grants to improve intercity passenger rail service. Allows a tax credit to holders of qualified high-speed rail infrastructure bonds. Railroad Track Modernization Act of 2006 - Establishes a capital grant program for the rehabilitation, preservation, or improvement of railroad track of class II and class III railroads. Requires the issuance of regulations implementing reliability standards for the safe transportation of energy supplies by rail.
![Official portrait of Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_ny_12_maloney_carolyn_200.jpg)