United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2010
Withdraws Congress' approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Directs the President to provide written notice of the withdrawal to the governments of Canada and Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2010
Prostate Research, Imaging, and Men's Education Act of 2010 or the PRIME Act of 2010 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to: (1) carry out a program to expand and intensify research to develop advanced imaging technologies for prostate cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment comparable to mammogram technology; and (2) utilize the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and the National Cancer Institute for advanced stages of research in prostate imaging. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to: (1) carry out a grant program to encourage the early stages of research in prostate imaging to develop and implement new ideas, proof of concepts, and pilot studies for high-risk technologic innovation; and (2) establish interdisciplinary private-public partnerships to develop research strategies for expedited innovation in imaging and image-guided treatment. Directs the Secretary: (1) to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge with respect to the need for prostate cancer screening and for improved detection technologies; (2) in carrying out the program and the campaign, to recognize and address the racial disparities in the incidences of prostate cancer and mortality rates and any racial barriers in access to care and participation in clinical trials; (3) establish a program to award grants to nonprofit private entities to test alternative outreach and education strategies; and (4) carry out research to develop an improved prostate cancer screening blood test using in-vitro detection.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2010
Directs the President, pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, to remove the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan: (1) by no later than 30 days after this resolution is adopted; or (2) if the President determines that it is not safe to remove them by such date, by no later than December 31, 2010, or such earlier date that the President determines that they can be safely removed.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2010
Balkan Counter-Extremism and Security Act - Authorizes the President to provide assistance to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia (countries of the Balkan region) to facilitate cooperation between the United States and such countries on counter-extremism and counter-terrorism efforts. Provides such assistance on a three-tiered scale based upon a country's compliance with specified requirements. Increases by $1.00 the fee for processing nonimmigrant visas for applicants from such countries through January 1, 2015.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2010
Disabled Public Safety Officers Fairness Act of 2010 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for payment of disability benefits to public safety officers who became permanently and totally disabled prior to the enactment of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2010
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that all people in the United States should participate in a moment of silence (on March 26, 2010, National Support Our Troops Day) to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces both at home and abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2010
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and make available for sale not more than 2 million silver national medals, containing one ounce of silver each, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. Declares that all sales of medals under this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per medal, which shall be paid to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center to support its operations and maintenance.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2010
Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act - Prohibits the President from: (1) regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents or any transactions incident to such travel; and (2) restricting direct transfers from a Cuban financial institution to a U.S. financial institution executed in payment for a product authorized for sale under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. States that: (1) any regulation restricting or prohibiting such Cuban travel shall have no effect; and (2) such prohibition shall not apply in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. citizens or legal residents. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to define "payment of cash in advance" as the payment by the purchaser of an agricultural commodity or product and the receipt of such payment by the seller prior to: (1) the transfer of title of such commodity or product to the purchaser; and (2) the release of control of such commodity or product to the purchaser.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2010
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 23 Genesee Street in Hornell, New York, as the "Zachary Smith Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 2010
Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act - Amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to provide that nothing in that Act shall modify, impair, or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance. Applies prohibitions against using unfair methods of competition to the business of health insurance without regard to whether such business is carried on for profit.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2010
Commends the personnel of the Agri-business Development Teams of the National Guard, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their efforts to modernize agriculture practices and increase food production in war-torn countries.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2010
Recognizes the efforts of the U.S. Armed Forces, local first responders, U.S. public servants, and other members of Operation Unified Response for their actions to meet the needs of Haiti's citizens and government and facilitate the evacuation and medical attention of U.S. citizens impacted by the earthquake in Haiti.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2010
TBI Treatment Act - Directs the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (Secretaries) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which each Secretary establishes a process for providing payments to facilities for treatments of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) received by members of the Armed Forces and veterans in facilities other than military treatment facilities or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. Subjects such payments to specified conditions, including approved treatment or study protocols. Requires the VA Secretary to notify each veteran with a service-connected injury or disability of the opportunity to receive such treatment or study protocol. Requires the Secretaries to jointly: (1) develop and maintain a database containing data from each patient case involving the use of such treatments; and (2) report annually to Congress on the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2010
Janey Ensminger Act - Makes any veteran who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during a period in which the water there was contaminated by volatile organic compounds, including known and probable human carcinogens, eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for any illness, notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the illness is attributable to such contamination.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2010
Establishes the State Veterans' Benefits Commission to evaluate the total amount of benefits provided by each state to resident veterans with a total and permanent disability rating, as well as the method in which each state establishes the amount of such benefits based on such disability rating. Requires the Commission to report evaluation results to the congressional veterans committees.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2010
Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2010 - Excludes from annual income, for purposes of eligibility for pensions for veterans and their surviving spouses and children, reimbursements resulting from: (1) any accident; (2) any theft or loss; (3) any casualty loss; (4) medical expenses resulting from any such accident, theft, or loss; and (5) pain and suffering (including insurance settlement payments and general damages awarded by a court) related to such accident, theft, or loss.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2010
Public Corruption Elimination Act of 2010 - Denies federal retirement benefits to an individual (or his or her survivor or beneficiary) who has been convicted of a felony under federal or state law that involves bribery, graft, misappropriation of public funds or property, or conflicts of interest, that occurred in connection with the individual's service as an employee, and that occurs after this Act's enactment. Prohibits an individual who is under indictment for such offense from being paid an annuity or retired pay if the individual willfully remains outside the United States for more than one year with knowledge of the indictment or charges. Prohibits the computation and inclusion of interest on a refund of such an individual's retirement contributions for the period after the conviction. Authorizes restoration of annuity or retired pay if an individual who was convicted of an offense against state law under this Act is pardoned by the governor.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2010
Shareholder Protection Act of 2010 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit an issuer from making any expenditure for political activities in excess of $10,000 in any fiscal year without first obtaining the written affirmative authorization for such expenditure by a majority of all shareholders. Deems a violation of this requirement to be a breach of the fiduciary duty of the officers and directors who authorized such expenditure. Subjects to joint and several liability to any shareholder or class of shareholders for the amount of such expenditure the officers and directors who authorize it without prior shareholder authorization. Prohibits rules and guidelines established by any national securities exchange or by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from considering as a routine corporate matter a decision to make a contribution or expenditure for political activities in excess of $10,000. Exempts from the shareholder prior approval requirement an issuer whose sole business is the publication or broadcasting of news, commentary, literature, music, entertainment, artistic expression, scientific, historical or academic works, or other forms of information. Directs the SEC to require issuers to disclose quarterly any expenditure for political activities made during the preceding quarter. Requires such report to be filed with the SEC, provided to shareholders, and be made publicly available through the SEC website.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2010
Expresses: (1) condolences and sympathy for the horrific loss of life and the physical and psychological damage caused by the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti; and (2) solidarity with Haitians, Haitian-Americans, and all those who have lost loved ones or have otherwise been affected by the tragedy. Commends the assistance efforts of: (1) the people of the United States, including the Haitian-American community; and (2) the men and women of USNS Comfort and the U.S. Navy.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2010
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to permit a state home to provide VA nursing home care to parents who had any children who died while serving in the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2010
Recognizes the proud history of the 24th Infantry Division (the 24th) and its soldiers who made countless sacrifices to protect the nation's freedom. Remembers with profound gratitude, sorrow, and respect the 14 soldiers of the 24th who received the Medal of Honor. Encourages the provision of an appropriate site in Arlington National Cemetery for a memorial marker to honor the memory of those 14 soldiers, as long as the Secretary of the Army has exclusive authority to approve the design and site of the marker.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2010
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat securities and nonqualified preferred stock paid to a parent corporation by a subsidiary in a corporate reorganization as cash payments, thus subjecting the gain attributable to such payments to tax.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2010
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) all efforts should be made to find those responsible for the violent drug-related killings of innocent U.S. and Mexican citizens throughout Mexico, including those who killed Mr. Augustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo; (2) the extreme violence by the Mexican drug cartels has affected and continues to affect the lives of thousands of innocent people in Mexico, the United States, and around the world; and (3) Congress should continue to support bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico to break the power of the Mexican drug cartels, curtail violence, reduce arms trafficking, and diminish the demand for drugs throughout North America.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2010
Honors the life and sacrifice of Medgar Evers and recognizes the important role he played in securing civil rights for all people in the United States. Congratulates the United States Navy for honoring Medgar Evers by naming the United States Naval Ship Medgar Evers after him.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2010
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), when examining a veteran's attributable income for purposes of determining whether a veteran is unable to defray the necessary expenses of hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care, to treat as a dependent child of such veteran any unmarried person who: (1) is placed in the legal custody of the veteran for at least 12 consecutive months; (2) either has not attained age 21, has not attained age 23 and is enrolled in a full-time course of study at an institution of higher learning, or is incapable of self-support due to mental or physical incapacity; (3) is dependent on the veteran for over one-half of the person's support; and (4) resides with the veteran, unless separated to receive institutional care.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2010
State and Local Law Enforcement Hatch Act Reform Act of 2010 - Amends the Hatch Act to: (1) allow state and local law enforcement officers to be candidates for the office of sheriff; and (2) allow sheriffs to engage in campaign activities by attending or speaking at political campaign rallies or events, holding or sponsoring political fundraisers, or appearing on political advertisements. Establishes a limitation period of six months after the later of the date of the alleged violation or the date of enactment of this Act for presenting charges against a law enforcement officer for Hatch Act violations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2010
Treats cash contributions made after January 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, for the relief of earthquake victims in Haiti as having been made on December 31, 2009, for purposes of the tax deduction for charitable contributions. Deems a contribution as meeting the recordkeeping requirements of the Internal Revenue Code if the taxpayer produces a telephone bill showing the name of the donee organization and the date and amount of the contribution.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2010
Restoring the Social Security COLA Act - Authorizes an increase of $250 in Social Security, certain veterans, Civil Service Retirement (CSRS), and Federal Employees Retirement (FERS) benefits for one month in 2010 to compensate for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment for that year. Rescinds the unobligated balance of the discretionary appropriations made available by division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in an amount determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to be required to offset the increase in spending resulting from such increase.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2010
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield in Chemung County, New York (where the Battle of Newtown was fought on August 29, 1779, during the Revolutionary War), as well as the suitability and feasibility of the Battlefield's inclusion in the National Park System.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2010
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2-116th Street in North Troy, New York, as the "Martin G. 'Marty' Mahar Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2010
Waives, during FY2011, the basic military pay adjustment tied to increases in the Employment Cost Index. Increases, effective January 1, 2011, such basic pay by 1.9%.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2010
Wall Street Bonus Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose a tax on current or former employees of recipients of financial assistance under the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP) for 50% of any bonus exceeding $50,000 paid to them during 2010; and (2) establish in the Treasury the Small Business Growth Fund to hold revenues from such tax. Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program to make loans directly to small business concerns. Makes amounts from such Fund available to carry out such program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2010
Commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Honors the sacrifices of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Commemorates the Allied victory.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 2010
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President shall direct the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to: (1) initiate discussions with Japan immediately to identify and remedy violations of Japan's World Trade Organization (WTO) trade obligations for its discriminatory practices in not applying incentives for U.S. automotive imports under Japan's Eco-Friendly Vehicle Purchase Program (scrappage program); and (2) if no remedy is forthcoming, file complaints to initiate dispute resolution actions under the WTO. Expresses the sense of the House that: (1) any such action should include the impacts on the U.S. economy incurred by implementation of the U.S. Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) incentives program in regards to Japanese manufactured automobiles that received subsidies; and (2) the Secretary of State should immediately take diplomatic and other measures to ensure that any extension of Japan's Eco-Friendly Vehicle Program is not discriminatory to U.S. manufactured automobile imports to Japan.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2009
Expresses support for the designation of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Recognizes the importance of preventing childhood obesity and decreasing its prevalence in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2009
Warriors Adapting Residences with Mortgages for Energy Renovations Act or WARMER Act - Revises current provisions permitting the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to guarantee loans for energy efficiency improvements to certain dwellings to also authorize the guarantee of loans to veterans for the construction of a new dwelling and the cost of making energy efficient improvements to the dwelling. Allows the Secretary to determine appropriate energy efficiency standards for purposes of such guaranteed loans, and to require that dwellings purchased, constructed, or improved meet such standards. Revises current provisions setting the maximum amount allowable for such a loan guaranty to set the maximum amount for such guaranty at 5% of the total value of the property, unless the Secretary specifically approves a higher amount.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2009
Securing Patriots Access to Convenient and Economic Air Travel Act of 2009 or SPACE-A Travel Act of 2009 - Requires transportation on Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft, on a space-available basis and on the same basis as a spouse of a retired member of the Armed Forces, for: (1) the unremarried surviving spouse of a retired member; (2) the unremarried surviving spouse of a former member who is entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation; and (3) any dependents accompanied by such surviving spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2009
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize continued use of 2009 Medicare practice expense relative value units for certain cardiology services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to contract with an independent entity to study and report to Congress on the practice expense methodology used to determine relative value units under this Act to determine whether the cost finding, indirect cost allocation, scaling, and budget neutrality methodologies used: (1) are consistent with generally accepted accounting principles; (2) distribute the burden of any necessary budget neutrality adjustments proportionally among all physicians' services; and (3) result in allowances that accurately reflect the relative direct and indirect resources involved in the provision of various physicians' services.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2009
Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), 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 · 16 December 2009
Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2009 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other defined international financial institutions, to: (1) provide for debt cancellation of eligible low-income countries to such institutions and to the United States; (2) ensure that the provision of debt cancellation to such countries is not followed by a reduction in the provision of any other development assistance; and (3) encourage such countries' governments to allocate at least 20% of their national budgets towards poverty-alleviation programs. Directs the Secretary to begin efforts to: (1) promote greater transparency within such institutions; (2) establish a responsible lending framework; and (3) ensure that debt cancellation to eligible low-income governments is subject only to specified conditions. Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to: (1) audit the debt portfolios of previous governments in countries such as South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo where there is significant evidence that onerous or illegal loans were made to the government; and (2) report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2009
Buy American Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Buy American Act to: (1) extend through FY2013 the requirement for federal agencies to report to specified congressional committees on the amount of agency acquisitions from entities that manufacture products outside the United States; (2) apply such Act to executive, legislative, and judicial branch agencies; and (3) require articles to be treated as made substantially all from articles mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States if the cost of the domestic components exceeds 75% of the total cost of all components. Prohibits federal agencies from determining that: (1) it would not be in the public interest to enter into a contract subject to Buy American requirements after a solicitation of offers notice for such contract is published; (2) the cost of acquiring products manufactured in the United States is unreasonable unless such acquisition would increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25%; or (3) an article is not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of satisfactory quality unless the agency has determined that domestic production cannot be initiated without significantly delaying the project and that a substitutable article is not available from a company in the United States. Requires agencies: (1) to give preference in the procurement process to a company that manufactures the solicited product in the United States if such company's bid is substantially the same as a bid made by a non-U.S. manufacturer or such company is the only one that manufactures the product in the United States; (2) to exclude costs related to the startup of a project from a domestic bid; (3) to apply Buy American requirements without regard to whether products to be acquired are for use outside the United States if they are not needed on an urgent basis or if they are acquired on a regular basis; (4) in determining whether to grant a public interest waiver of Buy American requirements, to consider any predicted significant decrease in domestic employment to be against the public interest; and (5) to publish waivers requested and waivers granted on a publicly available website. Directs: (1) the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to ensure that Buy American requirements apply to component projects that have been disaggregated from a larger project for purposes of avoiding applicability of such requirements to the larger project; and (2) the Comptroller General to report to Congress recommendations to be used in determining whether acquiring articles mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States would be inconsistent with the public interest. Requires this Act to be applied in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2009
Nonprofit Mortgage Licensing Clarification Act of 2009 - Amends the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to permit a state to exempt from certain registration or licensing requirements any charitable organization exempt from federal tax (including their employees and agents acting as loan originators), if the organization: (1) executes loan originations in order to promote or facilitate homeownership for certain low-income, disabled, or other disadvantaged persons or families; (2) offers loans at interest rates lower than the bank prime loan rate, or that are no-interest loans or loans with interest rates significantly below those for loans to purchase generally available single-family housing; and (3) does not otherwise engage in the business of a loan originator or mortgage broker.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2009
Amends the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 to expand access to Department of Defense (DOD) homeowners assistance for qualified members of the Armed Forces permanently reassigned during a designated mortgage crisis to allow the Secretary of Defense greater flexibility regarding the dates of the availability of such assistance. Directs the Secretary, in exercising such authority, to consult with the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Treasury regarding the condition of housing markets in the area of a base or installation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2009
Recognizes the potential for a national fresh food financing initiative to: (1) provide a sustainable solution to the problem of limited access to healthy foods in underserved urban, suburban, and rural low-income communities; and (2) help reduce health disparities and improve the health of families and children, create jobs, and stimulate local economic development in low-income communities.