United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2008
Recognizes the historic significance of the journey to, and successful crossing of, the North Pole by the USS Nautilus. Commends its officers and crew on the 50th anniversary of such achievement. Recognizes the Nautilus's journey as not only a military and scientific accomplishment, but also in confirming America's long-standing interest in that vital region. Commends the role of the Nautilus and the U.S. submarine force in protecting the interests of the free world during the Cold War. Supports the continuing role of the U.S. submarine force in defending our country in the 21st century.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2008
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2009. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) the Rapid Acquisition Fund; (3) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (4) Defense Production Act purchases; (5) research, development, test, and evaluation; (6) operation and maintenance, including for defense working capital funds, the Defense Health Program, chemical agents and munitions destruction, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, and the Defense Inspector General; (7) active and reserve military personnel, including end strengths and the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (8) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program; (9) chemical demilitarization construction; and (10) Guard and reserve forces facilities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) active and reserve military personnel policy; (2) military education and training; (3) military pay and allowances; (4) retired pay and survivor benefits; (5) military health care; (6) acquisition policy and management; (7) DOD organization and management, including the chemical demilitarization program; (8) DOD financial matters, including counter-drug activities and matters relating to homeland security; (9) civilian personnel matters; and (10) matters relating to building partner capabilities to combat international terrorism. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2008
Honors the service and achievements of women in the Armed Forces and female veterans. Expresses support for groups that raise awareness about the service and achievements of such women.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2008
Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 - Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Appropriations Act, 2007 to extend until April 1, 2009, the moratorium on implementation of a proposed rule ("Medicaid Program; Cost Limit for Providers Operated by Units of Government and Provisions To Ensure the Integrity of Federal-State Financial Partnership") relating to the federal-state financial partnerships under titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act. Extends until April 1, 2009, the moratorium on any action by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to restrict Medicaid payments for graduate medical education (GME). Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 to extend until April 1, 2009, the moratorium on certain restrictions relating to Medicaid coverage or payment for rehabilitation services or school-based administration and school-based transportation, including specified proposed regulations, if such restrictions are more restrictive in any aspect than those applied to such areas as of July 1, 2007. Establishes additional moratoria until April 1, 2009, on specified regulatory actions concerning Medicaid: (1) treatment of optional case management services; (2) outpatient hospital services; and (3) allowable provider taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2008
Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Club. Acknowledges the contribution of political spouses to public life in America and around the world through the Congressional Club for the past 100 years. Honors the Club's past and present membership. Encourages all Americans to strive for greater friendship, civility, and generosity in order to heighten public service, elevate the culture, and enrich humanity, to seek out opportunities to give financially, and to volunteer to assist charitable organizations in their own communities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2008
Acknowledges that commercial navigation on the Missouri River helped provide for the exploration, expansion, and economic prosperity of the United States. Expresses continuing support for commercial navigation on that river.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2008
Supports the goals and ideals of a National Miner's Day. Encourages the people of the United States to celebrate and honor the contributions of miners.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the "Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 2008
Sex Offender Mandatory Registration Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) apply registration requirements to sex offenders regardless of the date of their offense or the date of their travel in interstate commerce; and (2) make failure to register or update a sex offender registration a continuing offense for as long as such failure exists.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, as the "Julia M. Carson Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11001 Dunklin Drive in St. Louis, Missouri, as the "William 'Bill' Clay Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2008
Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to designate centers of excellence for research on various forms of muscular dystrophy as Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers. Requires the Muscular Dystrophy Interagency Coordinating Committee to give special consideration to enhancing the clinical research infrastructure required to test emerging therapies for the various forms of muscular dystrophy. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that any data on patients that is collected as part of the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking and Research Network (MD STARnet) is regularly updated to reflect changes in patient condition over time. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to: (1) report to the appropriate congressional committees on MD STARnet and data collection; and (2) provide prospective health outcome data on the health and survival of people with muscular dystrophy. Requires the Director of CDC, in carrying out a program to provide information and education on muscular dystrophy to health professionals and the general public, to: (1) partner with leaders in the muscular dystrophy patient community; and (2) widely disseminate the Duchenne-Becker muscular dystrophy care considerations. Requires the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to: (1) evaluate the available scientific evidence to develop and issue an initial set of care considerations for Duchenne-Becker muscular dystrophy and provide ongoing review and updates where appropriate; and (2) replicate the same methodology used to develop such care considerations as a model for other muscular dystrophies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2008
Authorizes the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to collectively honor the American soldiers who were prisoners of war in Bataan, Philippines, during World War II, in recognition of their personal sacrifice and service to their country. Provides for the Medal's display at the Smithsonian Institution. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Medal should be made available for display elsewhere, particularly at locations associated with the prisoners of war at Bataan.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2008
Honors Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore, United States Army, for his 37 years of service, and commends him for his dedication and commitment to the Army and his leadership in the post-Katrina recovery effort.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2008
Amends title XVIII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to: (1) require the Commissioner of Social Security to submit the annual budget of the Social Security Administration (SSA) directly to Congress and the President; (2) specify the general contents of the budget, including the amount of funds required to combat fraud committed by applicants and beneficiaries, the number of pending cases and the average processing time, as well as employment statistics for each hearing and field office; (3) prohibit the Commissioner from closing or otherwise limiting public access to an SSA field office until 180 days after submitting to specified congressional committees a detailed report outlining and justifying the process for selecting field offices to be closed or otherwise have limited access; and (4) require the Commissioner to submit to the same committees, 90 days before revising the comprehensive work force plan which must accompany any appropriations request for SSA staffing and personnel, a document setting forth the revision.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2008. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) research, development, test, and evaluation, including ballistic missile defense; (3) operation and maintenance, including for defense working capital funds, the Defense Health Program, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, and environmental restoration; (4) active and reserve military personnel, including end strengths and the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (5) increased costs for military activities and military construction due to the global war on terror (6) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program; (7) chemical demilitarization construction; and (8) Guard and reserve forces facilities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) active and reserve military personnel policy; (2) military education and training; (3) military justice; (4) military pay and allowances; (5) retired pay and survivor benefits; (6) military health care; (7) acquisition policy and management; (8) DOD organization and management, including intelligence-related matters; (9) counter-drug activities and matters related to homeland security; (10) civilian personnel matters; (11) matters relating to other nations; and (12) cooperative threat reduction with states of the former Soviet Union. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies. Allows a victim of terrorism (or his or her representative) to seek money damages for an injury or death in a private cause of action in U.S. courts against a foreign state designated as a state sponsor of terrorism at the time of the injury or death if such injury or death was caused by an official, employee, or agent of such foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her employment. Permits the President to except the government of Iraq if: (1) the exception is in the interest of U.S. national security; (2) the waiver will promote the reconstruction of, the consolidation of democracy in, and the relations of the United States with, Iraq; and (3) Iraq continues to be a reliable ally of the United States and partner in combating acts of international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008
Declares that, when the House adjourns: (1) on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, it stand adjourned until 2 p.m. on Monday, January 28, 2008; and (2) on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, it stand adjourned until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States, in concert with its international partners, should strengthen its commitment to stabilizing Afghanistan and contribute the necessary levels of economic, civilian, and military resources to achieve that end; and (2) the United States should redeploy to Afghanistan military forces in Iraq not essential for targeted counterterrorism activities, training and equipping Iraqi security forces, or protection of U.S. citizens and facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should initiate a bipartisan process to give its advice and consent to ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2007 - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of gold medals to Native American code talkers of specified Indian tribes. Defines "code talker" as a Native American who served in the Armed Forces during a foreign conflict and who participated in military communications using a native language. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and Indian tribes, to identify code talkers eligible for a gold medal.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2007
Congratulates the Army Reserve on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the enactment of its original authorizing law on April 23, 1908. Recognizes and commends the Army Reserve for the service of its past and present citizen-soldiers whose personal courage, contributions, and sacrifices have helped preserve the freedom and advance the national security and homeland defense of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2007
Makes corrections in the enrollment of H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008) concerning: (1) Navy construction and land acquisition projects, including costs of construction at Naval Station Bremerton, Washington; and (2) the general reduction of the amount authorized for base closure and realignment activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2007
CAH Designation Waiver Authority Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the Medicare rural hospital flexibility program a state may establish. Authorizes state designation of a Medicare critical access hospital (CAH), even if it does not comply with the requirement that it be located more than a 35-mile drive from another hospital, if it is certified by the state on or after enactment of this Act as being a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area. (Thus restores state authority that existed before January 1, 2006, to waive the 35-mile rule.)
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2007
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2007
Katie Elise and Meghan Agnes Act - Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate final consumer product safety standards, applicable to any furniture the CPSC determines poses a substantial safety hazard due to tipping, that are (at a minimum) substantially the same as a specified ASTM standard. Requires the CPSC to promulgate final consumer product safety standards to require that, in any furniture containing a glass surface or pane of a size that poses a safety hazard on breaking, the glass be safety glass.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2007
Recognizes: (1) the region from Manhattan, Kansas, to Columbia, Missouri, including the metropolitan Kansas City area and St. Joseph, Missouri, as the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor; and (2) the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor as the national center of the animal health industry.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2007
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the "Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex."
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2007
Designates the national cemetery to be constructed at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, as the "Floyd Spence National Cemetery at Fort Jackson."
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2007
Condemns the November 6, 2007, attack in the Baghlan province of Afghanistan and all other attacks against the Afghan people. Expresses condolences to the people of Afghanistan and to the members of the Wolesi Jirga. Calls upon the United States and other nations to strengthen their efforts to further the goals and standards set forth in the Afghanistan Compact for improvements in Afghanistan's security, governance, and economic development.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2007
Recognizes Turkey as one of the most important strategic partners of the United States. Commends the government and people of Turkey for strengthening its democracy and becoming a source of stability in its region. Expresses appreciation for Turkey's efforts in the global war on terrorism. Congratulates the government and people of Turkey as they celebrate Republic Day.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2007
Recognizes National Veterans Awareness Week. Supports the designation of a National Veterans History Project Week. Calls on the people of the United States to interview at least one veteran in their families or communities according to guidelines provided by the Veterans History Project. Encourages local, state, and national organizations along with federal, state, city and county governmental institutions to participate in support of the effort to document, preserve, and honor the service of American wartime veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2007
Supports the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in order to provide a special opportunity to offer education on the importance of monthly breast self-examinations and annual mammograms. Salutes the more than 2.4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and the efforts of victims, volunteers, and professionals who combat breast cancer each day. Recognizes and applauds the national and community organizations for their work in promoting awareness about breast cancer, providing information, and offering treatment to its sufferers. Urges organizations and health practitioners to use this opportunity to promote awareness about breast cancer, to support monthly self-examinations, and to encourage annual mammograms.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2007
Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations to ensure that diesel fuel sold in the United States contains the volume of biodiesel specified for 2008 through 2012. Requires the Administrator to determine the volume for 2013 and thereafter based on a review of the program. Requires at least 80% of the minimum applicable volume for each of 2008 through 2012 to be biodiesel. Requires the biodiesel fuel standards to contain compliance provisions applicable to refineries, blenders, distributors, and importers. Prohibits such standards from restricting geographic areas in which biodiesel may be used or imposing any per-gallon obligation for the use of biodiesel. Authorizes the Administrator to reduce the quantity of biodiesel required by a specified amount if market circumstances would make the price of biodiesel fuel unreasonable. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede any biodiesel mandate provided in any state or local law enacted as of January 1, 2008. Requires the Administrator to: (1) promulgate regulations to ensure that only high-quality biodiesel that is consistent with appropriate International standards is introduced into commerce; and (2) establish an inspection program to ensure that biodiesel and biodiesel blends entering commerce meet such standards. Prohibits the production of distribution of biodiesel, a biodiesel blend, or any bio-based diesel replacement that does not meet American Society of Testing and Materials standards, regardless of whether the Administrator promulgates such regulations. Requires retail diesel fuel pumps to be labeled to inform consumers of the percent of biodiesel in the biodiesel blend.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2007
Methamphetamine Prevention Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to establish a Drug-Free Workplace Information Clearinghouse. Requires the Clearinghouse Director to: (1) serve as a resource for employers maintaining or attempting to establish a drug-free workplace policy; (2) provide assistance to employers and employees in resolving complaints, grievances, and requests for information regarding drug-free workplaces and in understanding rights and responsibilities under federal employment laws pertaining to drug-free workplace policies; and (3) conduct an educational campaign for employers on federal drug-free workplace standards or guidelines and on federal assistance available to employers to establish or maintain a drug-free workplace. Requires the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to: (1) make grants to medical associations, health care providers, and health care facilities to conduct training for health care providers on recognizing the signs of methamphetamine addiction and recognizing vulnerable populations for purposes of preventing and treating such addiction; (2) conduct an educational campaign on the public health effects of methamphetamine addiction; and (3) make grants to schools, community organizations, and local governmental entities to establish or maintain a methamphetamine awareness project consisting of after-school or extracurricular activities in which students learn about the dangers of methamphetamine through hands-on advertising or video production exercises.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2007
Revises the requirement that all vending machines operated by federal agencies and instrumentalities accept and dispense $1 coins. Exempts from such dispensing requirement any vending machines that do not receive currency denominations higher than $1.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2007
Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift for Life Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a National Organ Tissue Donor Registry Resource Center, which shall: (1) advance the development, expansion, and evaluation of state organ and tissue donor registries; (2) facilitate timely access to, and the exchange of accurate donor information between, such registries 24 hours a day; (3) ensure that funded registries comply with requirements; (4) provide technical assistance to states for such registries; and (5) maintain a registry information clearinghouse. Requires the Secretary to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for such registries. Requires recipients to agree to establish benchmarks for improvement in organ and tissue donation and to maintain registries that: (1) allow a donor to include a statement or symbol that the donor has made, amended, or revoked an anatomical gift; (2) allow organ procurement organizations to access that information, at or near the donor's death, 24 hours a day; and (3) bar the use or disclosure of personally identifiable information for any other purpose without the donor's consent. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a living donor database to track short- and long-term health effects for donors associated with living organ donation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2007
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Extension Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of extending the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to include the Eastern Legacy sites (the sites associated with the preparation or return phases of the Lewis and Clark expedition, commonly known as the "Eastern Legacy," including sites in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois).
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2007
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4320 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri, as the "Wallace S. Hartsfield Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2007
Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act - Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007 to extend by one year the moratorium on: (1) implementation of a rule relating to the federal-state financial partnership under titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act; and (2) finalization of a Medicaid rule regarding the treatment of graduate medical education (GME).
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2007
Honors: (1) the sacrifices and commitment of the men, women, and families of the United States Transportation Command; and (2) the achievements of the Transportation Command during the global war on terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2007
Declares that Congress remembers, honors, and commends the achievements of the U.S. Air Force in serving and defending the United States on the 60th anniversary of its creation as an independent military service.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2007
Support for Injured Servicemembers Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember to a total of 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for the servicemember. Defines covered servicemember as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in medical hold or medical holdover status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty that may render the member medically unfit to perform his or her duties. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid vacation, personal, family leave, or medical or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the availability of such leave during any other 12-month period. Amends federal civil service law to entitle civilian federal employees to the same leave allowance. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid annual or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2007
Declares that there should be a day known as National Hunting and Fishing Day and that the President should issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe such a day. Encourages participation in hunting and fishing. Commends the contributions of hunters and fishermen toward the scientific management of wildlife and conservation of the natural environment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2007
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish the National Park Ranger School Partnerships program authorizing the Secretary of Education to award competitive, three-year grants to schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) to enter into partnerships with the National Park Service (NPS) to provide kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) students with educational programs and K-12 teachers with professional development emphasizing science, the environment, natural resources, mathematics, civics, and history. Makes education service agencies eligible for grants to carry out such educational programs and professional development activities. Deems schools and LEAs to be eligible for such a grant only if they: (1) have, are capable of, or will develop certain connections to the NPS; (2) have been identified as needing improvement under title I of the ESEA; and (3) serve a significant percentage of low-income students. Permits: (1) the NPS to participate in the Mathematics and Science Partnerships program that provides training to teachers of such subjects under title II of the ESEA; and (2) educational service agencies, including federal agencies that serve as educational service providers, to partner with LEAs under such title's Teaching American History Grant Program.
![Official portrait of Rep. Skelton, Ike [D-MO-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000465_200.jpg)