United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments. Directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine whether state law provides specified rights and responsibilities for public safety officers, including: (1) granting public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees; and (2) requiring public safety employers to recognize and agree to bargain with the employees' labor organization. Requires the Authority to issue regulations establishing rights and responsibilities for public safety employers and employees in states that do not substantially provide for such public safety employee rights and responsibilities. Directs the Authority, in such cases, to: (1) determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) supervise or conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has been selected as an exclusive representative by a voting majority of the employees in an appropriate unit; (3) resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith; (4) conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices; and (5) resolve exceptions to arbitrator's awards. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of Authority regulations and orders, as well as prohibitions against lockouts or strikes, through appropriate state courts. Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts or strikes. Provides that existing collective bargaining units and agreements shall not be invalidated by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) exclude from the definition of the term "air pollutant" carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride; and (2) declare that nothing in the Act shall be treated as authorizing or requiring the regulation of climate change or global warming.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris Act - Amends the federal criminal code to modify the prohibition against destruction of veterans' memorials to include knowingly destroying the grave, headstone, or marker of any person in the Armed Forces and to extend such prohibition to memorials, graves, headstones, or markers on private as well as public property.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Enumerated Powers Act - Requires each Act of Congress to contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. Declares that failure to comply with this requirement shall give rise to a point of order in either chamber of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2009 - Provides a 90-day amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record any firearm acquired before October 31, 1968, by a veteran while a member of the Armed Forces stationed outside the continental United States. Grants such an individual limited immunity under the federal criminal code and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the acquisition, possession, transportation, or alteration of such firearm before or concurrent with such registration. Extends such immunity to a veteran who attempts to register a qualifying firearm outside of the amnesty period if the veteran surrenders the firearm within 30 days after being notified of potential criminal liability for continued possession. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) transfer each firearm qualifying as a curio or relic which has been forfeited to the United States to the first qualified museum that requests it; and (2) publish information identifying each such firearm which is available to be transferred to a museum. Prohibits the Attorney General from destroying any such firearm which has been forfeited until five years after the forfeiture. Requires that any firearm transferred to a qualified museum be registered to the transferee. Makes a prohibition against transfer or possession of a machine-gun inapplicable to a transfer to or by, or possession by, a museum which is open to the public and incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under applicable state law.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Green McAdoo School National Historic Site Study Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the site of Green McAdoo School in Clinton, Tennessee, to evaluate the national significance, suitability, and feasibility of designating such site as a unit of the National Park System.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow all individual taxpayers a tax deduction for state and local general sales taxes (current law allows taxpayers an election to deduct either state and local income taxes or sales taxes).
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the "William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic."
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Urges the President and the Secretary of State to: (1) build upon U.S. policy by publicly declaring that the United States will not fund or participate in any portion of the Durban Review Conference or its preparatory activities; (2) withhold from U.S. funding for the United Nations regular budget an amount equivalent to the U.S. share of assessed contributions for the Conference and such activities; and (3) lead high-level diplomatic efforts to encourage other responsible nations to not fund or participate in the Conference or such activities and to explore alternative forums for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. Commends Canada and Israel for publicly refusing to fund or participate in the Conference.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2009
Recognizes the threat that the spread of radical Islamist terrorism and Iranian adventurism in Africa poses to the United States, our allies, and interests. Acknowledges the commitment and cooperation of some African governments and regional organizations to deny the use of their territory to radical Islamist terrorist organizations. Calls on the U.S. government to work with governments in Africa to pursue an antiterrorism campaign.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2009
Requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the award of a congressional gold medal to the Army's 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2009
Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act - Amends federal military retired pay provisions to: (1) permit veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation; (2) eliminate provisions requiring a phase in between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013, of concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation; (3) eliminate the four-year phase-in of concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation for disabled veterans determined to be individually unemployable; and (4) require a limited reduction in retired pay for combat-related disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2009
Retired Pay Restoration Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that military retired pay should not be reduced because a military retiree is also eligible for veterans' disability compensation awarded for a service-connected disability. Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (under current law, only a disability rated at 50% or more). Repeals provisions phasing in the full concurrent receipt of such pay through December 31, 2013. Makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2009
Department of Veterans Affairs Energy Sustainability Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) implement in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an energy sustainability program to minimize energy consumption and encourage the use of alternative energy sources; (2) establish and maintain a database to track and report on VA energy and water expenditures; (3) complete an audit of VA energy usage during FY2010; (4) ensure VA compliance with an Executive Order and VA Directive concerning energy efficiency goals and objectives; (5) report to Congress on the use of funds for the installation of alternative fueling stations at 35 VA medical facility campuses; (6) submit to Congress a plan for increasing the use of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies in VA facilities and operations; (7) provide for the installation of individual electric sub-metering equipment at VA facilities; (8) ensure that energy-efficient products meeting VA requirements are purchased whenever the VA purchases items that consume electricity; and (9) conduct a study on water and fuel consumption by the National Cemetery Administration and ways to reduce such consumption. Establishes in the VA: (1) an Office of Energy Management; and (2) the Advisory Committee on Energy Management and Sustainability. Authorizes an increase in the dollar limit of VA grants for: (1) adaptive housing to encourage the use of high-efficiency systems and products or other energy-use reduction items; and (2) adaptive vehicles to encourage the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy to enter into a memorandum of understanding to improve and facilitate the use of expertise of the national laboratories to evaluate energy- and water-efficient technologies for use by the VA. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to sell economic incentives that reduce the emission of air pollutants attributable to a VA facility. Directs the Secretary or any other VA official required by law to submit a report to Congress to submit a copy of the report in an electronic format.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Repeals the requirement that federal, state, and local governmental entities withhold 3% of payments due to vendors providing goods and services to such entities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 - 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 · 7 January 2009
Sanctity of Human Life Act - Declares that: (1) the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human and is the person's paramount and most fundamental right; (2) each human life begins with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, at which time every human has all legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood; and (3) Congress, each state, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories have the authority to protect all human lives.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2009 - Makes a member of the Retired Reserve who is qualified for a non-regular (reserve) retirement at age 60, but is not yet 60, eligible for health benefits under TRICARE Standard (a Department of Defense (DOD) managed health care program for members of the reserves). Terminates such eligibility when the member becomes eligible for TRICARE Standard at age 60. Includes immediate family members under such coverage. Requires members to pay a premium for such coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of any Act, from having the authority to require broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the Fairness Doctrine.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a tax credit for 25% of the cost of new qualified freight rail infrastructure property and qualified locomotive property; and (2) a taxpayer election to expense the cost of qualified freight rail infrastructure property (i.e., deduct all costs in the current taxable year). Terminates such credit and expensing election after 2012.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award a grant to each state to carry out a program for making available throughout that state the 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on human services. Requires a participating state to ensure that at least 50% of the resources of the program funded by the grant will be derived from other sources. Requires a state seeking a grant to carry out its activities through a lead entity to be known as a 2-1-1 Collaborative. Requires grant amounts to be used solely to make available to a state 2-1-1 telephone service for community information and referral on human services to all citizens of that state with phone access, including telephone connections between families and individuals seeking services and the service providers. Requires grant recipients to: (1) abide by the Key Standards for 2-1-1 Centers; and (2) collaborate with human service organizations to provide an exhaustive database of services with which to provide information or referral to individuals utilizing the 2-1-1 service.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Redesignates: (1) the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps; and (2) the Secretary of the Navy as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Makes similar redesignations with respect to the Department Under Secretary, the Department Assistant Secretaries, and the General Counsel.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act - Establishes the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission to: (1) plan and carry out activities to honor Ronald Reagan on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth; (2) provide assistance to governmental agencies and civic groups to carry out such activities; and (3) develop other federal activities to honor Ronald Reagan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Treasury the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund for payments by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of a monthly benefit of $1,000 to each individual who, between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, was a documented member of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was operated in U.S. waters by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation and under contract to, or the property of, the United States. Requires such individuals to: (1) apply for such benefit before October 1, 2009; and (2) not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. Requires the Secretary to include, in annual budget documents submitted to Congress, detailed information on the Fund's operation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Employment Eligibility Verification and Anti-Identity Theft Act - Directs the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to notify a person or entity each time that the combination of name and Social Security account number it has submitted for an individual does not match Social Security Administration records. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (HS) to notify a person or entity each time that: (1) an immigration status or employment authorization document presented or referenced by an individual during the employment eligibility verification process was assigned to another person; or (2) there is no agency record that the document was assigned to any person. Directs the HS Secretary to establish a system, meeting specified requirements, for verifying an individual's identity and employment eligibility. Requires any person or entity that has received a discrepancy notice under this Act to verify the individual's employment authorization and identity through such system. Places the burden of resolving errors in the verification mechanism on the individual whose employment eligibility and identity have not been verified. Requires the individual to terminate any employment in the United States if a final nonverification is received. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide the last known name, address, and location of a nonverified individual to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Provides for sanctions against employers who continue to employ an individual after receiving a final nonverification. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require any person or entity that receives written notice about more than 20 individuals in one calendar year to: (1) participate in a basic pilot project for employment eligibility confirmation; and (2) comply with specified terms and conditions. Provides for: (1) a remedy under the Federal Tort Claims Act for job dismissals occasioned by verification mechanism errors; and (2) protection from civil and criminal liability for persons or entities that take action in good faith on the basis of verification mechanism information.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to establish a national standard for the carrying of concealed firearms (other than a machinegun or destructive device) by non-residents. Authorizes a person who has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm in one state and who is not prohibited from carrying a firearm under federal law to carry a concealed firearm in another state in accordance with the restrictions of that state or as specified under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a competitive leasing program for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas resources on the Coastal Plain of Alaska. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to repeal the prohibition against leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Deems any oil and gas leasing programs and activities authorized by this Act to be in compliance with ANWR purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to designate up to 45,000 acres of the Coastal Plain as a Special Area, after consultation with the state of Alaska, the city of Kaktovik, and the North Slope Borough. Permits directional drilling in the Special Area. Prescribes procedures governing Coastal Plain lease sales, as well as terms and conditions, including: (1) environmental protection; (2) federal and state distribution of revenues; (3) rights-of-way; and (4) local government impact aid and community service assistance. Sets forth: (1) a "no significant adverse effect" standard to govern Coastal Plain activities; and (2) guidelines for expedited judicial review of complaints. Establishes the ANWR Alternative Energy Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the armed forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009 - Exempts provisions expanding the adoption tax credit and adoption assistance programs enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 from the general terminating (sunset) provisions of that Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act - Declares that no automatic pay adjustment shall be considered to have taken effect in FY2010 in the rates of basic pay for Members of Congress under the General Schedule (thus eliminating the pay adjustment for Members for such fiscal year).
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Fair Tax Act of 2009 - Repeals the income tax, employment tax, and estate and gift tax. Redesignates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as the Internal Revenue Code of 2009. Imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services. Sets the sales tax rate at 23% in 2011, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. Allows exemptions from the tax for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions. Sets forth rules relating to: (1) the collection and remittance of the sales tax; and (2) credits and refunds. Allows a monthly sales tax rebate for families meeting certain size and income requirements. Grants states the primary authority for the collection of sales tax revenues and the remittance of such revenues to the Treasury. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to: (1) the filing of monthly reports and payments of tax; (2) accounting methods; (3) registration of sellers of goods and services responsible for reporting sales; (4) penalties for noncompliance; and (5) collections, appeals, and taxpayer rights. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate sales tax revenues among: (1) the general revenue; (2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund; (3) the disability insurance trust fund; (4) the hospital insurance trust fund; and (5) the federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund. Prohibits the funding of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after FY2013. Establishes in the Department of the Treasury: (1) an Excise Tax Bureau to administer excise taxes not administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and (2) a Sales Tax Bureau to administer the national sales tax. Terminates the sales tax imposed by this Act if the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (authorizing an income tax) is not repealed within seven years after the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each chamber by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Encourages the Department of State to place Vietnam on the list of "Countries of Particular Concern" for particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Condemns the ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom in Vietnam, including the detention of religious leaders and the long-term imprisonment of individuals engaged in peaceful advocacy. Calls on Vietnam to lift restrictions on religious freedom and implement necessary legal and political reforms to protect religious freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2008
State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Expansion Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow all individual taxpayers a tax deduction for state and local general sales taxes (current law allows taxpayers an election to deduct either state and local income taxes or sales taxes).
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase and make permanent the expensing allowance for depreciable business assets; and (2) allow a tax deduction, up to $10,000, for the purchase of a motor vehicle manufactured in the United States. Terminates such tax deduction after 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2008
Confers exclusive jurisdiction upon the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to hear causes and claims arising from a covered energy project, any action or decision by a federal official regarding: (1) leasing federal lands for the exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of any source or form of energy; (2) actions and decisions regarding the selection or offering of federal lands for such leasing; or (3) any action under such a lease. Bars any cause or claim not filed within a 60-day period for filing a complaint. Prescribes a 180-day deadline for court resolution of a complaint or cause of action. Declares that such a complaint or cause of action shall take precedence over all other pending matters before the District Court. Restricts to the Supreme Court any judicial review of an interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order of the district court. Prescribes a 180-day deadline for Supreme Court resolution of such a matter. Declares that all such proceedings shall take precedence over all other matters then before the Supreme Court.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2008
Strongly condemns the religious violence in India, including killings, rapes, and home and church destruction. Calls on India to: (1) restrict radical religious party elements that cause such violence, including the direct incitement to violence against Christians; and (2) prevent ongoing and future violence, including through adequate police protection and active prosecution. Calls on all Indian elected bodies to protect all citizens regardless of their religious beliefs. Condemns any laws restricting freedom of religion or the freedom to change one's religion. Urges the people of India to respect all peaceful religious beliefs and live together as a model to the rest of the world.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2008
Urges the Secretary of State to take measures to certify that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) operates in full compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act and that no American taxpayer dollars are being directed to terrorists or to further terrorist propaganda. Calls on UNRWA to improve the transparency of educational materials used in UNRWA-administered schools. Urges UNRWA to implement terrorist name recognition software and other screening procedures to help ensure that UNRWA staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries are neither terrorists nor affiliated with terrorist organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the "William C. Tallent Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic."
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2008
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 South Ellsworth Avenue in San Mateo, California, as the "Leo J. Ryan Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Jihad Prevention Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) make an alien who fails to attest that he or she will not advocate installing a Sharia law system in the United States inadmissible for U.S. entry; (2) require the visa revocation of an alien advocating the installation of a Sharia law system in the United States; and (3) make advocating the installation of a Sharia law system in the United States a ground for revocation of naturalization.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2008
Reaffirms support for continued enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to include democratic governments that are able and willing to meet membership responsibilities. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the expansion of NATO contributes to its effectiveness; and (2) the United States should take the lead in supporting the awarding of a Membership Action Plan to the Republic of Georgia and to Ukraine at the December 2008 meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2008
Security and Energy for America Act of 2008 or the SEA Act of 2008 - Secure Rural Schools and Counties Act of 2008 - Amends federal law governing payment for certain federal lands (entitlement land) to prescribe: (1) a transitional funding schedule for payments in lieu of taxes; and (2) transitional payments to states and counties previously entitled to payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-determination Act of 2000. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) amounts made available by a state to certain counties to support public schools should be in addition to, and not in lieu of, general state funds to support such schools; and (2) a state should not adjust education funding allocations to reflect specified receipts. State Enhanced Authority for Coastal and Ocean Resources Act of 2008 or SEACOR - Amends the Submerged Lands Act (SLA) to: (1) revise the seaward boundaries of states; and (2) except from confirmation and establishment of states' title, power, and rights any oil and gas mineral rights located within the revised seaward boundaries. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) regarding Adjacent Zones and Planning Areas in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Sets forth procedures for the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to grant and administer oil and natural gas leases on the OCS. Revises provisions concerning oil and gas leases. Federal Energy Natural Resources Enhancement Fund Act of 2008 - Establishes the Federal Energy Natural Resources Enhancement Fund to monitor and manage wildlife and fish and other natural resources related to energy and minerals development on federal lands. Declares without force or effect existing federal prohibitions against spending appropriated funds to: (1) conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities, or to issue a lease for any OCS; or (2) issue final commercial leasing regulations or any other function related to oil shale and tar sands. Prohibits a federal agency from permitting construction or operation of any facility, or from designating or maintaining a restricted transportation corridor or operating area, on either federal OCS or state waters that will be incompatible with oil, gas, or natural gas leasing, and with exploration and production of tracts that are geologically prospective for oil or natural gas. Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to revise regulations governing onshore surface-disturbing activities. Redesignates the Minerals Management Service as the National Ocean Resources and Royalty Service. Rigs to Reefs Act of 2008 - Amends OCSLA to prescribe procedures to use decommissioned offshore oil and gas platforms and other facilities for artificial reef and scientific research. Establishes the Energy and Mineral Schools Reinvestment Act Fund to enable maintenance and restoration of existing and historic petroleum and mining engineering programs. Redesignates the Mining and Mineral Resources Institutes Act as the Energy and Mineral Schools Reinvestment Act. Instructs the Secretary to establish OCS regional headquarters for the Atlantic OCS Region and the Pacific OCS Region. Freedom Fuels Act - Establishes the Freedom Fuels Fund, to be used for specified programs including: (1) geologic and geophysical programs; (2) geothermal and geopressure energy renewable resource management; (3) unconventional energy resources management; and (4) renewable energy management. Directs the Secretary to establish a program for production of: (1) liquid fuels from strategic unconventional resources; and (2) oil and gas resources using advanced CO2 enhanced recovery. Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program, among other purposes, for: (1) geothermal and geopressure oil and gas energy production; (2) FEED grants for projects for coal-to-liquids, petroleum coke-to-liquids, oil shale, tar sands, and Alaska natural gas-to-liquids and the production of low-rank coal water fuel; and (3) production of renewable energy from designated resources. Amends the OCSLA to: (1) repeal the Coastal Impact Assistance program; and (2) revise royalty-in-kind requirements. Amends the the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to: (1) prescribe default requirements if the Secretary of Energy does not issue regulations governing payments for research, development, and demonstration leases, and for commercial leases for oil shale and tar sands; (2) require the Secretary to grant royalty relief for natural gas production from gas hydrates; (3) direct the Secretary to reduce royalties for certain federal oil and gas leases; and (4) instruct the Secretary of the Interior to use specified estimates and considerations when compiling oil and gas resource assessments. Repeals the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) establish specified fees for conservation resources; (2) require that OCS oil and gas exploration utilize technology to minimize air emissions and discharges into the water; (3) establish Federal OCS Joint Regional Permitting Offices; and (4) develop, upon lessee request, oil spill response plans for each OCS Planning area. Exempts certain oil and gas leasing and exploration from federal agency coordination requirements of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. Instructs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to delegate to the Minerals Management Service permitting and enforcement authority for specified federal OCS activities.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Furthering Renewable Energy and Exploration Act or the FREE Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to commence promptly an oil and gas leasing program for public lands within the Coastal Plain of Alaska. Establishes in the Treasury the Energy Independence Trust Fund, into which shall be deposited: (1) rental payments and royalties received by the United States each fiscal year under leases issued under such program; and (2) federal income tax received by the United States each fiscal year attributable to sales of oil and gas produced under such leases. Requires payment of the amounts deposited into the Fund each fiscal year of: (1) 50% to the state of Alaska; and (2) the remainder to the Secretary of Agriculture, half to provide business and industry loan guarantees under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and half for the Biomass Research and Development Initiative under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, in the succeeding fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act - Terminates all federal prohibitions on expenditures of funds to conduct natural gas, oil, oil shale, and energy production leasing and preleasing activities for federal lands. Revokes withdrawals of federal submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from leasing for natural gas and oil exploration, development, and production. Amends the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 to repeal the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Amends the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 to repeal the prohibition on using funds to prepare or publish final regulations regarding a commercial leasing program for oil shale resources on public lands or to conduct an oil shale lease sale pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any lease authorizing exploration for, or development of, natural gas or oil in any OCS area that is located: (1) within 25 miles of the coastline of a state; or (2) more than 25 miles and less than 50 miles from the coastline of a state that has enacted, within one year, a law disapproving of such a lease. Provides for the allocation of sums collected under qualified leases on submerged land made available for leasing under this Act. Establishes the Conservation Reserve, the Environment Restoration Reserve, the Renewable Energy Reserve, and the Carbon Capture and Sequestration Reserve. Establishes the state seaward boundaries under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Amends the Clean Air Act to allow the use of woody biomass from federal forest lands for the production of renewable energy. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal provisions prohibiting federal procurement of an alternative or synthetic fuel for any mobility-related use unless the contract specifies that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and combustion of the fuel supplied must be less than or equal to such emissions from the equivalent conventional fuel. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise provisions concerning tax credit extensions and deductions for renewable energy, alternative fuel, and energy conservation. Requires the Secretary of Energy to publish a plan for exchanging light grade petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for heavy grade petroleum. Establishes and provides for the allocation of the Energy Independence and Security Fund, including providing funding for: (1) researching and developing wind, solar, ocean and wave, and geothermal energy; (2) conducting energy efficiency projects; and (3) fostering the development of domestic energy production.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Supports the goals and ideas of a National Workplace Wellness Week. Calls on private and public employers to voluntarily implement worksite health promotion programs to help maximize employees health, well-being, and lower health care costs.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008
Recognizes: (1) the important contributions of African-American doctors on the event of the apology of American Medical Association (AMA) to the National Medical Association (NMA) for over a century of racial prejudices and wrongdoings; (2) the efforts of Dr. W. Montague Cobb, former president of the NMA, to break down the racial prejudices at the AMA that led to its full integration; and (3) Shaw University's Leonard Medical School and other historically black colleges and universities for their role in training African-American doctors. Encourages more African-Americans to work in medicine and become doctors, nurses, and researchers.
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