Extends the authorizations for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Includes within the definition of: (1) "capital projects" rehabilitation and repair of facilities; and (2) "facilities" those for protection of critical habitat and for preventing entrainment of fish in water diversions.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 417 (110th)referred

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the 110th Congress should not adjourn until comprehensive energy legislation has been enacted.

United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2008

Declares that the 110th Congress should not adjourn until comprehensive energy legislation has been enacted into law that: (1) opens the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and oil shale reserves to environmentally prudent exploration and extraction; (2) extends expiring renewable energy incentives; (3) encourages the streamlined approval of new refining capacity and nuclear power facilities, and advanced research and development of clean coal, coal-to-liquid, and carbon sequestration technologies; and (4) minimizes drawn out legal challenges that unreasonably delay or prevent actual domestic energy production.

Bill· HRH.R. 6885 (110th)open

Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2008

Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the H-2A nonimmigrant visa category (temporary agricultural workers) an alien coming temporarily to the United States to work as a sheepherder or dairy worker. Provides for a three-year initial period of admission with additional three-year extensions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue housing regulations for workers engaged in the range production of livestock.

Bill· HRH.R. 6779 (110th)referred

SEA Act of 2008

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.

Bill· HRH.R. 6691 (110th)referred

Second Amendment Enforcement Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2008

Second Amendment Enforcement Act - Amends specified law prohibiting the killing of wild birds and wild animals in the District of Columbia to declare that nothing in it or any other provision of law shall authorize or be construed to permit the Council, the Mayor, or any governmental or regulatory authority of the District to prohibit, constructively prohibit, or unduly burden the ability of persons otherwise not prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law from acquiring, possessing in their homes or businesses, or using for sporting, self-protection or other lawful purposes, any firearm neither prohibited by federal law nor subject to the National Firearms Act. Denies the District any authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms. Amends the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 (FCRA) to repeal the definition of a machine gun as any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily converted or restored to shoot semiautomatically, more than 12 shots without manual reloading. (Thus repeals the ban on semiautomatic weapons.) Redefines "machine gun" as any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or is readily restored to shoot automatically, more than one shot without manual reloading by a single function of the trigger. Includes the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person. Repeals the District's: (1) registration requirement for possession of firearms; (2) requirement that licensed firearms dealers keep records of ammunition received into inventory and ammunition sold or transferred; and (3) requirement that, under certain conditions, firearms in the possession of certain individuals must be kept unloaded, disassembled, or with the trigger locked. Maintains the current ban on the possession and control of a sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, or short-barreled rifle. Amends FCRA to allow an individual to possess ammunition in the District if the individual owns (currently, holds the valid registration certificate for) a firearm of the same guage or caliber as such ammunition. Eliminates criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm. Amends federal law to eliminate criminal penalties for carrying a pistol whether loaded or unloaded in one's dwelling house, place of business, or on land possessed by such person. Amends the federal criminal code to make it lawful for any licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver a handgun to a District resident if such individual is licensed in Maryland or Virginia to do so.

Bill· HRH.R. 6592 (110th)referred

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Land Conveyance Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2008

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Land Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to convey specified land identified as Parcel A (including any improvements) to the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in New Mexico only for research, scientific, or educational use. Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Air Force to complete any real property actions, including the revocation of any federal withdrawals of Parcels A and B, that are necessary to allow the Secretary to convey Parcel A or to transfer administrative jurisdiction over Parcel B to the Secretary of the Air Force. Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to retain ownership and control of: (1) portions of the utility system and infrastructure on Parcel A; and (2) rights of access determined to be necessary to operate and maintain the utilities on such parcel. Requires the Institute to pay or reimburse costs incurred in the conveyance of Parcel A, including related survey costs. Instructs the Institute to take fee title to Parcel A and any improvements, as contaminated. Makes the Institute responsible for completing all environmental remediation required with respect to such parcel for all environmental conditions related to or arising from contamination. Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide the Institute with: (1) access for employees and invitees of the Institute across Kirtland Air Force Base to Parcel A; and (2) access to utility services for such parcel. Requires the Secretary of Energy to arrange and pay for the removal of any improvements made to Parcel B.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 393 (110th)referred

Supporting the goals and ideals of "National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2008

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.

Bill· HRH.R. 6566 (110th)referred

American Energy Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2008

American Energy Act - Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act of 2008 - Amends the Submerged Lands Act (SLA) regarding delineation of offshore state boundaries with respect to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as well as related oil and gas mineral rights. Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to: (1) allow the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to grant natural gas leases in the outer Continental Shelf (OCS); and (2) revise provisions concerning oil and gas leases and withdrawals of unleased land. Provides for federal agency coordination with adjacent states on the construction of pipelines for crude oil or petroleum products or natural gas produced from the OCS. Sets forth provisions concerning the application of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to OCS programs. Declares existing federal prohibitions against spending appropriated funds for leasing and preleasing OCS oil and natural gas to be without force or effect. Prohibits a federal agency from permitting certain activities on the federal OCS or in state waters that are incompatible with: (1) oil or natural gas leasing; and (2) full exploration and production of tracts that are geologically prospective for oil or natural gas. Directs the Secretary to establish OCS Regional Headquarters in designated locations. Repeals: (1) the coastal impact assistance program; and (2) the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act - Requires the Secretary to establish a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an environmentally sound program for the exploration, development, and production of the Coastal Plain's oil and gas resources. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 to terminate the prohibition against leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Provides for the authorization of Special Areas to be managed so as to protect and preserve the area's unique and diverse character including its fish, wildlife, and subsistence resource values in the Coastal Plain. Requires the Secretary to designate Sadlerochit Spring as a Special Area. Requires the Secretary to: (1) issue specified rights-of-ways and easements across the Coastal Plain for the transportation of oil and gas; and (2) convey specified estates to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Establishes the Coastal Plain Local Government Impact Aid Assistance Fund and the American Renewable and Alternative Energy Trust Fund. Amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 to terminate the prohibition against using federal 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 Internal Revenue Code to set forth provisions concerning credits for fuel efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles, energy efficiency, nuclear energy, and renewable energy. Requires the Secretary of Energy to provide awards for activities concerning the: (1) research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of innovative energy technologies and new energy sources; (2) manufacture of midsized sedan automobiles that operate on gasoline and can travel 100 miles per gallon; and (3) manufacture of advanced batteries. Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide financial assistance to states or tribes to facilitate the hiring of personnel with expertise in federal refinery authorizations. Requires the President to: (1) appoint a federal coordinator to facilitate such authorizations; and (2) designate at least three closed military installations as potentially suitable for the construction of a refinery and at least one for producing biofuel. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal certain requirements regarding refinery revitalization. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal restrictions on federal agencies procuring alternative or synthetic fuel for mobility-related uses. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to auction to the public coal-to-liquid fuel put option contracts. Provides for standby loans for qualifying coal-to-liquid projects. Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise provisions concerning the recycling and disposal of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste.

Bill· HRH.R. 6378 (110th)referred

Strengthening of FDA Integrity Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008

Strengthening of FDA Integrity Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to apply debarment provisions currently applicable to abbreviated new drugs to any drug products, including new drugs, animal drugs, exported drugs, biological products, and medical devices. Expands the conditions under which persons (i.e., partnerships, corporations, and associations) are subject to mandatory and permissive debarment preventing such persons from submitting an application for approval of a drug product. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to initiate debarment not later than one year after a person or individual is convicted of a felony. Requires the Secretary, in determining the appropriateness and the period of debarment, to consider whether debarment will affect the public health because sufficient quantities of the drug would not be available. Requires the Secretary to annually report to Congress on the implementation of debarment provisions.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1311 (110th)passed

Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day.

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008

Expresses support for the designation of a National GEAR UP Day. (GEAR UP is the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program, created to facilitate the transition of low-income high school students into postsecondary education.)

Bill· HRH.R. 6376 (110th)referred

Strengthening of FDA Integrity Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2008

Strengthening of FDA Integrity Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to apply debarment provisions currently applicable to abbreviated new drugs to any drug products, including new drugs, animal drugs, exported drugs, biological products, and medical devices. Expands the conditions under which persons (i.e., partnerships, corporations, and associations) are subject to mandatory and permissive debarment preventing such persons from submitting an application for approval of a drug product. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in determining the appropriateness and the period of debarment, to consider whether debarment will affect the public health because sufficient quantities of the drug would not be available. Requires the Secretary to annually report to Congress on the implementation of debarment provisions.

Bill· HRH.R. 6357 (110th)open

PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2008

Protecting Records, Optimizing Treatment, and Easing Communication through Healthcare Technology Act of 2008 or the PRO(TECH)T Act of 2008 - Establishes the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Establishes a HIT Policy Committee to make policy recommendations to the National Coordinator relating to the implementation of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure Establishes the HIT Standards Committee to recommend to the National Coordinator standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for the electronic exchange and use of health information. Requires the National Coordinator to develop a Health Information Technology Resource Center. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the National Coordinator to award competitive grants for: (1) the purchase of qualified health information technology; and (2) the implementation of regional or local health information plans. Allows the Secretary to award grants for demonstration projects to develop academic curricula integrating qualified health information technology in the clinical education of health professionals. Requires the Director of the National Institute for Standards and Technology to: (1) test standards and specifications under this Act in order to assure their efficient implementation and use; and (2) assist institutions of higher education in establishing multidisciplinary Centers for Health Care Information Enterprise Integration. Directs the National High-Performance Computing Program to coordinate federal research and development programs related to the development and deployment of health information technology. Requires notification of individuals whose unencrypted protected health information has been, or is reasonably believed to have been, accessed or acquired as a result of a breach. Sets forth provisions governing the privacy of protected health information, including requirements for business associates to protect health information.

Bill· HRH.R. 6320 (110th)referred

Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2008

Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to define "disability." Requires that equipment providing IP-enabled voice communication services via a built-in speaker provide an internal means for hearing aid use. Redefines "telecommunications relay services." Requires interconnected VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers and providers of voice communications using an IP-enabled service to contribute to the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. Requires, unless it would be an undue burden (significant difficulty or expense), that equipment and services for IP-enabled communication be usable by individuals with disabilities. Requires, if such requirements are an undue burden, that the equipment or service be compatible with existing commonly used devices or specialized customer equipment, unless that requirement would be an undue burden. Establishes an accessible products and services clearinghouse. Declares that the transmission and receipt of text messages are telecommunications services for purposes of access by persons with disabilities. Adds telecommunications and IP-enabled communication services needed by individuals with disabilities to the services supported by Lifeline and Link Up programs and other federal universal service support mechanisms. Makes eligible for universal service support certified programs for the distribution of equipment to make telecommunications and IP-enabled communication service accessible by deaf-blind individuals. Requires seamless text communication among interconnected VoIP services, IP-enabled communication services, and telecommunications services. Requires a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiry and report concerning: (1) closed captioning decoder and video description capability; (2) user interfaces; and (3) video programming guides and menus. Revises provisions concerning any apparatus designed to receive television pictures broadcast simultaneously with sound to require that any apparatus that receives or displays video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound be capable of decoding closed captioning, delivering video description, and conveying emergency information, including Emergency Alert System messages, accessibly to blind or visually-impaired individuals. Requires the FCC video description regulations contained in the Implementation of Video Description of Video Programming, Report and Order to be considered to be in full force and effect and applicable to video programming published after enactment of this Act. Requires identification of methods to convey emergency information accessibly to blind or visually-impaired individuals. Requires that apparatus to receive or display video, including using IP-enabled communication services, allow control by individuals with disabilities and that on-screen menus be accompanied by audio output to enable control by blind or visually impaired individuals. Requires each provider or owner of video programming and each multichannel programming distributor to ensure that video programming information and selection provided by means of a navigational device, guide, or menu is accessible in real-time by individuals with disabilities who are unable to read the visual display.

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