United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2006
Acknowledges and commends charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education and the public school system. Supports the seventh annual National Charter Schools Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2006
Call Home Act of 2006 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to to reduce the cost of calling home for military personnel stationed or deployed outside the United States in support of military operations, training exercises, or other purposes approved by the Secretary of Defense. Prohibits the FCC from regulating rates in order to carry out this Act. Amends the Telecommunications Authorization Act of 1992 to repeal current FCC cost reduction authority with respect to personnel stationed or deployed in specified countries.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2006
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2006 - Directs the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico during the 110th Congress on the sole question of continued U.S. territorial status or a path toward a permanent non-territorial status.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2006
Border Tunnel Prevention Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country. Imposes a 20-year prison term for such offense. Doubles penalties for persons who use such a tunnel or passage to smuggle an alien, illegal goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction, or members of a terrorist organization Imposes a 10-year prison term on any person who knows of or recklessly disregards the construction or use of an unauthorized tunnel or passage on land that such person owns or controls. Subjects to forfeiture any property involved in, or traceable to, the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or passage. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons convicted of criminal offenses related to the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or passage.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2006
Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the historic congressional charter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Honors SAR for its work to perpetuate and honor the memory of the individuals who fought to gain our freedom during the War for Independence, and for their devotion to our nation's youth.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2006
Headwaters Protection and Restoration Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior (for Bureau of Land Management [BLM] land) or the Secretary of Agriculture (for National Forest System land) to consider emergency event procedures in response to watershed and forest emergencies. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to: (1) carry out projects in Colorado to reduce hazardous fuel or prevent the spread of bark beetles to adjacent trees; (2) prepare emergency event proposals or consider proposals from the governor, the state forester, a water conservation district, or an at-risk community; and (3) conduct emergency event evaluations in response to a request or to an emergency event that affects a municipal water supply system, a wildland-urban interface, or other public or private property and that has caused or will cause significant damage o to federal land or adjacent nonfederal land. Requires the Secretary concerned to carry out a program in Colorado to: (1) ensure the long-term health of forests; and (2) reduce the risk of catastrophic fire, flooding, and watershed destruction. Extends the authority of the Secretaries to enter into federal and state cooperative watershed restoration and protection agreements and contracts. Requires the Secretary concerned to provide: (1) financial assistance for long-term stewardship projects in certain areas; and (2) grants and low-cost loans to small business concerns in the Colorado forest product industry. Establishes the Colorado Forest Health Fund from which amounts shall be transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out measures to improve forest health and reduce hazardous fuels. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) provide grants for research and development and marketing of forest products and for research in higher elevation forests; and (2) collaborate on research on and the development and transfer of broader landscape treatment strategies and ways to integrate best science with community needs. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) financial assistance under the Community and Private Land Fire Assistance Program to the Colorado State Forest Service to establish a grant program to help improve private forest land; and (2) grants to Colorado for the Colorado Fuels for Schools program under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2006
Amends the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000 to provide that the purpose of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge shall be to restore, enhance, and maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and other habitats for native wildlife, plant, and fish species in the San Luis Valley. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior, in administering the Refuge, to: (1) emphasize migratory bird conservation; and (2) take into consideration the role of the Refuge in broader landscape conservation efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2006
Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any U.S. officer or employee, or person operating under color of federal law, under control of a federal official, or providing services to such person, while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency, from: (1) seizing, or authorizing seizure of, any firearm the possession of which is not prohibited under federal or state law, other than for forfeiture in compliance with federal law or as evidence in a criminal investigation; (2) requiring registration of any firearm for which registration is not required by federal or state law; (3) prohibiting possession of any firearm in any place or by any person where such possession is not otherwise prohibited; or (4) prohibiting the carrying of a firearm by any person otherwise authorized to carry firearms, solely because such person is operating under the direction, control, or supervision of a federal agency in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency. Authorizes any individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act to seek relief by bringing an action for redress and by bringing a civil action in U.S. district court for return of a confiscated firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2006
Commends the 2006 U.S. Winter Olympic and Paralympic Teams. Expresses appreciation for the U.S. Olympic Committee's leadership. Expresses encouragement to U.S. athletes preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2006
Affordability in the Individual Market Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the payment of insurance premiums for high deductible health plans from health savings accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2006
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a major medical facility project for a replacement facility for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2006
Commends the 2006 U.S. Winter Olympic and Paralympic Teams for their performance in Torino, Italy. Expresses appreciation for the U.S. Olympic Committee's leadership. Expresses encouragement to U.S. athletes preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2006
South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2006 - Prohibits U.S. assistance to develop or promote rail connections or railway-related connections that do not traverse or connect with Armenia, and do traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2006
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) increase the penalties for trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor; and (2) allow the death penalty for trafficking which involves kidnaping, or aggravated sexual assault on, more than one person.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2006
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose the rescission of any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority or the rescission, in whole or in part, of any item of direct spending. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed rescission. Requires any rescinded budget authority or items of direct spending to be dedicated only to deficit reduction, and not to be used as an offset for other spending increases. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission; and (3) applicable limits, as appropriate, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2006
Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 - States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support a peaceful, two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in accordance with the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Roadmap), and oppose those organizations, individuals, and countries that support terrorism and violently reject such two-state solution; (2) promote democracy and the cessation of terrorism and incitement in institutions and territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA); and (3) urge members of the international community to avoid contact with and refrain from financially supporting the terrorist organization Hamas until it agrees to recognize Israel, renounce violence, disarm, and accept prior agreements, including the Roadmap. Amends the the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance under such Act to the PA only during a period for which a presidential certification has determined that: (1) no PA ministry, agency, or instrumentality is controlled by Hamas unless Hamas has publicly acknowledged Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and is adhering to all previous agreements and understandings with the United States, Israel, and the international community, including agreements and understandings pursuant to the Roadmap; and (2) the PA has made demonstrable progress toward purging from its security services individuals with ties to terrorism, dismantling all terrorist infrastructure and cooperating with Israel's security services, halting anti-American and anti-Israel incitement, and ensuring democracy and financial transparency. Directs the President to make and transmit such certifications to Congress every six months. Provides for, and sets forth the conditions under which, the President may waive such limitations for national security reasons. Prohibits during a period in which a certification is is not in effect (period) with respect to the PA: (1) assistance under this Act to nongovernmental organizations for the West Bank and Gaza (exempts assistance for basic human needs, promotion of democracy, or for national security interests from such limitation); and (2) establishment of an office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities within U.S. jurisdiction at the direction of, or with funds provided by, the PA (with a national security waiver). Expresses the sense of Congress that during any such period the territory controlled by the PA should be deemed to be in use as a terrorist sanctuary for purposes of the Export Administration Act of 1979, and of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989. States that during any such period: (1) a visa should not be issued to any alien who is an official of, affiliated with, or serving as a PA representative, other than the President of the PA and his or her personal representatives, provided that the President of the PA and such personal representatives are not affiliated with Hamas or any other foreign terrorist organization; (2) the President should restrict the travel of PA and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials and representatives, other than the President of the PA and his or her personal representatives, provided that the President of the PA and such personal representatives are not affiliated with Hamas or any other foreign terrorist organization, who are stationed at the United Nations in New York City to a 25-mile radius of the U.N. headquarters building; and (3) the President should direct the executive director at each international financial institution to use U.S. influence to prohibit assistance to the PA (exempts assistance for basic human needs and promotion of democracy from such limitation). Prohibits funds for the State Department from being used by any U.S. officer or employee to negotiate with members or official representatives of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, or any other Palestinian terrorist organization (except in emergency or humanitarian situations) until such organization: (1) recognizes Israel's right to exist; (2) renounces terrorism; (3) dismantles the terrorist infrastructure; and (4) recognizes all previous agreements and understandings between Israel and the PA.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2006
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to carry out the educational flexibility (Ed-Flex) program to allow states that were in the program on September 30, 2004, to continue to waive statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to certain federally-funded education programs until the reauthorization of part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2006
Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins emblematic of the life and legacy of Louis Braille, whose design: (1) on the obverse shall bear a representation of the image of Louis Braille; and (2) on the reverse shall emphasize Braille literacy and include the word for Braille in Braille code. Authorizes the Secretary to issue such coins only during 2009. Subjects all coin sales to a surcharge of $10 per coin. Requires all surcharges to be promptly paid by the Secretary to the the National Federation of the Blind to further its programs to promote Braille literacy.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2006
Calls on U.S. citizens to observe Black History Month. Acknowledges the tragedies of slavery, lynching, and segregation and condemns them as an infringement on human liberty and equal opportunity. Honors citizens who: (1) risked their lives in the Underground Railroad and in other efforts to assist fugitive slaves and other African Americans; and (2) stood beside African Americans in the fight for equal opportunity. Reaffirms the Senate's commitment to the founding principles that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Commits the Senate to addressing situations in which the African American community struggles with disparities in education, health care, and other areas where the federal government can help improve conditions for all citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2006
Prohibits, effective October 1, 2006: (1) rent charges established by the Administrator of General Services for accommodations provided to the judicial branch from exceeding the actual costs of operating and maintaining such accommodations by the General Services Administration (GSA); and (2) any amounts for shell rent, capital costs, real estate taxes (except for taxes paid by the Administrator to lessors), or administrative fees from being included in such rent charges. Requires the judicial branch's repayment to the Administrator of the cost of repair and alteration projects performed by GSA on judicial branch accommodations after October 1, 2006, to be recovered over time in a manner agreed upon by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2006
Urges: (1) the Sudan government to continue to prosecute Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) terrorists and aid Uganda in ending the conflict there; (2) Uganda to use all available resources to end LRA atrocities and bring its members to justice; (3) the United States and the international community to recognize the atrocities and provide necessary humanitarian assistance; and (4) designation of February 2-February 9, 2006, as a National Week of Prayer and Reflection for the people of Northern Uganda.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2006
Expresses admiration for Mrs. Coretta Scott King's lifelong commitment to social justice and peace. Recognizes her role as a leading participant in the American civil rights movement and her support to democracy movements worldwide.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2006
Condemns the government of Iran's many failures to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, including its obligations under the Safeguards Agreement, its suspension commitments under the Paris Agreement, and prior commitments to the EU-3 to suspend all enrichment- and reprocessing-related activities. Commends the efforts of the governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to seek a credible suspension of Iran's enrichment- and reprocessing-related activities and to find a diplomatic means to address Iran's noncompliance with such obligations. Urges the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors at its February 2006 special meeting to order that Iran's noncompliance be reported to the U.N. Security Council. Calls on Security Council members, in particular the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, to consider any report of Iran's noncompliance in fulfillment of the Security Council's mandate to respond to situations bearing on international peace and security.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2006
Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of 2006 - Establishes a Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress to evaluate and report to Congress on congressional ethics requirements, and recommend improvements to ethical safeguards.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2006
Tax Code Termination Act - Terminates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for taxable years beginning after 2008, except provisions of such Code relating to social security taxation (i.e., taxes on wage, self-employment, and railroad retirement income). Establishes within the legislative branch a National Commission on Tax Reform and Simplification. Directs the Commission to: (1) review the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on the economy, families, and the workforce: (2) determine whether the current income tax system can be replaced by more a more efficient and fair system of taxation; and (3) submit a report to Congress on the results of its review with recommendations for fundamental reform and simplification of the Code. Requires congressional approval of a new federal tax system no later than July 4, 2008, or a vote of Congress to reauthorize the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005
Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation Act of 2005 - Amends federal criminal code provisions regarding child sexual exploitation to apply recordkeeping requirements applicable to visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct to pictures, digital images, and digitally- or computer-manipulated images of actual human beings. Prohibits any person to whom these provisions apply from refusing to permit the Attorney General to conduct an inspection of records at that person's business premises at a reasonable time. Establishes recordkeeping requirements for simulated sexual conduct.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005
FHA Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act of 2005 - Amends the National Housing Act with respect to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) housing loan insurance for manufactured homes (or lots for such homes) to: (1) exempt such loans from certain financial institution portfolio limits; (2) establish loan-to-value ratio and downpayment requirements; (3) provide that any such contract shall be conclusive evidence of an institution's insurance eligibility; (4) increase loan limits; (5) set forth borrower premium charges; and (6) direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish underwriting criteria that will ensure the manufactured housing program's financial soundness.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2005
Honors the memory of, and identifies, 2398 members of the Armed Forces who died in service to the United States in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as of December 12, 2005.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2005
Collaboration for the Recovery of Endangered Species Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to revise the role of states and private landowners in the recovery of endangered species. State Government Assistance in Recovery Act - Revises provisions of ESA allowing the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with states for the recovery of endangered species. Priority for Listing and Recovery Act - Revises provisions of ESA relating to the determination of endangered and threatened species to require the Secretary to establish: (1) a revised system of priorities for making endangered and threatened species determinations; (2) a schedule for making such determinations; and (3) revised recovery programs for the preservation of endangered species and recovery teams to implement such programs. Incentives for Species Recovery Act - Establishes a system of conservation banks for the exchange of conservation credits by private landowners engaged in the recovery of endangered species. Allows the issuance of provisional permits for the continuation of certain activities on potential endangered species habitats until a habitat conservation plan is approved. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a tax deduction for credits purchased from a conservation bank; and (2) a tax credit for ESA-related conservation and recovery costs. Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to protect landowners enrolled in certain ESA recovery plans from liability for incidental takings of endangered species.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2005
National Innovation Act of 2005 - Directs the President to establish the: (1) President's Council on Innovation; and (2) Innovation Acceleration Grants Program to support and promote innovation in the United States. Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to: (1) submit a multiyear plan that describes how the funds authorized by this Act for doubling research funding shall be used; (2) study how the federal government should support the new discipline of service science; (3) expand the Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program; (4) establish a clearinghouse for sharing program elements used in successful professional science master's degree programs; (5) award grants for pilot programs to four-year institutions of higher education to facilitate the creation or improvement of such programs; and (6) award grants to local educational agencies to enable implementation of innovation-based experiential learning. Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to submit recommendations for an increase in funding for research and development in physical sciences and engineering. Requires the Department of Commerce to: (1) review federal programs that support local economic development and implement a strategy to fund initiatives that improve the ability of communities to participate successfully in the modern economy through innovation; (2) promote economic development opportunities for serving local communities as specified; and (3) coordinate activities focused on promoting innovation through development of regional innovation hot spots. Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research and development for advanced manufacturing systems designed to increase productivity and efficiency and to create competitive advantages for U.S. businesses. Make permanent the research credit for qualified research expenses and provides for an alternative simplified credit for such expenses. Requires studies: (1) to explore methods for managing costs associated with catastrophic healthcare events and with chronic disease; and (2) for establishing lifelong learning accounts for educational or training purposes; and (3) of methods to mitigate new forms of risk for businesses that affect innovation. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) issue regulations relating to private foundation support of innovations in economic development; and (2) establish an advisory group to examine best practices for valuation of intangibles. Makes it the goal of the Department of Defense (DOD) to allocate: (1) at least 3% of the total DOD budget to science and technology; and (2) of such amount, at least 20% to basic research. Extends and expands the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Scholarship Pilot Program. Expands the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) fellowship program. Requires DOD to: (1) award institution-based traineeships in areas of importance to DOD in mathematics, science, or engineering; and (2) undertake specified actions with respect to defense manufacturing research and development.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2005
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable William Proxmire, a former member of the United States Senate. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on December 15, 2005, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Proxmire.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2005
Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area Technical Amendments Act of 2005 - Amends the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act to redesignate the Cache La Poudre Corridor as the "Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area." Designates the Poudre Heritage Alliance as the management entity for the Area. Provides for the removal of private property included within the boundary of the Area upon request from the owner. Prohibits the Alliance from using federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property. Bars the acquisition of any land or interest in land by the Secretary of the Interior or the Alliance under this Act without the owner's consent. Requires the Alliance to prepare and submit a management plan for the Area. Allows the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with the Alliance for the purpose of carrying out the plan. Prohibits any private property from being preserved, conserved, or promoted under the plan until: (1) the Alliance notifies the owner; and (2) the owner provides to the Alliance consent for the preservation, conservation, or promotion. Specifies private property protections. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance to the Alliance (excluding technical assistance and administrative oversight) under the Act ten years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2005
Hurricane Katrina Recovery Homesteading Act of 2005 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to transfer, without payment, federally owned (including property transferred to the Secretary from other agencies) or otherwise donated suitable residential property to state or local governments for use in an approved homestead program carried out by such governments in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi in areas designated disaster areas due to Hurricane Katrina. Authorizes reimbursement to agencies transferring property. Sets forth approval criteria for a homestead program, including: (1) selection criteria that gives priority to displaced low-income families; (2) occupancy only pursuant to a written agreement which must be for a period of at least five years and which requires the occupant to make certain repairs. Requires the Secretary to audit authorized activities and permits monetary and other penalties penalties for noncompliance. Permits the waiver of certain environmental requirements. Prohibits the transfer, acceptance, or conveyance of property under this Act five years after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2005
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Eugene J. McCarthy, a former member of the United States Senate. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on December 12, 2005, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator McCarthy.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005
Forests for Future Generations Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to develop research protocols for collecting and analyzing scientific information about the effectiveness and ecological impacts of catastrophic event recovery projects and emergency stabilization treatments undertaken as part of a burned area emergency response to increase the long-term benefits of management activities and to decrease short-term impacts. Requires such Secretaries to enter into at least one cooperative agreement with one land-grant college or university in each Forest Service Region to form forest health partnerships to utilize the education, research, and outreach capacity of land-grant colleges and universities to address the recovery of forested land after a catastrophic event. Requires such Secretaries to conduct catastrophic event recovery evaluations of damaged federal lands. Directs such Secretaries to prepare a list of pre-approved management practices that may be immediately implemented as part of catastrophic event recovery projects or catastrophic event research projects. Requires determinations of whether or not to: (1) use any pre-approved management practices that can be immediately implemented; and (2) develop and carry out a recovery or research project or part of such a project using the alternative arrangements authorized by this Act. Directs such Secretaries to clarify agency-wide guidance regarding reforestation in response to catastrophic events. Provides for assistance to restore landscapes and communities affected by catastrophic events. Directs such Secretaries to establish a community protection and recovery fund for each recovery project. Provides for the availability and use of pre-approved management practices and alternative arrangements on National Forest experimental forests.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005
Calls on the President: (1) to ensure that U.S. foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of the failure to realize a just resolution; and (2) in the President's annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide to accurately characterize the systematic annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide and to recall the history of U.S. intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2005
Stolen Valor Act of 2005 - Amends the federal criminal code to expand the prohibition against wearing, manufacturing, or selling military decorations or medals without legal authorization to prohibit purchasing, soliciting, mailing, shipping, importing, exporting, producing blank certificates of receipt for, advertising, trading, bartering, or exchanging such decorations or medals without authorization. Prohibits falsely representing oneself as having been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces or any of the service medals or badges. Increases penalties for violations if the offense involves a distinguished service cross, an Air Force Cross, a Navy Cross, a silver star, or a Purple Heart.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2005
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Veterans Day 2005 shall be commemorated with appropriate tributes to all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2005
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, consisting of: (1) the Center for Domestic Preparedness; (2) the National Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; (3) the National Center for Bio-Medical Research and Training, Louisiana State University; (4) the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, Texas A&M University; (5) the National Exercise, Test, and Training Center, Nevada test site; and (6) the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. Requires the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, to the fullest extent possible, to use the Consortium to support cooperative programs to achieve cost-effective delivery of equipment, technical assistance, training, and situational exercises.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2005
Browns Canyon Wilderness Act - Designates certain lands in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and certain lands in the Royal Gorge Resource Area of the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System to be known as Browns Canyon Wilderness.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2005
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of Henry Giugni, former Sergeant-at-Arms of the United States Senate. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on November 3, 2005, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Henry Giugni.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2005
Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for the establishment and governance of small business health plans, which are group health plans sponsored by trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce or similar business associations that meet ERISA certification requirements. Requires the Secretary of Labor to consult with the state regarding the Secretary's exercise of authority over such plans. Allows other plans to be treated as small business health plans under certain circumstances. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate National Interim Model Rating Rules that apply to the small group insurance market. Requires the Secretary to issue the State Benefit Compendium of harmonized descriptions of the benefit, service, and provider mandates that are required to be provided by health insurance issuers in at least 45 states. Requires the Compendium to provide that any laws relating to benefit, service, and provider mandates other than those described in the Compendium shall not be binding in any state adopting the Compendium. Prohibits all states that fail to adopt the Compendium from: (1) prohibiting an eligible insurer from offering health insurance coverage consistent with the Compendium; or (2) discriminating against eligible insurers offering or seeking to offer such coverage. Requires the Secretary to establish the Commission on Health Insurance Standards Harmonization to develop recommendations that harmonize inconsistent state health insurance laws in accordance with the laws adopted in a plurality of the states. Provides that any harmonized standards adopted by the Secretary will supersede state laws related to the areas covered by the harmonized standards.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2005
Directs: (1) the U.S. Trade Representative to certify to Congress by December 15, 2005, that Japan is no longer prohibiting the importation of U.S. beef; (2) the Secretary of the Treasury, if such certification is not made, to impose additional tariffs (which shall continue until the certification is submitted to Congress) on Japan by December 31, 2005; and (3) the Secretary of Agriculture to begin negotiations with Japan to end such beef import prohibitions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2005
Cleanup of Inactive and Abandoned Mines Act - Includes among purposes of this Act to: (1) encourage the partial or complete remediation of inactive or abandoned mining sites for the public good by Good Samaritans; (2) provide appropriate protections for such Good Samaritans under applicable environmental laws; and (3) create an efficient permit process for remediation projects. Defines "Good Samaritan" as a person who is unrelated to an inactive or abandoned mining site, who had no role in the creation of such site or no significant role in the environmental pollution caused by such site, and who is not liable by law for the remediation of such site. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a permit to a Good Samaritan for a remediation project. Establishes eligibility requirements for permits, including that: (1) the principal purpose of the project is the reduction of pollution caused by historic mine residue; (2) a state remediation program be in effect prior to the issuance of a permit; and (3) a permit applicant provide specified information to the Administrator to demonstrate ability to complete the project. Requires the Administrator to: (1) consult with permit applicants; (2) maintain all records relating to permits and the permit process; (3) provide notice to the public about permit applications; and (4) monitor remediation projects. Imposes civil penalties for violations of permit requirements and authorizes injunctions to require compliance with a permit.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2005
States that specified funds authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (Colorado) shall be available to the Secretary for the purchase of essential mineral rights at Rocky Flats. Prescribes related conditions under which any natural resource damage liability claim shall be deemed to be satisfied. Exempts mineral rights purchased under this Act from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Amends the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 to repeal the mandate for a Memorandum of Understanding in connection with the transfer to the Secretary of the Interior of management responsibilities and jurisdiction over Rocky Flats. Repeals, also, the prohibiton against any reduction in funds available to the Secretary of Energy for cleanup and closure of Rocky Flats as a result of such transfer. Revises the composition of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and excludes specified lands subject to certain essential mineral rights.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2005
Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2005 - Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (the Act) to state as the mission of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to develop and coordinate the implementation of a national strategy to prevent and end homelessness while maximizing federal government contributions toward such end. Adds to the membership of such Council the Commissioner of Social Security, the U.S. Attorney General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Directs the Council to develop and submit to the President and Congress a national strategic plan to end homelessness. Requires a collaborative applicant (a representative community homeless assistance planning body) to be established for a geographic area to lead a collaborative planning process to design and evaluate programs, policies, and practices to prevent and end homelessness. Requires: (1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make technical assistance available to collaborative applicants and other homelessness prevention project sponsors; (2) an annual performance report from collaborative applicants to the Secretary; and (3) secretarial monitoring of collaborative applicants. Directs the Secretary to make grants to: (1) state and local governments for assistance in providing specified homelessness services and activities; and (2) collaborative applicants to carry out homeless assistance and prevention projects. Includes within the latter grants incentives to promote the creation of new permanent housing through either construction or acquisition and rehabilitation. Directs the Secretary to promote: (1) permanent housing development activities for homeless individuals with disabilities, homeless families that include a disabled individual, and non-disabled homeless families; and (2) certain homelessness prevention activities. Earmarks funds under the Act for renewing expiring contracts for permanent housing within the Homeless Assistance Grants Account.
![Official portrait of Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000109_200.jpg)