United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2007
Expresses strong concern over Russia's continued arms sales to Iran and Syria. Urges the President to implement sanctions against Russian entities engaged in arms sales to Iran or Syria. Urges the government of Russia to play a constructive role in establishing peace in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2007
Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) require each participating hospital to adopt and implement a staffing system that ensures a number of registered nurses on each shift and in each unit of the hospital to ensure appropriate staffing levels for patient care; (2) provide for the public reporting of certain staffing information, including a daily posting for each shift in the hospital of the current number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible for patient care; (3) prescribe recordkeeping, data collection, and evaluation requirements for participating hospitals; (4) specify civil monetary penalties for violations of such requirements; and (5) provide whistleblower protections.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2007
Homeowners Exemption Update Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $500,000 the amount of gain from the sale or exchange of a principal residence that may be excluded from gross income for income tax purposes. Allows a $1 million exclusion for married taxpayers filing a joint tax return who meet certain residential use and ownership requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2007
Make It Count Act - Changes from March 31st to December 15th of each year the date by which the Secretary of the Treasury must submit to the President and Congress an audited financial statement covering all accounts and associated activities of the executive branch.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2007
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 - Appropriates funds for FY2008 for the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military construction for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force (military departments), DOD, the Army and Air National Guard, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force reserves; (2) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program; (3) family housing construction and related operation and maintenance for the military departments and DOD; (4) the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund; (5) DOD chemical demilitarization construction; and (6) the Department of Defense Base Closure Accounts of 1990 and 2005. Appropriates funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration; (2) readjustment benefits; (3) veterans insurance and indemnities; (4) the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund; (5) the Vocational Rehabilitation Loans Program; (6) the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program; (7) guaranteed transitional housing loans for homeless veterans; (8) the Veterans Health Administration; (9) the National Cemetery Administration; (10) the Office of Inspector General; (11) construction for major and minor projects; and (12) grants for the construction of extended care facilities and veterans cemeteries. Appropriates funds for: (1) the American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; (3) cemeterial expenses, Army; and (4) the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Specifies restrictions and authorities regarding the use of funds appropriated in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2007
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to: (1) award competitive grants to up to 10 states for pilot programs to determine the effectiveness of assessing disabled students who are achieving significantly below grade-level proficiency at their instructional level; and (2) provide quality instruction to such students. Requires each grantee to identify a minimum of five local educational agencies (LEAs) to participate in its pilot program and limit student participation to 0.5% of the students assessed in each participating LEA. Requires such states and LEAs to ensure that each participating student's individualized education program team: (1) administers, after securing parental consent, a scientifically-valid and reliable assessment based on the student's instructional level in reading and/or math; and (2) based on such assessment, develops a series of targeted interventions designed to close identified gaps in the student's instructional and grade-level content knowledge. Prohibits the use of such assessment results in determinations of adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward state academic performance standards.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2007
Recognizes that: (1) contributing to improving health in developing nations is in the vital interest of the United States as it helps protect the health of the American people, facilitates development among partner nations, and cultivates a positive U.S. image; and (2) investments in health, particularly investments that reach disadvantaged populations, contribute to poverty alleviation. Acknowledges the need to strengthen health care systems to meet essential health needs. Expresses support for U.S. investments in reducing the global burdens of HIV/AIDS and malaria through the President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief and the President's Malaria Initiative. Encourages the U.S. government to expand adoption and implementation of policies and programs that alleviate the greatest burden of disease in developing nations in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2007
Amends the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a case based on means testing while the debtor: (1) is either on active duty or performing a homeland defense activity for at least 60 days; or (2) was either called to active duty or performed homeland defense activity as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or a member of the National Guard after September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2007
Prevention Through Affordable Access Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for the best price component of the formula for determination of the Medicaid rebate for a covered single source outpatient drug or a covered innovator multiple source outpatient drug. (Under current law, best prices shall not take into account prices that are merely nominal in amount.) Revises the list of entities to which sales by a manufacturer of covered outpatient drugs at nominal prices shall be considered to be sales at a nominal price, or merely nominal in amount (and thus excluded from computation of the best price for such drugs). Adds to such list any entity that is: (1) operated by a health center of an institution of higher education, primarily for its students (university-based clinic); or (2) a public or private nonprofit entity that provides family planning services under the Public Health Service Act (safety-net clinic).
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2007
Truth in Accounting Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to include in the audited financial statement of executive branch accounts of the previous year a calculation of the net present value of the overall fiscal exposures of the U.S. government. Requires such financial statement to include a program-by-program calculation of: (1) the generational imbalance; (2) the fiscal imbalance; and (3) the total amount of the fiscal imbalance plus the public debt. Instructs the President, in preparing the federal budget, to take this financial statement into consideration, including the effect of the overall budget upon: (1) the generational imbalance calculation and the fiscal imbalance calculation; and (2) the net present value of the overall fiscal exposures of the federal government. Directs the Secretary to testify each year before Congress on the financial statement for the preceding fiscal year. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) assess the financial condition of the U.S. government in an annual report to Congress; and (2) testify before Congress on that condition, upon request.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2007
Science Museum and National Laboratory Partnership Demonstration Act - Authorizes the award of up to five grants only to partnerships that include science museums, or consortia thereof serving at least 1,000,000 visitors annually and with an existing partnership with one or more national laboratories, for the purposes of : (1) increasing public understanding of scientific work occurring at the national laboratories; (2) developing exhibits and informal education programs featuring advances in the physical sciences; and (3) increasing public understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Disallows such science museums or consortia from receiving more than 60% of a grant award for any fiscal year, with the remaining funds allocated to National Laboratory partners.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2007
Affordable Footwear Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the elimination of duty on certain imported footwear would provide significant benefit to U.S. consumers, particularly lower-income families. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain footwear (including children's shoes) made of rubber or plastics that are imported into the United States. Amends the Caribbean Basic Economic Recovery Act to provide footwear imported directly from Haiti into the United States with the same preferential treatment that is provided to certain imported footwear under the Dominican Republic-Central American-United States Free Trade Agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2007
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act - Amends federal transportation law to prohibit a state from prescribing or enforcing any regulation that allows a restricted property-carrying unit (any trailer, semi-trailer, container, or other property-carrying unit longer than 53 feet, except for a fire-fighting unit) to operate on the National Highway System (NHS) (including the Interstate System), unless the operation of such unit is authorized by the state on June 1, 2007, and in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) on or before that date. Prohibits a state from allowing the operation of a commercial motor vehicle combination on the NHS (except a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled or divided easily, and that has been issued a special permit under state law) with more than one property-carrying unit (excluding the truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are more than: (1) the maximum combination trailer, semi-trailer, or other type of length limitation allowed by state law on June 1, 2007; or (2) the length of the property-carrying units of those commercial motor vehicle combinations, by specific configuration, in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including continual seasonal operation) in such state on or before June 1, 2007. Amends federal highway law to prohibit a state from allowing the operation of a vehicle or combination (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System unless its operation was lawful: (1) on July 1, 1956; (2) in the case of the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles, on the date of enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974; or (3) under a special permit pursuant to state (grandfather) law. Declares that Interstate weight limitations on vehicles and combinations (other than longer combination vehicles) that operate on the Interstate System shall also apply to such vehicles and combinations that operate on non-Interstate segments of the NHS, unless: (1) such segments are subject to lower state weight limits; or (2) a state allows the operation of any vehicle or combination on an existing non-Interstate segment of the NHS that could be so operated lawfully on June 1, 2007.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2007
Emerald Ash Borer Municipality Assistance Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Treasury the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use Fund amounts for loans to eligible local government units for purchases of equipment to monitor, dispose of, and replace infested trees on local government land within quarantine areas infested by the emerald ash borer.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2007
Recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jews in Washington, DC, which embodies the American principle of citizen activism for the greater good.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2007
Urges Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also Chairman of his Fatah party, to officially abrogate the 10 articles in the Fatah Constitution that call for Israel's destruction and terrorism against Israel, oppose any political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and label Zionism as racism. Condemns the continuing existence of these articles as part of the Fatah Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2007
Urges the Board of Directors of the World Bank to request a policy review of current disbursements to the Islamic Republic of Iran and to end these disbursements until the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certifies Iran's compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1696 and 1747 and the terms of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Urges the Security Council to order the World Bank to end disbursements to Iran if the Board of Directors fails to take such action.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2007
Calls upon the President to develop within the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) a Women and Girls of Darfur Initiative to improve assistance to victims and potential victims of rape and sexual violence in Darfur, Sudan, eastern Chad, and the Central African Republic. Calls upon the Secretary General of the United Nations, the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Arab League, and other nations to take steps to ensure that a fully funded and fully equipped U.N.-AU peacekeeping force (UNAMID) is deployed to Darfur, including an adequate number of female troops and police to properly manage incidents of rape and sexual violence. Calls upon the Security Council to: (1) find the government of Sudan in noncompliance with Security Council Resolution 1325; (2) call on the government of Sudan to provide legal protections to victims of rape and sexual violence and to bring to justice individuals responsible for such crimes; and (3) enforce the arrest warrants for Ahmad Muhammad Harun and Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Raham, and further recognize the systematic rape of women and girls in Darfur as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2007
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week. Encourages: (1) children and teens to live drug-free lives; and (2) people in the United States to promote drug-free communities and to participate in drug prevention activities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2007
Supports: (1) the establishment of a National Telework Week; and (2) such week being observed by employers allowing their employees, to the extent possible, to telework one day during National Telework Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2007
Global Service Fellowship Program Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish and administer a Global Service Fellowship Program to fund fellowships to promote international volunteering opportunities as a means of building bridges across cultures, addressing critical human needs, and promoting mutual understanding. Sets forth Program provisions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2007
Supports: (1) the basic right of every employer in the United States to verify a potential employee's legal status; and (2) the bipartisan Basic Pilot Program as an effective tool giving employers the ability to verify potential employees' legal status. Calls on: (1) the Illinois legislature to repeal Illinois Public Act 095-0138, which violates federal law by denying employers the right to verify potential employees' legal status; and (2) the Governor of Illinois to file an amicus brief in the case of United States v. Illinois supporting the plaintiff's conclusion that Illinois Public Act 095-0138 violates the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2007
Recognizes Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh for his contributions to the civil rights movement, his tireless work to prevent nuclear conflict, and his efforts to secure the peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2007
Demands that all provisions of U.N. Resolutions be implemented including that: (1) Hezbollah release Israel Defense Force soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, as mandated by U.N. Resolution 1701; (2) Hezbollah and other armed Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias groups disband and disarm as required by U.N. Resolutions 1559 and 1701; and (3) the arms embargo be strictly enforced. Expresses: (1) commitment to the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers; (2) support for the government of Lebanon's asserting of sovereignty throughout its territory, particularly in the South; (3) support for the U.N. mandated UNIFIL troops; (4) support for a democratic Lebanon, with disarmed Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias; and (5) concern that the international community's failure to live up to its commitments to stop Hezbollah's rearmament could again lead to war. Condemns Iran and Syria for: (1) their ongoing violation of U.N. Resolutions 1701 and 1559, especially in re-arming Hezbollah; and (2) sponsoring, financing, and arming terrorist organizations internationally and within Lebanon.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2007
Protect America's Wildlife Act of 2007 - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to add to airborne hunting offenses a prohibition against any person shooting or attempting to shoot any bird, fish, or other animal before 3:00 a.m. following a day on which the person has traveled by aircraft other than on a regularly scheduled commercial aircraft. Increases the fine for such offenses to not more than $50,000 (currently, $5,000). Prohibits a state from authorizing or undertaking any action otherwise prohibited under such Act for the purpose of increasing any game population or sport hunting. Authorizes a state to shoot predators from an aircraft to prevent a biological emergency, if: (1) the head of the state's fish and wildlife agency determines that such an emergency is imminent and there is no other means available to eliminate the emergency; (2) the shooting is conducted by an officer or employee of such agency or of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); (3) the shooting occurs only in the area where the emergency exists; and (4) the shooting removes only the minimum number of predators necessary to eliminate the emergency. Allows the Secretary of the Interior to authorize an otherwise prohibited action to prevent the extinction of any endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 if there is no other means available to address the threat of extinction. Authorizes citizen suits under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2007
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives: (1) regarding the continuing effects of the genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and (2) that Bosnia and Herzegovina should begin the process of adopting a new constitution that is based on democracy and civic representation and that fully eliminates ethno-territorial arrangements.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2007
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Declares that the federal government has a responsibility to: (1) raise awareness about the importance of available prostate cancer screening methods and treatment options; (2) increase research funding commensurate with the seriousness of the disease to improve screening, treatments, and cures; and (3) implement policy that improves access to, and the quality of, health care services that detect and treat prostate cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2007
Honors the lifetime accomplishments and legacy of Charles Vanik for his numerous contributions to human rights and democracy, and expresses deep condolences to the Vanik family on their loss.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2007
SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) extend SCHIP through FY2008 and the first six months of FY2009; (2) provide additional allotments to states to address SCHIP funding shortfalls for the same period of time; and (3) authorize qualifying states to elect to receive the enhanced portion of the SCHIP matching rate for coverage of certain children under SSA title XIX (Medicaid).
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2007
Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the "Do-Not-Call" Implementation Act to prohibit a specified Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule from having an expiration date for telephone numbers on the "do-not-call" registry. Prohibits the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in issuing regulations regarding the "do-not-call" registry of the Telemarketing Sales Rule, from having an expiration date for telephone numbers on that registry.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2007
Honors: (1) the sacrifices and commitment of the men, women, and families of the United States Transportation Command; and (2) the achievements of the Transportation Command during the global war on terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2007
Support for Injured Servicemembers Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember to a total of 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for the servicemember. Defines covered servicemember as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or a Reserve, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in medical hold or medical holdover status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty that may render the member medically unfit to perform his or her duties. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid vacation, personal, family leave, or medical or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the availability of such leave during any other 12-month period. Amends federal civil service law to entitle civilian federal employees to the same leave allowance. Provides for the substitution of accrued paid annual or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2007
Condemns the government of Iran for the arrest and imprisonment of Iranian union leaders Mahmoud Salehi and Mansour Osanloo and demands their immediate release. Expresses solidarity with the workers of Iran and stands with them in their effort to bring political freedom and individual liberty to Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2007
Congratulates Mr. Ron Adam, Israel's Chair of the U.N. Committee on Program and Coordination, and the government and people Israel on Israel's first appointment to chair a U.N. committee. Supports continued expansion of Israel's role at the United Nations. Welcomes recent attempts by the United Nations to address anti-Semitism. Urges the members of the Western Europe and Others Group to extend full and permanent membership to Israel until such time as Israel can serve as an effective member of the Asian States Group. Calls upon U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to work to end any unfair vilification of Israel at the United Nations and to use his good offices to support Israel's bid to join the Asian regional grouping.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2007
Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to request the Senate to return H.R. 3161 (making FY2008 appropriations for agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies programs) and modify the engrossment of the bill to prohibit fund use: (1) to employ an alien who is not authorized to be employed in the United States; and (2) for rental housing assistance to an alien not authorized to receive such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2007
Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit either the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or any Great Lakes state from issuing a permit for the discharge of a pollutant into a body of water that is part of the Great Lakes, or that is within the boundaries of two or more of such states, without the concurrence of all such states. Authorizes a state to concur only after providing notice in the vicinity of the portion of the body of water within its boundaries and an opportunity for public comment.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2007
Calls on the U.S. government to initiate a new effort to help Turkey understand the benefits it will accrue by ending its military occupation of Cyprus. Urges the government of Turkey to begin withdrawing its military occupation forces from Cyprus.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2007
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2007 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give states the option of providing Medicaid coverage for certain low-income HIV-infected individuals. Provides states taking advantage of this option with an enhanced federal Medicaid match.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2007
Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop an Internet Clearinghouse within the Office of Minority Health; (2) provide for programs of excellence in health professions education for underrepresented minorities; and (3) support demonstration projects designed to improve the health and health care of racial and ethnic minority groups through improved access to health care, patient navigators, primary prevention activities, health promotion and disease prevention activities, and health literacy education and services. Provides for grants to: (1) promote positive health behaviors; (2) implement culturally and linguistically appropriate, evidence-based, and community-driven sustainable strategies to eliminate racial and ethnic health and health care disparities; (3) implement systems of primary care practices to eliminate disparities in the delivery of health care and improve the health care provided to all patients; and (4) address long-standing unmet health needs in the Mississippi Delta. Requires the Secretary to establish the Health Action Zone Initiative demonstration program to support comprehensive state, tribal, or local initiatives to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority groups. Provides for research to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority groups. Requires the Secretary to ensure the collection of data from federally conducted or supported health programs by race, ethnicity, geographic location, socioeconomic position, primary language, and, when practicable, health literacy. Sets forth duties for the Office of Minority Health. Requires the Secretary to establish the Advisory Committee on Minority Health.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 2007
SMA Treatment Acceleration Act - Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to upgrade and unify existing spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) clinical trial sites to establish a national clinical trials network for SMA. Requires the Director of NIH to ensure that such network: (1) conducts coordinated, multisite, clinical trials of pharmacological approaches to the treatment of SMA; and (2) rapidly and effectively disseminates scientific findings to the field. Requires the Director of NIH to: (1) establish an SMA data coordinating center; and (2) expand and intensify NIH programs with respect to preclinical translation research and medicinal chemistry related to SMA. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance and provide ongoing support to the existing SMA patient registry to provide for expanded research on the epidemiology of SMA. Directs the Secretary to ensure the collection and analysis of longitudinal data related to individuals of all ages with SMA. Requires the Secretary to establish the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Coordinating Committee to: (1) coordinate activities across NIH and with other federal health programs and activities relating to SMA; and (2) conduct a study to identify barriers to the development of drugs for treating SMA and similar genetic disorders. Requires the Director of NIH to establish a trans-National Institutes of Health cooperative research initiative on SMA to ensure the success of the SMA projects led by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Requires the Secretary to submit recommendations to Congress to improve and expand on incentives provided under the Orphan Drug Act and related statutes to promote SMA drug development.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
Bad Polluters Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny to a Great Lakes Polluter the taxpayer election to expense 50% of the cost of refinery property in the current taxpayer year. Defines "Great Lakes Polluter" as a refinery owner that holds a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discharge a certain level of pollutants into the Great Lakes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
U.S.-China Language Engagement Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive three-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for innovative model programs establishing, improving, or expanding Chinese language and cultural studies instruction for their elementary school and secondary school students. Directs the Secretary to award grants to LEAs for use in acquiring communications technologies or equipment to improve Chinese language instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools through computer-assisted instruction, distance learning, and virtual exchanges with schools in China. Expresses the sense of Congress that increasing the number of students who receive substantial exposure to Chinese language and cultural studies before graduating from secondary school will enhance our global economic competitiveness in the 21st century.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2007 - Requires local educational agencies to have in effect policies that deem to be reasonable and permissible a search of any minor student on public school grounds if conducted by a full-time teacher or school official, acting on any reasonable suspicion based on professional experience and judgment, to ensure that the school and students remain free from the threat of all weapons, dangerous materials, or illegal narcotics. Requires search measures to be reasonably related to search objectives, without being excessively intrusive in light of the nature of the offense and the student's age and sex. Denies Safe and Drug Free School funds, provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, to local educational agencies that fail to comply with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
United States-China Energy Cooperation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make grants to encourage cooperation between the United States and China in joint ventures involving: (1) joint energy and climate change policy education programs; and (2) joint research, development, or commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration technology, improved energy efficiency, or renewable energy sources. Requires joint ventures to be composed of both: (1) Chinese and United States private business entities; (2) Chinese academic persons (who reside and work in China) and U.S. academic persons; or (3) Chinese and U.S. federal, state, or local government entities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
United States-China Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) provide grants to states to establish and operate state offices in the People's Republic of China (PRC) to promote U.S. exports to PRC; (2) establish a program to create China market advocate positions in United States Export Assistance Centers in order to provide assistance to small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses in the export U.S. goods to PRC, including assistance for business-related expenses for trade missions to PRC; and (3) submit to Congress a plan to consolidate fees for Gold Key matching services provided to such U.S. businesses that export U.S. goods or services to more than one market in PRC. Amends the Small Business Act to require the Office of International Trade of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide guidance to U.S. small businesses with respect to the export of U.S. goods and services to PRC. Establishes in the Office a Director of China Program Grants. Directs the Administrator of SBA, acting through the Director of China Program Grants, to make grants to institutions of higher education to establish and operate Chinese business education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
Education Assessment Technical Corrections Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 to except teachers in hard to staff areas from the requirement that all teachers teaching in core academic subjects within a state be highly qualified not later than the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Requires teachers in hard to staff areas, instead, to satisfy at least 80% of the requirements to be highly qualified by the end of the 2007-2008 school year, and satisfy all of them by the end of the following school year. Requires states and local educational agencies (LEAs) whose teachers do not meet such requirements to use all of their funds under Title II of the Act to achieve compliance. Revises requirements for assessments of student groups in measuring the adequate yearly progress (AYP) of the state, and of all public schools and LEAs in the state, toward enabling all public elementary school and secondary school students to meet the state's student academic achievement standards. Provides that a student group which has failed to meet or exceed achievement standards may satisfy assessment requirements if it met such standards in the immediately preceding year. Authorizes the testing of disabled students at their instructional level, rather than grade level, provided they show progress in accordance with individualized education programs. Permits states to change the method of counting students who are in more than one group. Revises the sanctions for schools which fail an assessment by reason of a group of no more than four students. Changes the sanction from designation as needing improvement to mandatory redirection of funds to the needs of such a group. Requires the Secretary of Education to make recommendations to Congress for increasing the percentage of limited English proficient students and disabled students who meet or exceed state academic achievement standards. Directs the Secretary, during the 2007-2008 school year, to continue to study growth models and allow more states and LEAs to use them to achieve AYP.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2007
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2007 - Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to: (1) continue entitlement to prescription drugs used in immunosuppressive therapy furnished to an individual who receives a kidney transplant for which payment is made under Medicare; and (2) extend Medicare secondary payer requirements for end stage renal disease (ESRD) beneficiaries. Amends title XVIII (Medicare ) of SSA to apply special rules to kidney transplant recipients receiving additional coverage for immunosuppressive drugs. Deems such individual to be enrolled under Medicare part B. Makes him or her responsible for the full amount of the applicable premiums. Applies deductible and coinsurance requirements to the provision of such drugs. Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to set forth requirements for group health plans to provide coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients.
![Official portrait of Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000360_200.jpg)