United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2009
Fostering Success in Education Act - Requires each state receiving school improvement funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that its foster care children have the right to: (1) continue attending the school they were in when placed in foster care or before a change in such placement (school of origin), unless it is determined to be in the child's best interest to be immediately enrolled in a different school; (2) immediate enrollment in a new school in their school attendance area; (3) well-maintained school records that are available in a timely manner; (4) equal access to the same education and opportunities as other students attending the school or school district; and (5) free transportation to and from their school. Includes preschool children as beneficiaries of such rights, with respect to preschool programs. Requires states to: (1) ensure that their state and local educational agencies (LEAs) and child welfare agencies collaborate in specified activities aimed at satisfying such rights; and (2) maintain a complaint management system, and an effective system for transferring and recovering a foster child's school credits. Requires an LEA serving a foster child's school of origin to make an expedited decision on whether it is in the foster child's best interest to attend such school or be immediately enrolled in a new school in the child's school attendance area, unless the state decides that the decision is to be made solely by the dependency court or state or local child welfare agency. Requires states to have fair and impartial procedures to resolve school selection disputes promptly. Allows parties who claim that their rights under this Act have been violated to bring a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court. Directs the Secretary of Education to allot grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to public agencies, including LEAs and local child welfare agencies, to carry out this Act's requirements. Requires each state grantee to: (1) implement a Secretary-approved state foster care and education plan for satisfying this Act's requirements; and (2) establish a Stakeholder Council that monitors, and makes recommendations regarding, plan implementation. Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require state child welfare agencies to arrange for, provide, or pay the cost of the transportation necessary for foster children to remain in the school they attended at the time of their placement. Requires state and local child welfare and educational agencies to collaborate in eliminating barriers to the educational stability, enrollment, and success of foster children.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2009
Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009 - Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's program of grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for the education of homeless youths to: (1) raise the minimum allotment for each state; (2) elaborate on the functions of each state's Office of the Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youths; (3) elaborate on required state procedures for resolving disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless youth; (4) ensure that homeless youth do not lose credits earned in other schools and are not segregated into separate schools or programs within schools; (5) require states, LEAs, and schools to promote success for homeless youth by holding them to the same achievement standards as other students and removing barriers to their full participation in all classes and school activities; (6) list student-centered factors to be considered before an LEA places a homeless youth in a school; (7) require such schools to immediately enroll homeless youth despite unpaid fees or missed application or enrollment deadlines; (8) protect the privacy of information about a homeless youth's living situation; (9) require LEAs to coordinate services provided to homeless and disabled youth; (10) add to the duties of, and funding available to, LEA liaisons for homeless youth; (11) provide for the enrollment of homeless children in preschool programs; (12) require the Secretary of Education to establish or designate a Federal Office of the Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youths; (13) authorize the Secretary to award grants or enter into contracts for evaluation, dissemination, and technical assistance activities for educational programs for homeless youth; and (14) triple authorized FY2010 appropriations from those authorized for FY2009.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2009
Forest Harvest Opportunity Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, within 30 days of a timber purchaser requesting an economy-related contract extension of a qualifying contract for the sale of timber from land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) between the Secretary and the purchaser, to modify the contract to add three years to such contract's expiration date. Defines qualifying contract as a contract, executed on or before December 31, 2008, for the sale of timber from BLM lands: (1) for which there is unharvested volume remaining; (2) for which, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, a timber purchaser makes a written request to the Secretary for an economic related contract extension; and (3) that has not been terminated prior to the request for an extension. Requires the timber purchaser to waive any and all claims its has against the United States involving the qualifying contract that exist on the date such contract is modified. Prohibits anything in this Act from affecting any claim by the United States against any timber purchaser, including those claims that arose under a qualifying contract before the date on which its expiration date was extended.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2009
Rosa's Law - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Public Health Service Act, the Health Professions Education Partnership Act of 1968, the National Sickle Cell Anemia Act, Cooley's Anemia, Tay-Sachs, and Genetic Diseases Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, and other federal enactments and regulations to change references to mental retardation to references to an intellectual disability.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2009
Pandemic Protection for Workers, Families, and Businesses Act - Requires certain covered employers to provide annually to each of their covered: (1) full-time employees at least seven days of paid sick time, and specified employment benefits; and (2) part-time employees the same employment benefits and a number of days or hours of paid sick time, determined under a specified pro rata formula. Allows the covered employee to use such sick time for an absence: (1) resulting from a medical condition involving symptoms of a contagious illness (including influenza-like illnesses such as the 2009 H1N1 virus), the need to obtain medical diagnosis or care, or to obtain preventive care for such illness; (2) due to determination by a health authority or a health care provider that the employee's presence on the job, after exposure to a contagious illness, would jeopardize the health of others; (3) to care for a child experiencing such symptoms; or (4) to care for a child due to determination by a health authority or a health care provider that the child's presence in the community, after exposure to a contagious illness, would jeopardize the health of others. Permits use of sick leave if the covered employee's place of business is closed due to a contagious illness or his or her need to care for a child whose school or child care or early childhood program has been closed for such reason. Specifies prohibited acts by an employer, and penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2009
Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for economic development assistance programs under such Act for FY2009-FY2013. Includes within the definition of "Regional Commissions" the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Southwest Border Regional Commission. Modifies provisions regarding grants for planning and administrative expenses for public works and economic development to authorize funding for fostering regional collaboration among local jurisdictions and organizations. Requires each state receiving assistance to provide a copy of each annual report to each economic development district within the state. Limits the federal share to 50% for public works and economic development grants, with a specified increased federal share: (1) based on the relative needs of an area (e.g., the unemployment rate and the impact of severe outmigration, sudden and severe economic dislocations, and other related economic circumstances); and (2) in the case of a federally declared major disaster. Allows: (1) training, research, and technical grant assistance to be used for a peer exchange program to promote industry-leading practices and innovations relating to the organizational development, program delivery, and regional initiatives of economic development districts; and (2) economic adjustment grant assistance to be used for activities identified by communities whose economies are injured by the loss of natural resource-based, agricultural, or service sector (currently, manufacturing) jobs. Authorizes the Secretary to solicit comments periodically regarding the guidelines and performance requirements for the revolving loan fund program and recommendations for improving performance. Authorizes a recipient of an economic adjustment grant who determines that a revolving loan fund established using such assistance is no longer needed, or that the recipient could make better use of the assistance to carry out another project that meets the requirements of the Act, to request the Secretary to approve conversion of the assistance by: (1) selling fund assets to a third party; or (2) retaining repayments of principal and interest on loans provided through the fund. Requires such a recipient to use the net proceeds from a sale of assets to pay any portion of the costs of projects that meet Act requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to allocate not more than 2% of the amounts made available for economic adjustment grants for development and maintenance of an automated tracking and monitoring system to ensure the proper operation and financial integrity of the revolving loan program. Extends appropriations for the Brightfields demonstration program through FY2013. Directs each economic development district to engage in the full range of economic development activities included in the list contained in the comprehensive economic development strategy of the district that has been approved by the Economic Development Administration. Authorizes the Secretary to consult with any persons who can assist in addressing the problems of area and regional outmigration. Declares that the state of Montana shall be served by the Seattle office of the Economic Development Administration. Directs the Secretary, before providing investment assistance for a construction project, to establish the expected period during which: (1) the recipient shall make best efforts to achieve economic development objectives; (2) any property that is acquired or improved shall be held in trust for the project's benefit; and (3) the Secretary shall retain an undivided equitable reversionary interest in the property. Authorizes the Secretary to terminate the reversionary interest when the recipient has fulfilled its obligations, taking into consideration the economic conditions. Provides for an alternative method of termination. Increases the minimum level of funding for planning and grants for administrative expenses, subject to total appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2009
Increases and extends through FY2010 the annual authorization of appropriations for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2009
Growing Safe Food Act of 2009 - Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants for food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance, with respect to foods under the authority of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA), to: (1) farm owners and operators; (2) small food processors; and (3) small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to farms that have, or are transitioning to, certified organic production.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2009
Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 - Amends the the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to increase reimbursement rates for free, reduced price, and paid meals and snacks served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) at nonresidential child care centers and family or group day care homes. Allows such providers to be reimbursed for the service of three meals and a snack. (Currently, reimbursement is provided for two meals and a snack.) Lowers the percentage of children or school children in an area that must be eligible for free or reduced price meals under the school lunch or breakfast programs to make family or group day care homes in the area eligible for higher CACFP reimbursement rates as tier I homes. Increases the maximum monthly administrative payment per home provided to sponsors of family or group day care homes. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to improve the ability of the CACFP to reach low-income families by streamlining program and paperwork requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2009
Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2009 - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to make permanent the authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Makes monies covered into the Fund available for expenditure to carry out the purposes of the Act without further appropriation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2009
Offers deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the innocent victims killed or wounded in the senseless attack that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009. Offers support and hope for a full recovery for those wounded there. Honors the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of law enforcement personnel, first responders, soldiers present at the scene, medical personnel, and countless others who aided the victims. Shares in the pain and grief felt by the people of the United States in the aftermath of this tragic event.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2009
Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) require states receiving Edward Byrne Memorial justice assistance grants to certify the implementation of a policy for requiring all rape kits (DNA evidence relating to sexual assault) to be sent to crime laboratories for forensic analysis: (2) adjust the amount of such grants based upon compliance and noncompliance with rape kit backlog reduction requirements under this Act; (3) eliminate rape kit repayment requirements for sexual assault victims; and (4) provide for sexual assault forensic medical personnel examiners to collect and preserve evidence, provide expert testimony, and provide treatment of trauma relating to sexual assault. Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) authorize funding to eliminate rape kit backlogs and ensure that DNA analyses of samples from rape kits are carried out in a timely manner; and (2) require states and local governments to adopt performance measures for reducing rape kit backlogs. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners and trained examiners at all Indian Health Service facilities operated under contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2009
Recognizes the celebration of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month during November 2009. Honors the heritage and culture of American Indians and Alaska Natives and their contributions to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 2009
COBRA Subsidy Extension and Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to: (1) increase the subsidy under COBRA (health insurance continuation benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) to 75% of a worker's health care insurance premium; (2) extend such subsidy from 9 to 15 months after termination from employment; (3) extend coverage under COBRA to employees whose work hours are involuntarily reduced; and (4) extend until June 30, 2010, the period of eligibility for COBRA premium assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2009
National Women's History Museum Act of 2009 - Directs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to convey, by quitclaim deed, to the National Women's History Museum, Inc. specified property in the District of Columbia, on terms which the Administrator deems appropriate. Requires the property to be dedicated for use as a site for a national women's history museum for a 99-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2009
Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009 - Includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam, for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam, such Republic's inland waterways, ports, and harbors, waters offshore, and airspace above. Includes as veterans eligible for such presumption those who: (1) served on Johnston Island during the period beginning on April 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1977; or (2) received the Vietnam Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2009
Credit Card Rate Freeze Act of 2009 - Prohibits a creditor, during a specified nine-month period, from: (1) increasing any annual percentage rate (APR), fee, or finance charge applicable to any outstanding balance of any credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan; or (2) changing the terms governing repayment of any outstanding balance, except as permitted by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe implementing regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2009
Child Support Protection Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to repeal the exclusion from federal matching payments of any amounts expended by a state from child support incentive payments it has received from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Thus reinstates federal matching of state spending of child support incentive payments.)
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2009
Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009 - Amends the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Credit CARD Act of 2009) to move up the effective date of the Act from February 20, 2010, to December 1, 2009. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to move up also to December 1, 2009: (1) the deadline by which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must issue final implementing rules for required creditor reviews of changes in factors considered in past consumer annual percentage interest rate (APR) increases when determining whether to reduce the APR; and (2) the effective date of the creditor review requirement. Moves up to the same date: (1) the effective date of the requirement that any penalty fee or charge that a credit card issuer may impose, including a late payment fee, over-the-limit fee, or any other penalty fee or charge, be reasonable and proportional to the omission or violation to which it relates; and (2) the deadline for the Board to issue final implementing rules establishing standards for assessing whether any such penalty fee or charge is reasonable and proportional. Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to move up to December 1, 2009, as well the effective dates of the Act's: (1) prohibition against the imposition of a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee with respect to general use prepaid cards, certificates, and store gift cards; and (2) the deadline by which the Board must issue final implementing regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2009
Bank On Our Communities Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to provide that the needs and viability of insured depository institutions with total assets of less than $5 billion (small financial institutions) may be taken into account by the Secretary of the Treasury when exercising authority under EESA. Establishes within the Treasury the Community Credit Renewal Fund to provide up to $15 billion in assistance to community banking institutions. Prescribes the manner in which a community banking institution may establish its long-term viability by demonstrating receipt of capital from investors other than the Secretary. Subjects a community banking institution to penalties if has failed by December 31, 2010, to: (1) increase its total amount of commercial, industrial, and consumer loans by a dollar amount equal to the amount of capital received from the Secretary; or (2) increase its total amount of commercial and industrial loans by a dollar amount at least 5 % greater than the smallest amount of such loans held by the community banking institution as of any quarter end of the first three quarters in calendar year 2009. Prescribes lending incentives to spur commercial and industrial loans by a community banking institution.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2009
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Cliff Hansen, a former Senator of Wyoming. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on October 21, 2009, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Hansen.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 2009
Federal Reserve Accountability Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to conduct reviews of (including onsite examinations), and report to Congress on, the accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls of credit facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any Federal Reserve bank, including when such activities are implemented by or on behalf of the Board or any official of a Federal Reserve bank. Defines "credit facilities" as: (1) the Money Market Investor Funding Facility; (2) the Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility; (3) the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility; (4) the Primary Dealer Credit Facility; (5) the Commercial Paper Funding Facility; and (6) certain other credit facilities approved by the Board, as well as any special purpose vehicle through which any activity of such facilities is conducted. Requires the Board to place on its home Internet website a link entitled "Audit" to a webpage that serves as a repository of public information for not less than six months following the release of the relevant information, including: (1) the reports prepared pursuant to this Act; (2) the annual financial statements prepared by an independent auditor for the Board; and (3) any other information the Board believes is necessary or helpful to the public in understanding its accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls as well as those of the Federal Reserve banks.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2009
Fairness and Accountability in Receiving Overdraft Coverage Act of 2009 or FAIR Overdraft Coverage Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a depository institution from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with overdraft coverage, or in acts designed to evade the provisions of this Act. Requires each depository institution that provides overdraft coverage for transaction accounts to clearly and conspicuously disclose overdraft coverage fees. Subjects to the consumer's written, electronic, or other consent overdraft coverage fees for withdrawals from either automated teller machines or from debit card transfers. Requires a depository institution to provide specified consumer disclosures regarding its overdraft protection program, including: (1) periodic statements for any transaction account that has an overdraft coverage program feature; and (2) prompt notification of the account's overdraft status. Prescribes overdraft coverage fee limits. Prohibits an overdraft coverage fee if the overdraft results solely from a debit hold amount that exceeds the actual dollar amount of the transaction. Requires a depository institution to provide consumers who have not consented to participate in an overdraft coverage program transaction accounts with the same terms as those provided to consumers who have consented to participate in such program. Prohibits a depository institution from charging a non-sufficient fund fee for any transaction at an automated teller machine or any debit card transaction. Prohibits a depository institution from reporting negative information regarding consumer use of overdraft coverage to any consumer reporting agency when the overdraft amounts and coverage fees are paid under the terms of an overdraft coverage program.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2009
Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 - Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize appropriations for FY2010 and each fiscal year thereafter. Revises requirements for health care personnel, facilities, programs, and services for Indians, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and urban Indian organizations, including providing for expanded behavioral, mental, youth, hospice, long-term care, assisted living, community-based, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and other services. Authorizes the establishment of an Office of Indian Men's Health. Requires procedures to negotiate and promulgate regulations to establish a disbursement formula for contract health service funds. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accept from any source, including federal and state agencies, funds, equipment, or supplies that are available for the construction or operation of Indian health care facilities. Authorizes demonstration programs for modular component health care facilities and mobile mental health stations in Indian communities. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into or expand arrangements for the sharing of medical facilities and services between the Service, Indian Tribes, and Tribal Organizations and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), requiring the VA or DOD to pay reimbursement for services provided to VA- or DOD-eligible Indian beneficiaries. Requires a federal health care program to accept an Indian Health Service, an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization entity as a provider eligible to receive payment under the program for services furnished to an Indian on the same basis as any other qualified provider. Permits an Indian tribe or tribal organization carrying out programs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act or an urban Indian organization carrying out programs under title V (Health Serivces for Urban Indians) of the Act to purchase insurance under the Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) for the employees of such Indian tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization. Provides for the designation of specified areas as contract health service delivery areas.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2009
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), fraternities, and sororities for up to half the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities. Gives grant priority to applicants that demonstrate the greatest financial need. Reserves the following portions of grant funds made available for each fiscal year: (1) at least 10% for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and IHEs that are eligible for Institutional Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (2) at least 10% for social fraternities and sororities. Provides that any application for assistance under this Act, any negative determination on the part of the Secretary with respect to such application, or any statement of reasons for the determination, shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity (except a proceeding to enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary and a grantee under this Act).
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 2009
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act - Deems as active-duty service, for purposes of benefits provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the service of a person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 2009
Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009 - Makes any veteran who was exposed in the line of duty to an occupational and environmental health chemical hazard of particular concern to the Secretary of Defense eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for any disability, notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the disability may be associated with such exposure.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 2009
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) a highly capable and knowledgeable individual should be nominated with all expediency to serve as the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and (2) USAID must be empowered to be the primary development agency of the United States and to serve as the principal advisor to the President and national security organs of the U.S. government on the capacity and strategy of U.S. development assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2009
Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act of 2009 - Amends the Hate Crime Statistics Act to include crimes against the homeless in the crime data collected by the Attorney General under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2009
Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to declare that a plaintiff establishes an unlawful employment practice if the plaintiff demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) an impermissible factor or authority was a motivating factor for the practice complained of, even if other factors also motivated that practice; or (2) the practice complained of would not have occurred in the absence of an impermissible factor. Specifies the types of: (1) evidence that a plaintiff may utilize; and (2) relief and damages available to a successful plaintiff.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2009
Home Office Deduction Simplification Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. Allows an annual inflation adjustment to the standard deduction amount after 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2009
Expresses the sense of the Senate that October 17, 1984, should be memorialized as the date on which the federal government restored federal recognition to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2009
Enhancing Flight Crewmembers' Training - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prescribe regulations to require each air carrier to develop and implement standards and methods to ensure flight crewmembers have proper qualifications and experience to serve as crewmembers.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2009
Expand School Meals Act of 2009 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to expand eligibility for free meals under the school lunch and breakfast programs to children whose family income falls at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. Phases-in this eligibility expansion by increasing the income eligibility level in annual increments until it reaches 185% of the federal poverty guidelines for the school year beginning on July 1, 2013. (This will make all children who are eligible for reduced price meals eligible for free meals on such date.)
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2009
Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2009 - Prohibits road construction and road reconstruction in inventoried roadless areas of the National Forest System. Specifies exceptions, including because: (1) there is threat of a catastrophic event; (2) a natural resource restoration action is necessary; or (3) a federal-aid highway project is in the public interest or is consistent with the purposes for which the land was reserved or acquired. Prohibits timber from being cut, sold, or removed in an inventoried roadless area. Permits various exceptions, including for specified environmental reasons, if the responsible official determines that the cutting, sale, or removal of timber is expected to be infrequent. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to make modifications to roadless area maps to improve their accuracy or inclusiveness. Instructs the Secretary, in order to evaluate the effect of a modification to a roadless area map, to prepare an environmental impact statement or similar analysis required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Declares that this Act does not: (1) revoke, suspend, or modify legal instruments and decisions concerning the use of NFS land made before January 12, 2001; (2) compel the amendment or revision of any land and resource management plan; or (3) apply to specified activities in the Tongass National Forest. States that the prohibitions and restrictions of this Act cannot be reconsidered, modified, or terminated under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2009
Preserving Homes and Communities Act of 2009 - Prohibits a covered mortgagee from initiating or continuing a foreclosure proceeding against a covered mortgagor that is otherwise authorized under state law unless: (1) the mortgagee has determined whether the mortgagor is eligible for a qualified loan modification (QLM); (2) the mortgagee has offered a QLM to the mortgagor, if eligible; and (3) the mortgagee has made available to the mortgagor, if ineligible for a QLM, the note, deed of trust, or any other document necessary to establish the mortgagee's right to foreclose on the mortgage. Prohibits a covered mortgagee from charging a mortgagor a QLM or other specified fees. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to state housing finance agencies (or state-designated eligible agencies) to enable them to provide: (1) one-time emergency grants or subsidized loans to assist eligible homeowners in satisfying any amounts past due on their home loans; (2) grants or subsidized loans to eligible homeowners for a specified number of future mortgage payments; and (3) stipends of up to $1,500 to assist with relocation expenses for homeowners not eligible for the program. Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants to state and local governments to establish compulsory mortgagee-mortgagor mediation programs that assist mortgagors facing foreclosure. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a plan to monitor: (1) conditions and trends in homeownership and the mortgage industry in order to predict foreclosure trends; and (2) the effectiveness of public efforts to reduce mortgage defaults and foreclosures. Requires the Secretary also to develop recommendations for a national database on mortgage defaults and foreclosures to provide relevant information to federal regulatory agencies as well as federal, state, and local governments. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer and credit $1 billion to the Housing Trust Fund from funds received from the sale of warrants under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA).
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2009
Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exempt members of the uniformed services, the Foreign Service, and employees of the intelligence community on official extended duty service from the recapture requirements of the first-time homebuyer tax credit; (2) extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit through November 30, 2010, for individuals serving on official extended duty service outside the United States for at least 90 days in 2009; (3) exclude from gross income payments to military personnel to compensate for declines in housing values due to a base closure or realignment; and (4) increase penalties for failure to file a partnership or S corporation tax return. Amends the Corporate Estimated Tax Shift Act of 2009 to increase corporate estimated tax payments in the third quarter of 2014 by an additional 0.5%.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2009
Retroactive Immunity Repeal Act - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to repeal provisions relating to retroactive immunity protection for electronic communication service providers that participated in the Terrorist Surveillance Program.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2009
Supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month. Recognizes that every child should have a permanent and loving family. Encourages the citizens of the United States to consider adoption during the month of November and all throughout the year.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2009
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Henry Bellmon, a former member of the U.S. Senate. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on September 29, 2009, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Bellmon.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2009
Veterinary Services Investment Act - Amends The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture carry out a grant program to develop, implement, and sustain veterinary services and relieve veterinary shortage situations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2009
Graduation Promise Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for differentiated high school improvement systems targeting support to schools with low student achievement and graduation rates after such schools fail for two consecutive years to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) pursuant to state academic performance standards. Allots grant funds to states pursuant to a formula that favors states with low graduation rates and a high percentage of students attending low-income LEAs. Requires state grantees to establish comprehensive school performance indicators and minimum annual improvement benchmarks for use, in addition to current AYP measures, in analyzing school performance and determining the improvement category into which a school is placed. Directs LEA subgrantees to: (1) categorize each of their schools that fail to make AYP for two consecutive years as needing targeted intervention, whole school reforms, or replacement; (2) convene a local school improvement team for each of such schools that will use performance indicators, AYP measures, and other relevant data to conduct a school needs assessment and develop a multiyear school improvement plan tailored to the school's need categorization; and (3) support the successful implementation of such plans and district-wide high school improvement strategies. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to LEAs, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education to develop and implement, or replicate, effective secondary school models for struggling students and dropouts.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2009
Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to: (1) the establishment by foreign governments of requirements that companies under their jurisdiction publicly disclose any payments made to a government relating to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals; (2) the U.S. commitment to global leadership of transparency in extractive industries by supporting multilateral pro-transparency efforts, bilateral good governance efforts through U.S. missions and activities abroad, implementation of extractive industries reporting requirements for companies under U.S. jurisdiction, and efforts to persuade members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to adopt uniform legislation to ensure a coordinated regulatory approach; and (3) the need for the President to commit the United States to become a Candidate Country of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to disclose to the public any payment relating to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, and minerals on federal land made by any person to the government. Includes as a "payment" taxes, royalties, fees, licenses, production entitlements, bonuses, and other material benefits, as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require the SEC to issue rules requiring each resource extraction issuer (an issuer that engages in the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals) to include in its annual report information relating to any payment made by the issuer, a subsidiary or partner, or an entity under its control to a foreign government for the purpose of such commercial development. Requires such rules, to the extent practicable, to support the U.S. commitment to international transparency promotion efforts relating to such commercial development. Requires the SEC, to the extent practicable, to make publicly available online a compilation of the information required to be submitted under the disclosure rules issued pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2009
Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts Act of 2009 or the JUSTICE Act - Revises requirements for the issuance of and public reporting on national security letters and for judicial review of requirements for nondisclosure of the receipt of a national security letter. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to revise requirements for obtaining orders for business records in counterterrorism investigations. Amends the federal criminal code to reduce from 30 to 7 days the period for notifying the target of a criminal investigation of the issuance of a search warrant. Prohibits the use of evidence in judicial and administrative proceedings if notice of a search warrant is delayed. Amends FISA to: (1) impose limits on roving electronic surveillance and the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices (devices for recording incoming and outgoing telephone numbers); (2) repeal provisions granting retroactive immunity to telecommunication providers for illegal disclosure of subscriber records; (3) prohibit the warrantless collection of certain communications of U.S. citizens known to reside in the United States; and (5) revise certain reporting and evidentiary requirements. Permits the recipient of a subpoena, order, or warrant issued under FISA to bring a challenge in either the district in which the subpoena, order, or warrant was issued or the district in which it was served. Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) redefine "domestic terrorism" as involving acts dangerous to human life that constitute a federal crime of terrorism; and (2) revise the crime of providing material support or resources to foreign terrorism organizations to require knowledge or intent that such support or resources will be used to carry out terrorist activity.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2009
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the first-time homebuyer tax credit to: (1) extend such tax credit through May 31, 2010; (2) extend through December 31, 2009, the date until which purchases of a principal residence may be treated as made on December 31, 2008, for tax purposes; and (3) extend through May 31, 2010, the waiver of recapture requirements for residences purchased after December 31, 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2009
Affordable Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act of 2009 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure that funds in the residual receipts account of an eligible multifamily housing property are transferred, at the time of a qualified sale or exchange, to preservation entities. Requires that funds in the residual receipts account be used, subject to housing agency approval, to: (1) pay for rehabilitation costs approved by the housing agency; (2) deposit funds into the property's replacement reserve account; and (3) pay for social and other services, associated acquisition costs, and any other costs that have been approved by the housing agency and will directly benefit such tenants. Defines "preservation entity" as: (1) a nonprofit tax-exempt corporation; or (2) a limited partnership or limited liability company where the sole general partner or sole managing member of such ownership entity is a nonprofit tax-exempt corporation; and (3) that has the capacity to acquire and preserve an eligible multifamily housing property. States that, for purposes of the low-income housing credit under the Internal Revenue Code, residual receipts used or transferred under this Act shall not be considered federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2009
Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act of 2009 - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to exclude from income for SSI eligibility purposes any compensation in the amount of the first $2,000 per year received by an individual for participation in clinical trials involving research and testing of treatments for rare diseases or conditions. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to make a similar exclusion from income of such compensation for the purposes of eligibility under the Medicaid program. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the impact of this Act on enrollment of individuals who receive SSI benefits in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2009
Recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15, 2009, through October 15, 2009. Esteems the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the American economy, culture, and identity.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2009
Recognizes the contributions that former President of the AFL-CIO (1995-2009) John Sweeney has made to the U.S. labor movement. Congratulates and honors John Sweeney for his dedicated service and commitment to economic and social justice and tireless advocacy on behalf of U.S. working families.
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