United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2008
Summer Travel Delay Prevention Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop: (1) a plan for opening up to commercial flights special use airspace for additional lanes of air traffic at specific choke points; and (2) a permanent plan for sharing military airspace off the eastern U.S. coast by such flights. Authorizes the Director of the New York Integration Office of the FAA to transfer appropriated amounts for Office operations to flight delay reduction projects in airspace over the New York-New Jersey region. Requires the FAA Administrator to establish an Aviation Traveler Task Force to: (1) clarify interpretations of FAA safety directives with which air carriers will soon need to comply; (2) develop contingency plans in the event that additional aircraft do not comply with such safety directives and need to be grounded; and (3) design a notification system to alert passengers of potential service disruptions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2008
Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to require federal financial institution regulatory agencies, coordinating through the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, to establish: (1) a single, toll-free telephone number for consumer complaints and inquiries concerning institutions under their jurisdiction; and (2) a system for routing such calls to the federal financial institution regulatory agency that primarily supervises the financial institution, or that is otherwise the appropriate agency to address the subject of the complaint or inquiry. Cites circumstances under which state agencies may receive appropriate call transfers from such federal systems.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2008
Designates the portion of U.S. Route 20A located in Orchard Park, New York, between Abbot Road and California Road, as the "Timothy J. Russert Highway."
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2008
Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe a regulation prohibiting advertisements accompanying video programming from: (1) being excessively noisy or strident; (2) having modulation levels substantially higher than the accompanying program; and (3) having an average maximum loudness substantially higher than that of the accompanying program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2008
Access to Air Travel Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from taking actions to regulate the scheduling of airline operations at a U.S. commercial airport if such an action includes: (1) auctioning rights or permission to conduct airline operations at that airport; (2) implementing peak-period or congestion pricing at the airport; (3) withdrawing an airline's right to operate at that airport; (4) charging a fee for use of navigable airspace at the airport; or (5) requiring, or providing incentives or disincentives to, airport owners to take any such actions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2008
Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014. Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards. Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to respond to complaints and inquiries by suppliers and individuals. Specifies topics for the Comptroller General's required study and report to Congress on the impact of competitive acquisition of DME on suppliers, manufacturers, and patients. Sets forth a special rule for the competitive acquisition program for diabetic testing strips.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2008
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008 - Allows federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child; or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) four administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved; and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to up to eight administrative workweeks, based on the consideration of: (1) the benefits provided to the federal government of offering increased paid parental leave, including enhanced recruitment and retention of employees; (2) the cost to the federal government of increasing the amount of paid parental leave that is available to employees; (3) trends in the private sector and in state and local governments with respect to offering paid parental leave; and (4) the federal government's role as a model employer. Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to allow the same substitution for covered congressional employees. Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow the same substitution for Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Library of Congress employees.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Closing the Foreign Lobbying Loophole Act - Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to repeal the exemption of agents of foreign principals from mandatory registration with the Attorney General if they are already registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Redefines "agent of a foreign principal" to extend its meaning to agents who through any other person outside the United States represents the interests of a foreign principal before any agency or official of the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend various provisions relating to energy production and conservation and to individual and business-related activities. Extends through 2009 the tax credit for producing electricity from wind facilities and through 2011 for closed and open-loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation, hydropower, landfill gas, and trash combustion facilities. Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource for purposes of such tax credit. Extends through 2014: (1) the energy tax credits for solar energy, fuel cell, and microturbine property; and (2) the residential energy efficient property tax credit. Allows a new investment tax credit for combined heat and power system property. Provides funding for new clean renewable energy bonds to finance electricity production from certain renewable resources and for qualified energy conservation bonds. Allows tax credits for investment in advanced coal electricity and coal gasification projects. Extends through 2018 the temporary increase in coal excise taxes. Sets forth special rules for refunds of coal excise taxes to certain producers or exporters. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on Internal Revenue Code provisions that have the largest effects on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. Allows accelerated depreciation for certain property used to produce cellulosic biofuel. Extends through 2009 income and excise tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel. Allows a tax credit for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. Revises the program of tax incentives for investment in the New York Liberty Zone. Increases and extends through 2010 the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures. Extends through 2013 the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial building expenditures. Extends through 2010 the tax credit for energy efficient appliances. Extends through FY2012 tax-exempt bond financing for qualified green building and sustainable design projects. Extends through 2008: (1) the increased exemption amounts for the alternative minimum tax (AMT) and related AMT provisions; (2) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (3) the tax deductions for qualified tuition and related expenses and for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; (4) tax rules for treatment of stock and dividends of regulated investment companies and for qualified investment entities; (5) tax-free distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes; and (6) the tax exclusion for amounts received under qualified group legal services plans. Extends through 2008 various business-related tax provisions, including: (1) the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) the tax credits for Indian employment and railroad track maintenance; (3) accelerated depreciation for qualified leasehold and restaurant improvements, for improvements to retail space, for motorsports racing track facilities, and for business property on Indian reservations; (4) the expensing allowance for environmental remediation costs and advanced mine safety equipment; (5) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities in Puerto Rico; (6) the special rule for the tax treatment of certain payments to tax-exempt organizations by a controlled subsidiary; (7) issuance authority for qualified zone academy bonds; (8) tax incentives for investment in the District of Columbia; (9) the economic development credit for American Samoa; (10) the special rule for charitable contributions of food and book inventories; (11) the increased tax deduction for corporate contributions of computer equipment and technology for educational purposes; (12) the special rule for the reduction in the basis of S corporation stock for charitable contributions of property; (13) work opportunity tax credit eligibility for Hurricane Katrina employees (through August 28, 2008); and (14) increases in alcohol excise taxes payable to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Extends through 2009: (1) the new markets tax credit; (2) the tax credit for mine rescue team training expenses; (3) the subpart F exemption for active financing income earned on business operations overseas; (4) special rules for the tax treatment of payments between related controlled foreign corporations; and (5) expensing of costs of certain film and television productions. Extends through 2014: (1) the suspension of tariff duties on certain wool products; and (2) the Wool Research Trust Fund. Makes permanent the authorities for: (1) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) disclosure of tax information relating to terrorist activities; and (2) IRS undercover operations. Allows individual taxpayers an additional standard tax deduction in 2008 for state and local real property taxes. Lowers in 2008 the earned income threshold amount for determining the refundable portion of the child tax credit. Allows individuals who receive a settlement from Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation to average any settlement or judgment-related income over a three-year period or contribute such income to a tax-exempt retirement account. Allow attorneys a tax deduction in the current taxable year for reimbursable expenses and court costs which they pay or incur in connection with contingency fee cases. Allows an excise tax exemption for certain wooden arrow shafts. Modifies criteria for penalties on tax return preparers who understate tax liabilities. Allows taxpayers who claimed a casualty loss deduction for damage to a personal residence caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma and who subsequently received a grant as compensation for such damage to file an amended tax return to disallow the casualty loss deduction without payment of any tax penalty. Waives deadlines for starting and completing construction for property in the Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone eligible for bonus depreciation. Includes Colbert and Dallas Counties in Alabama within the GO Zone for purposes of tax-exempt bond financing. Amends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to extend such Act through FY2011. Sets forth revenue provisions relating to: (1) the inclusion in gross income of deferred compensation paid by certain foreign entities; and (2) increases in estimated tax payments of certain large corporations. Delays until 2019 the application of special rules for the worldwide allocation of interest for purposes of computing the limitation on the foreign tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $16,000 to $30,000 the adjusted gross income limitation applicable to qualified performing artists who are eligible to deduct their performance expenses from gross income (above-the-line tax deduction). Provides for an inflation adjustment to such increased income limitation beginning in 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2008
Long Path Trail Study Act of 2008 - Amends the National Trails System Act to require that the Long Path Trail from Fort Lee, New Jersey, to the Adirondack Mountains in New York be studied for possible designation as a national scenic trail.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2008
Recognizes the historical significance to the nation, and supports the continued celebration, of Juneteenth Independence Day (June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved African Americans were free). Declares the sense of Congress that: (1) history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future; and (2) the celebration of the end of slavery is an important and enriching part of the history and heritage of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2008
Imported Ethanol Parity Act - Requires the President to: (1) reduce semiannually the temporary duty imposed on ethanol by an amount equal to the reduction in any federal income or excise tax credit for alcohol and ethanol blends used as fuel; and (2) take other necessary actions to ensure that the temporary duty imposed on ethanol is equal to, or lower than, any federal income or excise tax credit applicable to ethanol.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2008
Designates June 20, 2008, as American Eagle Day. Applauds the issuance of bald eagle commemorative coins by the Secretary of the Treasury as a means of generating critical funds for the protection of bald eagles. Encourages educational entities, organizations, businesses, conservation groups, and government agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate and develop educational tools for use in U.S. public schools.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2008
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States, through the International Whaling Commission, should: (1) use all appropriate measures to end commercial whaling in any form; (2) oppose any initiative that would result in any new, Commission-sanctioned coastal or community-based whaling, even if it is portrayed as noncommercial, including commercial whaling by coastal communities that does not qualify as aboriginal subsistence whaling; and (3) seek to strengthen conservation and management measures.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 350,000 $1 coins in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. Requires the coin design to be emblematic of the 100 years of the organization. Restricts issuance of such coins to February 8 through December 31, 2010. Subjects coin sales to a surcharge of $10 per coin. Requires payment of such surcharges to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation, to be made available to local councils in the form of grants for the extension of Scouting in hard-to-serve areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2008
Designates August 2008 as Digital Television Transition Awareness Month to increase public awareness and encourage consumers to learn about the government coupon program for obtaining converter boxes. Encourages consumers to make the transition well before the conversion date (February 17, 2009). Encourages local nonprofit organizations to assist households in applying for the coupons and installing converter boxes and to educate consumers about websites and other sources of transition information.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2008
Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies producing at least 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily) a tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, gas, or primary products thereof; (2) conform tax treatment of foreign oil and gas extraction income and foreign oil related income for purposes of the foreign tax credit; (3) impose a windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies; and (4) establish an Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund funded by revenues raised by the tax provisions of this Act to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources and reduce the risks of global warming. Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act - Declares it unlawful for a supplier to sell crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel at an unconscionably excessive price in an area for which the President declares that an energy emergency exists. Grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce this Act. Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the well-being of U.S. citizens is at risk because of a shortage or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel because of: (1) a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in the national energy markets for such products. Authorizes state attorneys general to bring civil actions to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations. Directs the Secretaries of Energy and the Interior to suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until December 31, 2008. No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state to act with another foreign state to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (2) set or maintain prices for such products; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for such products. Denies sovereign immunity or act of state doctrine protections for foreign states who engage in such such illegal conduct. Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to: (1) determine that foreign boards of trade subject to CFTC jurisdiction regulate and provide information on off-shore oil trading; and (2) set a substantial increase in margin levels for all oil futures trades, contracts, or transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2008
Kid-Safe Chemicals Act of 2008 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require each manufacturer of a chemical substance distributed in commerce to submit to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): (1) a statement certifying that the substance meets required safety standards or that there is insufficient data to make such determination; and (2) all reasonably available information concerning the substance not previously submitted. Requires manufacturers to update such information at least every three years or at any time new information becomes available on a substance's toxicity. Requires manufacturers to provide chemical safety information upon the Administrator's request. Prohibits the manufacture, importation, or distribution in commerce of a chemical substance if the Administrator determines that the manufacturer has failed to comply with this Act or that the substance does not meet applicable safety standards. Authorizes the Administrator to prohibit a specified use of a chemical substance in consumer products if the use of the product in the home results in human exposure that does not meet the safety standard. Requires the Administrator to: (1) publish a priority list that categorizes all chemical substances distributed in commerce; (2) develop a priority list for making safety determinations of at least 300 chemical substances; (3) determine whether a manufacturer has established that its priority-list substances meet applicable safety standards; (4) arrange for the Director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a biomonitoring study to determine the presence of a chemical substance in human cord blood if the Administrator determines that it may be present in human blood, fluids, or tissue; (5) implement animal testing alternatives; (6) create market incentives for the development of safer alternatives to existing chemical substances; (7) establish an Interagency Science Advisory Board on Children's Health and Toxic Substances; (8) cooperate with international efforts to monitor chemical substances; and (9) create a database to share information on the toxicity and use of, and exposure to, chemical substances and provide public access to such data.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2008
Declares that the Senate: (1) honors Lyndon B. Johnson for bringing about the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965; (2) extols his contributions to the United States; and (3) commends him for establishing the Medicare Act of 1965. Recognizes the 100th birthday of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president and designer of the Great Society.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2008
Reimbursing Our American Drivers (ROAD) Act of 2008 - Increases to 70 cents per mile, for the period after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2009: (1) the standard mileage rate for calculating the tax deduction for business, medical, and moving use of an automobile; and (2) the standard mileage rate for reimbursement of federal employee automobile expenses. Increases from 14 to 40 cents per mile the standard mileage rate for purposes of computing the tax deduction for the use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2008
Designates June 2008 as National Internet Safety Month. Calls on Internet safety organizations, law enforcement, educators, community leaders, parents, and volunteers to increase their efforts to raise the level of awareness for the need for online safety in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2008
Prohibits issuance of a letter of offer respecting specified proposed sales of defense articles and services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unless such country: (1) increases its oil production, within 30 days of the enactment of this joint resolution, by one million barrels of oil per day in excess of its oil production as of January 1, 2008; and (2) maintains such increased oil production for at least 90 days after such increased oil production is reached.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2008
Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to include among activities that the Great Lakes National Program Office is authorized to carry out for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern: (1) demonstration or pilot projects that use innovative approaches, technologies, or techniques for the remediation of sediment contamination; and (2) activities to restore aquatic habitat after remediation. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide additional consideration to projects that are funded by potentially responsible parties (individuals or entities that may be liable under federal or state environmental remediation laws with respect to a project carried out under such Act) and determined to be of greater environmental significance than competing proposals. Revises provisions concerning the nonfederal share of the costs of such projects. Authorizes the Administrator, Acting through the Program Office, to enter into agreements with nonfederal sponsors to implement projects under which such sponsors may pay in advance their share of the project costs and receive reimbursement for such costs from the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to implement a public information and participation program relating to the remediation of contaminated sediment in areas of concern in the United States. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for: (1) such remediation; (2) the public information and participation program; and (3) research on the development and use of innovative approaches, technologies, and techniques for such remediation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2008
Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies producing at least 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily) a tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, gas, or primary products thereof; (2) conform tax treatment of foreign oil and gas extraction income and foreign oil related income for purposes of the foreign tax credit; (3) impose a windfall profits tax on major integrated oil companies; and (4) establish an Energy Independence and Security Trust Fund funded by revenues raised by the tax provisions of this Act to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources and reduce the risks of global warming. Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act - Declares it unlawful for a supplier to sell crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel at an unconscionably excessive price in an area for which the President declares that an energy emergency exists. Grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce this Act. Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the well-being of U.S. citizens is at risk because of a shortage or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, petroleum distillates, or biofuel because of: (1) a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in the national energy markets for such products. Authorizes state attorneys general to bring civil actions to enforce this Act. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations. Directs the Secretaries of Energy and the Interior to suspend acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until December 31, 2008. No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008 or NOPEC - Amends the Sherman Act to make it illegal for any foreign state to act with another foreign state to: (1) limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (2) set or maintain prices for such products; or (3) otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for such products. Denies sovereign immunity or act of state doctrine protections for foreign states who engage in such such illegal conduct. Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to: (1) determine that foreign boards of trade subject to CFTC jurisdiction regulate and provide information on off-shore oil trading; and (2) set a substantial increase in margin levels for all oil futures trades, contracts, or transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2008
Armed Forces Housing Security Act - Increases the maximum loan guaranty amount for certain veterans' housing loans guaranteed through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review and streamline the process for guaranteeing veterans' home loans for the purchase of condominiums. Repeals the veterans' home loan fee. Authorizes the Secretary to provide loans to veterans to refinance loans of up to 100% (currently 90%) of the value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan. Allows the VA to guarantee refinanced loans not previously guaranteed by the VA. Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend from 90 days to one year after completion of military service the grace period against the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of a defaulted mortgage. Prohibits a member of the Armed Forces from waiving such protection. Specifically applies such protection to members (regular and reserve) serving on active duty as part of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom (covered member), and their dependents. Provides protections against loan owners or insurers for loan servicers who implement qualified loan modifications or workout plans for covered members and their dependents. Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide financial services counseling relating to a mortgage and mortgage foreclosure to a veteran, covered member, and their dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2008
Amends the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 to state that for purposes of alien inadmissibility based upon terrorist-related grounds the African National Congress (ANC) shall not be considered to be a terrorist organization on the basis of any act or event that occurred before the date of enactment of such Act. Authorizes the Secretary of State (after consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (after consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General) to determine, in such Secretary's sole unreviewable discretion, that inadmissibility based upon specified criminal convictions or terrorist activities shall not apply to an alien with respect to activities undertaken in opposition to apartheid rule in South Africa. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security should exercise such authority in appropriate instances to exempt the anti-apartheid activities of aliens who are current or former officials of the government of the Republic of South Africa. Directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence, to ensure that databases used to determine U.S. admissibility are appropriately updated.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2008
Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act of 2008 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to declare that any person who printed an expiration date on any receipt provided to a consumer cardholder at a point of sale (POS) or transaction between December 4, 2004, and the enactment of this Act, but otherwise complied with FCRA requirements for such receipt, shall not be in willful noncompliance by reason of printing such expiration date on it.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2008
Free Speech Protection Act of 2008 - Allows any U.S. person against whom a lawsuit for defamation is brought in a foreign country on the basis of the content of any speech by that person that has been published, uttered, or otherwise disseminated in the United States to bring an action in a U.S. district court against any person who, or entity which, brought the suit, if the speech at issue in the foreign lawsuit does not constitute defamation under U.S. law. Allows the award of treble damages if it is determined by a preponderance of the evidence that the person or entity bringing the foreign lawsuit intentionally engaged in a scheme to suppress rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution by discouraging publishers or other media from publishing, or by discouraging financial supporters from employing, retaining, or supporting the research, writing, or other speech of an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2008
Maple Tapping Access Program Act of 2008 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a voluntary public access program under which states and tribal governments may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make such land available for public maple-tapping activities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2008
BPA-Free Kids Act of 2008 - Treats as a banned hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act any consumer product that contains a detectable amount of bisphenol A (commonly known as BPA) and that is designed for or intended for use by, or care of, a child seven years of age or younger. Permits state laws that provide equal or greater protection. Requires a study on the health effects of BPA exposure in all age groups and in pregnant women.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2008
Preserving Records of Terrorist & Criminal Transactions Act of 2008 or the PROTECT Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to require: (1) the retention for a minimum of 10 years of criminal background check records for known or suspected members of terrorist organizations who attempt to purchase firearms or apply for a state permit to possess, acquire, or carry firearms; and (2) the retention for at least 180 days of other criminal background check records relating to firearms purchases. Repeals certain provisions that require the destruction within 24 hours of identifying information for individuals who legally purchase or possess firearms.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2008
National Energy Efficiency Development Act - Establishes the National Energy Efficiency Development Administration, headed by an Administrator who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate, to increase the efficiency of the production and use of energy in all sectors of the economy and reduce U.S. imports of oil by 50% by 2020. Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Policy Advisory Committee; (2) an Office of Administration (to include an Energy Efficiency Economics Division, an Education Division, and the position of General Counsel); (3) an Office of Policy, Research, and Development; and (4) an Office of Market Transformation. Authorizes the Administrator to solicit the development of energy-efficient technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2008
Recognizes May 15, 2008, as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers that have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2008
Medicare Card Security Act of 2008 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that Social Security numbers are not displayed on Medicare cards.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2008
Safeguarding Social Security Numbers Act of 2008 - Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to issue uniform standards for the method for truncation of Social Security account numbers in order to facilitate their protection from use in fraud or identity theft. Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the display of Social Security account numbers to the general public on the Internet by state and local governments, except in compliance with such truncation standards. Directs the Attorney General to award grants to state and local governments to come into compliance with such prohibition or the exception to it.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2008
Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. Extends through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability; and (2) increased AMT exemption amounts. Extends through 2009: (1) the election to include combat zone compensation as earned income for purposes of the earned income tax credit; (2) tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans (IRAs) for individuals called or ordered to active military duty and for charitable purposes; (3) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (4) the tax deductions for qualified tuition and related expenses and for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; (5) authority for use of qualified mortgage bonds to finance residences for veterans; (6) provisions relating to regulated investment companies and qualified investment entities; and (7) the special rule for charitable contributions of capital gain real property for conservation purposes. Extends through 2009 various business-related tax provisions, including: (1) the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) the new markets tax credit; (3) provisions relating to foreign personal holding company income; (4) accelerated deprecation for qualified leasehold and restaurant improvements, for motorsports racing track facilities, and for business property on Indian reservations; (5) the expanded tax deduction for charitable contributions of food and book inventories by noncorporate taxpayers; (6) the special rule for the tax treatment of certain payments to tax-exempt organizations by a controlled subsidiary; (7) the special rule for reductions in the basis of S corporation stock for charitable contributions of property; (8) increases in alcohol excise taxes payable to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; (9) parity provisions for group health insurance mental health benefits; (10) the economic development credit for American Samoa; (11) tax incentives for mine rescue team training and advanced mine safety equipment; (12) the expensing allowance for film and television production expenditures and for environmental remediation costs; (13) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities in Puerto Rico; (14) issuance authority for qualified zone academy bonds; (15) the Indian employment tax credit; (16) the tax credit for railroad track maintenance; and (17) work opportunity tax credit eligibility for Hurricane Katrina employees. Extends through 2009 tax credits for: (1) energy efficient appliances; (2) nonbusiness energy property; (3) residential energy efficient property; (4) producing electricity from renewable resources; (5) new energy efficient homes; and (6) investment in certain energy property and in clean renewable energy bonds. Extends through 2009 the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings. Makes permanent the authority for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) undercover operations and combined employment tax reporting. Extends through 2009 IRS authority for disclosure of tax information relating to terrorist activities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2008
Mother's Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 400,000 $1 coins emblematic of the 100th anniversary of President Wilson's proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Authorizes the Secretary to issue such coins beginning January 1, 2014, except that the Secretary may initiate sales of such coins, without issuance, before such date. Terminates such minting authority after December 31, 2014. Requires coin sales to include a $10 surcharge per coin, with distribution of such surcharges to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Osteoporosis Foundation for the purpose of furthering research.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2008
Teaching and Research Assistant Collective Bargaining Rights Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide collective bargaining rights for students enrolled at a private institution of higher education who perform work for remuneration at the institution's direction, regardless of whether the work relates to their courses of study (teaching and research assistants).
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2008
Welcomes Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his first pastoral visit to the United States and recognizes the unique insights his moral and spiritual reflections bring to the world stage.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2008
Recognizes the historic significance of the 60th anniversary of the reestablishment of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. Reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Commends the people of Israel for their achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society. Reaffirms support for Israel's right to defend itself against threats to its security and existence. Extends congratulations and best wishes to Israel and the Israeli people for a peaceful and successful future.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2008
Hubbard Act - Amends federal employment, armed forces, military pay, and veterans' benefits law to authorize the provision of the following benefits to a member of the Armed Forces who is discharged at the member's request pursuant to a Department of Defense (DOD) policy permitting the early discharge of a member who is the only surviving child in a family in which the father or mother, or one or more siblings, served in the Armed Forces and, incident to such service, was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently disabled: (1) continued payment, through the original agreed-upon service period, of any bonus, incentive, or similar benefit to which the member was entitled during service; (2) separation pay, even though the member has completed less than six years of active service before discharge; (3) transitional health care, on the same basis as an active-duty member, for 180 days after discharge; (4) transitional commissary and exchange benefits, on the same basis as an active-duty member, for two years after discharge; (5) veterans' housing loan, employment and training, and basic educational assistance; (6) federal unemployment compensation; and (7) veteran's preference for federal employment purposes. Makes this Act effective with respect to any such discharge granted after September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2008
Designates the third week of April 2008 as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week. Commends organizations that are: (1) working to increase awareness of the danger of shaking young children; (2) educating caregivers on protecting children from injuries caused by abusive shaking; and (3) helping families cope with the challenges of child-rearing and other stresses. Encourages people to remember the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome and to participate in educational programs to help prevent it.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2008
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit any person who is authorized to originate the electonic submission of a income tax return or statement from charging a separate fee for such electronic submission. Imposes a $50 fine for each violation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2008
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) Dith Pran is a modern day hero and an exemplar of what it means to be a citizen of the United States and a citizen of the world; (2) the United States owes a debt of gratitude to Dith Pran for his tireless work to prevent genocide and violations of fundamental human rights; and (3) teachers throughout the United States should spread Dith Pran's message by educating their students about his life, the genocide in Cambodia, and the collective responsibility of all people to prevent modern-day atrocities and human rights abuses.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2008
Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts Act of 2008 or the SERVE Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $1,000 refundable tax credit for individuals who are bona fide volunteer members of a qualified volunteer fire department who provide firefighting, ambulance, or emergency medical services.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2008
Beach Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to include among eligible grant activities the development and implementation of programs for source tracking, sanitary surveys, and prevention efforts to address the identified sources of beach water pollution. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY2008-FY2013. Requires grant recipients to identify: (1) the use of a rapid testing method; (2) measures for communication within 24 hours of the results of a water sample concerning pollutants to specified officials and all state agencies with authority to require the prevention or treatment of the sources of beach water pollution; (3) measures to develop and implement a beach water pollution source identification and tracking program for the coastal recreation waters that are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens; (4) a publicly accessible and searchable global information system database with information updated within 24 hours of its availability, organized by beach and with defined standards, sampling plan, monitoring protocols, sampling results, and number and cause of beach closing and advisory days; and (5) measures to ensure that closures or advisories are made or issued within 24 hours after a state government determines that its coastal recreation waters are not meeting applicable water quality standards for pathogens. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to: (1) publish a revised list of rapid testing methods; and (2) validate such methods no later than two years after this Act's enactment and periodically thereafter. Sets forth provisions requiring: (1) a review by the Administrator of state and local compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and grant conditions; (2) corrective actions by such governments not in compliance; and (3) a review by the Comptroller General of such compliance review and corrective action. Amends the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 to authorize appropriations to carry out such Act through FY2013.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2008
Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an Office of the FBI Liaison in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which shall monitor and assist with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) functions related to expeditiously processing naturalization applications filed by members and former members of the Armed Forces. Amends the the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that USCIS, within six months of receipt of a naturalization application filed by a member of the Armed Forces: (1) process and adjudicate the application; or (2) provide the applicant with an explanation for the inability to meet such deadline and an estimate of the adjudication date. Repeals the provisions of this Act five years after the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2008
National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2008 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the armed forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
![Official portrait of Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000148_200.jpg)