United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for any person in the United States, in connection with any telecommunications service or Internet protocol (IP)-enabled voice service, to cause any caller identification (ID) service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information, unless such transmission is exempted in connection with: (1) authorized activities of law enforcement agencies; or (2) a court order specifically authorizing the use of caller ID manipulation. Provides civil and criminal penalties for violations. Allows for enforcement by states (with authorized intervention by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)).
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2009
Working Family Child Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) lower the income threshold used to calculate the refundable portion of the child tax credit; and (2) repeal the annual inflation adjustment to such threshold amount. Makes provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 modifying the child tax credit permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Unemployment Benefit Tax Suspension Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2010, the taxation of unemployment compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Modernize Our Bookkeeping In the Law for Employee's Cell Phone Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove certain limitations on the tax deduction for employee use of cellular telephones.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Retirement Account Distribution Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend in 2008, 2009, and 2010 requirements for minimum distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans. Permits taxpayers who have already received a minimum distribution in 2008 or before July 1, 2009, to recontribute such distribution to their retirement plans by July 1, 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the display, sale, or purchase of Social Security numbers without the affirmatively expressed consent of the individual, except in specified circumstances. Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on all the uses of Social Security numbers permitted, required, authorized, or excepted under any federal law, including the impact of such uses on privacy and data security. Establishes a public records exception to the prohibition. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on Social Security numbers in public records. Grants the Attorney General rulemaking authority to enforce this Act's prohibition and to implement and clarify the permitted uses occurring as a result of an interaction between businesses, governments, or business and government. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit: (1) the use of Social Security numbers on checks issued for payment by governmental agencies; and (2) inmate access to Social Security account numbers. Prohibits a commercial entity from requiring an individual to provide a Social Security number when purchasing a commercial good or service or denying an individual the good or service for refusing to provide that number, with exceptions. Establishes civil and criminal penalties. Extends civil monetary penalties for misuse of a Social Security number. Provides for: (1) criminal penalties under SSA title II for the misuse of a Social Security number; (2) civil actions and civil penalties against persons who violate this Act; and (3) federal injunctive authority with respect to any violation by a public entity.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Troubled Asset Relief Program Transparency Reporting Act - Prohibits the use by a recipient or its subsidiary of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 for lobbying expenditures or political contributions. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, through enhanced internal reporting and oversight requirements, to develop and publish corporate governance principles and ethical guidelines for such recipients, including specified restrictions. Sets forth recipient reporting and certifying requirements governing such TARP funds. Requires the Secretary to make such reports and certifications publicly available online and free of charge. Subjects persons to civil fines for violating such prohibition on the use of TARP funds or failing to file the required report or certification. Bars recipients from future TARP funds for noncompliance with such guidelines unless the Secretary determines that reasonable steps have been taken to bring their actions into compliance with and to prevent future violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) qualify manufacturing facilities that create intangible property for tax-exempt bond financing; and (2) revise the definition of "manufacturing facility" for purposes of certain limitations on tax-exempt bond financing to include facilities which are functionally related and subordinate to a manufacturing facility.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Children's Mental Health Parity Act - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to require a state child health plan to ensure that the financial requirements and treatment limitations applicable to mental health or substance abuse benefits are no more restrictive than (have parity with) those applied to substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to knowingly and willfully sell or forge a ticket to a presidential inaugural ceremony or to use, unlawfully possess, or exhibit a forged ticket with the intent to defraud. Exempts the sale of tickets to a presidential inaugural ceremony that has already occurred or by an official presidential inaugural committee. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt interest earned on tax-exempt private activity bonds from the alternative minimum tax (AMT) and to exclude such interest as an adjustment to current earnings for purposes of computing alternative minimum taxable income.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Small Business Stimulus Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2010 the increased expensing allowance for depreciable business assets; and (2) extend from two to five years the carryback period for net operating losses incurred in 2008 or 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Invest in Small Business Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock from 50 to 100 % of such gain and to reduce the required holding period for such stock from five to four years; (2) deny a tax exclusion for small business stock held by a 25% controlled corporate group; (3) repeal as an item of tax preference under the alternative minimum tax the exclusion of gain from the sale of small business stock; (4) repeal the 28% income tax rate on the gain from the sale of small business stock which is not excluded from gross income; (5) revise the definition of "qualified small business" for certain tax purposes to mean a C corporation with aggregate gross assets not exceeding $100 million (currently, $50 million); and (6) provide for an annual inflation adjustment to the small business aggregate gross asset amount after 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) impose penalties on individuals who knowingly commit a gang crime or other violent crime in furtherance of a criminal street gang or who recruit persons to participate in a gang; (2) expand the prohibition against committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity to include gang-related racketeering activity; and (3) increase criminal penalties for threats, attempts, or conspiracies to commit crimes of violence. Amends the Controlled Substances Act to impose criminal penalties on individuals who commit violent crimes in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Expands restrictions on the release of persons charged with using firearms in a drug trafficking crime or a crime of violence. Establishes a 10-year limitation period for prosecutions of any noncapital felony crime of violence. Increases criminal penalties for possession of firearms by felons with prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense. Redefines and increases penalties for the crimes of carjacking and transfers of firearms to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking. Increases penalties for conspiracy to commit a criminal offense or to defraud the United States. Extends to 10 years the limitation period for prosecuting certain federal crimes of terrorism. Establishes crimes committed in Indian country or in any other area of exclusive federal jurisdiction as a predicate for invoking federal racketeering laws. Establishes as a predicate for a wiretap authorization violations of the Controlled Substances Act relating to violent crimes in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and certain criminal street gang activity. Expands the prohibition against impeding commerce by threats or violence to include robbery or extortion attempts committed by a person unlawfully impersonating a law enforcement officer. Prohibits traveling in interstate or foreign commerce or using the mail to tamper with or retaliate against a witness, victim, or informant in a state criminal proceeding. Authorizes the Attorney General to designate and assist state high intensity gang activity areas in combating gang activity. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to establish a National Gang Research, Evaluation, and Policy Institute to design and evaluate anti-gang programs. Authorizes the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to develop community-based programs that provide crime prevention, research, and intervention services for gang members and at-risk youth. Authorizes the Attorney General to expand the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program and the Safe Streets Program. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a National Gang Activity Database; and (2) provide funding to the Regional Information Sharing Systems to use RISSNET to connect existing gang information systems with the Database. Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to provide grants to assist prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in identifying gang members and violent offenders. Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to direct the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to expand the number of sites receiving juvenile delinquency reduction grants. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for carrying out projects involving innovative approaches to combat gang activity. Establishes in the U.S. Marshals Service a Short-Term State Witness Protection Section. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states for projects to prevent family abductions. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to report on the appropriateness of sentences for minors in the federal criminal justice system. Amends the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to require the Director of National Drug Control Policy to promote prevention of youth heroin use. Authorizes the National District Attorneys Association to use the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina for a training program to improve the professional skills of state and local prosecutors. Prevention Resources for Eliminating Criminal Activity Using Tailored Interventions in Our Neighborhoods Act of 2009 or the PRECAUTION Act - Establishes the National Commission on Public Safety Through Crime Prevention to study the effectiveness of crime and delinquency prevention and intervention strategies. Authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Justice to make grants for the implementation and evaluation of innovative crime or delinquency prevention or intervention strategies.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Directs the Secretary of Defense to permit any former member of the armed forces who is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability rated total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to travel on military aircraft to the same extent as retired members of the armed forces.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2009
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Claiborne de Borda Pell, a former member of the U.S. Senate. Declares that when the Senate recesses on January 6, 2009, it stand in recess as a further mark of respect to the memory of Senator Pell.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2008
Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2008 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to grant the Special Inspector General (SIG) authority to conduct, supervise, and coordinate an audit or investigation of any action taken with regard to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) that the SIG deems appropriate. Prohibits any audit or investigation, however, of any action related to: (1) graduated authorization to purchase troubled assets; (2) oversight and audits by the Comptroller General; (3) the Comptroller General's study and report on margin authority; and (4) the Congressional Oversight Panel. Authorizes the SIG to exercise specified employment authorities for additional personnel, but not after six months following enactment of this Act. Prohibits any period of appointment from exceeding the date on which the Office of the SIG terminates. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) either take action to address deficiencies identified by a report or investigation of the SIG or other auditor engaged by the TARP; or (2) certify to congressional committees that no action is necessary or appropriate. Instructs the SIG to work with Inspectors General of designated federal agencies to: (1) avoid duplication of effort; and (2) ensure comprehensive oversight of TARP. Requires the SIG to: (1) report to Congress by July 1, 2009, on the use of any funds received by a financial institution under TARP; and (2) make such report available to the public, including on the home page of the SIG's website within 24 hours after its submission to Congress. Requires funds for the office of the SIG to be made available not later than seven days after the SIG's nomination is first confirmed by the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2008
Expresses opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal entitled "Prevention of Significant Deterioration New Source Review: Refinement of Increment Modeling Procedures" and urges that the rule be withdrawn. Finds that EPA has proposed multiple changes to the PSD program that would conflict with Congress's statutory scheme to preserve, protect, and enhance air quality in national parks, wilderness areas, monuments, and seashores, and in other areas of special natural, recreational, scenic, or historic value.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2008
Designates December 13, 2008, as "Wreaths Across America Day." Honors the Wreaths Across America project, the Patriot Guard Riders, and all other volunteers and donators involved in the tradition of placing holiday wreaths at national cemeteries and veterans' memorials. Recognizes the sacrifices our veterans and service members and their families have made, and continue to make, for our nation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2008
Unemployment Benefit Tax Suspension Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2010, the taxation of unemployment compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2008
Retirement Account Distribution Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend in 2008, 2009, and 2010 requirements for minimum distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans. Permits taxpayers who have already received a minimum distribution in 2008 to recontribute such distribution to their retirement plans by July 1, 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2008
Troubled Asset Relief Program Inspector General Improvement Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 with respect to the Special Inspector General (SIG) for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Makes the first $50 million available to the SIG within three days after his or her nomination is first confirmed by the Senate. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) take action to address deficiencies identified by the SIG or another auditor engaged by the TARP; or (2) certify to appropriate congressional committees that no action is necessary or appropriate. Revises the duties of the SIG to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations to: (1) eliminate the limitation of the object of investigations to the purchase, management, and sale of troubled assets by the Secretary and the Secretary's management of the program to guarantee such assets; and (2) extend the objects of investigation to any activities of the Secretary in the expenditure or obligation of funds under such Act. Requires the SIG to report to specified congressional committees by July 1, 2009, on the use of any funds received by an financial institution under TARP. Authorizes the SIG to exercise specified federal civil service employment authorities. Prohibits the SIG from making any appointment after one year following the date of the first confirmation of his or her nomination as SIG.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2008
Condemns the continuing violence, forcible recruitment of children as soldiers, and abuses against civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to end the threat posed by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. Calls on the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to restore bilateral relations and work together to mitigate regional tensions. Calls on all governments in the Great Lakes region of Africa and those of the Southern African Development Community to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Supports U.N. peace efforts. Urges the President to sustain high-level diplomatic engagement together with the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations to avert a regional war and revive a comprehensive peace process in eastern Congo. Urges the United States and the international community to support monitoring and verification mechanisms in Congo. Urges the President and the international community to help regional governments address the factors underlying the conflict in eastern Congo.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2008
Designates December 13, 2008, as "Wreaths Across America Day." Honors Wreaths Across America, the Worcester Wreath Company, Morrill Worcester of the Worcester Wreath Company, the Patriot Guard Riders, and all other companies and individuals involved in the Wreaths Across America Project (concerning the placement of wreaths at national cemeteries and veterans' memorials). Recognizes the sacrifices our veterans and service members and their families have made, and continue to make, for our nation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2008
Condemns the tragic and senseless death by stoning of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow. Urges the international community to join the Senate in speaking out against this brutal act. Urges the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to: (1) undertake efforts to protect women and children in Somalia; (2) work to strengthen the rule of law as part of efforts to establish its authority; (3) promote equal and fair treatment of women; and (4) end the culture of impunity in Somalia.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
Accountability for Economic Rescue Assistance Act of 2008 - Prohibits recipients of emergency economic assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or under the Federal Reserve Act, or any subsidiary, from using such funds for lobbying expenditures or political contributions. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to develop and publish corporate governance principles and ethical guidelines for recipients of such funds, including restrictions governing: (1) the hosting, sponsorship, or payments for conferences and events; (2) the use of corporate aircraft, travel accommodations, and travel expenditures; (3) expenses relating to office or facility renovations or relocations; and (4) expenses relating to entertainment, holiday parties, employee recognition events, or similar ancillary corporate expenses. Requires recipients of such funds to file quarterly reports and certifications with the Secretary, which shall be made publicly available online, and at no cost. Subjects violators of this Act to specified civil penalties. Makes any person who violates this Act ineligible to receive any future emergency economic assistance unless the Secretary determines that reasonable steps have been taken to bring actions into compliance with and to prevent future violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
FBI Priorities Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 to fund 1,000 additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field agents to investigate financial crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
HUBZone Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) correct and update the map used by the SBA to identify HUBZones (historically underutilized business zones) and to ensure that it is updated on a more frequent basis; (2) develop and implement guidance for determining whether an applicant is a qualified HUBZone small business; (3) establish a date for elimination of the backlog of applications for recertification as a qualified HUBZone small business; (4) ensure that the SBA eliminates the backlog by such date; (5) establish and implement a time period for completing a recertification; and (6) develop and implement plans to assess the effectiveness of the HUBZone program.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
10 Steps for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act concerning 7(a) loans (general small business loans) made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) increase certain loan amounts; (2) direct the SBA Administrator to establish an optional business size standard for 7(a) loan applicants and for development company loan applicants under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; and (3) revise provisions concerning the pooling of SBA loans for sale on the secondary market. Establishes a community express program under which the Administrator may guarantee the payment of principal and interest on loans of up to $150,000 made to small businesses owned and controlled by women, Indian tribes, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, veterans and reserve members, small businesses located in low- or moderate-income areas or in a special market initiative, and HUBZone (heavily underutilized business zone) small businesses. Directs the Administrator to: (1) carry out a rural lender and new lender outreach program and guarantee small business loans of up to $500,000 made by such lenders; and (2) establish an online underwriting program guide to develop the lending capacity of such lenders. Revises provisions concerning the 504 program (SBA financings to small businesses through certified development companies [CDCs]) to: (1) increase maximum loan amounts; (2) include as a program goal the expansion of businesses in low-income communities; (3) allow CDC financings to include a limited amount of other-debt refinancing; and (4) allow the Administrator to guarantee repayment of a limited amount of third party financing obtained by loan pool assemblers, and to issue trust certificates representing all or a part of such guaranteed amount. Direct the Administrator, during FY2009-FY2010, to collect no lending fees, and reduce other fees, in connection with certain 7(a) and 504 loan programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2010 for the Microloan program (SBA start-up, acquisition, and expansion loans to very small businesses). Increases maximum leverage amounts available to small business investment companies. Directs the Administrator to develop an emergency small business lending advertising strategy to inform small businesses of the availability of loans through lenders participating in SBA programs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise or add small business tax provisions, including providing for: (1) an extension of a temporary increase in limitations on expensing certain depreciable business assets; (2) a five-year carryback of certain net operating losses; and (3) the temporary suspension of the 90% limit on certain net operating loss carrybacks and carryovers. Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to include certain trust certificates issued by the Administrator under the 7(a) and 504 loan programs as "troubled assets" (thereby qualifying them under such Act's troubled assets relief program).
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
High-Speed Rail for America Act of 2008 - Establishes within the Federal Railroad Administration the Office of High-Speed Passenger Rail (HSPR Office) , headed by the Associate Administrator for High-Speed Rail. Requires the HSPR Office to: (1) assume responsibility for all high-speed rail activities currently carried out by the Office of Railroad Development; and (2) consult with the Secretary of Transportation to assist eligible entities to finance certain qualified high-speed intercity rail facility projects through the issuance of private activity bonds. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise requirements for income tax-exempt qualified high-speed intercity rail facility bonds. Allows an income tax credit to holders of certain rail bonds that finance qualified super high-speed intercity rail facility projects and qualified rail infrastructure projects. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on the use of excise taxes to fund high-speed rail projects.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2008
Expresses the sense of the Senate with respect to bluefin tuna conservation and management measures and the 16th Special Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2008
Makes it unlawful to knowingly and intentionally sell or forge a ticket to a presidential inaugural ceremony or to use, unlawfully possess, or exhibit a forged ticket with the intent to defraud. Exempts the sale of tickets to a presidential inaugural ceremony that has already occurred. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2008
Small Business Energy Innovation Act of 2008 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to make grants and loan guarantees to small business concerns for the development of innovative energy-efficient technologies and products. Amends the Small Business Act to establish in the SBA the position of Director of Energy Innovation to coordinate SBA energy innovation activities and technical assistance programs. Establishes an energy innovation grant program to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to private, nonprofit organizations, including institutions of higher education, that are capable to providing technical assistance relating to renewable and advanced energy efficiency systems, advanced transportation fuels, carbon capture and sequestration practices and technologies, and other energy efficiency technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2008
Financial Crimes Accountability Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to establish within the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Special Joint Task Force on Financial Crimes to: (1) provide direction for the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes (i.e., fraud, misrepresentation, or malfeasance involving financial products); and (2) make recommendations to the Attorney General and the President on allocating resources and coordinating governmental efforts to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2008
Affordable Tutoring of Our Children Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance to allow employees an additional exclusion for payments of supplemental instructional services assistance to their dependents between the ages of 5 and 19 who have not obtained a high school diploma or been awarded a general education degree. Defines "supplemental instructional services assistance" to include instructional or other academic enrichment services that are: (1) in addition to instruction provided during the school day; (2) specifically designed to increase academic achievement; (3) in the core academic studies of English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, social studies, and geography; and (4) provided by a state certified instructor or accredited organization.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2008
Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years for knowingly operating or attempting or conspiring to operate by any means, or for embarking in, any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into, through, or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country, with the intent to avoid detection. Imposes an additional civil fine of up to $1 million for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2008
Urges the President, the U.N. Secretary-General, the African Union, and members of the international community to pursue a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Condemns: (1) the government of Sudan for its continued obstruction of the deployment of United Nations-African Union peacekeepers; and (2) the ongoing acts of violence in, and obstruction of aid to, Darfur committed by all parties. Calls upon the government of Sudan and armed parties in the region to declare a cessation of hostilities, abide by the U.N. arms embargo, cease attacks upon humanitarian organizations, and participate in international efforts to negotiate a political settlement.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2008
Girl Scouts USA 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 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Requires the coin design to be emblematic of such centennial. Requires such coins to be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities, from only one U.S. Mint facility. Declares the sense of Congress that such facility should be the U.S. Mint at West Point, New York, to the greatest extent possible. Authorizes the Secretary to issue such coins only during calendar 2011. Applies a $10 per coin surcharge to all coin sales. Requires all surcharges received to be paid to the Girl Scouts of the United States of America for efforts involved in marking it centennial, which may include efforts to preserve the birthplace of founder Juliette Gordon Low.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2008
General Services Administration Portfolio Enhancement Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to convey to the National Women's History Museum, Inc. (the Museum) the northern part of specified property in the District of Columbia, which the Administrator and the Museum deem appropriate for a museum facility. Grants the Administrator the authority to convey the southern part of such property to the Museum. Requires the Administrator to enter into an agreement with the Museum for the conveyance. Permits separate conveyance of the northern and southern parts. Requires the northern part to be dedicated for use as a site for a national women's history museum for a 99-year period and allows the southern part to be used for any purposes permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2008
Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008 or the GIVE Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the standard mileage rate for use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes to a rate not less than the rate used for the tax deduction for medical transportation expenses; and (2) exclude from the gross income of charitable volunteers reimbursements paid to them for the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2008
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week. Encourages: (1) children and teens to live drug-free lives; and (2) people in the United States to promote drug-free communities and to participate in drug prevention activities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Veterans Health Care Budget Reform Act of 2008 - Requires, beginning with FY2010, a two-fiscal-year budget authority for the following accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (1) Medical Services; (2) Medical Administration; and (3) Medical Facilities. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on the adequacy and accuracy of VA baseline model projections for health care expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Prosthetics Parity Act of 2008 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to require a group health plan that provides both medical and surgical benefits and benefits for prosthetic devices and components to provide prosthetics coverage under terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those applicable to substantially all medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan. Prohibits the prosthetics benefit from being subject to separate or more restrictive financial requirements or more restrictive treatment limitations. Applies the requirements of this Act separately with respect to in-network and out-of-network benefits. Requires a group health plan to apply the same prior authorization requirements to the prosthetics benefit as apply for all similar benefits under the plan. Limits the required prosthetics benefit to the most appropriate device or component that adequately meets the medical requirements of the patient. Includes repair or replacement of prosthetic devices and components within such coverage. Prohibits a group health plan from imposing any annual or lifetime dollar limitation on benefits for prosthetic devices and components required to be covered under this Act that is not applied in the aggregate to all medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan. Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) assist enrollees with any questions or problems regarding compliance with the requirements of this Act; and (2) conduct random audits of group health plans to ensure compliance. Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate the effects of this Act, including on the cost of and access to heath insurance coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Federal Board of Certification Act of 2008 - Establishes a Federal Board of Certification to certify that the mortgages within a security instrument meet the underlying standards they claim to meet with regards to such mortgage characteristics as: (1) documentation; (2) loan to value ratios; (3) debt service to income ratios; and (4) borrower credit standards and geographic concentration. States that the purpose of this certification process is to increase the transparency, predictability, and reliability of securitized mortgage products. Authorizes market participants, including firms that package mortgage loans into mortgage securities, to elect to have their mortgage securities evaluated by the Board. Authorizes the Board to: (1) promulgate regulations establishing enumerated security standards to use in certifying mortgage securities; (2) establish uniform principles and standards and report forms for the regular examination of such securities; and (3) develop uniform reporting systems for ascertaining mortgage security risk. Grants the Board access to all books, accounts, records, reports, files, memorandums, papers, things, and property belonging to or in use by federal financial institutions regulatory agencies. Requires any publication, transmission, or webpage containing an advertisement for or invitation to buy a mortgage security to carry a disclaimer that certification by the Federal Board of Certification can in no way be considered a guarantee of the mortgage security, but is merely a judgment of the degree of risk offered by the security in question.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2008
Designates September 2008 as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Declares that the federal government has a responsibility to: (1) raise awareness about prostate cancer screening and treatment; (2) increase funding for prostate cancer research; and (3) improve access to, and the quality of, health care services for detecting and treating prostate cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2008
Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to revise the formula for Tier-1 amounts a state credits to an applicant's emergency unemployment compensation account (EUCA) for a benefit year. Increases the figures in the formula (the lesser of which shall be the amount credited) from: (1) 50% to 80% of the total amount of regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable to the individual during the benefit year; and (2) 13 to 20 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount for the benefit year. Provides an additional Tier-2 period for deposits to an individual's EUCA, using the current formula, if, at the time that the amount established under this Act is exhausted, or at any time thereafter, the individual's state is in an extended benefit period. Prescribes a formula for determining if a state is in an extended benefit period. Allows the Tier-2 period augmentation to be applied to the individual's EUCA only once. Prohibits a Tier-2 augmentation under this Act to an individual's account after March 31, 2009, if the account is exhausted after such date. Extends the period of emergency unemployment compensation. Exempts weeks of unemployment between enactment of this Act and December 8, 2009, from the prohibition in the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 against federal matching payments to a state for the first week in an individual's eligibility period for which extended compensation or sharable regular compensation is paid if the state law of such state provides for payment (at any time or under any circumstances) of regular compensation to an individual for his first week of otherwise compensable unemployment. (Thus allows temporary federal matching for the first week of extended benefits for states with no waiting period.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2008
Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement the Medicare home infusion therapy benefit in a manner that ensures that: (1) Medicare beneficiaries have timely and appropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes; and (2) there is rapid and seamless coordination between drug coverage under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) and home infusion therapy services coverage under Medicare part B (Supplemental Security Income).
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2008
Amends the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for FY2010 and to authorize appropriations for FY2011-FY2015.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2008
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan; and (2) supports U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1591 imposing an arms embargo on all belligerents in Darfur.
![Official portrait of Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000663_200.jpg)