United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2024
States that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of State shall be those in effect January 1, 2007, notwithstanding any increase in such compensation or emoluments after that date under any provision of law or provision which has the force and effect of law, that is enacted or becomes effective during the period beginning at noon of January 3, 2007, and ending at noon of January 3, 2013. States that: (1) any person aggrieved by an action of the Secretary may bring a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (under a three-judge panel) to contest the constitutionality of the appointment and continuance in office of the Secretary on the ground that such appointment and continuance in office is in violation of article I, section 6, clause 2, of the Constitution; (2) the Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over such action; and (3) an appeal may be taken directly to the U.S. Supreme Court from any interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order upon the validity of the appointment and continuance in office of the Secretary under article I, section 6, clause 2, of the Constitution, entered in any action brought under this resolution. Makes this resolution effective at noon of January 20, 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2025
Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 - Makes technical corrections to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to conform to the Pension Protection Act of 2006 regarding various specified items, including: (1) the target normal cost of benefits; (2) specified implementation and effective dates for certain requirements; (3) one-participant retirement plans; (4) special age-related rules in accrued benefit requirements for applicable defined benefit plans; (5) inapplicability in certain cases of the limitation on income deductions (for tax purposes) for employer contributions to one or more defined contribution plans; and (6) adjustments to averaging in the determination of the value of the assets of single-employer defined benefit pension plans for minimum funding purposes. Makes technical corrections to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 with respect to railroad retirement payments to persons not entitled to an annuity. Makes technical corrections to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 with respect to special age-related rules for determination of the market rate of return in the calculation of interest credits in governmental defined benefit plans. Makes technical corrections to the Internal Revenue Code to modify: (1) the interest rate assumption required with respect to certain small employer plans; and (2) the penalties for failure to file partnership returns and S corporation returns. Prescribes a special rule for exclusion from gross income of certain reimbursements from governmental plans for medical care. Requires treatment as a qualified rollover contribution of any airline payment amount received by a qualified airline employee in an airline carrier bankruptcy which is transferred to a Roth IRA. Revises asset valuation rules for certain commercial airline benefit plans. Provides a waiver of minimum distribution requirements for certain retirement plans for 2009. Sets forth requirements to: (1) provide for the delay of the designation of multiemployer benefit plans as endangered or critical for FY2009; and (2) extend the funding improvement and rehabilitation periods for such plans that are endangered or critical for FY2008 or FY2009.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of State to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking. (Current law authorizes such Office's establishment.) Directs the President to implement: (1) programs to prevent trafficking in persons; and (2) an anti-trafficking program monitoring system. Authorizes the President to establish the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Sets forth protections for aliens who: (1) may be trafficking victims or who may testify against traffickers; (2) are domestic workers or other nonimmigrants; or (3) are employees of foreign diplomatic or other government personnel, or employees of international organization personnel. Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) assistance for trafficking victims, including child victims and U.S. citizens; (2) offenses of trafficking, forced labor, enticement into slavery, sex trafficking of children, and sex tourism. Directs the Secretary to develop: (1) policies and procedures to ensure that unaccompanied alien children in the United States are safely repatriated to their country of nationality or of last habitual residence; and (2) a safe repatriation pilot program for alien children. States, with specified exceptions, that the care and custody of unaccompanied alien children in the United States shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sets forth related provisions and authorizations of appropriations. Authorizes passport restrictions for persons convicted of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 - Prohibits, with a national interest waiver, funds for specified military and related areas from being made available to the government of a country identified by the Department as having governmental armed forces or government supported armed groups that recruit and use child soldiers. Authorizes the President to reinstate assistance upon certifying to Congress that a government is implementing: (1) compliance measures; and (2) mechanisms to prohibit future use of child soldiers. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to a country for international military education and training otherwise prohibited under this Act upon certifying to Congress that such assistance is for implementation of measures to demobilize child soldiers and for programs to support professionalization of the military.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2025
Changes the effective date of amendments made by the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 for group health plans maintained pursuant to collective bargaining agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of law, to develop and implement a program to encourage and permit, to the extent technically feasible, the continued broadcasting in the analog television service of specified public safety information and digital television transition information for 30 days after the transition.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Amends the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) to extend the ATPA program through December 31, 2009. Extends through FY2010 preferential treatment for apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary countries from regional fabrics or regional components, and specified other type apparel (brassieres). Amends the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to provide earned import allowance certificates to any producer or entity controlling production of eligible apparel articles in an eligible country, based on specified elements. Declares that eligible apparel articles wholly assembled in an eligible country and imported directly from an eligible country shall enter the United States free of duty, without regard to the source of the fabric or yarns from which the articles are made, if such apparel articles are accompanied by an earned import allowance certificate reflecting the amount of credits equal to the total square meter equivalents of fabric in such apparel articles. Amends the African Growth and Opportunity Act to repeal certain special rules for fabrics and yarns in commercial quantities in Africa. Adds Mauritius as a lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country (LDC) for purposes of the application of preferential treatment to apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape and wholly assembled, or both, in one or more LDCs, regardless of the country of origin of the fabric or the yarn used to make such articles, that are imported into the United States. Directs the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to review, identify, and report to the appropriate congressional committees and the Comptroller General on yarns, fabrics, and other textile and apparel inputs that through new or increased investment or other measures can be produced competitively in beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend the Generalized System of Preferences program through December 31, 2009. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend certain customs fees for the processing of merchandise entered into the United States. Amends the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 to increase by 2.25% the amount in effect on the date of enactment of this Act of any corporate estimated tax installment otherwise due by a corporation with assets of not less than $1 billion in July, August, or September 2013.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 2025
Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008 - Makes any organ donor, or the family of any organ donor, eligible for a Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to establish an application procedure, determine eligibility, and arrange for the presentation of medals. Allows only one medal per family. Requires that such medal be presented to the donor or, in the case of a deceased donor, the family member who signed the consent form authorizing the organ donation. Authorizes the Network to collect funds to offset expenditures relating to the issuance of medals. Prohibits federal funds from being used to carry out this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medals using certain specifications. Provides that a medal under this Act shall not be treated as valuable consideration for purposes of prohibiting transferring human organs for valuable consideration.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2024
Requires the first regular session of the 111th Congress to begin at noon on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. Requires the meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives to count the electoral votes for the President and Vice President to be held on January 8, 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2008 - Authorizes the President to transfer certain excess naval vessels on a grant basis to Pakistan, Chile, and Peru. Terminates such authority two years after the enactment of this Act. Directs the President to: (1) carry out an ongoing assessment of the extent to which Israel possesses a qualitative military edge over military threats; and (2) use such assessment in reviewing applications to sell defense articles and services to a Middle Eastern country other than Israel. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to require any certification relating to a proposed sale or export of defense articles or services to a Middle Eastern country other than Israel to include a determination that such sale or export will not adversely affect Israel's qualitative military edge over military threats. Makes specified foreign military financing program funds for FY2009 available on a grant basis for Israel. Authorizes funding in FY2009 for the procurement of advanced weapons systems by Israel. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to provide special foreign military sales status for the Republic of Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2024
Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the special immigrant program for non-minister religious workers until March 6, 2009. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud in the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress on such regulations' effectiveness by March 6, 2009.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2024
Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2008 - Amends the PROTECT Act to extend by 12 months the Child Safety Pilot Program (allowing certain volunteer organizations to obtain national and state criminal history background checks on their volunteers).
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
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 · 7 April 2025
Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to replace "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008" with "Food Stamp Act of 1977" in a provision reauthorizing grant funds to assist eligible private nonprofit entities to establish and carry out community food projects. Makes such grant funds for FY2008 available until September 30, 2009, to fund proposals solicited in FY2008.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2025
Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008 - Allows a receiving agent (designated by the Librarian of Congress to collect royalties that ultimately are disbursed to sound recording copyright owners and performers) to enter into agreements with webcasters that establish royalty terms for the performance of sound recordings over the Internet. Provides that such agreements, which may be effective for a period of up to 11 years following January 1, 2005, are to be binding on all copyright owners of sound recordings and other persons entitled to payment, in lieu of any determination of compulsory license rates by the Copyright Royalty Judges. Terminates the authority to negotiate settlement agreements under this Act on December 15, 2008. Declares that nothing in this Act (or any agreement entered into under this Act) shall be taken into account by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in its review of the May 1, 2007 determination of royalty rates by the Copyright Royalty Judges.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Inmate Tax Fraud Prevention Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose to the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, subject to certain restrictions, tax return information of prisoners whom the Secretary has determined may have filed or facilitated the filing of a false tax return.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2025
United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act - Approves the United States-India Agreement for Cooperation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (Agreement), subject to the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006, and other applicable U.S. law. Urges the government of India to sign and adhere to an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). States that licenses may be issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for transfers pursuant to the Agreement only after the President certifies to Congress that: (1) the Agreement Between the Government of India and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities has entered into force; and (2) the government of India has filed a declaration of facilities that is not materially inconsistent with the facilities and schedule of the separation plan presented in the national parliament of India. Amends the Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006 to revise related congressional reporting requirements. States that no subsequent arrangement concerning reprocessing arrangements and procedures shall take effect until: (1) the President reports to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Committees) respecting the reasons for such arrangement and a certification that third-party reprocessing arrangements with India will be conducted under similar arrangements; and (2) a period of 30 days of continuous session has elapsed after such report's transmittal. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to direct the President to inform the Committees of any negotiations relating to a new or amended agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation. Directs the President to: (1) certify to the Committees that it is U.S. policy to work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to restrict transfers of equipment and technology related to the enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and (2) seek to achieve within NSG or with NSG participating governments the adoption of principles and exchanges of information to assure peaceful use and accounting of by-product material.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Judicial Administration and Technical Amendments Act of 2008 - Amends the federal judicial code with respect to: (1) the composition of the divisions of the Western District of Tennessee judicial district; (2) the supplemental attendance fee for petit jurors serving on lengthy trials; (3) the authority of district courts as to a jury summons; (4) public drawing specifications for jury wheels; (5) the assessment of court technology costs; (6) investment of court registry funds; (7) magistrate judge participation at circuit conferences; (8) judge members of the U.S. Sentencing Commission; (9) the place of holding court for the District of Minnesota judicial district; and (10) the penalty for employers who retaliate against employees serving on jury duty. Repeals obsolete provisions of the bankruptcy code relating to certain dollar amounts. Amends the federal criminal code with respect to: (1) the selection of chief pretrial services officers; (2) attorney case compensation maximum amounts; (3) expanded delegation authority for reviewing certain vouchers in excess of case compensation maximums; (4) conditions of probation and supervised release; (5) contracting for services for pretrial defendants and post-conviction supervision offenders; and (6) the penalty for failure to appear for a jury summons.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2025
Designates a portion of the Rappahannock River comprised of the manmade rapids located at the site of the former Embrey Dam in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the John W. Warner Rapids.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2025
QI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, to provide supplemental funding for the qualifying individual (QI) program. Requires a state to have in operation, in mechanized Medicaid claims processing and information retrieval systems, an eligibility determination system which provides for data matching through the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) facilitated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, including matching with medical assistance programs operated by other states. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make sponsors of certain antibiotic drugs eligible for a three-year or a five-year market exclusivity if a marketing application is submitted for an antibiotic drug that: (1) was approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services before November 21, 1997; or (2) was the subject of one or more applications received by the Secretary before November 21, 1997, none of which was approved. Authorizes the use of Medicaid integrity program funds for transportation and travel expenses for attendees at education, training, or consultative activities. Increases FY2014 funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Air Carriage of International Mail Act - Authorizes the U.S. Postal Service to contract, through an open procurement process, for air transportation of mail between foreign points only with certificated air carriers (carriers that hold a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued under specified provisions). Allows a contract to be awarded to transport mail between any foreign points the Secretary of Transportation has authorized the carrier to serve either directly or through a code-share relationship. Provides for exceptions for emergency or unanticipated conditions. Removes provisions requiring that the Secretary of Transportation set prices to be paid by the Postal Service for the transportation of mail by aircraft in foreign air transportation. Removes references to foreign air transportation from provisions relating to a duty to provide certain transportation of mail. Authorizes the Postal Service to weigh mail transported by aircraft between places in Alaska and make statistical and administrative computations necessary in the interest of mail service. (Current law does not restrict that authorization to flights between places in Alaska.) Removes a requirement that the Postal Service make a fair and equitable distribution of mail business to carriers providing similar modes of transportation. Modifies provisions regarding the mail of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and of friendly foreign nations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008, Part II - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from September 30, 2008, through March 31, 2009: (1) excise taxes on aviation fuels and air transportation of persons and property; and (2) the expenditure authority for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Amends federal transportation laws to extend funding from September 30, 2008, through March 31, 2009, for airport improvement program (AIP) projects, including project grant authority. Authorizes obligation at any time during FY2009 of funds made available by this Act. Prescribes a formula for calculating funding apportionments to implement the program. Extends through March 31, 2009, various airport development projects, including: (1) the pilot program for passenger facility fees at nonhub airports; (2) the small community air service development program; (3) small airport grants for airports located in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau; (4) state and local airport compatibility projects; (5) the authority of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to apply for an airport development grant and impose a passenger facility fee; (6) the temporary increase to 95% in the government share of certain AIP project costs; (7) Midway Island airport development; and (8) airport planning and development grant programs. Extends through March 31, 2009, Department of Transportation (DOT) insurance coverage for domestic and foreign-flag air carriers. Extends through May 31, 2009, air carrier liability limits for injuries to passengers resulting from acts of terrorism. Extends through March 31, 2009, the authorization of appropriations for: (1) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations; (2) air navigation facilities and equipment; and (3) research, engineering, and development.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 South Ellsworth Avenue in San Mateo, California, as the "Leo J. Ryan Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Amends the Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999 to make a technical correction, to be effective on July 23, 2008, immediately after the enactment of the NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 - Amends Part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to give state plans the option of providing for the state to enter into agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of children for whom they have: (1) cared as foster parents; and (2) committed to care on a permanent basis. Amends SSA title IV part B (Child and Family Services) to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make matching grants to state, local, or tribal child welfare agencies and experienced private nonprofit organizations to help children in, or at risk of entering, foster care to reconnect with family members. Provides or revises requirements for: (1) case-by-case waiver of licensing standards for relatives; (2) adoptive or guardianship placement after attaining age 18; (3) a transition plan for children aging out of foster care; (4) short-term training for child welfare agencies, relative guardians, and court personnel; (5) educational stability of the child while in foster care; (6) ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for any child in a foster care placement; (7) placement of siblings in the same foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoptive placement; (8) foster care and tribal programs operated by Indian tribal organizations; and (9) adoption of children with special needs. Extends the adoption incentives payment program, and increases incentive payments for special needs adoptions and older child adoptions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require the children in adoption to be younger than the claimant and unmarried for purposes of claiming such child as a qualifying child; and (2) restrict qualifying child tax benefits to the child's parent unless certain conditions apply. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to invest U.S. operating cash in repurchase agreements with acceptable parties.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 513 6th Avenue in Dayton, Kentucky, as the "Staff Sergeant Nicholas Ray Carnes Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2025
Amends the Hurricane Education Recovery Act, title IV of division B of the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, with respect to elementary and secondary education hurricane recovery relief. Extends through FY2009 the authority of the Secretary of Education, in providing any grant or other assistance to an entity in a state which in 2005 suffered a major disaster related to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, to waive or modify, in order to ease fiscal burdens, any elementary and secondary education assistance requirement relating to: (1) maintenance of effort; (2) use of federal funds to supplement, not supplant, non-federal funds; or (3) any non-federal share or capital contribution required to match federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2025
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend by one year, from July 2009 to July 2010, the Secretary of Education's authority to purchase, or enter into forward commitments to purchase, Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs) from lenders upon the determination that there is an inadequate availability of loan capital to meet the demand for such loans. Extends by one year, from June 30, 2009 to June 30, 2010, the authority of institutions of higher education (IHEs), with the Secretary's approval, to participate in the FFEL lender-of-last-resort program for borrowers otherwise unable to obtain such loans; thereby requiring guaranty agencies serving as lenders-of-last-resort to make FFELs to student and parent borrowers of such IHEs, until such date, regardless of their ability to otherwise obtain such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2025
Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for FY2010. Requires the Archivist of the United States, with the recommendation of the Commission, to make grants to eligible entities on a competitive basis to promote the historical preservation of, and public access to, historical records and documents relating to any President who does not have a presidential archival depository currently managed and maintained by the federal government pursuant to the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. Defines eligible entities as specified tax-exempt organizations or state or local governments. Prohibits the use of grants for the maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility to house the historical records or documents. Prohibits the Commission from approving a grant application unless an entity establishes that it meets certain requirements, including that it: (1) ensures the preservation of, and access to, such historical works and collections of historical sources at no charge to the public; (2) has educational programs that make the use of such documents part of the entity's mission; and (3) has raised funds from nonfederal sources in support of the entity's efforts to promote such preservation and access.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 156 Taunton Avenue in Seekonk, Massachusetts, as the "Lance Corporal Eric Paul Valdepenas Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1501 South Slappey Boulevard in Albany, Georgia, as the "Dr. Walter Carl Gordon, Jr. Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2025
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.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 801 Industrial Boulevard in Ellijay, Georgia, as the "First Lieutenant Noah Harris Ellijay Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to exempt from the prohibition on receiving direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments when the sum of a farm's base acres is 10 acres or less: (1) a farm owned by a socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmer or rancher; or (2) a producer whose aggregate total base acres of all farms are greater than 10 acres, including farms owned by a producer or operated by a producer with the owner's concurrence, including farms operated under a crop-share lease arrangement. Permits a producer to reconstitute any farms to exceed the 10 base acre minimum through consolidation of the farms' base acreage.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4 South Main Street in Wallingford, Connecticut, as the "CWO Richard R. Lee Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
ADA Amendments Act of 2008 - Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to redefine the term "disability," including by defining "major life activities" and "being regarded as having such an impairment." Sets forth rules of construction regarding the definition of "disability," including that: (1) such term shall be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals under the Act; (2) an impairment that substantially limits one major life activity need not limit other major life activities in order to be a disability; (3) an impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active; and (4) the determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity shall be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of specified mitigating measures. Prohibits employment discrimination against a qualified individual on the basis of disability. (Current law prohibits employment discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability.) Prohibits the use of qualification standards, employment tests, or other selection criteria based on an individual's uncorrected vision unless the standard, test, or other selection criteria, as used by the covered entity, is shown to be related to the position and is consistent with business necessity. Declares that nothing in the Act: (1) alters the standards for determining eligibility for benefits under state worker's compensation laws or under state and federal disability benefit programs; (2) alters the requirement to make reasonable modifications in policies or procedures, unless such modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations involved; or (3) provides the basis for a claim by an individual without a disability that the individual was subject to discrimination because of the individual's lack of disability. Declares that the authority of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations includes the authority to issue regulations implementing the definitions of this Act. Makes conforming amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2024
Libyan Claims Resolution Act - States that Congress supports the President's efforts to provide fair compensation to all U.S. nationals who have terrorism-related claims against Libya as part of the process of restoring normal U.S.-Libya relations. Defines "claims agreement" as a binding international agreement between the United States and Libya that provides for the settlement of terrorism-related claims of U.S. nationals against Libya through fair compensation Authorizes the Secretary of State, after consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, to designate one or more entities to assist in providing compensation to U.S. nationals pursuant to a claims agreement. States that: (1) upon such designation property that relates to the claims agreement and that is held by or transferred to or from a designated entity shall be immune from attachment or any other judicial process; (2) such entity and any person acting through or on its behalf shall not be liable in any federal or state court for any action taken to implement a claims agreement; and (3) such entity shall not be subject to the Government Corporation Control Act. Exempts Libya (and related instrumentalities and individuals) from specified property liens and attachments, limitations on foreign jurisdictional immunity, and private rights of action if the Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the U.S. government has received sufficient funds pursuant to the claims agreement to ensure: (1) payment of specified settlements to the Pan Am 103 victims’ families, the LaBelle Disco bombing victims, and other relevant terrorism cases; and (2) fair compensation of specified claims by U.S. nationals against Libya for wrongful death or physical injury in cases pending on the date of enactment of this Act. (Applies such provisions only to conduct or events occurring before June 30, 2006.) States that the designation and certification authorities under this Act: (1) are within the Secretary's sole discretion and may not be delegated; and (2) are not subject to judicial review.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 Vine Street in New Lenox, Illinois, as the "Jacob M. Lowell Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008 - Amends federal copyright law to: (1) authorize, in lieu of a criminal action, civil copyright enforcement by the Attorney General; (2) provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions; and (3) provide a safe harbor for copyright registrations that contain inaccurate information. Amends the Trademark Act to: (1) revise treble damages provisions and double statutory damages in counterfeiting cases; and (2) prohibit the transshipment and exportation of goods bearing infringing marks. Prohibits the importation (current law), transshipment, or exportation, without the authority of the owner of copyright, of copies or phonorecords. Revises civil and criminal forfeiture provisions, including under the Economic Espionage Act. Directs the President to appoint an Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator who shall: (1) chair the interagency intellectual property enforcement advisory committee established by this Act; and (2) coordinate the development, and assist in the implementation, of the Joint Strategic Plan against counterfeiting and piracy by such advisory committee. Amends the Computer Crime Enforcement Act to allow existing grants to combat computer crime to be used for activities relating to infringement of copyrighted works over the Internet. Requires the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for training, prevention, enforcement, and prosecution of intellectual property theft and infringement crimes. Requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to: (1) create an operational unit to work with the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property section of the DOJ on the investigation and coordination of complex intellectual property crimes; and (2) implement a comprehensive intellectual property crime program. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) create a task force to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to investigate and prosecute international organized crime syndicates engaging in crimes relating to intellectual property theft; and (2) subject to appropriations, deploy five additional Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinators in foreign countries.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Grants congressional consent to and approval of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact as set forth in this resolution's preamble. Declares that current laws provide protection sufficient to prevent Great Lakes diversions until a Great Lakes water compact is ratified and enforceable.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2026
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. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitation on contributions to funeral trusts. Makes this Act effective with respect to any such discharge granted after September 11, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2025
Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or a state with an approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, from requiring an NPDES permit for a covered vessel for the next two years for any discharge: (1) of effluent from properly functioning marine engines; (2) of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes; or (3) that is incidental to the normal operation of a covered vessel. Defines "covered vessel" to mean a vessel that is less than 79 feet in length or a fishing vessel. Requires the Administrator to evaluate the impacts of such discharges, excluding discharges: (1) from a vessel of the Armed Forces; (2) of sewage from a vessel, other than the discharge of graywater from a vessel operating on the Great Lakes; and (3) of ballast water. Provides that such prohibition does not apply with respect to: (1) rubbish, trash, garbage, or other such materials discharged overboard; (2) other discharges when the vessel is operating in a capacity other than as a means of transportation; (3) ballast water discharges; or (4) any discharge that contributes to a violation of a water quality standard or poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Extends through calendar year 2013 the authority of the United States Supreme Court Police to protect court officials off the Supreme Court grounds. Changes the title of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice to Counselor to the Chief Justice.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2026
Transfers from the director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to the Secretary of Commerce the authority to appoint administrative patent judges and administrative trademark judges. Requires the Secretary to consult with the director on such appointments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2025
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1750 Lundy Avenue in San Jose, California, as the "Gordon N. Chan Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2025
Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008 - Amends federal copyright law to specify that the design of a vessel's hull, deck, or combination of a hull and deck, including a plug or mold are protected (currently, only the design of the vessel hull is protected, including a plug or mold). Requires that Department of Defense (DOD) rights in a registered design, including the right to build to such a design, be determined solely by provisions of federal Armed Forces law relating to rights in technical data or by the instrument under which the design was developed for the U.S. government. Redefines "useful article" and "hull." Defines "deck" as the horizontal surface of the vessel that covers the hull, including exterior cabin and cockpit surfaces, and exclusive of masts, sails, yards, rigging, hardware, fixtures, and other attachments.