More Information
Wikipedia Article
Sponsored Bills
Releases any reversionary interests of the United States (including interests under the Union Pacific Railroad Act) in and to specified railroad lands in the City of Reno, Nevada, that were originally granted to the Union Pacific Railroad under the provisions of such Act.
- Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force (Force) to facilitate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers and agents during major disasters. Outlines Force eligibility requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to request eligible participants to assist efforts of federal, state, or local government law enforcement agencies in responding to such disasters.
- Requires a participant to remain in an assignment for the lesser of: (1) the period during which the law enforcement agency needs such services; or (2) 30 days.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the payment of insurance premiums for high deductible health plans from health savings accounts.
- Establishes in the Department of Defense (DOD) a Deputy Secretary of Defense for Management (Deputy Secretary) to: (1) serve as the Chief Management Officer of DOD; and (2) act as principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to the management of DOD, including defense business activities.
- Makes the Deputy Secretary responsible to the Secretary for development, approval, implementation, integration, and oversight for the management of DOD that relate to performance of the the following functions: (1) planning and budgeting, including performance measurement; (2) acquisition; (3) logistics; (4) facilities, installations, and environment; (5) financial management; (6) human resources and personnel; and (7) management of information resources.
- Requires the Deputy Secretary, among other things, to: (1) develop and maintain a department-wide strategic plan for defense business reform; and (2) establish performance goals and measures for improving and evaluating overall DOD economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.
- [View bill for full summary]
- Amends the federal judicial code to divide the Ninth Judicial Circuit into the Ninth Circuit (to be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and the Twelfth Circuit (to be composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington).
- Requires the President to appoint five additional circuit judges for the new Ninth Circuit and two temporary judges for the former Ninth Circuit, to be stationed in California.
- Specifies the locations where new circuits are to hold regular sessions. Locates the offices of the new Twelfth Circuit in Phoenix, Arizona.
- [View bill for full summary]
View All
Co-Sponsored Bills
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Small Public Water System Assistance Program, including a program for Indian tribes, to assist small water systems in complying with national primary drinking water regulations.
- Requires the withholding of 20% of U.S. contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations and other applicable international organizations until the President certifies that neither the United Nations (or U.N. agencies) nor any other international organization has authority under U.S. law to impose, or has imposed or proposed, taxes or fees on the U.S. government, states, or U.S. corporations or nationals.
- States that such provision shall not apply to: (1) fees for publications or other fees that are not tantamount to a tax on U.S. citizens; (2) the World Intellectual Property Organization; or (3) staff assessment costs of the United Nations and its agencies.
- Adds Rule XLIV (Earmarks) to the Standing Rules of the Senate to make it out of order to consider any Senate bill or joint resolution reported, or not reported, by a committee unless a list of all its congressional earmarks, limited tax or tariff benefits, and the name of the requesting Member is made available to the general public on the Internet for at least 48 hours before its consideration.
- Requires, if appropriate, a statement for the Internet, or if the legislation was not reported by a committee, publication in the Congressional Record, that the legislation contains no congressional earmarks or limited tax or tariff benefits.
- Makes it out of order to consider a conference report on such legislation if the joint explanatory statement does not include such list or disclaimer.
- [View bill for full summary]
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), notwithstanding any other provision of any Act, from having the authority to require broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance, commonly referred to as the Fairness Doctrine.
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. (who performed the first successful coronary bypass, pioneered the field of telemedicine, was elected the first President of Baylor College of Medicine, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction and the National Medal of Science) in recognition of his many outstanding contributions to the nation.
View All