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Bills Sponsored By Rep. Rush Holt (109th Congress)Expresses support for the goals and ideas of National Donate Life Month (April 2005). Encourages Americans to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and to discuss such donation with their families and friends. Requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation. Recognizes the importance of the men and women who have served or who currently serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. Supports the designation of an appropriate week as Hire a Veteran Week. Encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling upon employers, labor organizations, veterans service organizations, and Federal, State, and local governmental agencies (including such agencies in the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States) to lend their support to increase employment of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Recognizes the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's promulgation of Nostra Aetate, the declaration on the relation of the Roman Catholic Church to non-Christian religions. Expresses appreciation for the role of the Holy See in combating religious intolerance and religious discrimination. Encourages the United States to continue to serve in a leading role in combating anti-Semitism and other forms of religious intolerance and religious discrimination worldwide. Acknowledges the role of Nostra Aetate in fostering interreligious dialogue and mutual respect, including, in particular, new relationships of collaboration and dialogue between Jews and Catholics.
Commends the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on the 60th anniversary of publication. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the study of languages contributes to the intellectual and social development of a student and the economy and security of the United States; (2) there should be a Year of Languages in the United States, during which language study is promoted and expanded in schools, businesses, and government programs; and (3) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to encourage and support initiatives to promote and expand the study of languages, and observe a Year of Languages with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other activities. Requests the President to transmit to the House of Representatives (House), within 14 days of the adoption of this resolution, all documents in the possession of the President relating to the disclosure of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the period beginning on May 6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003. Directs: (1) the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, CIA Director, and Attorney General to each transmit to the House, within such 14 days, all documents in possession of such officials relating to such disclosure during such period; and (2) the CIA Director to transmit to the House, within such 14 days, the results of any internal investigation by the CIA into such disclosure, whether such results (or reports) are in draft or final form. Resolved, That the Secretary of Defense is directed to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than the date that is 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, all documents, including telephone and electronic mail records, logs and calendars, personnel records, and records of internal discussions in the possession of the Secretary of Defense relating to the disclosure of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency during the period beginning on May 6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003. Resolved , That the President is requested to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than the date that is 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, all documents, including telephone and electronic mail records, logs and calendars, personnel records, and records of internal discussions in the possession of the President relating to the disclosure of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency during the period beginning on May 6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003. Resolved , That the Secretary of State is directed to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than the date that is 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, all documents, including telephone and electronic mail records, logs and calendars, personnel records, and records of internal discussions in the possession of the Secretary of State relating to the disclosure of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency during the period beginning on May 6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003. Resolved , That the Attorney General is directed to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than the date that is 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, all documents, including telephone and electronic mail records, logs and calendars, personnel records, and records of internal discussions in the possession of the Attorney General relating to the disclosure of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency during the period beginning on May 6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003. Recognizes that the important contributions of chemical scientists and engineers to technological progress and the health of many industries have created new jobs, boosted economic growth, and improved the Nation's health and standard of living. Supports the goals of National Chemistry Week as founded by the American Chemical Society. Encourages the people of the United States to observe National Chemistry Week with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of chemistry to our everyday lives.
School Environment Protection Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) establish a National School Integrated Pest Management Advisory System to develop and update uniform standards and criteria for implementing integrated pest management systems in schools; (2) establish a National School Integrated Pest Management Advisory Board; (3) provide grants to local educational agencies to develop such systems. Prohibits: (1) the application of a pesticide when a school or school ground is occupied or in use; or (2) the use of an area or room treated by a pesticide, other than a least toxic pesticide, during the 24-hour period beginning at the end of the treatment. Requires each local educational agency or school to provide notice of the integrated pest management system of the school district at the beginning of each school year and to give prior notice of any use of a pesticide (other than a least toxic pesticide). Prescribes procedures to be followed if a pest cannot be controlled after having used an integrated pest management system and least toxic pesticides. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act. Establishes the Integrated Pest Management Trust Fund to carry out education, training, propagation, and development activities under school integrated pest management systems. Prohibits, no later than six years after this Act's enactment, the use of any pesticide other than a least toxic pesticide in schools unless the Administrator has met the requirements of this Act. Requires the President to take such actions as are necessary, in accordance with specified laws and treaties, to ensure the videotaping of interrogations and other intelligence-related interactions between detainees or prisoners under the effective control of the U.S. Armed Forces, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. intelligence operatives, or contractors of the United States. Directs the President to provide for the appropriate classification of such videotapes. Requires such videotapes to be made available, under seal if appropriate, to both the prosecution and defense if material to any military or civilian criminal proceeding. Requires the President to take necessary actions to ensure immediate and unfettered access to detainees or prisoners in the custody or effective control of the U.S. Armed Forces by the following organizations: (1) International Federation of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent; (2) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and (3) United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. Directs the Judge Advocate General to develop guidelines to ensure that the videotaping required by this Act is sufficiently expansive to prevent any abuse of detainees and prisoners and violations of specified laws and treaties.
Prohibits the application of the annual updates (prescribed in the Federal Register on December 23, 2004) to the allowance for State and other taxes in the tables used in the Federal Needs Analysis Methodology to determine a student's expected family contribution for the award year 2005-2006 under the Higher Education Act of 1965, to the extent such updates will reduce the amount of Federal student assistance for which the student is eligible.
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish programs to encourage early foreign language instruction, including grants to: (1) partnerships of institutions of higher education (IHEs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) for activities relating to foreign language instruction at elementary or secondary schools, with priorities for high-need LEAs and less-commonly taught foreign languages; and (2) IHEs that develop innovative programs for the teaching of foreign languages, with priorities for combining foreign languages with science and technology and for less-commonly taught foreign languages. Provides undergraduate student loan forgiveness of up to $10,000 for students who major in a critical foreign language and are employed as teachers of such language in elementary or secondary schools or as using such language regularly in a Federal agency. Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) establish a foreign language education marketing campaign to encourage students at secondary schools and IHEs to study foreign languages, particularly ones less commonly taught and critical to national security; and (2) conduct a study to identify foreign language heritage communities and recruit speakers of such critical languages. Amends the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 to establish an International Flagship Language Initiative with grants to IHEs.
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate, until there is both a Social Security and Medicare solvency certification by the Boards of Trustees of the Social Security and Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Funds, respectively, to consider: (1) any concurrent budget resolution that would use any portion of the baseline budget surpluses; or (2) any legislation or amendment if the enactment of such legislation or amendment would use any portion of such surpluses. Defines "baseline budget surplus" as the sum of the on- and off-budget surpluses contained in the most recent baseline budget projections by the Congressional Budget Office at the beginning of the annual budget cycle and no later than the month of March. Defines circumstances in which a portion of such surpluses is used in the case of legislation affecting revenues or direct spending or an appropriations bill. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the tax deduction for qualified higher education tuition and related expenses. Makes such tax deduction permanent. Increases adjusted gross income limits for purposes of determining the allowable amount of the Hope Scholarship tax credit. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an annual study to examine whether the Federal income tax incentives to provide education assistance affect higher education tuition rates in order to identify if institutions of higher education are absorbing the intended savings by raising tuition rates. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the maximum Pell Grant should be increased to $4,700 to pay approximately: (1) 20 percent of the tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses of the average college; or (2) the tuition and fees of the average public college.
Amends Federal military pay provisions to remove the requirement that, in order for enlisted members of the reserves who are selected to attend one of the military academy preparatory schools to continue to be paid at their enlisted pay rate, such members, prior to such selection, must have been on active duty for more than 30 days. Allows such individuals to be paid at their enlisted rate or the rate provided for cadets and midshipmen, whichever is greater. Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to: (1) voter verification and mandatory paper record audit capacity; and (2) accessibility and voter verification of results for individuals with disabilities. Requires the Election Assistance Commission to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of voter-verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities and for voters whose primary language is not English, including best practices for the mechanisms themselves and the process through which the mechanisms are used. Outlines additional voting system requirements. Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software. Provides for the filing of complaints by aggrieved persons with the Attorney General. Extends the authorization of Election Assistance Commission permanently. Makes available additional funding to enable States to meet the costs of the requirements imposed by this Act. Directs the Election Assistance Commission to conduct random, unannounced, hand counts of the voter-verified records for each Federal general election in at least two percent of the precincts in each State. Requires Federal certification of the technological security of voter registration lists. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Amends the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the American Battlefield Protection Program, to establish an acquisition grant program for battlefields and associated sites identified in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Historic Preservation Study (battlefield report). Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to States or local governments (eligible entities) to pay the Federal share of the cost of acquiring such sites. Permits eligible entities to acquire an interest in eligible sites using such grants in partnership with nonprofit organizations. Requires the non-Federal share of the cost of acquisition of eligible sites to be not less than 50 percent of the total. Subjects acquired property to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act's prohibition against conversion to other than public outdoor recreation uses without the Secretary's approval. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a report on activities carried out under this Act and updates to the battlefield report. Establishes the American Veterans Congressional Internship Program, under which each Member of the House of Representatives may hire for a maximum 12-month period, one additional employee who meets specified eligibility criteria to serve as the American Veteran Congressional Intern. Provides that such employment by a Member and the payment of the Intern's salary shall be in addition to all personnel and allowances otherwise made available to Members under other provisions of law, rule, or other authority. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide access and assistance to increase college attendance and completion by part-time students. Exempts from student aid need formula determinations earnings up to: (1) $9,000 by dependent students; (2) $12,000 by independent students with no dependents (other than spouse); and (3) $12,000 by independent students with dependents (other than spouse). Provides for a formula for a revised table of income protection allowances. Exempts earned income credits from the calculation of income. Revises and expands a program (child care access means parents in school) which provides grants to institutions of higher education for child care assistance for low-income students. Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a year-round Pell grant pilot program. Authorizes a demonstration program to create a holistic approach to addressing the needs of part-time students. Allows such program to: (1) be at up to 150 associates and bachelors degree-granting institutions; and (2) include grants, leveraging funds from non-Federal sources, comprehensive child care, and better tailored remedial course programs. Provide, in accordance with regulations of the Secretary, that direct care staff providing health-related services to a person with a developmental disability or traumatic brain injury are required to call the 911 emergency telephone service or equivalent emergency management service for assistance in the event of a life-threatening emergency to such person and to report such call to the appropriate State agency or department.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request that the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) conduct a study to: (1) identify constraints encountered by schools of nursing in admitting and graduating the number of registered nurses necessary to ensure patient safety and meet the need for quality assurance in the provision of health care; and (2) develop recommendations to alleviate the constraints on a short-term and long-term basis. Directs the Secretary to provide that the study consider the perspectives of: (1) nurses and physicians in inpatient, outpatient, and residential facilities; (2) faculty and administrators of nursing schools; (3) providers of health plans or health insurance; and (4) consumers. In General- Section 1860D-42 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-152) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: Benefits Have No Impact on Benefits Under Other Federal Programs- Benefits under this part, including the availability of negotiated prices under this part and premium and cost-sharing subsidies under section 1860D-14, shall not be treated as benefits or otherwise taken into account in determining an individual's eligibility for, or the amount of benefits under, any other Federal program.'. Effective Date- The amendment made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 101(a) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173; 117 Stat. 2071). Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, report to Congress on the potential fuel savings from intelligent transportation systems that help businesses and consumers to plan their travel and avoid delays. These systems may include web-based real-time transit information systems, congestion information systems, carpool information systems, parking information systems, freight route management, and traffic management systems. The report shall include analysis of fuel savings, analysis of system costs, assessment of local, State, and regional differences in applicability, and evaluation of case studies, best practices, and emerging technologies from both the private and public sector.
Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to provide grants to: (1) state educational agencies and local educational agencies for providing intensive technical assistance for, and assisting the implementation of, the EnergySmart Schools Program of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Star for K-12 School Districts program of the Environmental Protection Agency; and (2) state educational agencies for use in the development, in partnership with DOE, of state-level school energy efficiency quality plans. Requires the Secretary to give priority to projects to provide assistance to school districts with a demonstrated need for energy efficiency improvement. Authorizes appropriations. Amends federal law to prohibit any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, from knowingly deceiving any other person regarding: (1) the time, place, or manner of conducting any federal election; or (2) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility for any such election. Creates a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation of such prohibition. Amends the federal criminal code to prescribe a criminal penalty for such deceptive acts. Authorizes any person to report a deceptive act to the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (or a designee). Requires the Assistant Attorney General to investigate such a report within 48 hours after its receipt and provide correct information to the voters if it is determined that an act of deception occurred. Requires an immediate investigation if such a report is received within 72 hours before an election. Directs the Assistant Attorney General, in such an instance, to undertake immediately all effective measures necessary to provide correct information to voters affected by the deception, and to refer the matter immediately to the appropriate federal and state authorities for criminal prosecution. Directs the Attorney General to study the feasibility of providing such corrective information through public service announcements, the emergency alert system, or other forms of public broadcast.
Amends the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 to create a Critical Foreign Language Program. Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide grants to five institutions of higher education to establish such program to collaborate with elementary schools and secondary schools for language learning pipelines to train students from kindergarten through college to be proficient in those foreign languages that the Secretary identifies as being the most critical in the interests of U.S. national security. Amends the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 to revise the service requirements for certain National Security Scholarship and Fellowship recipients. Repeals the conditions that a recipient work: (1) one year of service for each year for which the scholarship or fellowship assistance was provided; and (2) in order to utilize the unique language and region expertise acquired by the recipient pursuant to such study. Requires the recipient to work at least one year in a position contributing to national security in the Department of Defense (as under current law), any element of the intelligence community (as under current law), the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of State. Allows the recipient to work at least one year in such a position in any other federal agency if none is available in any of the primary departments specified, or if none is available in another federal agency, at least one academic year in a position in a field of education in a discipline related to the studies supported by the scholarship or fellowship.
Electoral Fairness Act of 2006 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to revise requirements for: (1) treatment of provisional ballots cast at incorrect polling places; (2) minimum contents of provisional ballots; (3) treatment of voters who vote after closing of polling places; and (4) treatment of ballots after casting. Sets forth requirements for ensuring adequate staff and equipment at polling places. Applies certain election administration requirements to early voting sites. Provides for: (1) the availability of additional funds to enable states to meet requirements with respect to adequate staff and equipment at polling places; and (2) the issuance of durable voter registration cards. Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to prescribe notice and review requirements for removal of individuals from the official list of eligible voters by reason other than change of residence. Revises requirements for the contents and treatment of voter registration forms. Requires state or local election officials to ensure the availability of updated information for registered voters.
Directs the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain, on the public website of the Department of Education, a database of information on public and private programs of financial assistance for the study of postsecondary and graduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Requires that such database: (1) provide separate information for each field of study; (2) be searchable by category and combinations of categories; (3) indicate programs targeted toward specific demographic groups; and (4) provide searchers with program sponsor contact information and hyperlinks.
Establishes the Congressional Teacher Award Task Force to designate a nonprofit organization to operate a Congressional Teacher Award program which will provide an award to one excellent elementary or secondary school teacher in each congressional district each year. Authorizes the program to provide professional development scholarships to award recipients. Sets forth award eligibility requirements, which include letters of recommendation from a principal, a fellow teacher, and a student.
Accelerating the Creation of Teachers of Influence for Our Nation Act - Directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a program providing competitive scholarships to undergraduate students who study science, engineering, or mathematics and earn their elementary or secondary teaching certificate. Requires such students to serve as elementary or secondary school science or mathematics teachers for five years, if they have received at least three years of assistance, and three years, if the assistance was of shorter duration. Subtracts one year from such service requirements if the student teaches at a school serving a high proportion of disadvantaged students. Allows students who have received at least one year of assistance to apply for up to two years of additional assistance in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics Master's degree program. Increases the teaching service obligation by one year for each additional year of assistance. Establishes a government trust fund for donations to the NSF scholarship program. Requires the NSF Director to establish a program awarding competitive annual $1 million grants to institutions of higher education for the development and implementation of programs providing: (1) undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering degrees; (2) elementary or secondary teacher certification; and (3) professional development and mentoring activities. Requires recipients to kick in an additional $200,000 for the grants. Includes within a list of factors winning preference for applicants, proposals to: (1) provide students with summer internships with researchers in their field; and (2) enter into partnerships with private sector entities and other institutions of higher education. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to provide competitive scholarships to students in undergraduate science, engineering, technology, or mathematics programs. Requires the Director to award annual $5,000 grants to institutions of higher education attended by at least 10 such scholarship recipients to develop programs which provide: (1) such recipients with interaction, on a monthly basis, with speakers in the science, engineering, technology, or mathematics disciplines who work in business, industry, elementary or secondary education, museums, or other informal educational settings; (2) annual poster sessions through which recipients present their research efforts; (3) outreach to middle and high school students; and (4) recipient mentoring. Requires the Director to establish a website where current, former, and potential scholarship recipients can share ideas, present work, and learn of research opportunities.
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