The POPVOX Blog

Articles From July 2012, page 1

  1. PRESS CLIP: Civic Startups Introduce New Technology to Government

    by kentai on July 31, 2012

    Civic Startups Introduce New Technology to Government on PBS NewsHour

  2. The Week Ahead for Congress: July 30 - Aug 3

    by rachna on July 29, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 30 — August 3

    From our Hill Sources: This is scheduled to be the last week of work in Congress before members take the August break. The House is expected to pass a Republican tax plan, and the Senate will try to make progress on a cybersecurity bill.

    In the Senate

    • S 3414 The Cybersecurity Act: This bill would aims to boost cybersecurity for the nation's financial, transportation and other systems. The Senate advanced the bill last week, and on Monday is scheduled to hold another procedural vote.

    In the House

    • HR 8 The Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act: This Republican bill extends all current tax levels for individuals and companies, which were first put in place under the Bush administration and were later extended under the Obama administration.
    • S 3412 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act is a Democratic bill, which the Senate approved last week (number one on POPVOX). It would extend current tax rates for everyone except individuals earning more than $200,000 a year, or couples earning more than $250,000 a year.

        In the House this week, Republicans will allow a vote on a Democratic amendment that is expected to be similar to the Senate bill, although it is not expected to pass.

    • HR 6169 The Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code Act: This GOP bill would lay out a path for passage of a tax reform bill in 2013. Republicans have said the tax extension bill (HR 8) would serve as a "bridge" to significant tax reform next year.

        The bill prescribes a simplification of the tax code, creating two brackets for individual income and a simpler and reduced rate for corporations. It also recommends the elimination of many special interest tax breaks.

    • Farm bill Farm program extension: The House is expected to pass a bill (it does not yet have a number) that extends federal farm programs for one year, as Republicans were unable to agree to a longer-term bill. The bill would also extend disaster aid for farmers for one year.
    • HR 3803 The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act: This bill would make it illegal to perform in the District of Columbia for a pregnancy of more than 20 weeks.

        Though the bill may be intensely debated on the Floor, it is unlikely to pass, given the 2/3 majority vote requirement for any bill brought under a "suspension of the rules." Given Democratic opposition, it is not expected to reach the two-thirds threshold.

    In addition to the DC Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, there are 30 other bills that will be considered in the House next week under a suspension of House rules:

    Other bills of interest

    Last week, the House passed two deregulation bills that were number four and five on POPVOX last week:

    These other bills also received attention from POPVOX users:

    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill, number nine on POPVOX, would require the Obama administration to report to Congress within 30 days on its plans to cut spending in January to comply with the so-called "sequester." The Senate passed this bill last week, and because the House has already approved it, it goes to the White House for President Obama to sign into law.
    • HR 459 The Federal Reserve Transparency Act: This bill, from Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), would require a full audit of the Federal Reserve, including its decisions setting interest rates. It easily passed the House last week, but the Senate has not said whether it would consider the bill.

    Missed a bill last week? Check out the round up.

    (If you'd like this alert emailed to you directly once a week, please send me an email at rachna@popvox.com.)

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  3. Weekly Bill Round Up: July 27

    by rachna on July 28, 2012

    Round Up: Week of July 23 - 27

    See which bills, resolutions and treaties were the most popular among POPVOX users in our weekly round-up. Want to be a part of the POPVOXnation conversation? Please join us on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for using POPVOX!

    Top Bills of the Week

    For the second week in a row, the NASA funding proposal came in as the most popular among POPVOX users.

    • NASA #1 Doubling Funding for NASA
    • S 3412 #2 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act
    • HR 459 #3 The Federal Reserve Transparency Act
    • HR 6079 #4 The Repeal of Obamacare Act
    • HR 6082 #5 Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan
    • HR 4078 #6 The Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act
    • HR 4157 #7 The Preserving America's Family Farms Act
    • S 3369 #8 The DISCLOSE Act
    • HR 5859 #9 To repeal an obsolete provision requiring motor vehicles insurance cost reporting
    • HR 5872 #10 The Sequestration Transparency Act
    • HR 2362 #11 The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act
    • LOST #12 The Law of the Sea Treaty
    • HR 3388 #13 The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act
    • S 1335 #14 The Pilot's Bill of Rights Act
    • HR 4484 #15 The Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act
    • S 2205 #16 The Second Amendment Sovereignty Act
    • HR 1237 #17 To provide for a land exchange with the Trinity Public Utilities District of Trinity County, Ca
    • HR 2467 #18 Bridgeport Indian Colony Land Trust, Health and Economic Development Act
    • HR 5846 #19 The Second Amendment Sovereignty Act
    • HR 3432 #20 The Rural Economic Vitalization Act

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  4. New Bills in Congress: July 23 - 27

    by rachna on July 26, 2012

    Here is the list of newly introduced bills -- one of the most popular requests among POPVOX users. We hope you'll weigh in on these bills and share the list with your friends and networks.

    House Bills

    • HR 8 The Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act: To extend certain tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003.
    • HR 6183 : To protect cyber privacy.
    • HR 6182 The American Advanced Energy Manufacturing Jobs Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and expand the credit for qualifying advanced energy projects.
    • HR 6181 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain improvements in the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit.
    • HR 6180 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the alternative minimum tax from effectively repealing the Federal tax exemption for interest on State and local private activity bonds.
    • HR 6179 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend for 1 year the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the disregard of tax refunds for purposes of Federal, and federally-assisted, programs.
    • HR 6178 The Economic Growth and Development Act: To direct the President to establish an interagency mechanism to coordinate United States development programs and private sector investment activities.
    • HR 6177 The Support Our Startups Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction for start-up expenditures for business for 2012 and 2013.
    • HR 6176 The Aligning Incentives for Better Patient Care Act: To amend the Social Security Act to permit hospitals to make incentive payments to physicians to promote quality and efficiency.
    • HR 6175 The National Park Service Study Act: To authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the National Park System.
    • HR 6174 The Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act: To amend section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve and clarify certain disclosure requirements for restaurants, similar retail food establishments, and vending machines.
    • HR 6173 The Protecting Life in Funding Education Act (PRO-LIFE Act): To amend the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit Federal education funding for elementary schools and secondary schools that provide on-campus access to abortion providers.
    • HR 6172 : To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing any rule imposing any standard of performance for carbon dioxide emissions from any existing or new source that is a fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating unit unless and until carbon capture and storage is found to be technologically and economically feasible.
    • HR 6171 The Protecting Veterans Pension ActTo amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider the resources of individuals applying for pension that were recently disposed of by the individuals for less than fair market value when determining the eligibility of such individuals for such pension.
    • HR 6170 The Saving Essential American Sailors Act: To amend title 46, United States Code, to reinstate provisions requiring that a percentage of aid provided by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Commodity Credit Corporation in the form of certain agricultural commodities or their products must be transported on commercial vessels of the United States.
    • HR 6169 The Pathway to Job Creation through a Simpler, Fairer Tax Code Act: To provide for expedited consideration of a bill providing for comprehensive tax reform.
    • HR 6168 President Obama’s Proposed 2012-2017 Offshore Drilling Lease Sale Plan Act: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to implement the Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program (2012-2017) in accordance with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and other applicable law.
    • HR 6167 Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act: To extend supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs.
    • HR 6165 The Responsible Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require certain nonresident aliens to provide valid immigration documents to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit.
    • HR 6164 : To approve the construction, operation, and maintenance of the northern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline from the Canadian border to the South Dakota/Nebraska border.
    • HR 6163 The National Pediatric Research Network Act: To amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to provide for a National Pediatric Research Network, including with respect to pediatric rare diseases or conditions.
    • HR 6162 The Ensuring Women's Access to Free- Market Healthcare Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit health plans without a deductible for prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care to be treated as high deductible plans with respect to health savings accounts.
    • HR 6161 The Fostering Innovation Act: To provide an exemption for low-revenue companies from certain SEC regulations.
    • HR 6160 The Stop Tampering of Prescription Pills Act: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to incentivize the development of tamper-resistant drugs.
    • HR 6159 The Flight School Security Act: To amend title 49, United States Code, to require that individuals seeking training in the operation of certain aircraft be checked against the terrorist watchlist to ensure that such individuals are non-threats to aviation.
    • HR 6158 The Protecting Independence in the Education of Loan Originators Act: To amend the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to specify that courses offered by lenders for their own employees may not satisfy the pre-licensing education or continuing education requirement.
    • HR 6157 The Patient Centered Quality Care for Life Act: To create a patient-centered quality of care initiative for seriously ill patients through the establishment of a stakeholder strategic summit, quality of life education and awareness initiative, health care workforce training, an advisory committee, and palliative care focused research.
    • HR 6156 The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act: To authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization.
    • HR 6155 The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act: To amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of permanent faculty in palliative care at accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, nursing schools, and other programs, to promote education in palliative care and hospice, and to support the development of faculty careers in academic palliative medicine.
    • HR 6154 The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act: To promote the development of renewable energy on public lands.
    • HR 6153  : To require the holder of a subordinate lien on the property that secures a federally related mortgage loan, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a timely decision whether to allow the sale.

    Senate Bills

    • S 3429 The Veterans Jobs Corps Act: A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a veterans jobs corps.
    • S 3428 The Renewable Fuel Standard Flexibility Act: A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to partially waive the renewable fuel standard when corn inventories are low.
    • S 3427 : A bill to permanently extend the employer-provided child care credit under section 45F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    • S 3426 The Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic Lending Act (SAFE Lending Act): A bill to amend the Truth in Lending Act to address certain issues related to the extension of consumer credit.
    • S 3425 The Offshoring Notification Act: A bill to amend the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to provide a notice requirement regarding offshoring.
    • S 3424 The Billfish Conservation Act: A bill to prohibit the sale of billfish.
    • S 3423 The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Protection Act: A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Beaver, Chipuxet, Queen, Wood, and Pawcatuck Rivers in the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
    • S 3422 The Billfish Conservation Act: A bill to prohibit the sale of billfish.
    • S 3421 The Worker Ownership, Readiness, and Knowledge Act (WORK Act): A bill to establish an Employee Ownership and Participation Initiative.
    • S 3420 The Permanent Tax Relief Act: A bill to permanently extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, to provide for permanent alternative minimum tax relief, and to repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes
    • S 3419 The United States Employee Ownership Bank Act: A bill to provide for the establishment of the United States Employee Ownership Bank.
    • S 3418 The Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training Practices Act (BEST Practices Act): A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to use only human-based methods for training members of the Armed Forces in the treatment of severe combat injuries.
    • S 3417 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily extend tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003, to provide for temporary alternative minimum tax relief, to extend increased expensing limitations, and to provide instructions for tax reform.
    • S 3416 The Stronger Enforcement of Civil Penalties Act: A bill to enhance civil penalties under the Federal securities laws.
    • S 3415 The Government Transparency and Recordkeeping Act: A bill to require the disclosure of all payments made under the Equal Access to Justice Act.

    House Resolutions

    • HRes 739 : Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6083) to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2017.
    • HRes 737 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day.

    Senate Resolutions

    • SRes 526 : A resolution designating November 2012 as “Stomach Cancer Awareness Month” and supporting efforts to educate the public about stomach cancer.
    • SRes 525 : A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Oswaldo Paya Sardinas.

    House Concurrent Resolutions

    (used to take action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and the Senate)

    • HCRes 134 Condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous atrocities that occurred in Aurora, Colorado.
    • HCRes 133 Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol for an event to present the Congressional Gold Medal to Arnold Palmer, in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf.
    • HCRes 132 Providing funding to ensure the printing and production of the authorized number of copies of the revised and updated version of the House document entitled “Hispanic Americans in Congress”.

    Senate Concurrent Resolutions

    (used to take action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and the Senate)

    • SCRes 53 : A concurrent resolution honoring the victims of the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting and condemning the atrocities that occurred in Aurora, Colorado.
    • SCRes 52  A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2013 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022.

    House Joint Resolutions

    (used to pose constitutional amendments, fix technical errors or to appropriate)

    • HJRes 115 Supporting the establishment of a Presidential Youth Council.

    Senate Joint Resolutions

    (used to pose constitutional amendments, fix technical errors or to appropriate)

    Missed a bill? See previous lists of new bills, from July 9 - 13, June 9 - 29, and May 28 - June 8.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  5. Mid-Week Update, July 26

    by rachna on July 26, 2012

    Mid-week Update, July 26

    Here's the mid-week update from our Hill Sources. (Yes, it's Thursday, so not technically "mid-week," but Congress has been busy...and so have our Hill Sources!)

    • S 3412 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act: In a surprise move, the Senate approved this Democratic bill Wednesday, after Republicans allowed its approval by a simple majority vote. The bill would extend the lower tax rates established under the Bush administration, but only for individuals earning less than $200,000, and couples earning less than $250,000.

        The Senate barely approved it in a 51-48 vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding, in case his vote was needed to break a tie. Just before, the Senate rejected a Republican amendment to extend all Bush-era tax levels, including those for high-income earners. The House is not expected to take up the bill.

        Senate passage puts pressure on the House to approve some tax bill, which it plans to do next week. The House is expected to approve a bill extending all tax rates for another year, which could set up a House-Senate conference later in the year.

    • S 3414 The Cybersecurity Act, which aims to boost protection from cyberattacks against the Internet and various industries and government agencies that rely on secure connections. The Senate will hold a procedural vote on this bill later this week.
    • HR 459 The Federal Reserve Transparency Act: This legislation from Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul would require an audit of all the Fed's activities, including its monetary policy decisions. The House approved this bill easily in a 327-98 vote.
    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill requires the Obama administration to report to Congress on its plans to start cutting spending under the "sequester" early next year. The House has already approved it, and the Senate approved it Wednesday, sending it to the White House.
    • HR 6082 The Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan: The Obama Administration announced its proposed 2012-2017 offshore lease plan on June 28th, which under federal law, began a mandatory 60-day Congressional review. This bill to override the Obama plan passed Wednesday. The GOP bill would expand lease sales for oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf in an attempt to encourage more production of domestic energy.

        The House rejected another bill, HR 6168, which reflects the Obama administration's five-year plan.

    • HR 4078 The Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act: Among other things, this bill would block major federal regulations until unemployment falls to 6 percent or less, and would also prevent outgoing presidents from imposing new rules between the election and inauguration day. The House was expected to approve this bill Thursday.
    • HCRes 134 Colorado shooting: The House is expected to approve a resolution marking last week's movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado that killed 12 and wounded 58.

    The House approved several other bills this week:

    The House also voted down two bills:

    • HR 2362 The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act.
    • S 2039 Would allow North Dakota to construct levees on open space lands.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  6. Senate Up/Down Vote on Taxes (Don't get too excited.)

    by marci on July 25, 2012

    The Hill is reporting that Senate Republicans have agreed to let Senator Democratic Leader Harry Reid's S. 3412: Middle Class Tax Cut Act, get an up-or-down, "simple majority" vote in the Senate. In return, Reid will do the same for S. 3417, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch. Don't get too excited.

    Yes, this does means that there is agreement to let 50 votes be the margin for passage instead of holding out for the 60-vote cloture exercise normally required to move a bill in the Senate. But it's complicated.

    As Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell explained, "The only reason we won’t block [the Democratic bill] today is that we know it doesn’t pass constitutional muster and won’t become law."

    That's right. Even if the bill passes the Senate, it would most likely be "blue-slipped" -- a procedure by which any House Member can attach a blue form explaining that the bill violates the Origination Clause of the Constitution.

    Article 1 , Section 7 of the Constitution states, “All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives." According to Wikipedia , this dates back to the English parliamentary system, to ensure that the “power of the purse” remains with the House of the People (the House of Commons) and in the U.S. the House of Representatives.  The specific clause was part of the Great “Connecticut Compromise” of the 1787 Constitutional Convention between big and small states.

    So what happens if a revenue-raising measure that orginates in the Senate actually passes the Senate, passes the House AND is signed into law, despite the Origination clause issue? 

    Maybe nothing.

    The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was a Senate bill that became law. The recent Supreme Court Case, NFIB v. Sebelieus, found that the bill is based on Congressional taxing authority... but no mention of the Origination Clause. So, if a Senate tax bill makes it through the Legsilative and Executive branch gauntlets, maybe the Judicial Branch is happy to just let it go too. 

    UPDATE (7/25): The votes were held with Vice President Biden presiding as President, on hand to break a possible tie. The final votes were: 

    So, now S. 3412 goes to the House.

    UPDATE 2 (7/26): Looks like a vote will happen in the House:

     

    The Hill's Russell Berman reports:

    Boehner said the House would vote on the Democratic bill alongside a measure that would extend the entire slate of George W. Bush-era tax rates. 

     “If our Democrat colleagues want to offer the president’s plan or the Senate Democrat plan, we’re more than happy to give them the vote,” Boehner said during his weekly Capitol press conference.

     

  7. New Bills in Congress: July 16 - 20

    by rachna on July 23, 2012

    Here is the list of newly introduced bills -- one of the most popular requests among POPVOX users. We hope you'll weigh in on these bills and share the list with your friends and networks.

    House Bills

    • HR 6163 The National Pediatric Research Network Act: To amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to provide for a National Pediatric Research Network, including with respect to pediatric rare diseases or conditions.
    • HR 6162 The Ensuring Women's Access to Free- Market Healthcare Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit health plans without a deductible for prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care to be treated as high deductible plans with respect to health savings accounts.
    • HR 6161 The Fostering Innovation Act: To provide an exemption for low-revenue companies from certain SEC regulations.
    • HR 6160 The Stop Tampering of Prescription Pills Act: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to incentivize the development of tamper-resistant drugs.
    • HR 6159 The Flight School Security Act: To amend title 49, United States Code, to require that individuals seeking training in the operation of certain aircraft be checked against the terrorist watchlist to ensure that such individuals are non-threats to aviation.
    • HR 6158 The Protecting Independence in the Education of Loan Originators Act: To amend the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to specify that courses offered by lenders for their own employees may not satisfy the pre-licensing education or continuing education requirement.
    • HR 6157 The Patient Centered Quality Care for Life Act: To create a patient-centered quality of care initiative for seriously ill patients through the establishment of a stakeholder strategic summit, quality of life education and awareness initiative, health care workforce training, an advisory committee, and palliative care focused research.
    • HR 6156 The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal Act: To authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova and to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization.
    • HR 6155 The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act: To amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of permanent faculty in palliative care at accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, nursing schools, and other programs, to promote education in palliative care and hospice, and to support the development of faculty careers in academic palliative medicine.
    • HR 6154 The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act: To promote the development of renewable energy on public lands.
    • HR 6153 The Fast Help For Homeowners Act: To require the holder of a subordinate lien on the property that secures a federally related mortgage loan, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a timely decision whether to allow the sale.
    • HR 6152 The Bring Jobs Home Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing.
    • HR 6151 The Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow rehabilitation expenditures for public school buildings to qualify for rehabilitation credit.
    • HR 6150  : To reauthorize appropriations for the National Women’s Rights History Project Act.
    • HR 6149 The Russian World Trade Organization Commitments Verification Act: To require the United States Trade Representative to take action to obtain the full compliance of the Russian Federation with its commitments under the protocol on the accession of the Russian Federation to the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.
    • HR 6148 The Families Saving for Education Act: To make permanent the EGTRRA improvements to Coverdell education savings accounts.
    • HR 6147  : To designate the exclusive economic zone of the United States as the “Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States”.
    • HR 6146  : To permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in “Lugar counties”, and for on-call and standby costs for such services.
    • HR 6145 The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Resources Assistance Act: To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide preservation and interpretation assistance for resources associated with the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
    • HR 6144  : To reduce amounts available to the General Services Administration for the acquisition of new vehicles for the Federal fleet.
    • HR 6143  : To provide for supplemental appropriations for obesity programs of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    • HR 6142 The Assuring Medicare Stability and Access for Seniors Act: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend Medicare physician payment rates for 1 year.
    • HR 6141  : To provide for the addition of certain real property to the reservation of the Siletz Tribe in the State of Oregon.
    • HR 6140 The Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act: To prohibit waivers relating to compliance with the work requirements for the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.
    • HR 6139 The Consumer Credit Access, Innovation, and Modernization Act: To create a Federal charter for National Consumer Credit Corporations.
    • HR 6138 The Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic Act: To bring an end to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States and around the world.
    • HR 6137 The Helping Save Americans' Health Care Choices Act : To repeal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act relating to health savings accounts.
    • HR 6136 The Congressional Budget Office Transparency Act: To require the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to make all data and other information relating to the estimating of the cost of legislation available on its public website.
    • HR 6135 The Transferring Credits for College Completion Act: To increase transparency and reduce students’ burdens related to transferring credits between institutions of higher education.
    • HR 6134 The Truth in Trials Act: to provide an affirmative defense for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States.
    • HR 6133  : To provide clarity on the use of National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center Commemorative Coin surcharges, the use of Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin surcharges.
    • HR 6132 The American Clothing for American Olympians Act: To amend the Federal charter of the United States Olympic Committee to require the United States Olympic Committee to ensure that goods donated or supplied to athletes are substantially made in the United States.
    • HR 6131  : To extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006.

    Senate Bills

    • S 3415 : A bill to require the disclosure of all payments made under the Equal Access to Justice Act.
    • S 3414 : A bill to enhance the security and resiliency of the cyber and communications infrastructure of the United States.
    • S 3413 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily extend tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003, to provide for temporary alternative minimum tax relief, to extend increased expensing limitations, and to provide instructions for tax reform.
    • S 3412 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief to middle-class families.
    • S 3411 : A bill to provide that the individual mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act shall not be construed as a tax.
    • S 3410 : A bill to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders Act of 2006.
    • S 3409 : A bill to address the forest health, public safety, and wildlife habitat threat presented by the risk of wildfire, including catastrophic wildfire, on National Forest System land and public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management by requiring the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to expedite forest management projects relating to hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, and economic development.
    • S 3408 : A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Energy from enforcing regulations pertaining to certain battery chargers.
    • S 3407 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of permanent faculty in palliative care at accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, nursing schools, and other programs, to promote education in palliative care and hospice, and to support the development of faculty careers in academic palliative medicine.
    • S 3406 : An original bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation and Moldova, to require reports on the compliance of the Russian Federation with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization, and to impose sanctions on persons responsible for gross violations of human rights.
    • S 3405 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to treat small businesses bequeathed to spouses and dependents by members of the Armed Forces killed in line of duty as small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs contracting goals and preferences.
    • S 3404 : A bill to establish within the Department of Energy an Office of Federal Energy Production.
    • S 3403 : A bill to repeal the Federal estate and gift taxes.
    • S 3402 The US Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act: A bill to require the Secretary of Labor to maintain a publicly available list of all employers that relocate a call center overseas, to make such companies ineligible for Federal grants or guaranteed loans, and to require disclosure of the physical location of business agents engaging in customer service communications.
    • S 3401 The Tax Relief Act: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily extend tax relief provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003, to provide for temporary alternative minimum tax relief, to extend increased expensing limitations, and to provide instructions for tax reform.
    • S 3400 The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act: A bill to designate certain Federal land in the San Juan National Forest in the State of Colorado as wilderness.
    • S 3399 The National Park Service Study Act: A bill to authorize studies of certain areas for possible inclusion in the National Park System.
    • S 3398 The National Park Service Critical Authorities Act: A bill to provide for several critical National Park Service authorities.
    • S 3397 The Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act: A bill to prohibit waivers relating to compliance with the work requirements for the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.
    • S 3396 The Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research Act: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
    • S 3395 The Wildfire and Drought Relief for Ranchers and Farmers Act: A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to extend certain supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs.
    • S 3394  : A bill to address fee disclosure requirements under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
    • S 3393 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief to middle-class families.
    • S 3392 The Outsourcing Accountability Act: A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to require the disclosure of the total number of the domestic and foreign employers of issuers.
    • S 3391 The Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act (TEST Act): A bill to amend section 353 of the Public Health Service Act with respect to suspension, revocation, and limitation of laboratory certification.
    • S 3390  : A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Miami-Dade County certain Federal land in the State of Florida for the purpose of building a fire station.
    • S 3389 The Protecting American Trade Secrets and Innovation Act: A bill to modify chapter 90 of title 18, United States Code, to provide Federal jurisdiction for theft of trade secrets.
    • S 3388 The Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to ensure that sewage treatment plants monitor for and report discharges of raw sewage.
    • S 3387 Team USA Made in America Act: A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to require the United States Olympic Committee to adopt a policy that requires ceremonial uniforms purchased or otherwise obtained by the Committee to be produced in the United States.
    • S 3385  A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to use designated funding to pay for construction of authorized rural water projects.

    House Resolutions

    • HRes 737 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day.
    • HRes 736 Expressing opposition to the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, argon, or other gases to euthanize shelter animals and support for State laws that require the use of the more humane euthanasia by injection method.
    • HRes 735 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 violates article I, section 7, clause 1 of the United States Constitution because it was a “Bill for raising Revenue” that did not originate in the House of Representatives.
    • HRes 734 Recognizing the importance of frontline health workers toward accelerating progress on global health and saving the lives of women and children.
    • HRes 733 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that any deal replacing the Budget Control Act of 2011 should contain serious revenue increases and no Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefit cuts.
    • HRes 732 Calling for the protection of the rights and freedoms of religious minorities in the Arab world.
    • HRes 731 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that clothing issued to athletes representing the United States of America should be made in America.

    Senate Resolutions

    House Concurrent Resolutions

    (used to take action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and the Senate)

    • HConRes 132 Providing funding to ensure the printing and production of the authorized number of copies of the revised and updated version of the House document entitled “Hispanic Americans in Congress”.

    Senate Concurrent Resolutions

    (used to take action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and the Senate)

    • SCRes 52  A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2013 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022.

    House Joint Resolutions

    (used to pose constitutional amendments, fix technical errors or to appropriate)

    Senate Joint Resolutions

    (used to pose constitutional amendments, fix technical errors or to appropriate)

    Missed a bill? See previous lists of new bills, from July 9 - 13, June 9 - 29, and May 28 - June 8.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  8. The Week Ahead for Congress: July 23 - 27

    by rachna on July 22, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 23 - 27

    From our Hill Sources: The Senate will consider a bill reflecting President Obama's proposal extending middle class tax cuts at the end of the year and allowing rates to rise for people with higher incomes.

    In the Senate

    • S 3412 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act: This bill would keep current tax rates for anyone earning less than $250,000, but allow rates to increase above that income level, and also set a 20 percent cap on capital gains and dividend taxes.

        The bill is supported by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. The Senate may spend a good part of the week trying to figure out how to move the bill ahead. Overriding Republican opposition may require Democrats to allow the GOP to debate and vote on their own amendment to the bill that keeps current tax levels for people at all income levels. Senate consideration of this bill is expected to follow House consideration next week of a Republican bill to maintain all current tax levels.

    In the House

    These bills are expected to pass the House this week, along with several other bills:

    Other bills of interest

    The top two bills on POPVOX last week are both stuck in the Senate, and are both reactions to recent Supreme Court rulings:

    • S 3369 The Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act: The Senate tried to move this bill last week, but were thwarted by Senate Republicans who oppose it. The bill would require all entities to report campaign spending to the government once it reaches $10,000. Democrats saw the bill as a response to the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case.
    • HR 6079 The Repeal Obamacare Act: The House approved this bill earlier this month, and sent it to a Senate that is likely to ignore it. The GOP bill was a reaction to the Supreme Court's June decision in favor of the 2010 healthcare law.

    These other bills also received attention from POPVOX users:

    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill (number four on POPVOX last week), was approved by the House last week by an overwhelming 414-2 vote. The bill requires the administration to report to Congress on how it plans to cut spending in 2013 in line with last year's debt ceiling agreement, which calls for $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next decade.

        Both sides have said they want to rework the sequester, which will make cuts to both defense and social spending starting in January. But Republicans and Democrats so far have been unable to reach any agreement for doing so.

    • HR 5856 The 2013 Department of Defense Appropriations bill: The House passed this legislation (number 15 on POPVOX) last week; it spends $606 billion on the Defense Department and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a cut of about $27 billion.
    • S 3364 The Bring Jobs Home Act (number 14 on POPVOX): The Senate last week tried to advance this bill, which would create a tax incentive for companies that bring jobs back to the United States. However, Republicans blocked it in a procedural vote.

    Missed a bill last week? Check out the round up.

    (If you'd like this alert emailed to you directly once a week, please send me an email at rachna@popvox.com.)

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  9. POPVOX Now Integrated into House Democrats' Intranet

    by marci on July 21, 2012

    We are excited to share an announcement from House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer [D-MD-5] that the internal House Democratic intranet, DemCom, now pulls all organization positions posted on POPVOX directly into its system.

    (From the press release:)

    "I believe that it is important for Congress to adopt new technologies that advance our constitutional mission of communicating with our constituents.  Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have significantly transformed how Americans share information, and most Members of Congress have adopted these technologies resulting in improved constituent communications.  Government initiatives like President Obama’s Data.gov and ‘We the People’ also use new web technologies to advance the important goals of government transparency, accountability, and participation of the people.

    "POPVOX is an innovative, nonpartisan website that provides citizens and organizations across the country a new forum to publicly speak out on specific legislation that is before Congress.  Today, we are recognizing that innovation by ensuring that when a citizen or organization takes a position publicly on a bill, that position will be displayed to House Democrats and their staff."

    Minority Whip Steny Hoyer

    This integration was built using a POPVOX API and our widgets (which you must be logged in to see).

    What this means for organizations is that posting your organization's position on pending bills on POPVOX goes a long way to getting your position in front of staffers. This is a first step in what we hope are really big things to come for the wider use of the API (for both sides, both chambers, media and the general public).

    Please let us know at info@popvox.com if you would like more information.

    Here's how it works.

    When an organization posts a bill position on POPVOX, that position is both displayed publicly on the bill's POPVOX page but also shared through a POPVOX API, which allows other websites to better access this data. Using this API and POPVOX widgets, the official intranet for House Democratic staff, DemCom, will now dynamically pull all organization positions -- support and opposition -- directly from POPVOX for every bill pending before Congress. Public sentiment for bills registered on POPVOX will also be displayed on DemCom through our new map widget, which we encourage you to use on your website as well. (Get the map widget.)

    Update your organization profile on POPVOX.

    Now's a good time to update your organization's profile and legislative agenda at www.popvox.com/home. For organizations new to POPVOX, visit www.popvox.com/organization to get started.

  10. Weekly Bill Round Up: July 20

    by rachna on July 21, 2012

    Round Up: Week of July 16 - 20

    See which bills, resolutions and treaties were the most popular among POPVOX users in our weekly round-up. Want to be a part of the POPVOXnation conversation? Please join us on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for using POPVOX!

    Top Bills of the Week

    For the first time, a significant portion of activity on POPVOX was related to the United Nations, including treaties. We've displayed those in italics, below. We hope you weigh in and send a message to Congress.

    • NASA #1 Doubling Funding for NASA
    • S 3369 #2 The DISCLOSE Act
    • HR 6079 #3 The Repeal of Obamacare Act
    • HJRes 110 #4 Proposing a Constitutional Amendment relating to parental rights.
    • HR 5872 #5 The Sequestration Transparency Act
    • LOST #6 The Law of the Sea Treaty
    • HR 1146 #7 The American Sovereignty Act
    • HR 6108 #8 Reducing pay of Members of Congress who miss votes because of campaigning for election to another office.
    • HR 635 #9 The Parental Title Protection Act
    • S 1005 #10 The Parental Notification and Intervention Act
    • S 2165 #11 The US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act
    • CRPD #12 The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
    • SRes 99 #13 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child undermines the principles of the law in the US
    • HR 2400 #14 The Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act
    • S 3364 #15 The Bring Jobs Home Act
    • HR 5856 #16 The Dept. of Defense Approps Act
    • HR 6018 #17 The Foreign Relations Authorization Act
    • S 1789 #18 The 21st Century Postal Service Act
    • SJRes 42 #19 A Constitutional Amendment related to parental rights.
    • HR 5894 #20 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Education and Outreach Campaign Repeal Act

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  11. PRESS CLIP: Whip Hoyer Announces House Democrats’ Adoption of New Online Tool to Hear From Citizens

    by annalee on July 19, 2012

    Whip Hoyer Announces House Democrats’ Adoption of New Online Tool to Hear From Citizens on democraticwhip.gov

  12. PRESS CLIP: House Dems to Pull Public Opinion Data, Position Papers From Third-Party Site

    by annalee on July 19, 2012

    House Dems to Pull Public Opinion Data, Position Papers From Third-Party Site on TechPresident

  13. Mid-week Update, July 18

    by rachna on July 18, 2012

    Mid-week Update, July 18

    Here's the mid-week update from our Hill Sources.

    • S 3393 The Middle Class Tax Cut Act, from Sen. Harry Reid: Introduced Tuesday, this Senate Democratic bill would extend the 2001/2003/2009 tax levels for income below $250,000, but would allow taxes to increase above that level. It would also reimpose the estate tax, and set a 20 percent capital gains tax rate for high-income earners.

        The bill reflects President Obama's call allow rates to increase on higher-income earners; while Republicans oppose any tax increase. House Republicans are expected to push through a bill maintaining current rates later this month.

    • S 3369 The DISCLOSE Act, which would require groups to report campaign spending to the government above $10,000.

        The Senate tried twice to advance this bill this week, but Senate Republicans did not support it and it failed to gain the 60 votes required to advance.

    • S 3364 The Bring the Jobs Home Act: This bill would restructure tax incentives to encourage companies to "insource" jobs back to the United States.

        The Senate could hold a procedural vote on this bill by Thursday.

    • HR 5856 The Defense Appropriations Act: The House is likely to approve this bill Friday.
    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: This bill, expected to be approved Wednesday, would require the administration to issue a report to Congress on its plans for dealing with the spending "sequester," required under last year's debt-ceiling agreement.

    The House approved a handful of bills on Tuesday:

    • HR 6018 To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2013.
    • S 1959 The Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act, requiring a report from the administration on whether this group should be designated as a terrorist organization.
    • S 2009 The Insular Areas Act, adjusting policies in U.S. island territories.
    • S 2039  To allow a State or local government to construct levees on certain properties otherwise designated as open space lands.
    • S 2165 The US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act: This bill strengthens U.S.-Israel military ties, and also expands a decade-old loan guarantee program for Israel.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  14. PRESS CLIP: If Creativity is Currency, Are You Broke?

    by annalee on July 17, 2012

    If Creativity is Currency, Are You Broke? on Daily Tekk

  15. New Bills in Congress: July 9 - 13

    by rachna on July 17, 2012

    Here is the list of newly introduced bills -- one of the most popular requests among POPVOX users. We hope you'll weigh in on these bills and share the list with your friends and networks.

    House Bills

    • HR 6130 The National Treasure Promotion and Investment Act: To require priority visa processing for visitors to National Heritage Areas or National Parks, to invest in communities hosting these national treasures.
    • HR 6129 The Ban the Use of Credit Scores in Auto Insurance Act: To amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit the use of consumer reports and consumer information in making any determination involving auto insurance with respect to a consumer.
    • HR 6128 The Help Separated Families Act: To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that immigration status alone does not disqualify a parent, legal guardian, or relative from being a placement for a foster child, to prohibit a State, county, or other political subdivision of a State from filing for termination of parental rights in foster care cases in which an otherwise fit and willing parent or legal guardian has been deported or is involved in (including detention pursuant to) an immigration proceeding, unless certain conditions have been met.
    • HR 6127 The Liquidity Enhancement for Small Public Companies Act: To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to enable national securities exchanges to provide financial incentives to market-makers that adhere to objective standards that increase the liquidity and depth of the public capital markets and promote enhanced trading and price-discovery for smaller public companies.
    • HR 6126   For the relief of Azucena Salazar Bazan.
    • HR 6125  : To amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act with respect to privilege of information provided to Federal and State agencies.
    • HR 6124 The Families Flying Together Act: To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations with respect to ensuring families are able to sit together on flights.
    • HR 6123 The Fulfilling Our Promise to Student Veterans Act: To clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Army to correct erroneous Army College Fund benefit amounts.
    • HR 6122  : To revise the authority of the Librarian of Congress to accept gifts and bequests on behalf of the Library.
    • HR 6121 The Victory for Veterans Stamp Act: To provide for the issuance of a Victory for Veterans stamp.
    • HR 6120  : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against tax for qualified manufacturing facility construction costs.
    • HR 6119 The Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act: To establish a program to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation by partnering world-class entrepreneurs with Federal agencies.
    • HR 6118 The Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act: To amend section 353 of the Public Health Service Act with respect to suspension, revocation, and limitation of laboratory certification.
    • HR 6117 The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act: To amend title 11, United States Code, to improve protections for employees and retirees in business bankruptcies.
    • HR 6116  : To amend the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to provide for direct appeals to the United States Supreme Court of decisions of the Virgin Islands Supreme Court.
    • HR 6115 The Give Families Better Tools to Save for Education Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the contribution limit for Coverdell education savings accounts from $2,000 to $10,000.
    • HR 6114   To amend title 40, United States Code, to grant veterans access to Federal excess and surplus property.
    • HR 6113   To repeal a limitation on annual payments under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
    • HR 6112 The Employee Verification Act: To require Federal contractors and other recipients of Federal funds to participate in the E-Verify Program for employment eligibility verification, to permanently reauthorize the E-Verify Program.
    • HR 6111 The Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act: To exclude from consideration as income under the United States Housing Act of 1937 payments of pension made under section 1521 of title 38, United States Code, to veterans who are in need of regular aid and attendance.
    • HR 6110 The Customs Training Enhancement Act: To establish educational seminars at United States ports of entry to improve the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel to classify and appraise articles that are imported into the United States in accordance with the customs laws of the United States.
    • HR 6109 The Investing in American Innovation Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the research and development tax credit, to limit treaty benefits with respect to certain deductible related-party payments, and to treat general aviation aircraft as 7-year property.
    • HR 6108  : To reduce the pay of Members of Congress who miss votes because of campaigning for election to another office.
    • HR 6107 The Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act (VETS Act): To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans via telemedicine.
    • HR 6106 The Forensic Science and Standards Act: To establish scientific standards and protocols across forensic disciplines.
    • HR 6105  : To amend the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to allow non-Federally insured credit unions to become members of a Federal Home Loan Bank.
    • HR 6104 The Working Families Tax Protection Act: To provide a temporary extension for the middle class of certain tax relief enacted in 2001, 2003, and 2009.
    • HR 6103 The Stop Medicare Fraud Act: To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to increase fines and penalties for Medicare fraud to augment Medicare fraud enforcement activities, such as the Health Care Fraud and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) program.
    • HR 6102 The America's Small Business Tax Relief Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for small businesses.
    • HR 6101 The Student Veteran Academic Counseling Enhancement Act (Student Veteran ACE Act): To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve educational counseling opportunities for veterans.
    • HR 6100 The Middle Class Tax Cut Protection Act: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a temporary extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for the middle class.
    • HR 6099 The Supporting Entrepreneurial Economic Development Act (SEED Act): To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 with respect to grants for economic adjustment.
    • HR 6098 The Crop Insurance Subsidy Reduction Act: To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to immediately reduce crop insurance premium subsidy rates from the higher subsidies provided since the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000.
    • HR 6097 The Religious Freedom Tax Repeal Act: To exempt employers from any excise tax and certain suits and penalties in the case of a failure of a group health plan to provide coverage to which an employer objects on the basis of religious belief or moral conviction.
    • HR 6096 The Atlantic Fisheries Statutes Reauthorization Act: To reauthorize various Acts relating to Atlantic Ocean marine fisheries.
    • HR 6095 The Morris Soskil Path to the Purple Heart Act: To authorize the Secretaries of the military departments to provide an exception to the standards for awarding the Purple Heart for veterans of World War II whose service records are incomplete because of damage to the permanent record.
    • HR 6094 The Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act: To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit rental of motor vehicles under a safety recall because of a defect related to motor vehicle safety or noncompliance with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard until the defect or noncompliance is remedied
    • HR 6093  To establish a moratorium on aerial surveillance conducted by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
    • HR 6092 Wildland Firefighters Health Protection Act: To implement updated pay and personnel policies in order to improve the recruitment and retention of qualified Federal wildland firefighters and to reduce the Federal Government's reliance on the more costly services of non-Federal wildfire resources.
    • HR 6091 The Dept. of the Interior, environment, and related agencies appropriations
    • HR 6090  To amend the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Act of 1996 to designate the management entity for the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor
    • HR 6089 The Healthy Forest Management Act: To address the bark beetle epidemic, drought, deteriorating forest health conditions, and high risk of wildfires on National Forest System land and land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management in the United States by expanding authorities established in the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 to provide emergency measures for high-risk areas identified by such States, to make permanent Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management authority to conduct good-neighbor cooperation with States to reduce wildfire risks
    • HR 6088 Total Repeal of the Unfair Taxes on Healthcare Act: To repeal certain tax increases enacted as part of health care reform.
    • HR 6087 International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act: To protect girls in developing countries through the prevention of child marriage
    • HR 6086 The Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures Act (HUNT Act): To direct the heads of Federal public land management agencies to prepare reports on the availability of public access and egress to Federal public lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to provide funding for recreational public access to Federal land
    • HR 6085  To amend section 40 of the Revised Statutes of the United States to clarify that for purposes of determining whether a Member of the House of Representatives is subject to a deduction from in pay by reason of absence from the House on a day, the Member shall be considered to be absent if the Member misses any vote held in the House on that day
    • HR 6084 The Teacher Education for Autistic Children Act (TEACH Act): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a refundable tax credit for education and training expenses relating to autism spectrum disorders to increase the number of teachers with such expertise.
    • HR 6083 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act: To provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2017
    • HR 6082 Congressional Replacement of President Obama's Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan: To officially replace, within the 60-day Congressional review period under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Obama’s Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program (2012-2017) with a congressional plan that will conduct additional oil and natural gas lease sales to promote offshore energy development, job creation, and increased domestic energy production to ensure a more secure energy future in the United States.
    • HR 6081 Advancing Innovative Manufacturing Act: To accelerate research, development, and innovation in advanced manufacturing, to improve the competitiveness of American manufacturers
    • HR 6079 Repeal of Obamacare Act: To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

    Senate Bills

    • S 3384 The Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Extension Act: A bill to extend supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs.
    • S 3383  A bill to reject the final 5-year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for fiscal years 2012 through 2017 of the Administration and replace the plan with a 5-year plan that is more in line with the energy and economic needs of the United States.
    • S 3382 The Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act A bill to impose certain limitations on consent decrees and settlement agreements by agencies that require the agencies to take regulatory action in accordance with the terms thereof.
    • S 3381 The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act: A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to improve protections for employees and retirees in business bankruptcies.
    • S 3380 The Victory for Veterans Stamp Act: A bill to provide for the issuance of a Victory for Veterans stamp.
    • S 3379 The Small Refiner Relief Act: A bill to standardize the definition of the term “small business refiner” for purposes of laws administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.
    • S 3378 The Forensic Science and Standards Act A bill to establish scientific standards and protocols across forensic disciplines.
    • S 3377 The Philanthropic Enterprise Act: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt private foundations from the tax on excess business holdings in the case of certain philanthropic enterprises which are independently supervised.
    • S 3376 The Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments Act (PACT Act): A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prevent the abuse of dextromethorphan.
    • S 3375 The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act: A bill to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area in the State of California.
    • S 3374  A bill to amend the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 to establish criteria for the rate of fees charged for grazing private livestock on public rangelands.
    • S 3373  A bill to require the Attorney General to issue a report on the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission.
    • S 3372 The Military Service Integrity ActA bill to amend section 704 of title 18, United States Code.
    • S 3371 The Renewable Energy Environmental Research Act: A bill to establish, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an integrated and comprehensive ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric research, prediction, and environmental information program to support renewable energy,
    • S 3370 The Albuquerque, New Mexico, Federal Land Conveyance Act: A bill to authorize the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the Amy Biehl High School Foundation.
    • S 3369 The DISCLOSE Act: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities
    • S 3368  A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act to prohibit the provision of funds made available to carry out that Act in any State that allows income deductions for controlled substances, including medical marijuana.
    • S 3367  A bill to deter the disclosure to the public of evidence or information on United States covert actions by prohibiting security clearances to individuals who make such disclosures.
    • S 3366  A bill to designate the Haqqani network as a foreign terrorist organization.
    • S 3365  A bill to authorize the Attorney General to award grants to State courts to develop and implement State court interpreter programs.

    House Resolutions

    • HRes 730 Urging the Government of Ukraine to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections on October 28, 2012, by adhering to democratic standards, establishing a transparent electoral process and releasing opposition leaders sentenced on politically motivated grounds.
    • HRes 729 Reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives to American manufacturing and jobs.
    • HRes 728 Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.
    • HRes 727 The Congressional Research Service Electronic Accessibility Resolution: Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide members of the public with Internet access to certain Congressional Research Service publications.
    • HRes 725 National Dance Day: Expressing support for dancing as a form of valuable exercise and artistic expression and for the designation of July 28, 2012, as National Dance Day

    Senate Resolutions

    House Concurrent Resolutions

    (used to take action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and the Senate)

    • HConRes 131 Expressing support for continued international cooperation to combat HIV/AIDS.

    Senate Concurrent Resolutions

    (used to take action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and the Senate)

    • SCRes 50  A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived.

    House Joint Resolutions

    (used to pose constitutional amendments, fix technical errors or to appropriate)

    Senate Joint Resolutions

    (used to pose constitutional amendments, fix technical errors or to appropriate)

    • SJRes 47 United States Intelligence Professionals Day: A joint resolution amending title 36, United States Code, to designate July 26 as United States Intelligence Professionals Day.

    Missed a bill? See previous lists of new bills, from June 9 - 29, May 28 - June 8, and May 7 - 24.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

     

  16. PRESS CLIP: Facebook, CNN, and the rise of Social Voting

    by annalee on July 16, 2012

    Facebook, CNN, and the rise of Social Voting on Exposing The Truth

  17. Could Members force a vote on the DISCLOSE Act?

    by marci on July 16, 2012

    In both the House and Senate, the majority controls the agenda and the Speaker decides what gets a vote, with one exception: the discharge petition.

    In the House, if a majority sign on to "discharge" a bill from committee (218 signatures required), it will be brought to the Floor for a vote. Since 1993, all signators to a discharge petition are public. This means that this petition can only be sucessful if some members of the majority party are willing to buck their own leadership to see a bill get a vote.

    This week some House Members are touting a discharge petition in the House that would force a vote on the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending (DISCLOSE) Act (HR 4010) from Represenative Chris Van Hollen [D-MD-8]. The discharge petition currently has 149 signatures, 79 short of the 218 that would be necessary to force a vote.

    Today the Senate will hold a cloture vote on a similar bill. The Senate bill, S 3369 from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI], would "provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities…" Senate Republicans have indicated they will filibuster and the bill is not expected to make it to an up or down vote. 

    While rare, discharge petitions have been employed by both parties throughout the years. Additional discharge petitions filed in the current Congress are: 

    Weigh in on the discharge petition.

  18. Bills before Congress: July 16 - 20

    by rachna on July 15, 2012

    Bills before Congress: July 16 - 20

    From our Hill Sources: The House will try to pass a Defense Department spending bill for 2013, while the Senate will try to advance a small business tax bill.

    In the House

    • HR 5856 The Defense Appropriations Act: This bill cuts total defense spending by about $25 billion from current levels, mostly reflecting less spending in Afghanistan and Iraq. Base-level funding for DOD itself would increase slightly. The House is expected to work on this bill for the bulk of the week with a vote on Friday.
    • HR 5872 The Sequestration Transparency Act: House Republicans will bring this bill to the Floor in the middle of the week, in an effort to require the Administration to report on how it proposes to slash more than $100 billion in spending in 2013. That cut is required under the so-called "Sequester," which Congress approved last year as a way of forcing $1.2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade.

        House Republicans have already approved a bill that would alter the Sequester by avoiding Defense Department cuts, and continue to pressure the Obama administration to support similar alterations.

      • Several other bills will also be considered in the House this week:

    • HR 6018   To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal year 2013.
    • S 1959 The Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act requires a report on the designation of the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization.
    • S 2009 The Insular Areas Act improves the administration of programs in the insular areas.
    • S 2039  To allow a State or local government to construct levees on certain properties otherwise designated as open space lands.
    • S 2165 The US-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act enhances strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel.

    In the Senate

    • S 3369 The DISCLOSE Act: This is the second Democratic bill meant to address the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case. That ruling said the government cannot limit campaign spending by corporations, unions and other groups. (See other bills related to Citizens United.)

        The bill would require these groups to report aggregate campaign spending of $10,000 to the government. In 2010, Democrats sought to require reporting of all spending above $600, but their bill failed to move in the Senate. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on the new bill on Monday.

    Other bills of interest

    • HR 6079 The Repeal of Obamacare Act: The House approved this bill 244-185 last week, with the help of five Democrats. But as expected, the bill is already "last week's news," as the Senate is not expected to consider it at all.
    • S 1789 The 21st Century Postal Service Act: This bill, number nine on POPVOX, would give the U.S. Postal Service the flexibility to restructure its finances to help it stop losing millions of dollars each day. The Senate passed it in April.

        The House has indicated it is unlikely to move any related legislation before the August recess. House Republicans oppose the Senate bill as something that would increase the deficit further, and favor proposals to let the USPS close offices that are not profitable.

        Without movement by Congress, some version of the House GOP plan will likely come to pass anyway, as the USPS has said it will soon need to begin shuttering offices.

    • S 2237 The Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act: This bill, number 11 on POPVOX, would give companies a tax credit of up to $500,000, but it stalled in the Senate last week, as Republican opposition blocked it in a procedural vote.

    Missed a bill last week? Check out the round up.

    (If you'd like this alert emailed to you directly once a week, please send me an email at rachna@popvox.com.)

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  19. PRESS CLIP: Tracking Legislation Impacting Parents

    by annalee on July 14, 2012

    Tracking Legislation Impacting Parents on Education Week

  20. Weekly Bill Round Up: July 13

    by rachna on July 13, 2012

    Round Up: Week of July 9 - 13

    Wow! It was a busy week at POPVOX.com! See which bills were the most popular among POPVOX users. Want to be a part of the POPVOXnation conversation? Please join us on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for using POPVOX!

    Top Bills of the Week

    • HR 6079 #1 The Repeal of Obamacare Act
    • HR 6053 #2 The NObamacare Act
    • HR 6054 #3 The NObamacare Funds Act
    • HR 6048 #4 The Healthcare Tax Relief and Mandate Repeal Act
    • SCRes 44 #5 The Lee Budget for FY 2013
    • HR 5894 #6 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Education and Outreach Campaign Repeal Act
    • NASA #7 Doubling Funding for NASA
    • HR 10 #8 The REINS Act
    • S 1789 #9 The 21st Century Postal Service Act
    • HR 4114 #10 The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Act
    • S 2237 #11 The Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act
    • S 3361 #12 The Write the Laws Act
    • S 3240 #13 The Farm bill
    • HR 4155 #14 The Veteran Skills to Jobs Act
    • HR 6020 #15 The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act
    • HR 4402 #16 The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act
    • HR 4224 #17 The Offering Patients True Individualized Options Now Act
    • HR 6019 #18 The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act
    • S 1108 #19 10 Million Solar Roofs Act
    • HR 1146 #20 The American Sovereignty Act

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

(For media inquiries, please contact Marci Harris, POPVOX’s CEO, at info@popvox.com.)

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