Govit: Most Popular Legislation

A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator John F. Kerry, MA, Democratic
11 Voted Yes
16 Voted No
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2/13/2009--Introduced.Empowered at Home Act of 2009 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the income eligibility level for home and community-based (HCBS) services for elderly and disabled individuals. Gives states the option to provide HCBS services under a waiver to eligible individuals whose income does not exceed 300% of the supplemental security income (SSI) benefit rate. Gives states the option to provide HCBS waiver services to individuals for whom such services are likely to prevent, delay, or decrease the likelihood of an individual's need for institutionalized care. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award assistance grants to states electing to provide HCBS waiver services under Medicaid through the state plan amendment option. Reauthorizes Medicaid transformation grants at increased funding and specifies additional permissible uses to facilitate the provision of HCBS and other long-term care (LTC) services. Directs the Secretary to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible states to conduct an evidence- and community-based health promotion program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a tax deduction for premiums on qualified LTC insurance contracts; and (2) a tax credit for certain caregivers taking care of individuals with LTC needs. Revises requirements for the model regulation and model Act concerning LTC insurance consumer protections and the excise tax for failing to meet requirements for such protections. Amends SSA title XIX, with respect to treatment of the income and resources of HCBS waiver services recipients who would otherwise be institutionalized, to repeal the state option for (thus requiring) application to such individuals of spousal impoverishment protection requirements. Allows states to elect to exclude up to six months of the average cost of nursing facility services from an individual's assets or resources for purposes of eligibility for HCBS waiver services. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to revise certain data reporting forms and systems to ensure uniform and consistent state reporting under this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on: (1) the provision of home health services under different state Medicaid plans; and (2) the extent to which states offer consumer self-direction of such services, or allow for other consumer-oriented policies with respect to them.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the need for free, democratic, transparent, and fair elections in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela without threats or intimidation.

Sponsored By: Representative Connie Mack, FL(District 14), Republican
29 Voted Yes
5 Voted No
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2/11/2009--Introduced.Calls for free elections in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Condemns the recent actions of Hugo Chavez as detrimental to democracy and a violation of the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS).

To amend title 44 of the United States Code to provide for the suspension of fines under certain circumstances for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns.

Sponsored By: Representative Randy Neugebauer, TX(District 19), Republican
38 Voted Yes
11 Voted No
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1/14/2009--Introduced.Working Small Business Regulatory Relief Act - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation. Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency.

A bill to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Mary L. Landrieu, LA, Democratic
0 Voted Yes
1 Voted No
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6/10/2009--Introduced.SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act with respect to: (1) authorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program; (2) a Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Technology; (3) set-asides and award levels; (4) allowance of awards for subsequent phases at another agency and under either program; (5) phase II invitation requirements; (6) allow majority-venture investment in SBIR firms; (7) special acquisition preferences for SBIR and STTR phase III awards; (8) collaboration requirements between SBIR/STTR participants and federal laboratories and research and development centers; (9) the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) and Rural Outreach programs; (10) a workforce development pilot program; (11) technical assistance expenditures for SBIR and STTR awardees; (12) extension of the commercialization pilot program of the Department of Defense (DOD); (13) creation by agencies other than DOD of innovation development transition pilot programs; (14) submission of applications for the support of nanotechnology-related projects; (15) an advisory board to assess SBIR program management and effectiveness; (16) SBIR and STTR oversight and evaluation, including data collection procedures and public and government database information requirements; (17) federal compliance with SBIR and STTR funding allocation requirements; (18) continued National Academy of Sciences evaluation of the SBIR program; (19) report information concerning SBIR and STTR phase III awards; and (20) a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study concerning intellectual property protections under SBIR and STTR programs.

A bill to reauthorize and improve the entrepreneurial development programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Mary L. Landrieu, LA, Democratic
1 Voted Yes
1 Voted No
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6/10/2009--Introduced.Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize for FY2010-FY2012 the following programs for small businesses administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA): (1) the SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) program; (2) the small business development center (SBDC) program; (3) the drug-free workplace program; and (4) the women's business center program and the National Women's Business Council. Revises or adds provisions concerning the women's business center program with respect to: (1) the Office of Women's Business Ownership; (2) financial assistance; (3) the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise; and (4) a study of unique business issues facing women's business centers located in certain areas. Native American Small Business Development Act of 2009 - Establishes within the SBA the Office of Native American Affairs to implement programs for the development of business enterprises by Native Americans. Requires: (1) the SBA to provide financial assistance to create Native American business centers; and (2) each business center to conduct Native American business development assistance projects. Requires a study of unique economic issues facing Native American business centers. Authorizes a pilot program of economic development opportunities for Indian tribes. Establishes a veterans' business center program to provide financial assistance to private nonprofit organizations to conduct projects for the benefit of small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. Requires each organization to establish a veterans' business center to provide specific assistance to veterans, service-disabled veterans, and reservists, as well as their spouses. Directs the SBA's Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development to establish a microenterprise training and technical assistance and capacity building services grant program of training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Requires the SBA Administrator to make grants to resource partners to provide small businesses with information and educational materials regarding health insurance options, including coverage options within the small group market. Directs the President to convene a National Small Business Summit to examine present conditions and the future of U.S. small businesses. Allows the SBA Administrator to authorize a SBDC to provide assistance to small businesses outside the state of that SBDC if the small business is in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster. Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate SBDC pilot programs established or amended under this Act.

An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Carl Levin, MI, Democratic
0 Voted Yes
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An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Carl Levin, MI, Democratic
0 Voted Yes
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An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military construction, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Carl Levin, MI, Democratic
0 Voted Yes
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An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for defense activities of the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Senator Carl Levin, MI, Democratic
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To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a Federal law enforcement officer in the case of any individual who has been discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Representative Rob Bishop, UT(District 1), Republican
2 Voted Yes
0 Voted No
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