ACEVEDO-VILA, ANIBAL (a Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico)

Amendments

Children and youth: prevent child abduction (H.R. 1104), H2428 [27MR]

Dept. of Defense: making appropriations (H.R. 2658), H6300 [8JY]

Announcements

House of Representatives: receipt of Resident Commissioner and Delegate credentials, H2 [7JA]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Agriculture: ensure an abundant and affordable supply of fruits and vegetables and other specialty crops by enhancing competitiveness of U.S.-grown specialty crops (see H.R. 3242), H9213 [2OC]

———issue commemorative postage stamp to honor U.S. farm women (see H. Res. 42), H7618 [24JY]

———provide protections for farmers and ranchers that may be harmed economically by genetically engineered seeds, plants, or animals and ensure fairness in dealings with certain biotech companies (see H.R. 2918), H7782 [25JY]

AMVETS: recognize members for their service to the nation and support the goal of AMVETS National Charter Day (see H. Con. Res. 308), H9812 [21OC]

Animals: prohibit the intentional feeding of bears on Federal lands (see H.R. 1472), H4978 [4JN]

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: preserve the Arctic coastal plain as wilderness (see H.R. 770), H2402 [26MR]

Armed Forces: change requirements for naturalization through service, extend naturalization benefits to Ready Reserve members, and extend posthumous benefits to surviving spouses, children, and parents (see H.R. 1814), H3684 [6MY]

———continue health benefits for certain Reserves called or ordered to active duty and their dependents (see H.R. 2197), H4528 [21MY]

———establish separate campaign medals to recognize service by members in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (see H.R. 3104), H9282 [7OC]

———expand Rest and Recuperation Leave program for members serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to include travel and transportation to the members' permanent station or home (see H.R. 3208), H9215 [2OC]

———increase death gratuity and exclude from gross income for tax purposes (see H.R. 3019), H9377 [8OC]

———issue postage stamp in commemoration of those who distinguished themselves by their service in the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (see H. Con. Res. 37), H5046 [5JN]

———make the Transition Assistance Program for persons separating from active duty mandatory and furnish information about homelessness (see H.R. 1906), H3684 [6MY]

———pay one-time bonus to members who served or serve in a combat zone in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom (see H.R. 3051), H9478 [15OC]

———provide compensation to members of the reserve components who suffer discrepancies between their military and nonmilitary compensation as a result of being called to active duty for a certain period (see H.R. 1345), H9687 [17OC]

———reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service (see H.R. 742), H1516 [4MR]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 3474), H12312 [21NO]

Aznar, Jose M.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2131), H9687 [17OC]

BLM: provide permanent funding for the payment in lieu of taxes program (see H.R. 1005), H7949 [4SE]

Briggs, Harry and Eliza: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3287), H9380 [10OC]

California: designate certain public lands as wilderness and certain rivers as wild and scenic rivers and establish the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (see H.R. 3325), H9982 [28OC]

Capital punishment: abolish under Federal law (see H.R. 2574), H5813 [24JN]

Chavez, Cesar E.: commemorate birthday (see H. Res. 112), H1466 [27FE]

Children and youth: enhance operation of the AMBER Alert communications plan to expedite the recovery of abducted children (see H.R. 412), H217 [28JA]

———establish a demonstration project to implement evidence-based preventive-screening methods to detect mental illness and suicidal tendencies in school-age youth at selected facilities (see H.R. 3063), H8174 [10SE]

———establish a grant program to provide comprehensive eye examinations (see H.R. 2173), H12311 [21NO]

———issue commemorative postage stamp to recognize U.S. efforts to reunite missing children with their families and to honor the victims of abduction and murder (see H. Con. Res. 185), H4529 [21MY] (see H. Con. Res. 192), H4737 [22MY]

———protect from exploitive child modeling (see H.R. 756), H4204 [15MY]

———tribute to ``Code Adam'' child safety program and commend and encourage implementation of abduction prevention programs in retail business establishments (see H. Res. 254), H4738 [22MY]

Cinco de Mayo: observance (see H. Con. Res. 163), H3762 [7MY]

Civil rights: improve remedies for discrimination in the payment of wages based on sex (see H.R. 1688), H7020 [16JY]

Clean Air Act: prohibit the use of certain fuel additives including methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in reformulated gasoline (see H.R. 2253), H5367 [12JN]

Colleges and universities: address the rising cost of tuition by strengthening the compact between the States, Federal Government, and institutions of higher education (see H.R. 3519), H11703 [20NO]

———expand and enhance post-baccalaureate opportunities at Hispanic-serving institutions (see H.R. 2238), H4735 [22MY]

Commission To Establish a National Museum of the American Latino: establish to develop a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of the National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, DC (see H.R. 3292), H9477 [15OC]

Computers: establish a program to transfer surplus computers of Federal agencies to schools and nonprofit community-based educational organizations (see H.R. 2694), H7455 [23JY]

Contracts: increase the minimum Government-wide goal for procurement contracts awarded to small businesses (see H.R. 1216), H7169 [18JY]

———require the provision of a written prompt payment policy to each subcontractor under a Federal contract and a clause outlining the provisions of such policy in each subcontract (see H.R. 1215), H7169 [18JY]

Courts: assign liability for injury caused by genetically engineered organisms (see H.R. 2919), H7782 [25JY]

———permit expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses (see H.R. 1434), H10457 [5NO]

Crime: prohibit the sale or rental of adult video games to minors (see H.R. 669), H1334 [25FE]

Cruz, Celia: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 3009), H7948 [4SE]

De Laine, Joseph A.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3287), H9380 [10OC]

Dept. of Agriculture: designate a disaster liason to assist State and local employees with responding to a federally declared disaster area (see H.R. 3157), H9282 [7OC]

Dept. of Defense: implement requirements for additional Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (see H.R. 2012), H4206 [15MY]

———repeal certain closures and realignments of military installations (see H.R. 1638), H3684 [6MY]

Dept. of Education: establish competitive demonstration grant program to provide funds for local educational agencies to experiment with ways to alleviate the substitute teacher shortage (see H.R. 3008), H7948 [4SE]

Dept. of HHS: establish, promote, and support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral program for hepatitis C virus infection (see H.R. 3539), H12922 [8DE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: reimburse State, local, and Indian tribal governments for certain costs relating to the mobilization of Reserves who are first responder personnel of such governments or tribes (see H.R. 1803), H3352 [11AP]

Dept. of Justice: extend authorization for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program (see H.R. 1708), H3684 [6MY]

Dept. of the Interior: conduct special resource study of sites associated with Cesar E. Chavez and the farm labor movement to determine appropriate methods for their preservation and interpretation (see H.R. 1034), H1464 [27FE]

———implement final rule to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, and Grand Teton National Park, and snowplane use in Grand Teton National Park (see H.R. 1130), H5366 [12JN]

Dept. of the Treasury: establish a commemorative quarter dollar coin program for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands (see H.R. 2993), H7838 [3SE]

Dept. of Transportation: establish the National Rail Infrastructure Program (see H.R. 1617), H9282 [7OC]

———require installation of 2 combination cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder systems in each commercial passenger aircraft (see H.R. 2632), H7329 [22JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: allow payment of certain benefits to begin effective the day in which hospitalization or treatment begins (see H.R. 3344), H9982 [28OC]

———authorize major medical facility projects for the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services initiative and satisfy requirements on natural disasters (see H.R. 3061), H8174 [10SE]

———dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners (see H.R. 998), H3683 [6MY]

———enhance rehabilitative services provided to veterans with mental illnesses (see H.R. 3442), H10978 [6NO]

———establish uniformity in fees charged qualifying members of the Selected Reserve and active duty veterans for guaranteed home loans and make access to such loans permanent (see H.R. 1257), H4131 [14MY]

———provide adapted housing assistance to disabled Armed Forces members who remain on active duty pending medical separation (see H.R. 761), H4131 [14MY]

———reduce backlog of benefit claims (see H.R. 1264), H1900 [13MR]

———repeal limitation on the payment of accrued benefits that are due, and unpaid, upon the death of a veteran or other beneficiary (see H.R. 241), H4011 [13MY]

———repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid as dependency and indemnity compensation (see H.R. 1726), H4205 [15MY]

Disasters: reduce impacts of hurricanes, tornadoes, and related natural hazards through a program of research and development and technology transfer (see H.R. 2020), H4788 [2JN]

Diseases: authorize grants for treatment and support services for Alzheimer's disease patients and their families (see H.R. 3451), H10457 [5NO]

———prohibit interference by certain education grant recipients with a student's treatment of his or her diabetes (see H.R. 3178), H9812 [21OC]

Doby, Lawrence E.: tribute (see H. Con. Res. 235), H6263 [26JN]

Drugs: lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices (see H.R. 3634), H12309 [21NO]

Economy: require Commissioner of Labor Statistics to develop methodology for measuring cost-of-living in each State, and require Comptroller General to ascertain impact on certain Federal benefits (see H.R. 3640), H12309 [21NO]

Education: constitutional amendment on the right to a quality public education (see H.J. Res. 29), H1515 [4MR]

———extend student loan forgiveness to Head Start teachers (see H.R. 2291), H4786 [2JN]

———improve graduation rates by making grants to improve adolescent literacy (see H.R. 3085), H8282 [16SE]

———provide educational opportunities for all students in State public school systems (see H.R. 236), H134 [8JA]

Employment: prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation (see H.R. 3285), H9376 [8OC]

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act: provide benefits to Dept. of Energy contractors exposed to toxic substances, expand coverage to certain individuals, and reform claimant assistance (see H.R. 1758), H7225 [21JY]

FAA: ensure control of air traffic control system functions (see H.R. 1711), H7086 [17JY]

Fair Credit Reporting Act: provide for disclosures of credit-based insurance scoring information by insurers and credit reporting agencies (see H.R. 1473), H5714 [23JN]

Families and domestic relations: research the health impact and prevention of family violence and provide training and Federal coverage for health care professionals to identify and treat families experiencing family violence (see H.R. 1267), H2271 [20MR]

FCC: encourage more extensive review and public comment before revising media ownership rules (see H. Res. 218), H4369 [20MY]

Federal employees: amend the definition of a law enforcement officer to include certain positions relative to retirement benefits (see H.R. 2442), H10237 [30OC]

Federal Water Pollution Control Act: clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste (see H.R. 738), H9377 [8OC]

———clarify U.S. jurisdiction over water and wetlands (see H.R. 962), H5046 [5JN]

Ferre, Luis A.: tribute (see H. Res. 433), H10457 [5NO]

Financial institutions: accept U.S.-issued matricula consular as a valid form of identification (see H.R. 773), H699 [13FE]

———prohibit financial holding companies and national banks from engaging, directly or indirectly, in real estate brokerage or real estate management activities (see H.R. 111), H4368 [20MY]

Finger Lakes National Forest: prohibit oil and natural gas drilling (see H.R. 752), H462 [12FE]

Firefighters: provide death and disability benefits to certain contracted aerial firefighters who suffer death or disability in the line of duty (see H.R. 977), H1955 [18MR]

Food: ensure safety of genetically engineered foods (see H.R. 2917), H7782 [25JY]

———ensure that efforts to address world hunger through the use of genetically engineered animals and crops actually help developing countries and peoples while protecting human health and the environment (see H.R. 2920), H7782 [25JY]

———require labels on food that contains, or is produced with, a genetically engineered material (see H.R. 2916), H7782 [25JY]

Foreign aid: provide debt relief to developing countries with coral reef preservation and management programs (see H.R. 1721), H3301 [10AP]

Forest Service: protection of certain roadless areas (see H.R. 2369), H5044 [5JN]

Foster Care Reform Commission: establish (see H.R. 2124), H6604 [10JY]

Government: enhance security and efficiency of immigration, visa, border patrol, and naturalization functions (see H.R. 1464), H2470 [27MR]

Guam: authorize the Dept. of the Interior to reduce, release, or waive amounts owed by the Government of Guam to the U.S. to offset unreimbursed compact impact expenses (see H.R. 2522), H7020 [16JY]

———clarify local judicial structure (see H.R. 2400), H5173 [10JN]

Health care professionals: promote careers in nursing and diversity in the nursing workforce (see H.R. 920), H8016 [5SE]

Height, Dorothy I.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 1821), H5175 [10JN]

Higher Education Act: provide deferments and interest payments for borrowers of student loans who are called to active military duty (see H.R. 1168), H1689 [10MR]

Hire a Veteran Week: support goals and ideals (see H. Con. Res. 252), H7617 [24JY]

Hispanic Americans: provide programs and activities to improve health (see H.R. 2258), H4736 [22MY]

History: acknowledge African descendants of the transatlantic slave trade, recognize injustices suffered, and work to improve the situation of Afro-descendant communities in Latin America and the Caribbean (see H. Con. Res. 47), H1467 [27FE]

Immigration: adjust the status of certain aliens, with longstanding ties to the U.S., to that of an alien lawfully admitted to permanent residence (see H.R. 440), H241 [29JA]

———change requirements for naturalization to citizenship through service in the Armed Forces (see H.R. 1275), H1955 [18MR]

———compensate States for incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors (see H.R. 2435), H5266 [11JN]

Insurance: prohibit use of genetic information in determining coverage or premiums (see H.R. 1910), H9687 [17OC]

———promote health care coverage parity for individuals participating in legal recreational or transportation activities (see H.R. 1749), H7086 [17JY]

———require health plans to cover treatment of a minor child's congenital or developmental deformity or disorder due to trauma, infection, tumor, or disease (see H.R. 296), H4255 [19MY]

Interstate commerce: prohibit transport of horses for the purpose of slaughter or horse flesh for human consumption (see H.R. 857), H7949 [4SE]

Iraq: authorize assistance for women and women's organizations to strengthen and stabilize democracy (see H. Con. Res. 196), H7840 [3SE]

Julia, Raul: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 2818), H7329 [22JY]

———tribute (see H. Con. Res. 287), H8491 [23SE]

King, Martin Luther, Jr.: mint coins in commemoration (see H.R. 589), H4368 [20MY]

King, Martin Luther, Jr., and Coretta Scott: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 2680), H6464 [9JY]

Labor unions: establish efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations and provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts (see H.R. 3619), H12922 [8DE]

Law enforcement: eliminate backlog of DNA samples collected from crime scenes and offenders and expand and improve the use of DNA collection and analysis in criminal investigations (see H.R. 3214), H9615 [16OC]

———provide grants for law enforcement training and equipment to combat methamphetamine labs (see H.R. 3092), H9377 [8OC]

Marshall Islands: convey a decommissioned NOAA ship to Utrok Atoll (see H.R. 2584), H7949 [4SE]

Medal of Honor: provide for use of gold in metal content (see H.R. 1172), H1743 [11MR]

Medicaid: remove cap on payments and adjust statutory matching rate for certain territories (see H.R. 675), H390 [11FE]

Medicare: establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (see H.R. 33), H2822 [3AP]

———increase payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 1739), H3638 [1MY]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (see H.R. 1860), H3684 [6MY]

———revise methodology by which payment for orphan drugs and biologicals is made under program prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see H.R. 2700), H9131 [1OC]

Medicare/Medicaid: require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 3355), H9811 [21OC]

Mental health: provide for equal insurance coverage of benefits unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits (see H.R. 953), H2864 [7AP]

Mining and mineral resources: reclamation of abandoned hardrock mines (see H.R. 504), H1396 [26FE]

Minorities: improve health of minority individuals (see H.R. 3459), H11393 (see H.R. 3459), H11516 [18NO]

Motor vehicles: protect the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, and repair their motor vehicles (see H.R. 2735), H6868 [15JY]

———require increased safety testing of 15-passenger vans and ensure compliance with applicable motor vehicle safety standards if vans are used as schoolbuses (see H.R. 1641), H3858 [8MY]

National Affordable Housing Trust Fund: establish to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income families (see H.R. 1102), H1640 [5MR]

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: long-term health monitoring of firefighters in disaster areas (see H.R. 3431), H10339 [4NO]

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: develop research centers focusing on women's health and disease prevention, and conduct and coordinate a research program on hormone disruption (see H.R. 852), H5046 [5JN]

National Oceans Week: support (see H. Con. Res. 202), H8017 [5SE]

National security: ensure greater security for U.S. seaports (see H.R. 2193), H6271 [7JY]

———establish a task force to assess State and local capabilities in dealing with terrorism and make grants to such jurisdictions to achieve those capabilities (see H.R. 3158), H8904 [24SE]

Native Americans: clarify citizenship eligibility for certain members of the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona (see H.R. 731), H1955 [18MR]

———protect sacred Native American Federal land from significant damage (see H.R. 2419), H5265 [11JN]

New Freedom Commission on Mental Health: adopt and implement goals and recommendations to help ensure affordable, accessible, and high quality mental health care (see H. Con. Res. 292), H9615 [16OC]

No Child Left Behind Act: suspend certain amendments that are not fully funded (see H.R. 2366), H9812 [21OC]

NSF: provide grants for digital and wireless network technology programs at historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities (see H.R. 2801), H7788 [25JY]

Organ donation: allow leave for individuals who provide living organ donations (see H.R. 1381), H2268 [20MR]

Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office Building, Paia, HI: designate (see H.R. 2030), H3975 [9MY]

Pearson, Levi: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3287), H9380 [10OC]

Pensions: protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans (see H.R. 1677), H3454 [29AP]

Pentagon Renovation Program: tribute to Latino and immigrant worker efforts in reconstructing the portion of the Pentagon destroyed in terrorist attack (see H. Res. 117), H1466 [27FE]

Pope John Paul II: award Presidential Medal of Freedom (see H. Con. Res. 313), H9981 [28OC]

Public lands: provide consistent enforcement authority by Federal agencies that respond to violations of regulations governing public lands, and clarify the purpose of fines collected for violations (see H.R. 3247), H9478 [15OC]

Public safety officers: ensure that officers who suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of survivor benefits (see H.R. 919), H1394 [26FE]

Public welfare programs: provide grants for transitional jobs programs under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see H.R. 3560), H11701 [20NO]

Public Works and Economic Development Act: reauthorize and improve programs (see H.R. 2535), H7455 [23JY]

Radio: ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators (see H.R. 713), H11651 [19NO]

Railroads: ensure continuation of fixed guideway system projects (see H.R. 3578), H12306 [21NO]

Rangel, Irma: tribute (see H. Res. 159), H2823 [3AP]

Rehabilitation Act: provide for equitable allotment of funds to States for centers for independent living (see H.R. 2385), H5815 [24JN]

Rite of Passage Community Service Program: establish (see H.R. 2125), H4203 [15MY]

Roads and highways: establish a transportation and active living program, a safe routes to school program, and a nonmotorized transportation pilot program (see H.R. 2568), H5815 [24JN]

Robertson, George I.M.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 3263), H9688 [17OC]

Robinson, Jackie: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously and designate a national day of recognition (see H.R. 1900), H5815 [24JN]

SBA: expand and improve assistance provided by small business development centers to Native Americans (see H.R. 1166), H1681 [6MR]

Senior citizens: improve and enhance access to mental health services (see H.R. 2241), H4735 [22MY]

———promote elder justice (see H.R. 2490), H5467 [17JN]

Sewage disposal: ensure that sewage treatment plants monitor for and report discharges of raw sewage (see H.R. 2215), H4734 [22MY]

Skykomish River: enhance ecosystem protection and outdoor opportunities by designating certain Federal lands as wilderness (see H.R. 822), H6348 [8JY]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care (see H.R. 660), H389 [11FE]

Social Investment and Economic Development Fund for the Americas: establish (see H.R. 3447), H10457 [5NO]

Social Security: allow certain remarried widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses to become or remain entitled to widow's or widower's insurance benefits (see H.R. 2583), H7949 [4SE]

———computation system for benefits relative to spouses' or surviving spouses' Government pensions (see H.R. 887), H1467 [27FE]

———earnings test for blind individuals (see H.R. 173), H323 [5FE]

———eliminate the waiting period in the disability insurance program for disabled individuals suffering from a terminal illness (see H.R. 976), H1461 [27FE]

Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act: enhance protection of credit ratings of active duty military personnel who are activated for military service (see H.R. 2576), H5813 [24JN]

States: require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of potentially visually impaired individuals (see H. Con. Res. 56), H3684 [6MY]

Tariff: encourage countries who are party to NAFTA to promote parity relative to the personal exemption allowance for merchandise purchased abroad by returning residents (see H. Res. 346), H7785 [25JY]

Taxation: accelerate increase in refundability of the child tax credit (see H.R. 2325), H4976 [4JN]

———allow use of principal repayments to issue additional mortgages and modify price limitations under the mortgage revenue bond program and change income limit for housing credit program (see H.R. 284), H4131 [14MY]

———change calculation and simplify administration of the earned income tax credit (see H.R. 1782), H3351 [11AP]

———permanently extend research credit, adjust the alternative incremental credit rates, and provide an alternative simplified credit for qualified research expenses (see H.R. 463), H2939 [8AP]

———permit the deduction of health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to be allowed in computing self-employment taxes (see H.R. 1873), H3684 [6MY]

———provide a tax credit for broadband Internet access (see H.R. 768), H3683 [6MY]

———treatment of certain tax attributes for taxpayers who file consolidated returns (see H.R. 2706), H7086 [17JY]

———treatment of private activity bonds for water and sewage facilities (see H.R. 3410), H10235 [30OC]

Unemployment: provide for a temporary enhanced unemployment benefits program (see H.R. 17), H52 [7JA] (see H.R. 1652), H3763 [7MY]

———provide for a temporary enhanced unemployment benefits program and improve the unemployment insurance system (see H.R. 3244), H9813 [21OC]

Veterans: enhance cooperation and the sharing of resources between the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the Dept. of Defense relative to veterans' benefits programs (see H.R. 1911), H4131 [14MY]

———health care funding (see H.R. 2318), H5468 [17JN]

———increase maximum amount of home loan guarantees available to veterans (see H.R. 1735), H3975 [9MY]

———increase rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans (see H.R. 1683), H4012 [13MY]

———increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for certain surviving spouses and provide for an open season under that plan (see H.R. 548), H2822 [3AP]

———make certain improvements to the National Service Life Insurance and U.S. Government Life Insurance programs (see H.R. 1554), H3305 [10AP]

———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 303), H2472 [27MR]

———permit use of education benefits for certain entrepreneurship courses and permit veterans enrolled in certain vocational rehabilitation programs to have self-employment as a vocational goal (see H.R. 1460), H4012 [13MY]

Veterans Day: observe moment of silence to honor veterans of all U.S. wars and memorialize those who gave their lives in defense of the U.S. (see H. Con. Res. 195), H4738 [22MY]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial: authorize design and construction of a visitor center (see H.R. 1442), H4368 [20MY]

Voting: establish election day as a legal public holiday (see H.R. 1508), H2823 [3AP]

Wildlife: prohibit interstate and foreign commerce of certain wild animals for use as pets (see H.R. 1006), H5366 [12JN]

———protect, conserve, and restore native fish, wildlife, and their natural habitats on Federal lands through grants to control, mitigate, and eradicate harmful nonnative species (see H.R. 2310), H4876 [3JN]

Women: constitutional amendment to ensure equal rights (see H.J. Res. 37), H1811 [12MR]

———promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (see H.R. 3420), H11360 [17NO]

———reduce preterm labor, delivery, and risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity (see H.R. 3350), H10237 [30OC]

World War II: allow certain individuals of Japanese ancestry who were brought forcibly to the U.S. from Latin America and were interned in the U.S. to be provided restitution (see H.R. 779), H700 [13FE]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Caetani, Laura Maldonado: relief (see H.R. 1506), H2472 [27MR]

Dept. of Agriculture: acquire and manage lands in Puerto Rico to protect critical aquifers, watersheds, and the tropical forests of the Karst Region (see H.R. 2488), H5467 [17JN]

Medicare: increase payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 1351), H2131 [19MR]

Public buildings: require that certain procedures are followed in Federal buildings when a child is reported missing (see H.R. 1263), H1900 [13MR]

Public welfare programs: provide access to tools to stimulate employment (see H.R. 535), H318 [5FE]

Puerto Rico: authorize a major medical facility project at the San Juan Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical center (see H.R. 3021), H8016 [5SE]

———authorize construction of a Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical center at a site that would best serve the needs of both veterans and Dept. of Defense medical beneficiaries (see H.R. 3020), H8016 [5SE]

———designate certain National Forest System lands as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (see H.R. 1723), H3301 [10AP]

———increase amount payable to provide nutrition assistance under the Food Stamp Act (see H.R. 3290), H9477 [15OC]

Roberto Clemente Walker Post Office Building, Carolina, PR: designate (see H.R. 2826), H7453 [23JY]

Small business: provide additional grants to small business development centers in high unemployment districts (see H.R. 2922), H7782 [25JY]

Social Security: allocate allotments to territories under the State Children's Health Insurance Program in the same manner as for States (see H.R. 3291), H9477 [15OC]

Letters

Dept. of Defense transfer of Vieques Island land to the Dept. of the Interior for use as a national wildlife refuge: Craig Manson, Dept. of the Interior, H3622 [1MY]

———Hansford T. Johnson, Dept. of the Navy, H3622 [1MY]

Naval Station Roosevelt Roads facilities usage: by, H6300, H6301 [8JY]

Resident Instruction and Distance Education Grants Program funding: by, H6651 [14JY]

Remarks

Appropriations: making supplemental appropriations for the war in Iraq and homeland security (H.R. 1559), H2737 [3AP]

Children and youth: implement Code Adam child safety alert program in Federal buildings, H2428 [27MR]

———prevent child abduction (H.R. 1104), H2428 [27MR]

Dept. of Agriculture: acquire and manage lands in Puerto Rico to protect critical aquifers, watersheds, and the tropical forests of the Karst Region (H.R. 2488), E1278 [17JN]

Dept. of Defense: authorizing appropriations for military activities and prescribing personnel strengths (H.R. 1588), conference report, H11001 [7NO]

———making appropriations (H.R. 2658), conference report, H8791, H8792 [24SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve and enhance provision of long-term care for veterans and modify authorities relative to administration of personnel (S. 1156), H12156 [21NO]

Employment: enhance the workforce investment system (H.R. 1261), H3787 [8MY]

Families and domestic relations: recognize and enhance public awareness of the social problem of child abuse and neglect (H. Res. 113), H2318 [26MR]

Medicare: increase payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico, H5039 [5JN]

———reform, H5039 [5JN]

Public welfare programs: reauthorize and improve block grants to States for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (H.R. 4), H549 [13FE]

Puerto Rico: anniversary of Arecibo Observatory, E2181 [31OC]

———closing of Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, H11001 [7NO]

———closure of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, H8791, H8792 [24SE]

———Dept. of Defense transfer of Vieques Island land to the Dept. of the Interior for use as a national wildlife refuge, H3621 [1MY]

———designate certain National Forest System lands as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, H3056 [10AP]

———infrastructure and transportation funding, H8059 [9SE]

———political reform, H1725 [11MR]

———prohibit closure of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, H6300 [8JY]

Roberto Clemente Walker Post Office Building, Carolina, PR: designate (H.R. 2826), H8461 [23SE]

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century: reauthorization, E1334 [24JN]

University of Puerto Rico: anniversary, H1693 [11MR]

Varona, Aleida: Dept. of HHS Office of Child Support Enforcement Achievement Beyond the Call of Duty Award recipient, E1743 [9SE]

Water: provide for conservation and development of water and related resources and authorize Dept. of the Army construction and improvement projects for rivers and harbors (H.R. 2557), H8840 [24SE]

Remarks in House relative to

Special order: granted, H1741 [11MR], H3632 [1MY]

Tributes

Blanco, Francisco J., H1910 [18MR]

Ferre, Luis A., E2116 [21OC]

Marin, Luis Munoz, E294 [26FE]

Morales, Orlando, H2591 [2AP], E639 [1AP]

Rodriguez, Robert M., H2591 [2AP]