BELL, CHRIS (a Representative from Texas)
Bills and resolutions cosponsored
Abortion: prohibit interference by the government with a woman's right to choose to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy (see H.R. 3719), H304 [3FE]
African Growth and Opportunity Act: extend and modify certain trade benefits (see H.R. 4103), H2658 [5MY]
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin: tribute (see H. Res. 579), H1593 [25MR]
American Dental Association: commend Give Kids a Smile program, emphasize need to improve access to dental care for children, and thank dentists for volunteering time to provide needed dental care (see H. Res. 567), H2267 [21AP]
Armed Forces: clarify requirements relative to predeployment and postdeployment medical exams of certain members (see H.R. 4346), H3392 [19MY]
———enhance and improve benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserves who serve extended periods on active duty (see H.R. 5354), H9184 [9OC]
———entitle educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for members of the Selected Reserve who aggregate a certain amount of active duty service (see H.R. 4367), H6557 [21JY]
———increase death gratuity (see H.R. 5055), H9184 [9OC]
Assault weapons: extend ban on production of assault weapons (see H.R. 3831), H6557 [21JY]
Belarus: ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair Presidential election process (see H. Res. 652), H4894 [23JN]
Birds: mint coins celebrating recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle and noting the importance of the designation of the American bald eagle as an endangered species (see H.R. 4116), H3017 [13MY]
Business and industry: require mandatory expensing of stock options granted to executive officers (see H.R. 3574), H2154 [2AP]
Charles Wilson Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Lufkin, TX: designate (see H.R. 4317), H2727 [6MY]
Chavez, Cesar E.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 4082), H1789 [31MR]
Children and youth: provide assistance for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries (see H.R. 4061), H2549 [4MY]
Civil rights: provide equal access to opportunity in education, business, and employment and support affirmative action programs in securing such equal access (see H. Res. 32), H245 [28JA]
———restore, reaffirm, and reconcile legal rights under civil rights statutes (see H.R. 3809), H701 [26FE]
Classified information: request Executive Office of the President and other executive departments to transmit documents relative to disclosure of identity and employment of Valerie Plame (see H. Res. 499), H128 [27JA]
Clinton, William J.: tribute (see H. Res. 717), H5793 [14JY]
Committee To Investigate Detainee Abuses (House, Select): establish (see H. Res. 690), H5793 [14JY]
Congressman Jack Fields Post Office, Kingwood, TX: designate (see H.R. 4232), H8168 [5OC]
Consumers: extend certain protections to international remittance transfers of funds originating in the U.S. (see H.R. 5315), H9048 [8OC]
Courts: give U.S. district courts jurisdiction over competing State custody determinations (see H.R. 3941), H1070 [11MR]
———permit expungement of records of certain nonviolent criminal offenses (see H.R. 1434), H575 [24FE]
Credit cards: prohibit issuers from increasing a consumers interest rate based on credit information unrelated to transactions with the consumer (see H.R. 2724), H6997 [9SE]
Crime: provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes (see H.R. 4204), H2371 [22AP]
———provide reliable officers, technology, education, community prosecutors, and training in our neighborhoods (see H.R. 5277), H8858 [7OC]
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: anniversary (see H. Con. Res. 487), H6756 [7SE]
Dept. of Agriculture: establish the National Drought Council (see H.R. 2871), H6997 [9SE]
Dept. of Defense: carry out a program to provide a support system for members of the Armed Forces who incur severe disabilities (see H.R. 5057), H7443 [22SE]
Dept. of Education: award grants for support of full-service community schools (see H.R. 4585), H5471 [9JY]
Dept. of HHS: establish an Office of Men's Health (see H.R. 1734), H2918 [12MY]
Dept. of the Treasury: extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (see H.R. 4772), H5330 [7JY]
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: restrict the performance of eye surgery at a facility, or under a contract with the Dept., to only licensed medical doctors and licensed doctors of osteopathy (see H.R. 3473), H575 [24FE]
Diseases: enhance research, training, and health information dissemination on urologic diseases (see H.R. 1002), H5150 [25JN]
———establish comprehensive, integrated, and culturally appropriate HIV prevention strategy emphasizing the needs of women and girls for each country provided assistance to combat HIV/AIDS (see H.R. 4792), H5470 [9JY]
Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez Post Office Building, Edinburg, TX: designate (see H.R. 4299), H2726 [6MY]
Education: provide student loan borrowers with a choice of lender for loan consolidation (see H.R. 942), H1740 [30MR]
Endangered species: protect the remaining herd of wild and genetically pure American Buffalo (see H.R. 3446), H2658 [5MY]
Erdogan, Recep Tayyip: U.S. visit (see H. Con. Res. 353), H633 [25FE]
Fair Labor Standards Act: reform provisions relative to child labor (see H.R. 3139), H37 [20JA]
FDA: review decision process to disapprove commercial distribution of the emergency-contraceptive drug Plan B as an over-the-counter drug (see H.R. 4377), H3392 [19MY]
France: condemn policy prohibiting religious articles and symbols in schools and respect the freedom of all to practice their religious faith without state interference (see H. Res. 528), H872 [4MR]
FTC: classify advertising or sale of a mislabeled copy-protected music disc as an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice (see H.R. 107), H2657 [5MY]
Gordon Wood Post Office Building, Stamford, TX: designate (see H.R. 5196), H7944 [30SE]
Guam: anniversary of liberation (see H. Res. 737), H6998 [9SE]
Haiti: duty-free treatment of certain apparel articles relative to certification of market, political, and social reforms (see H.R. 1031), H700 [26FE]
Haskins, Don: tribute (see H. Res. 562), H5151 [25JN]
Health: authorize use of Federal funds for research on human embryonic stem cells irrespective of date derived (see H.R. 3960), H2266 [21AP]
———clarify application of antitrust laws to negotiations between groups of health care professionals and health care insurance issuers (see H.R. 1120), H1740 [30MR]
———expand access to preventive health care services and education programs that reduce unintended pregnancy, infection with sexually transmitted disease, and number of abortions (see H.R. 4192), H2374 [22AP]
———increase supply of pancreatic islet cells for research and coordinate efforts and information on transplantation (see H.R. 3858), H2154 [2AP]
———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see H.R. 4628), H4646 [21JN]
———provide for embryonic stem cell research (see H.R. 4682), H5536 [12JY]
———provide individuals of health disparity populations prevention, detection, treatment, and follow-up care services for cancer and chronic diseases, and patient navigators to assist in receiving such services (see H.R. 918), H7073 [13SE]
House of Representatives: limit State redistricting after an apportionment of Representatives (see H.R. 3856), H699 [26FE]
Immigration: treatment of unaccompanied alien children (see H.R. 3361), H2154 [2AP]
India: provide assistance to combat HIV/AIDS (see H.R. 4449), H3821 [8JN]
Insurance: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer (see H.R. 1886), H1322 [18MR]
———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (see H.R. 1205), H2266 [21AP]
Iran: express sympathy for victims of earthquake in Bam (see H. Res. 526), H633 [25FE]
———hold current regime accountable for its threatening behavior and support a transition to democracy (see H.R. 5193), H10233 [20NO]
———urge compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions on nuclear weapons program and call for international cooperation with such compliance (see H. Con. Res. 332), H435 [10FE]
Irma Rangel Post Office Building, Kingsville, TX: designate (see H.R. 4829), H5792 [14JY]
Kosovo: civil liberties violations against ethnic Albanians (see H. Res. 596), H2153 [2AP]
Law enforcement: prohibit racial profiling (see H.R. 3847), H698 [26FE]
Lobbyists: require certain coalitions and associations to disclose lobbying activities (see H.R. 4937, 4938), H6702 [22JY]
Marshall, John: mint coins in commemoration (see H.R. 2768), H304 [3FE]
Medicaid: coverage of primary and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults with sickle cell disease (see H.R. 1736), H575 [24FE]
———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (see H.R. 2959), H2483 [28AP]
———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (see H.R. 3859), H7329 [21SE]
Medicare: permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 3707), H516 [11FE]
———prohibit operation of comparative cost adjustment (CCA) program in Texas (see H.R. 3861), H699 [26FE]
Merchant marine industry: provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (see H.R. 3729), H7329 [21SE]
Mexico: allow certain nationals to be admitted as nonimmigrant visitors for a certain period (see H.R. 3488), H6756 [7SE]
Middle East: commend democratization and political and economic liberalization of certain countries (see H. Res. 751), H6900 [8SE]
Minorities: improve health of minority individuals (see H.R. 3459), H9051 [8OC]
NASA: tribute to Hubble Space Telescope for extraordinary contributions to scientific research and education and reconsideration of future service missions (see H. Res. 550), H2816 [11MY]
National Community Health Center Week: establish (see H. Res. 646), H3229 [18MY]
National Infrastructure Development Corp.: establish (see H.R. 3715), H435 [10FE]
National Labor History Month: designate (see H. Con. Res. 452), H4286 [16JN]
National School Lunch Act: phase out reduced price lunches and breakfasts by phasing in an increase in the income eligibility guidelines for free lunches and breakfasts (see H.R. 3441), H1484 [24MR]
National security: secure borders of the U.S. (see H.R. 5130), H7574 [23SE]
National Time Out Day: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 682), H7864 [29SE]
Natural resources: provide fellowships for graduate and postgraduate students in natural resource- or wildlife-related advanced degree programs to provide expertise to Federal agencies and Congress (see H.R. 5145), H7574 [23SE]
Nguyen Van Ly, Thaddeus: call for release by Vietnam (see H. Con. Res. 378), H1484 [24MR]
Private Felix Z. Longoria Veterans' Memorial Post Office, Three Rivers, TX: designate (see H.R. 4911), H6701 [22JY]
Project GRAD USA (organization): authorize (see H.R. 4973), H8859 [7OC]
Public lands: provide a means of resolving claims regarding the continued existence of rights-of-way (see H.R. 1639), H244 [28JA]
Radio: ensure the availability of spectrum to amateur radio operators (see H.R. 713), H36 [20JA]
Rio Grande American Canal, El Paso, TX: redesignate as the Travis C. Johnson Canal (see H.R. 4751), H5150 [25JN]
Rotary International: issue commemorative stamp to honor centennial anniversary and efforts to eradicate polio (see H. Con. Res. 375), H2155 [2AP]
Russia: condemn series of terrorist attacks (see H. Res. 760), H6899 [8SE]
San Francisco, CA: mint coins in commemoration of the San Francisco Old Mint (see H.R. 4249), H6706 [22JY]
Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 2262), H515 [11FE]
Small business: establish a temporary loan program and a temporary vocational development program for small businesses owned and controlled by veterans (see H.R. 3483), H3873 [9JN]
———improve results and accountability of microenterprise development assistance programs (see H.R. 3818), H574 [24FE]
Social Security: protect cost-of-living adjustments (see H.R. 4910), H8168 [5OC]
———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (H.R. 594), consideration (see H. Res. 523), H515 [11FE]
Space policy: mint coins in commemoration of the anniversaries of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (see H.R. 4881), H6555 [21JY]
Spain: condemn terrorist bombing in Madrid and express condolences to the families of the victims (see H. Res. 565), H1594 [25MR]
Sudan: condemn attacks against civilians in the Darfur region (see H. Con. Res. 403), H2484 [28AP]
———declare genocide in Darfur (see H. Con. Res. 467), H5654 [13JY]
Taiwan Relations Act: reaffirm U.S. commitment (see H. Con. Res. 462), H5793 [14JY]
Tariff: impose tariff-rate quotas on certain casein and milk protein concentrates (see H.R. 1160), H2199 [20AP]
Taxation: allow a business credit for qualified expenditures for medical professional malpractice insurance (see H.R. 4124), H2019 [1AP]
———allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance (see H.R. 1336), H830 [3MR]
———make allowance of the deduction of State and local general sales taxes in lieu of State and local income taxes permanent (see H.R. 5384), H9999 [18NO]
———treatment of distilled spirits (see H.R. 2950), H3094 [17MY]
Terrorism: modify designation of foreign terrorist organizations and include information on groups seeking weapons of mass destruction or designated as terrorist organizations in Dept. of State country reports (see H.R. 3978), H2019 [1AP]
Thomas E. Creek Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Amarillo, TX: designate (see H.R. 4836), H5907 [15JY]
Tobacco products: combat illicit trafficking of tobacco products (see H.R. 4820), H5653 [13JY]
U.S.-Thailand Free Trade Agreement: limit Thailand's access to U.S. automobile market to prevent backdoor access by third-country automobile producers to the U.S. market (see H. Con. Res. 336), H2550 [4MY]
Ukraine: ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair Presidential election process (see H. Con. Res. 415), H5151 [25JN]
Veterans: health care funding (see H.R. 2318), H3720 [2JN]
———improve benefits for former POWs (see H.R. 348), H2019 [1AP]
———increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for certain surviving spouses and provide for a one-year open season under that plan (see H.R. 3763), H391 [4FE]
———recognize military service of certain Philippine nationals during World War II and allow receipt of Dept. of Veterans Affairs benefits (see H.R. 677), H7138 [14SE]
Water: conservation of freshwater resources (see H. Con. Res. 468), H5150 [25JN]
World War II: honor contribution of women, symbolized by ``Rosie the Riveter'', who served on the homefront (see H. Con. Res. 413), H3094 [17MY]
Bills and resolutions introduced
Credit: establish an equitable ceiling on credit card interest rates (see H.R. 5138), H7574 [23SE]
Dept. of Defense: request transmission to the House of Representatives any documentation produced in conjuction with investigations of abuse of Iraqi POW by U.S. military personnel or contractors (see H. Res. 640), H2918 [12MY]
Law enforcement: prohibit racial profiling (see H. Res. 515), H392 [4FE]
Minimum wage: level (see H.R. 5043), H6996 [9SE]
Safety: recognize need for consistent information, regulations, and guidelines regarding the safe disposal of used syringes outside medical facilities (see H. Res. 659), H3719 [2JN]
Remarks
Bush, President: State of the Union Message, H5 [20JA]
China, Republic of: allow vote on peace referendum without intimidation or threat of force from the People's Republic of China, E109
Courts: limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act (H.R. 3313), H6594 [22JY]
House of Representatives: legislative priorities, H5 [20JA]
Kerry, Senator: characterization relative to service in Vietnamese Conflict, H2338 [22AP]
Votes: position on missed, E263
Remarks in House relative to
Members of Congress: tribute to departing Members of Texas delegation, H10059, H10064-H10071 [19NO], E2121, E2127 [20NO]
Resignations
Committee on Government Reform (House), H222 [28JA]
Committee on International Relations (House), H1566 [25MR]
Committee on Science (House), H222 [28JA]
Tributes
Broussard, Rose Mary E. and Earnest J., E97