MELANCON, CHARLIE (a Representative from Louisiana)

Amendments

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 2528), H4096 [26MY]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

American Jewish History Month: observance (see H. Con. Res. 315), H11654 [14DE]

America's Blood Centers (organization): tribute (see H. Res. 220), H4356 [9JN]

Appropriations: establish reporting requirements for funds made available for military operations or reconstruction efforts in Iraq or Afghanistan (see H.R. 871), H719 [16FE]

Armed Forces: 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. 772), H5101 [23JN]

———increase death gratuity (see H.R. 292), H236 [26JA]

———provide a temporary increase in the minimum end strength levels for active duty personnel and Special Operation Forces (see H.R. 1666), H2101 [14AP]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 602), H3894 [24MY]

———revise age and service requirements for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service and improve health care for reservists and their families by making TRICARE benefits permanent (see H.R. 558), H2550 [26AP]

Atchafalaya National Heritage Area: establish (see H.R. 522), H348 [2FE]

Braille, Louis: mint commemorative coins (see H.R. 2872), H7565 [28JY]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced (see H.J. Res. 58), H5915 [14JY]

Capitol Building and Grounds: acceptance by Committee on the Library (Joint) of a bust of Sojourner Truth and display of the bust in the Capitol rotunda (see H.R. 4510), H11880 [15DE]

Civil War—U.S.: establish a commission to commemorate sesquicentennial (see H.R. 687), H521 [9FE]

Coast Guard: tribute to response to Hurricane Katrina and provide temporary relief to certain persons affected by such hurricane relative to certain laws administered by the Coast Guard (see H.R. 4508), H11503 [13DE]

Corps of Engineers: carry out programs and activities to enhance the safety of levees (see H.R. 4650), H13188 [22DE]

Courts: provide protections of habeas corpus for certain incapacitated individuals whose life is in jeopardy (see H.R. 1151), H1417 [14MR]

CPSC: issue regulations mandating child-resistant closures on all portable gasoline containers (see H.R. 4023), H8807 [7OC]

Crime: improve prosecution of individuals falsely claiming receipt of military medals, awards, and honors (see H.R. 3352), H6936 [27JY]

Davis-Bacon Act: reinstate application of the wage requirements to Federal contracts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3763), H7947 [14SE]

Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval: support goals (see H. Res. 294), H4401 [13JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: prepare an annual report specifying the number of non-Federal employees of the Farm Service Agency needed to handle the workload generated by programs administered by the Agency (see H.R. 2209), H4985 [22JN]

Dept. of Defense: make a grant to the National D-Day Museum Foundation for facilities and programs of America's National World War II Museum (see H.R. 2725), H4141 [26MY]

Dept. of HHS: make grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services (see H.R. 216), H1622 [16MR]

Dept. of HUD: provide waivers under certain housing assistance programs to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in obtaining housing (see H.R. 3894), H8348 [26SE]

Dept. of the Treasury: authorize a special round of funding by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund for assistance in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 4020), H8807 [7OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid as dependency and indemnity compensation (see H.R. 808), H2738 [28AP]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: expedite payments of certain Federal emergency assistance and direct the Dept. of Homeland Security to exercise certain authority (see H.R. 4163), H9361 [27OC]

———reauthorize temporary mortgage and rental payments program (see H.R. 4492), H11327 [8DE]

Disasters: establish special rules relative to certain disaster assistance provided for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (see H.R. 4438), H11109 [6DE]

———modify terms of the community disaster loan program (see H.R. 4012), H8807 [7OC] (see H.R. 4090), H9042 [20OC]

———respond to Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters that adversely affect food assistance, agricultural producers, and households (see H.R. 3809), H8088 [15SE]

District of Columbia: restore right to keep and bear arms (see H.R. 1288), H3056 [5MY]

Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA): renegotiate provisions on access to U.S. sugar markets and prevent inclusion of sugar as an element of negotiations in free trade agreements (see H. Res. 98), H630 [15FE]

Endangered Species Act: provide greater results conserving and recovering listed species (see H.R. 3824), H8389 [27SE]

Farm Security and Rural Investment Act: extend appropriations and spending programs and provide an additional extension if implementing legislation is not submitted for World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda Round (see H.R. 4332), H10226 [15NO]

FDA: provide for uniform food safety warning notification requirements (see H.R. 4167), H11328 [8DE]

Federal Water Pollution Control Act: affirm that a permit is not required in certain circumstances (see H.R. 1749), H5604 [30JN]

FEMA: establish as an independent agency (see H.R. 3656), H7744 [7SE]

Financial institutions: facilitate recovery from Hurricane Katrina by providing greater flexibility for, and temporary waivers of certain rules and fees imposed on depository institutions and Federal regulatory agencies (see H.R. 3945), H8642 [29SE]

———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), H10226 [15NO]

Firearms: prohibit lawsuits against weapons manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers (see H.R. 800), H1372 [10MR]

Firefighters: recognize and honor contributions throughout U.S. history (see H. Res. 188), H1848 [6AP]

Guam War Claims Review Commission: implement recommendations (see H.R. 1595), H9556 [2NO]

Hainkel, John J.: tribute (see H. Res. 221), H2150 [19AP]

Health: establish a program to assist family caregivers in accessing affordable and high-quality respite care (see H.R. 3248), H7565 [28JY]

———provide for embryonic stem cell research (see H.R. 810), H1779 [5AP]

House of Representatives: limit State redistricting after an apportionment of Representatives and require such redistricting be conducted by independent commissions (see H.R. 2642), H4487 [14JN]

House Rules: amend procedures of Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (House) (see H. Res. 131), H1417 [14MR]

———strengthen budget process (see H. Res. 121), H797 [17FE]

Hurricanes: establish an independent commission to examine the Federal, State, and local response to Hurricane Katrina and make immediate corrective measures to improve such responses in the future (see H.R. 3764), H8644 [29SE]

———modify highway emergency relief program requirements relative to projects for repair or reconstruction in response to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3786), H8087 [15SE]

Immigration: revise certain requirements for H-2B employers and require submission of information on H-2B nonimmigrants (see H.R. 793), H1847 [6AP]

Iran: hold current regime accountable for its threatening behavior and support a transition to democracy (see H.R. 282), H1622 [16MR]

Japan: impose retaliatory economic measures if U.S. beef imports do not resume immediately (see H.R. 4179), H9425 [28OC]

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve: adjust boundary of Barataria Preserve Unit (see H.R. 1515), H4486 [14JN]

John J. Hainkel Post Office Building, Hammond, LA: designate (see H.R. 2346), H3332 [16MY]

Law enforcement: provide for research on and standards for remediation of closed methamphetamine production laboratories (see H.R. 798), H627 [15FE]

Life Insurance Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Con. Res. 181), H5915 [14JY]

Little Rock, AR: mint coins in commemoration of the anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School (see H.R. 358), H848 [1MR]

Louisiana: provide agreements between Federal agencies to partner or transfer funds to accomplish erosion goals (see H.R. 1675), H2106 [18AP]

———provide protection, conservation, and restoration of wetlands, estuaries, barrier islands, and related land in the coastal areas (see H.R. 2903), H4560 [15JN]

Louisiana Recovery Corp.: establish (see H.R. 4100), H11328 [8DE]

Marshall, Thurgood: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 657), H1896 [12AP]

Medicaid: provide temporary disaster relief in response to Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3698), H7813 [8SE]

Medicare: improve the provision of telehealth services (see H.R. 2807), H5177 [24JN]

———permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 376), H5741 [12JY]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (see H.R. 3861), H10503 [16NO]

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (see H.R. 11), H2550 [26AP]

NASA: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 3250), H5740 [12JY]

National Flood Insurance Program: strengthen, encourage participation, and provide certain owners of properties not located in flood hazard zones a one-time opportunity to purchase coverage (see H.R. 3922), H8387 [27SE]

National Guard Youth Challenge Program: increase maximum Federal share of costs for State programs (see H.R. 669), H1847 [6AP]

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: expand, intensify, and coordinate pulmonary hypertension research activities (see H.R. 3005), H6381 [22JY]

Outer Continental Shelf: terminate effect of laws prohibiting spending of appropriated funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities (see H.R. 4318), H11880 [15DE]

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act: establish a domestic offshore energy reinvestment program (see H.R. 1551), H1893 [12AP]

———promote alternative energy-related uses on Outer Continental Shelf (see H.R. 1596), H1968 [13AP]

Palestinians: provide that Hamas and other terrorist organizations should not participate in elections held by the Palestinian Authority (see H. Res. 575), H11328 [8DE]

Pope John Paul II: tribute (see H. Res. 186), H1848 [6AP]

Power resources: provide disaster assistance for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of a privately-owned power transmission facility damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (see H.R. 4391), H11033 [18NO]

San Francisco, CA: mint coins in commemoration of the San Francisco Old Mint (see H.R. 1953), H7564 [28JY]

Shipping industry: suspend temporarily new shipper bonding privileges (see H.R. 1039), H984 [3MR]

Social Security: ensure that receipts and disbursements of the trust funds are not included in a unified Federal budget (see H.R. 653), H2880 [3MY]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see H.R. 147), H1264 [9MR]

Surface Transportation Board: authorizing appropriations to enhance railroad competition (see H.R. 2047), H2879 [3MY]

Taxation: allow deduction for qualified timber gains (see H.R. 3883), H9962 [7NO]

———allow employers to claim a work opportunity credit for hiring military personnel returning from service in Iraq or Afghanistan and for hiring their dependents and dependents of deceased personnel (see H.R. 1352), H2151 [19AP]

———authorize States, localities, the District of Columbia, territories, and possessions of the U.S. to provide certain tax incentives to any person for economic development purposes (see H.R. 2471), H3556 [18MY]

———exclude from gross income certain hazard mitigation assistance (see H.R. 380), H233 [26JA] (see H.R. 387), H798 [17FE]

———improve operation of employee stock ownership plans (see H.R. 3111), H8163 [20SE]

———provide for advance payment of the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit to provide needed funds to victims of Hurricane Katrina and to stimulate local economies (see H.R. 3844), H8247 [21SE]

———provide for Gulf tax credit bonds and advance refundings of certain tax-exempt bonds, and provide a Federal guarantee of certain State bonds (see H.R. 4337), H10501 [16NO]

———provide for the proper tax treatment of certain disaster mitigation payments (see H.R. 1134), H988 [7MR]

———provide subsidies to encourage small employers to offer affordable health coverage to their employees through qualified health pooling arrangements (see H.R. 2073), H2976 [4MY]

———provide tax benefits for the Gulf Opportunity Zone and certain areas affected by Hurricane Rita (see H.R. 4155), H9361 [27OC]

———provide tax benefits for the Gulf Opportunity Zone and certain areas affected by Hurricanes Rita and Wilma (see H.R. 4440), H11221 [7DE]

———provide tax relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and provide incentives for charitable giving (see H.R. 3768), H7948 [14SE]

Telephones: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on health and human services (see H.R. 896), H8162 [20SE]

Transportation: provide temporary waiver of certain transportation conformity rules and metropolitan transportation planning rules under the Clean Air Act and other laws for certain areas affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3946), H8642 [29SE]

Turkey: urge acknowledgment of culpability of Ottoman Empire for Armenian genocide and reconciliation with Armenia, and support accession of Turkey to the European Union under certain criteria (see H. Con. Res. 195), H6328 [21JY]

Tuskegee Airmen: award Congressional Gold Medal (see H.R. 1259), H12050 [16DE]

Veterans: expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 1366), H2551 [26AP]

———expand eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retired pay or combat-related compensation with service-connected disability benefits and eliminate phase-in period for such benefits (see H.R. 303), H2550 [26AP]

Voting: extend to Hurricane Katrina evacuees the right to use absentee balloting and registration procedures available to military and overseas voters (see H.R. 3734), H8648 [3OC]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Davis-Bacon Act: reinstate application of the wage requirements to Federal contracts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina (H.R. 3763), consideration (see H. Res. 516), H9276 [26OC]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: permit cancellation of certain loans (see H.R. 4117), H9043 [20OC]

Hurricanes: provide disaster relief and incentives for economic recovery for Louisiana residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3958), H8643 [29SE]

NIST: establish a Katrina Assistance Program through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (see H.R. 3826), H8161 [20SE]

Public buildings: expressing that display of the Ten Commandments does not violate the first amendment to the Constitution (see H. Con. Res. 194), H5361 [28JN]

Submerged Lands Act: make seaward boundaries of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi equivalent to seaward boundaries of Texas and the Gulf Coast of Florida (see H.R. 2634), H4073 [25MY]

Taxation: allow credit for expenditures incurred to restore or protect wetlands from coastal erosion (see H.R. 2102), H2977 [4MY]

Treaties and agreements: require the President to submit the implementing legislation, statement of administrative action, and supporting information to Congress upon entering into a trade agreement (see H.R. 2691), H4140 [26MY]

Remarks

Aggreko plc: Aggreko's National Repair Team recipient of Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana Platinum Award for Continued Excellence, E1683 [29JY]

Agriculture: price supports for sugar, H4256 [8JN]

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), H4256 [8JN]

Budget: reconciliation of the concurrent resolution (H.R. 4241), H10048 [9NO]

Dept. of Agriculture: reduce interest rate on loans to processors of sugar beets and sugarcane, H4256 [8JN]

Dept. of the Interior: suspend collection of royalty payments for offshore oil and gas production on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico, H2417 [21AP]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: veterans health care funding through reductions in Base Realignment and Closure Account funding, H4096, H4097 [26MY]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: making appropriations for military construction, quality of life functions, and veterans' services (H.R. 2528), H4096, H4097 [26MY]

Disasters: improve preparedness and response plans, H7780 [8SE]

Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA): impact on sugar program, H6910 [27JY]

———implementation (H.R. 3045), H6910 [27JY]

———ratification, H833, H835 [1MR]

ERISA: impose a moratorium on terminations of certain plans in cases in which reorganization of contributing sponsors is sought in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, H4903 [22JN]

FEMA: allow transfer of funding to the Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program to facilitate direct loans to communities (S. 1858), H8795 [7OC]

Hurricanes: making emergency supplemental appropriations for relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina (H.R. 3673), H7780 [8SE]

Kazakhstan: democracy efforts, H8631 [29SE]

———tribute to citizens for efforts to provide relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H8631 [29SE]

Pensions: reform, H4903 [22JN]

Power resources: enhance energy conservation, research, and development and provide for security and diversity in the energy supply (H.R. 6), H2417 [21AP]

Social Security: privatization proposals, H5371 [29JN], H5645 [12JY]

———reform, H5371 [29JN], H5645 [12JY]

Votes: position on missed, H4527 [15JN], E332 [2MR]

Remarks in House relative to

Leave of absence: granted, H7670 [6SE]

Special order: granted, H2468 [21AP], H8640 [29SE]