PLATTS, TODD RUSSELL (a Representative from Pennsylvania)

Amendments

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), H4189 [7JN], H4227 [8JN]

Appointments

Conferee: H.R. 3, Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for Users, H4136 [26MY]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Abortion: ensure that women seeking an abortion are fully informed relative to pain experienced by the unborn child (see H.R. 356), H630 [15FE]

Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area: establish (see H.R. 1192), H5435 (see H.R. 1192), H5479 [29JN]

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

Amtrak: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 1630), H2739 [28AP]

Animals: restore prohibition on commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros (see H.R. 297), H4356 [9JN]

———support and provide financial resources for conservation programs of nations within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations (see H.R. 1707), H8342 [22SE]

Arlington National Cemetery: establish a memorial for 40 fallen American servicemen who perished in the air crash during World War II at Bakers Creek, Australia (see H. Con. Res. 106), H4401 [13JN]

Armed Forces: provide for certain servicemembers to become eligible for educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill (see H.R. 269), H584 [10FE]

———provide postal benefits for personal correspondence and certain parcels sent to members serving on active military duty abroad (see H.R. 887), H3060 [9MY] (see H.R. 923), H8643 [29SE]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (see H.R. 602), H848 [1MR]

———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), H584 [10FE]

Aviation: improve air cargo security (see H.R. 2044), H3769 [23MY]

———provide penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes (see H.R. 1400), H1897 [12AP]

Bankruptcy: amend laws (see H.R. 685), H521 [9FE]

Benjamin Franklin National Memorial: provide financial assistance to rehabilitate and develop exhibit to commemorate 300th anniversary of birth (see H.R. 1645), H2100 [14AP]

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: recognize anniversary and support mission and goals (see H. Con. Res. 41), H1265 [9MR]

Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid: establish (see H.R. 985), H796 [17FE]

Birds: promote conservation of migratory waterfowl and offset or prevent the loss of wetlands and other habitat essential to the preservation of such waterfowl (see H.R. 4315), H11328 [8DE]

Braille, Louis: mint commemorative coins (see H.R. 2872), H9696 [4NO]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced (see H.J. Res. 58), H5801 [13JY]

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail: conduct feasibility study on designation as a national historic trail (see H.R. 2588), H3892 [24MY]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (see H.R. 3373), H6326 [21JY]

Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge: establish (see H.R. 3281), H5912 [14JY]

Chesapeake Bay: improve and reauthorize the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program (see H.R. 4126), H9102 [25OC]

Children and youth: establish a grant program to provide comprehensive eye examinations (see H.R. 2238), H3436 [17MY]

———establish Child Care Provider Development and Retention Grant Program, Child Care Provider Scholarship Program, and child care provider health benefits program (see H.R. 2000), H2736 [28AP]

———provide for programs and activities on the prevention of underage drinking (see H.R. 864), H718 [16FE]

China, People's Republic of: clarify actionability of exchange-rate manipulation under countervailing duty provisions and product-specific safeguard mechanisms of U.S. trade laws (see H.R. 1498), H4297 [8JN]

———require Dept. of the Treasury report on exchange rate policies and impose additional tariffs on products based on the rate of currency exchange manipulation (see H.R. 3004), H4895 [21JN]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Con. Res. 10), H2151 [19AP]

Civil liberties: regulate information brokers and protect individual rights with respect to personally identifiable information (see H.R. 1080), H2738 [28AP]

———support the national motto (see H. Con. Res. 302), H11655 [14DE]

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

Clayton J. Smith Memorial Post Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA: designate (see H.R. 3825), H8342 [22SE]

Colleges and universities: require entering students who will reside in on-campus housing to have received meningococcal vaccinations (see H.R. 803), H628 [15FE]

Committee on POW and MIA Affairs (House, Select): establish (see H. Res. 123), H5638 [11JY]

Community Services Block Grant Act: provide for quality improvements (see H.R. 341), H1509 [15MR]

Congressman James Grove Fulton Memorial Post Office Building, Pittsburgh, PA: designate (see H.R. 3256), H8342 [22SE]

Courts: clarify jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance (see H.R. 2389), H3434 [17MY]

———ensure judicial decisions on the meaning of U.S. laws are not based on foreign judgments, laws, or pronouncements unless they inform an understanding of the original meaning of the laws (see H. Res. 97), H8847 [17OC]

———modify the prohibition on recognition of certain rights relative to certain marks, trade names, or commercial names (see H.R. 1689), H4143 [26MY]

———provide fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims due to asbestos exposure and ensure fair compensation for harm caused by asbestos exposure (see H.R. 1360), H1690 [17MR]

———provide protections of habeas corpus for certain incapacitated individuals whose life is in jeopardy (see H.R. 1151), H1023 [8MR]

Crime: prohibit taking minors across State lines to avoid State laws requiring parental notification of abortions (see H.R. 748), H581 [10FE]

———provide penalties for trafficking in counterfeit marks (see H.R. 32), H412 [8FE]

———strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting (see H.R. 817), H629 [15FE]

Dallas, TX: eliminate certain restrictions on air transportation to and from Love Field (see H.R. 2646), H4401 [13JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: establish the National Drought Council (see H.R. 1386), H1692 [17MR]

———strengthen ability to regulate pet industry (see H.R. 2669), H5638 [11JY]

Dept. of Defense: continue exercise of statutory authority to support activities of the Boy Scouts (see H. Con. Res. 6), H142 [20JA]

———develop and implement a plan to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits as part of the TRICARE program (see H.R. 999), H2550 [26AP]

Dept. of Education: recruit, select, train, and support a national teachers corps in underserved communities (see H.R. 3334), H7566 [28JY]

Dept. of HHS: establish a health information technology grant program (see H.R. 2234), H4074 [25MY]

———establish an Office of Men's Health (see H.R. 457), H283 [1FE]

———establish Offices of Women's Health (see H.R. 949), H7743 [7SE]

———establish programs to address the shortage of medical laboratory personnel (see H.R. 1175), H1780 [5AP]

Dept. of Justice: establish a Probation and Parole Officer Safety Task Force (see H.R. 484), H7949 [14SE]

———reauthorize grant program for reentry of offenders into the community and establish a task force on Federal programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders into the community (see H.R. 1704), H7743 [7SE]

Dept. of the Navy: redesignate as the Dept. of the Navy and Marine Corps (see H.R. 34), H4296 [8JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: provide sufficient blind rehabilitation outpatient specialists at medical facilities (see H.R. 3579), H9556 [2NO]

———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), H1417 [14MR]

Disasters: improve ability of Depts. of Agriculture and the Interior to promptly implement recovery treatments in response to catastrophic events affecting forest lands (see H.R. 4200), H9554 [2NO]

Discrimination: prohibit on the basis of genetic information relative to insurance and employment (see H.R. 1227), H1369 [10MR]

Diseases: address fertility issues facing cancer survivors (see H. Con. Res. 174), H8342 [22SE]

———anniversary of development of Salk polio vaccine (see H. Res. 208), H1895 [12AP]

———expand research, prevention, and awareness activities relative to inflammatory bowel disease (see H.R. 3616), H8163 [20SE]

———extend issuance of special postage stamps to fund breast cancer research (see H.R. 312), H4296 [8JN]

———extend preventive-health and research programs for prostate cancer (see H.R. 2945), H4655 [16JN]

———fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention (see H.R. 1262), H4985 [22JN]

———issue commemorative postage stamp to promote public awareness of Down syndrome (see H. Con. Res. 42), H720 [16FE]

———support bone marrow failure disease research (see H. Con. Res. 179), H7674 [6SE]

———support efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness (see H. Res. 323), H7815 [8SE]

District of Columbia: establish as a congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives (see H.R. 2043), H2879 [3MY]

———restore right to keep and bear arms (see H.R. 1288), H3262 [12MY]

Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act: make repeal of estate taxes permanent (see H.R. 8), H790 [17FE]

Education: clarify existing Federal law relative to the treatment of students privately educated at home under State law (see H.R. 3753), H7860 [13SE]

———expand quality programs of early childhood home visitation (see H.R. 3628), H7612 [29JY]

———extend deadline by which State and local educational agencies are required to ensure that an educator is highly qualified in order to account for the educator's applicable period of military service (see H.R. 4470), H12168 [17DE]

———extend student loan forgiveness to Head Start teachers (see H.R. 2340), H3260 [12MY]

———increase amount of loans repayable for Selected Reserve officers who possess qualifications, or are being trained, in health professions needed to meet wartime combat medical skill shortages (see H.R. 3417), H6431 [25JY]

———increase scoring on assessments and achievement standards for calculating progress, and decrease State requirements and expand exclusion for limited English proficiency students for such calculations (see H.R. 1722), H6652 [26JY]

Elementary and Secondary Education Act: amend certain accountability provisions (see H.R. 1177), H4143 [26MY]

English language: reaffirm as official language of U.S., establish uniform English language rule for naturalization, and avoid misconstructions of English language texts of U.S. laws (see H.R. 997), H845 [1MR]

Executive departments: include the Dept. of Homeland Security and the Sec. of Homeland Security in lists of executive departments and officers (see H.R. 1455), H1776 [5AP]

Families and domestic relations: deny passports to noncustodial parents charged with nonpayment of child support or custodial parents who are likely to remove a child to prevent contact with the noncustodial parent (see H.R. 4327), H10225 [15NO]

Farm Security and Rural Investment Act: extend contracts for national dairy market loss payments (see H.R. 859), H848 [1MR]

FCC: treat private land use rules as State or local regulations for purposes of certain Federal regulations (see H.R. 3876), H11110 [6DE]

FDA: provide for uniform food safety warning notification requirements (see H.R. 4167), H9641 [3NO]

———provide with certain authority to regulate tobacco products (see H.R. 1376), H1691 [17MR]

Federal employees: amend the definition of a law enforcement officer to include certain positions relative to retirement benefits (see H.R. 1002), H3056 [5MY]

———deny Federal retirement benefits to individuals convicted of certain offenses (see H.R. 4546), H12051 [16DE]

———provide assistant U.S. attorneys the same retirement benefits as are afforded to Federal law enforcement officers (see H.R. 3183), H5601 [30JN]

Federal firefighters: establish presumptive disability benefits for certain diseases and disabilities (see H.R. 697), H1696 [17MR]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: regulate noncorrective contact lenses as medical devices (see H.R. 371), H2472 [21AP]

Federal Prison Industries, Inc.: eliminate Federal agency requirement to purchase products and require commercial competition for Federal contracts (see H.R. 2965), H4721 [17JN]

Federal Water Pollution Control Act: clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste (see H.R. 2719), H8163 [20SE]

———clarify U.S. jurisdiction over water and wetlands (see H.R. 1356), H9103 [25OC]

Federal Youth Development Council: establish to improve the administration and coordination of Federal youth programs (see H.R. 856), H8986 [19OC]

Financial institutions: 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), H584 [10FE]

Financial Literacy Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 148), H1510 [15MR]

Firearms: permit States to provide reciprocal treatment for carrying of certain concealed firearms by nonresidents (see H.R. 1243), H2103 [14AP]

———prohibit lawsuits against weapons manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers (see H.R. 800), H798 [17FE]

———protect and enforce the right to obtain and use firearms for security, self-defense, and other legitimate purposes (see H.R. 47), H286 [1FE]

Firefighters: expand definition of firefighter to include apprentices and trainees, regardless of age or duty limitations (see H.R. 1456), H7743 [7SE]

Fishery Conservation and Management Act: modify requirements for appointment and training of members of Regional Fishery Management Councils (see H.R. 1431), H2739 [28AP]

Flag—U.S.: constitutional amendment to prohibit desecration (see H.J. Res. 10), H989 [7MR]

Frank, Anne: confer honorary citizenship (see H.J. Res. 48), H3055 [5MY]

Freedom of religion: constitutional amendment protecting religious freedom (see H.J. Res. 57), H5602 [30JN]

FTC: revise regulations regarding the ``do-not-call'' registry to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone numbers listed on that registry (see H.R. 1950), H3695 [19MY]

———study rating system of video game industry and determine if their labeling practices are unfair or deceptive (see H.R. 1145), H1372 [10MR]

Gulf Coast States: encourage the adoption of comprehensive, modern, and uniform statewide building codes by Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama (see H. Con. Res. 285), H9696 [4NO]

Hazardous substances: require engine coolant and antifreeze to contain a bittering agent so as to render it unpalatable (see H.R. 2567), H4561 [15JN]

Health: declare adequate pain care research, education, and treatment as national health priorities (see H.R. 1020), H6936 [27JY]

———establish a program to assist family caregivers in accessing affordable and high-quality respite care (see H.R. 3248), H7815 [8SE]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (see H.R. 534), H349 [2FE]

———make antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers in the same manner as collective bargaining by labor organizations (see H.R. 1671), H4143 [26MY]

———provide for arthritis research and public health (see H.R. 583), H942 [2MR]

———provide grants to States to provide access to affordable health insurance for certain child care providers and staff (see H.R. 1613), H1968 [13AP]

———strengthen programs for stroke education, prevention, and treatment (see H.R. 898), H2738 [28AP]

Health care facilities: extend Federal Tort Claims Act coverage to all federally qualified community health centers (see H.R. 1633), H9044 [20OC]

Higher Education Act: ensure graduate opportunities in postsecondary education (see H.R. 510), H4561 [15JN]

Housing: modernize the manufactured housing loan insurance program (see H.R. 2803), H7743 [7SE]

Hunger: reduce (see H.R. 2717), H4561 [15JN]

Immigration: bar admission and facilitate removal of alien terrorists and their supporters, drug traffickers, and other illegal or criminal aliens and reform the visa and legal immigration systems (see H.R. 688), H1025 [8MR]

———enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database (see H.R. 98), H630 [15FE]

———enhance Federal, State, and local enforcement of immigration laws (see H.R. 3137), H5801 [13JY]

———revise certain requirements for H-2B employers and require submission of information on H-2B nonimmigrants (see H.R. 793), H984 [3MR]

Indian Americans: recognize and honor contributions to economic innovation and society (see H. Res. 227), H2472 [21AP]

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act: limit casino expansion (see H.R. 3431), H6649 [26JY]

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 3145), H9277 [26OC]

Insurance: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (see H.R. 1849), H2549 [26AP]

———promote health care coverage parity for individuals participating in legal recreational or transportation activities (see H.R. 2793), H5435 (see H.R. 2793), H5480 [29JN]

———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. 1000), H7861 [13SE]

Interstate commerce: prohibit transport of horses for the purpose of slaughter or horse flesh for human consumption (see H.R. 503), H2102 [14AP]

Iran: hold current regime accountable for its threatening behavior and support a transition to democracy (see H.R. 282), H137 [6JA]

Iron and steel industry: maintain and expand the steel import licensing and monitoring program (see H.R. 1068), H980 [3MR]

Languages: repeal Executive order on providing access to Federal programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency (see H.R. 136), H584 [10FE]

———strengthen national security through expansion and improvement of foreign language study (see H.R. 115), H848 [1MR]

Law enforcement: provide grants for prosecutions of cases cleared through use of DNA backlog clearance funds (see H.R. 1602), H7743 [7SE]

Law enforcement officers: adjust percentage differentials payable to Federal law enforcement officers in certain high-cost areas (see H.R. 556), H350 [2FE]

———ensure accountability, guarantee due process, establish standards for internal investigations and hearings, and require enactment of relevant State laws (see H.R. 354), H1779 [5AP]

———issue commemorative postage stamp for officers killed in the line of duty (see H. Con. Res. 85), H1372 [10MR]

Little Rock, AR: mint coins in commemoration of the anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School (see H.R. 358), H354 [2FE]

Marshall, Thurgood: award Congressional Gold Medal posthumously (see H.R. 657), H8162 [20SE]

Mayor Joseph S. Daddona Memorial Post Office, Allentown, PA: designate (see H.R. 2490), H3693 [19MY]

Medicaid: improve access to advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (see H.R. 2716), H4141 [26MY]

———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (see H.R. 699), H2103 [14AP]

———provide funding to States to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities (see H.R. 1264), H7814 [8SE]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (see H. Con. Res. 231), H10910 [17NO]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see H.R. 1333), H1620 [16MR]

———coverage of respiratory therapists under home health service plans (see H.R. 964), H4722 [17JN]

———expand coverage of paramedic intercept services (see H.R. 3047), H5100 [23JN]

———improve benefits for beneficiaries with kidney disease (see H.R. 1298), H5435 (see H.R. 1298), H5479 [29JN]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see H.R. 2014), H2737 [28AP]

———preserve beneficiary access to community cancer care (see H.R. 4098), H10503 [16NO]

———provide for value-based purchasing in payment for physicians' services (see H.R. 3617), H7673 [6SE]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (see H.R. 2356), H7565 [28JY]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see H.R. 872), H7861 [13SE]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see H.R. 916), H3894 [24MY]

Members of Congress: deny congressional retirement benefits to Members convicted of felonies (see H.R. 4535), H11653 [14DE]

———reduce rate of pay and eliminate automatic salary adjustments (see H.R. 4047), H11220 [7DE]

Mental health: establish State grant program to end practice of parents giving custody of emotionally disturbed children to State agencies to obtain mental health services (see H.R. 823), H4073 [25MY]

———increase number of well-trained mental health service professionals providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents (see H.R. 1106), H982 [3MR]

———provide for equal insurance coverage of benefits unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits (see H.R. 1402), H6381 [22JY]

Mexico: convey sympathy to families of young women murdered in Chihuahua and encourage increased U.S. involvement in bringing an end to these crimes (see H. Con. Res. 90), H2473 [21AP]

Mining and mineral resources: reauthorize collection of reclamation fees, revise abandoned mine reclamation program, promote remining, and authorize Office of Surface Mining to collect black lung excise tax (see H.R. 2721), H4141 [26MY]

Motor vehicles: protect the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, and repair their motor vehicles (see H.R. 2048), H4143 [26MY]

———require higher standards of automobile fuel efficiency to reduce the amount of oil used for fuel by automobiles in the U.S. by 10 percent beginning in 2016 (see H.R. 3762), H7947 [14SE]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (see H.R. 3373), H6326 [21JY]

National Brain Injury Awareness Month: support (see H. Con. Res. 99), H1509 [15MR]

National Campus Safety Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 15), H5915 [14JY]

National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Network: establish to prepare, store, and distribute human umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of patients and to support peer-reviewed research (see H.R. 596), H2103 [14AP]

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: expand, intensify, and coordinate pulmonary hypertension research activities (see H.R. 3005), H8089 [15SE]

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: authorize development of research centers focusing on environmental factors related to the etiology of breast cancer (see H.R. 2231), H4561 [15JN]

National Mentoring Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 46), H354 [2FE]

National MPS Day: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 85), H849 [1MR]

National parks and recreation areas: eliminate annual operating deficit and maintenance backlog (see H.R. 1124), H983 [3MR]

———mint coins in commemoration of founding (see H.R. 988), H1779 [5AP]

National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day: support goals and ideals (see H. Con. Res. 222), H7815 [8SE]

National security: improve security for driver's licenses and identity documents, amend immigration laws to prevent entry of terrorists, and ensure completion of certain border barriers (see H.R. 418), H413 [8FE]

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: amend (see H.R. 1297), H1507 [15MR]

Native Americans: acknowledgment of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina (see H.R. 21), H4655 [16JN]

Office of National Drug Control Policy: reauthorize and establish minimum drug testing standards for major professional sports leagues (see H.R. 2565), H3892 [24MY]

Palestinians: provide that Hamas and other terrorist organizations should not participate in elections held by the Palestinian Authority (see H. Res. 575), H11655 [14DE]

Parks, Rosa: issue commemorative postage stamp (see H.R. 4343), H11220 [7DE]

Peace Officers Memorial Day: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 266), H3332 [16MY]

Pharmaceuticals: importation of prescription drugs (see H.R. 328), H413 [8FE]

Postal Service: reform postal laws (see H.R. 22), H1025 [8MR]

Privacy: eliminate requirement that States collect Social Security numbers from applicants for recreational licenses (see H.R. 4144), H9275 [26OC]

Public utilities: establish a Federal renewable energy portfolio standard for certain retail electric utilities (see H.R. 983), H796 [17FE]

Railroads: increase rail transportation security (see H.R. 4106), H9043 [20OC]

———provide for the financing of high-speed rail infrastructure (see H.R. 1631), H2739 [28AP]

Randall D. Shughart Post Office Building, Newville, PA: designate (see H.R. 2062), H2879 [3MY]

Roads and highways: amend length and weight limitations for vehicles operating on Federal-aid highways (see H.R. 1218), H1368 [10MR]

———use of high occupancy vehicle lanes by hybrid electric vehicles (see H.R. 444), H283 [1FE]

Roosevelt, Theodore: mint coins in commemoration of the centenary of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize (see H.R. 389), H11327 [8DE]

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act: include bullying and harassment prevention programs (see H.R. 284), H287 [1FE]

Science: prohibit the cloning of humans (see H.R. 1357), H1690 [17MR]

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. 3601), H7560 [28JY]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care (see H.R. 525), H348 [2FE]

Social Security: allow choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see H.R. 615), H584 [10FE]

———disregard State annuities paid to blind veterans in the determination of SSI benefits (see H.R. 592), H1896 [12AP]

———exclude from creditable wages income earned by aliens for services illegally performed in the U.S. or derived from an illegal trade or business (see H.R. 1438), H8388 [27SE]

———provide certain benefits to individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (see H.R. 23), H847 [1MR]

———provide congressional oversight and approval of totalization agreements (see H.R. 2339), H8388 [27SE]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see H.R. 147), H236 [26JA]

Space policy: mint coins in commemoration of the anniversaries of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (see H.R. 68), H524 [9FE]

States: establish a program to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams (see H.R. 1105), H3556 [18MY]

———establish and rapidly implement regulations for driver's license and identification document security standards (see H.R. 368), H413 [8FE]

———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. 235), H9962 [7NO]

Sudan: impose sanctions against perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Darfur (see H.R. 1424), H3695 [19MY]

———impose sanctions on those responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, protect civilians and humanitarian operations, and support peace in Darfur (see H.R. 3127), H11110 [6DE]

Syria: strengthen sanctions, establish a program to support a transition to a democratically elected Government, and restore sovereignty and democratic rule in Lebanon (see H.R. 1141), H10227 [15NO]

Tariff: impose tariff-rate quotas on certain casein and milk protein concentrates (see H.R. 521), H630 [15FE]

Taxation: allow a credit for owning certain commercial power takeoff vehicles (see H.R. 652), H411 [8FE]

———allow a deduction for premiums for high deductible health plans required relative to health savings accounts (see H.R. 37), H196 [25JA]

———allow a deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums, use of such insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and a credit for individuals with long-term care needs (see H.R. 2682), H7673 [6SE]

———allow a refundable credit for the purchase of private health insurance and establish State health insurance safety-net programs (see H.R. 765), H583 [10FE]

———allow a tax credit for the purchase of hearing aids (see H.R. 414), H7861 [13SE]

———allow deduction for Armed Forces serving in a combat zone for contributions to individual retirement plans even if the compensation on which contributions are based is excluded from gross income (see H.R. 1499), H3556 [18MY]

———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]

———allow exclusion of tax-exempt bonds issued for health care or educational purposes in determination of interest expenses of financial institutions (see H.R. 1140), H3894 [24MY]

———allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums (see H.R. 994), H1847 [6AP]

———allow individuals to designate refunds to provide catastrophic health coverage to individuals who do not otherwise have health coverage (see H.R. 1098), H982 [3MR]

———exclude from gross income employer contributions to college tuition plans and education savings accounts (see H.R. 3585), H7559 [28JY]

———expand incentives for education (see H.R. 1380), H1691 [17MR]

———expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use (see H.R. 1634), H11328 [8DE]

———provide a shorter recovery period for the depreciation of certain systems installed in nonresidential buildings (see H.R. 1241), H1369 [10MR]

———provide for equitable treatment of civilian employees of the Dept. of Defense serving in combat zones and members of the Armed Forces serving in combat zones (see H.R. 294), H4722 [17JN]

———provide tax incentives for the purchase of qualified health insurance (see H.R. 1872), H5638 [11JY]

———provide that distributions from certain retirement plans are not included in gross income if used to pay long-term care insurance premiums (see H.R. 976), H1779 [5AP]

———provide transition funding rules for certain plans, including airline industry pension plans, electing to cease future benefit accruals (see H.R. 2106), H3332 [16MY]

———repeal excise tax on telephone use and other communications services (see H.R. 1898), H4356 [9JN]

———treatment of certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers (see H.R. 2989), H10227 [15NO]

Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act: make teacher loan forgiveness provisions permanent (see H.R. 670), H848 [1MR]

Telephones: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on health and human services (see H.R. 896), H2880 [3MY]

Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee: establish (see H.R. 2877), H4485 [14JN]

Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee: establish (see H.R. 2526), H5435 (see H.R. 2526), H5480 [29JN]

Tobacco products: deter smuggling into the U.S. (see H.R. 1377), H1691 [17MR]

Transportation: Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs funding (see H.R. 3), H520 [9FE]

U.N.: withhold U.S. contributions pending certification of U.N. cooperation in investigation of Oil-for-Food Program (see H.R. 1092), H2473 [21AP]

Ukraine: normal trade relations status (see H.R. 1053), H10157 [10NO]

Veterans: change effective date for paid-up coverage under the Survivor Benefit Plan (see H.R. 968), H1372 [10MR]

———extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to disabled veterans and their dependents and authorize space-available travel on military aircraft for such veterans and their dependents (see H.R. 1188), H2880 [3MY]

———health care funding (see H.R. 515), H2738 [28AP]

———mint coins in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving in the Armed Forces (see H.R. 1951), H9556 [2NO]

———permit concurrent receipt of military retired pay with service-connected disability benefits (see H.R. 303), H524 [9FE]

Veterans Educate Today's Students (VETS) Day: support goals (see H. Con. Res. 173), H4142 [26MY]

Victims of Crime Fund: ensure that amounts are fully obligated (see H.R. 1664), H2101 [14AP]

Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, Inc.: anniversary (see H. Res. 80), H523 [9FE]

Volunteer firefighters: remove civil liability barriers surrounding donating fire equipment to volunteer fire companies (see H.R. 1088), H981 [3MR]

Water pollution: prohibit a publicly-owned treatment works from diverting flows to bypass any portion of its treatment facility (see H.R. 1126), H983 [3MR]

William F. Clinger, Jr., Post Office Building, Warren, PA: designate (see H.R. 3549), H7558 [28JY]

Women: establish programs to increase awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers (see H.R. 1245), H1369 [10MR]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Appropriations: constitutional amendment on line-item veto (see H.J. Res. 67), H8247 [21SE]

Dept. of Defense: allow faculty members at service academies and schools of professional military education to secure copyrights for certain scholarly works produced as part of their official duties (see H.R. 962), H795 [17FE]

Dept. of the Interior: study suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Security in Springettsbury, PA, as a unit of the National Park System (see H.R. 2722), H4141 [26MY]

Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act: repeal sunset on increase of dependent care tax credit and make the credit refundable (see H.R. 351), H195 [25JA]

Federal employees: clarify disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices and require a statement of nondisclosure policies (see H.R. 1317), H1508 [15MR] (see H.R. 3097), H5361 [28JN]

Golden Venture (vessel): adjust status of certain aliens who were aboard the immigrant-smuggling ship (see H.R. 1180), H1025 [8MR]

Government: eliminate limitation on the collection of nontax debt (see H.R. 1427), H1693 [17MR]

———require periodic review of Government programs for purposes of evaluating their performance (see H.R. 185), H77 [4JA]

Law enforcement officers: adjust certain U.S. Park Police and Secret Service pension benefits as a result of the conversion to a new salary schedule (see H.R. 960), H795 [17FE]

Members of Congress: constitutional amendment to limit terms (see H.J. Res. 11), H195 [25JA]

———eliminate automatic salary adjustments (see H.R. 4494), H11327 [8DE]

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 276), H3261 [12MY]

Social Security: level of benefit payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (see H.R. 961), H795 [17FE]

Special Inspectors General Council for Hurricane Katrina: establish (see H.R. 3810), H8088 [15SE]

Taxation: allow a full deduction for meals and lodging in connection with medical care (see H.R. 349), H195 [25JA]

———allow deduction for personal safety clothing for volunteer firefighters (see H.R. 346), H195 [25JA]

———increase standard mileage rate for charitable purposes to equal the rate for business purposes (see H.R. 352), H195 [25JA]

———make credit for adoption expenses permanent and repeal limitation on carryforwards of unused credit (see H.R. 347), H195 [25JA]

———provide for an enhanced deduction for qualified residence interest on acquisition indebtedness for heritage homes (see H.R. 348), H195 [25JA]

———suspend periods of limitation for credit or refund of overpayment of Federal income taxes by veterans pending service-connected compensation determinations by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (see H.R. 345), H194 [25JA]

———waive early withdrawal penalty for distributions from qualified retirement plans to certain unemployed individuals who have attained age 50 (see H.R. 350), H195 [25JA]

Remarks

Agriculture, rural development, FDA, and related agencies programs: making appropriations (H.R. 2744), H4227 [8JN]

American Cancer Society: observance of Great American Smokeout, E2387 [17NO]

Dept. of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plum pox disease eradication funding, H4227 [8JN]

Dorchester (U.S.S): tribute to chaplains who were killed in action during World War II, H254 [1FE]

Government: eliminate limitation on the collection of nontax debt (H.R. 1427), E501 [17MR]

———require periodic review of Government programs for purposes of evaluating their performance (H.R. 185), E15 [4JA]

Head Start Program: allow centers that have vacant slots to use funding to serve eligible infants and toddlers through the Early Head Start programs, H8269 [22SE]

———reauthorize and improve the school readiness of disadvantaged children (H.R. 2123), H8269 [22SE]

Hurricanes: making emergency supplemental appropriations for relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina (H.R. 3645), H7623 [2SE]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina (H.R. 3673), E1801 [8SE]

———provide Federal oversight of distribution of disaster assistance funds to victims of Hurricane Katrina, E1801 [8SE]

Motor vehicles: increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, H2342 [20AP]

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (H. Res. 276), E2014 [6OC]

Parks, Rosa: authorize remains to lie in honor in the Capitol rotunda (S. Con. Res. 61), H9406 [28OC]

Power resources: enhance energy conservation, research, and development and provide for security and diversity in the energy supply (H.R. 6), H2342 [20AP]

Special Inspectors General Council for Hurricane Katrina: establish (H.R. 3810), E1860 [15SE]

Remarks in House relative to

Special order: granted, H280 [1FE]