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Hot Bills: House
H.R. 1, Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
Introduced: Jan. 5, 2007
Description: The bill aims to intensify anti-terrorism efforts at home by implementing unfulfilled recommendations of the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The legislation requires screening of all cargo on passenger planes, which was a contentious issue, within three years and sets a five-year goal of scanning all container ships for nuclear devices before they leave foreign ports. It also elevates the importance of risk factors in determining which states and cities get federal security funds and authorizes $400 million in grants annually for emergency radios that will work across jurisdictions. The measure was passed by the House, 299-128, on Jan. 9. The Senate passed the bill by voice vote on July 9 after incorporating sections of the Senate companion, S. 4. President Bush signed the measure into law in August.
H.R. 251, Truth in Caller ID Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Jan. 5, 2007
Description: The bill would criminalize the use of technology to display a false name or phone number on a caller-ID system, making the act punishable by up to $10,000 in fines or a year in prison. An amendment to the bill added by the House Energy and Commerce Committee also targets "robocalls." The bill was pulled from the floor in March because it lacks an exemption for law enforcement, but was eventually passed in the House on June 12 by a voice vote, and has been referred to the Senate. A similar bill, H.R.740, was passed by the House and then approved by a Senate panel.
H.R. 362, 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship ActSponsor: Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.
Introduced: Jan. 10, 2007
Description: The bill aims to boost math and science education among elementary and high school students by improving teacher training in those high-need subject areas. Gordon said the bill is based off key recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and the Institute of Medicine in a 2005 report, which found that seven in 10 eighth graders receive math instruction from a teacher not certified in the subject, and that 92 percent of all fifth through ninth graders are taught physical science by someone not certified in that field. The legislation would establish a teacher education program at the National Science Foundation in order to build partnerships between science professionals and educators. It also would increase scholarship awards for college students who enter the science, math and engineering fields, and authorizes summer training programs. The legislation would authorize $44 million for fiscal 2007, $55 million for fiscal 2009 and $60 million for fiscal 2010 through 2012. The House Science and Technology Committee approved the bill on March 28. The bill was then passed, 389-22, by the House on April 24.
H.R. 660, Court Security Improvement Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.
Introduced: Jan. 24, 2007
Description: The bill seeks to improve security measures in courtrooms after two high-profile violent attacks. The bill would authorize $20 million through fiscal 2011 for the U.S. Marshals Service and $20 million annually for state and local governments to expand protection of court personnel, law enforcement officials and the public. An amendment introduced by Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio would allow judges to permit cameras in their courtrooms to cover proceedings, and one by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, would have given federal judges the authority to carry weapons. Both were withdrawn.
H.R. 740, Preventing Harassment Through Outbound Number Enforcement Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va.
Introduced: Jan. 31, 2007
Description: H.R.740 would make it a federal crime to knowingly provide false caller-identification information, a practice known as "caller-ID spoofing." Technology available over the Internet allows users to make calls from phone numbers other than their own -- making it difficult to identify the source of the call. The House passed the bill on March 27 by a 413-1 vote. The Senate Judiciary Committee in April approved an amended version of the bill by voice vote. An amendment offered by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and adopted by the committee would criminalize the knowing use or provision of false caller-ID information with the "intent wrongfully to obtain anything of value." The amendment also struck out language making punishment contingent on the use of spoofing technology for commercial gain. The bill is now currently awaiting action by the full Senate.
H.R. 743, Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.
Introduced: Jan. 31, 2007
H.R.1077, Internet Tax Freedom Act Freedom Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif.
Introduced: Feb. 15, 2007
Description: Both bills would make the moratorium on Internet access taxes and multiple and discriminatory taxes on e-commerce permanent. Former Sen. George Allen, R-Va., tried to extend the Internet tax ban in the 109th Congress by attaching language to a more comprehensive telecommunications bill, but that bill died before it ever reached the Senate floor. A spokesman for House Judiciary Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., said she is working on legislation that would redefine Internet access to address whether the ban on state taxes extends to so-called Internet "backbone access" that cable and phone companies have to buy in order to offer Internet access to consumers. Two related bills were introduced in the Senate.
H.R. 811, Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J.
Introduced: Feb. 5, 2007
Description: The bill would require a paper trail for all ballots cast electronically for all elections by the 2008 presidential election. The bill was approved 6-3 by the House Administration Committee despite concerns from Republican that the bill would impose an undue burden on state election boards. The paper ballots would serve as an official record for recounts and random federal audits, an issue strongly criticized by Republicans on the committee, who claim that states already have their own audit systems and do not want a federal mandate. The bill also would ban any conflicts of interest between election officials and vendors selling voting machines, and would require that paper ballots be available to non-English speaking voters.
H.R. 948, Social Security Number Protection Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass.
Introduced: Feb. 8, 2007
Description: The bill would strengthen protections against selling or purchasing Social Security numbers, imposing fines of $11,000 per violation up to a maximum of $5 million, and enforcement would remain under the authority of state attorneys general. "By stopping unregulated commerce in Social Security numbers, this bill will help reduce the incidence of pretexting crimes, identity thefts and other frauds or crimes involving misuse of a person's Social Security number," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., the bill's sponsor. It would require the FTC to write new regulations to restrict the sale or purchase of Social Security numbers, giving exception to sales and purchases necessary for law enforcement or national security, public health purposes, emergency situations to protect people, for research to advance public knowledge and for legitimate consumer credit information if the Social Security numbers are redacted. The House Energy and Commerce Committee in May approved the measure.
H.R. 964, Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass ActSponsor: Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.
Introduced: March 14, 2007
H.R. 1525, Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y.
Introduced: Feb. 8, 2007
Description: Both bills seek to target the use of spyware by Internet companies to install software on users' computers without their consent. H.R. 964 would prevent Internet companies from installing software on users' computers without any notice or consent. Violators could face up to $3 million in fines for each action. The provisions of H.R. 1525 are seen as slightly less stringent because they do not include any language requiring notice. It would impose a prison sentence of up to two years on anyone using spyware to intentionally hack into a computer to alter its security settings or obtain personal information to defraud the user, with an additional three years added to the sentence if spyware is used to further another federal crime. It also would authorize $10 million over the next four years for the Justice Department to prosecute such crimes. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., a co-sponsor of H.R. 1525 said the bill will curtail solicitation "without imposing a broad regulatory regime on legitimate online businesses" something critics of H.R. 964 believe it would unintentionally accomplish. In May, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 1525 and it was passed later that month by the full House. It is awaiting Senate approval. H.R. 964 was approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee in May. It was passed by the House on June 6 and has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
H.R. 1467, 10,000 Trained by 2010 ActSponsor: Rep. David Wu, D-Ore.
Introduced: March 9, 2007
Description: The bill would expand electronic recordkeeping in the health industry by authorizing money to go to health information technology research and the education of health information specialists. It would authorize a total of $14.6 million in National Science Foundation grants through fiscal 2011 for research and development and educational programs. The bill is similar to an executive order issued by President Bush in 2004 calling for a national electronic health records system by 2014. The bill was approved by the House Science and Technology Committee in June and passed by the full House the next day. It was then referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
H.R. 1615, Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla.
Introduced: March 21, 2007
Description: The bill seeks to criminalize aiming a laser beam at an aircraft. Under the bill, violators could face a five-year prison sentence plus unspecified fines for knowingly aiming a laser pointer beam at an aircraft or into the flight path of an aircraft. There were 90 incidents where pilots have been temporarily blinded, startled, or otherwise impaired by laser beams in 2005 alone, Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., said at a subcommittee hearing. There are exceptions to the bill for authorized research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer or federal agency, including ongoing Defense Department tests. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill in May and the full House passed the measure later that month.
H.R. 1675, Preservation Approval Process Improvement Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill.
Introduced: March 26, 2007
Description: The bill would suspend certain e-filing requirements and permit paper filings of certain certificates at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The bill was approved by the House Financial Services Committee in May and passed the House in April. It was later referred to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which approved it in May. H.R. 1675 passed the Senate by voice vote in late May and was signed into law June 15.
H.R. 1677, Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
Introduced: March 26, 2007
Description: The bill is intended to help protect taxpayers from identity theft, tax fraud and "predatory" providers of refund anticipation loans. The measure also would give taxpayers more time to recover property or money taken improperly by the Internal Revenue Service, would expand the ban on using the IRS title or symbol to deceive taxpayers and would increase the tax agency's authority to help stop the surprisingly widespread tax fraud pulled off by inmates of federal prisons. The bill also would allow the IRS to use the Internet and other means to inform individuals of unclaimed tax refunds or earned income credits, and would extend to the Internet or other means of "mass communications" the ban on private individuals or firms using IRS or Treasury Department titles or symbols to mislead taxpayers. This provision addresses the increasing use of e-mail messages appearing to come from the IRS that seek to gain an individual's Social Security number or other crucial information. The House Ways and Means Committee on March 28 approved the bill without opposition. It was sent to the full House where it was passed, 407-7, on April 17.
H.R. 1712, Research and Development Tax Credit Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas
Introduced: March 27, 2007
H.R. 2138, Investment in America Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Sander M. Levin, D-Mich.
Introduced: May 3, 2007
Description: H.R. 1712 would expand the newer of two main formulas to determine a tax credit for corporate research and development. It would eliminate the other formula altogether. It is a companion bill to a Senate measure. H.R. 2138 also would expand the newer of two main formulas to determine a tax credit for corporate research and development, but would keep the older formula. The bill's co-sponsors include about half of the House Ways and Means Committee. Companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft are lobbying to increase the annual subsidy to $9.3 billion through a new formula for calculating the credit. Critics argue that the tax break subsidizes research that companies would perform regardless of the tax credit's existence.
H.R. 1868, Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation ActSponsor: Rep. David Wu, D-Ore.
Introduced: April 17, 2007
Description: This appropriations bill would authorize $2.5 billion in funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2010. It is the first full reauthorization for the agency since 1991, and sets the agency's funding on track to double its budget by 2017. The House Science and Technology Committee approved the bill by voice vote in April. It was passed by the House by a vote of 385-23 in May.
H.R. 1908, Patent Reform Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif.
Introduced: April 18, 2007
Description: The bill would add a "first-to-file" provision that give priority to the first person to send a patent application to the Patent and Trademark Office, regardless of the invention date. The United States is the lone holdout among nations that have adopted "first-to-invent" policies, which the bill said injects "needed clarity and certainty" into the process. The new legislation would preserve the rule that court-awarded damages in patent disputes cannot be less than a "reasonable royalty" for the infringed patent. It would limit the "treble damages" in patent disputes to cases where there is specific notice of infringement or where there is deliberate copying. The bill would also restrict "forum shopping" for courts thought most likely to issue favorable rulings, and it would institute a "second window" for challengers to disprove a patent's validity. After making several changes, the House Judiciary Committee in July approved H.R. 1908 by voice vote. By a vote of 220-175, the House passed the bill in early September. A Senate companion, S. 1145, was also introduced.
H.R. 1955, Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif.
Introduced: April 19, 2007
Description: The bill would launch national studies into what could turn U.S. citizens into violent radicals and what can be done to prevent it. The House Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee approved the bill in July and was approved by the full committee in early August.
H.R. 2060, Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.
Introduced: April 26, 2007
Description: The bill would reverse an increase in the fees paid by Internet radio services to royalty collector SoundExchange. The bill's supporters view the Copyright Royalty Board's March decision to raise royalties and apply "unfounded minimum rates" as a threat to the burgeoning webcasting industry. The new fees went into effect on July 15. Negotiations between SoundExchange and the webcasters are ongoing. Senators also introduced a companion measure, S. 1353.
H.R. 2095, Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn.
Introduced: May 1, 2007
Description: The bill would reorganize the Federal Railroad Administration into the Federal Railroad Safety Administration and seeks to enhance railroad safety and improve worker training. By a voice vote, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee approved the bill in May, while the measure won the backing by voice vote of the full committee in June.
H.R. 2272, America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science ActSponsor: Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.
Introduced: May 10, 2007
Description: The bill authorizes increased funding for basic research and aims to strengthen math and science education. It will set the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy Office of Science on a path to doubling their research budgets over seven years, ahead of the 10-year schedule President Bush requested. The measure authorizes $33.6 billion over three years for science, technology, engineering and math education programs across the federal government. "This bill will not only give our teachers and students the support they need, but it also advances our efforts to become energy independent," said Gordon, chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, who led talks to reconcile the House bill with a Senate measure, S. 761. "This will create new jobs and new exports." The House passed the measure on May 21 and it was sent to the Senate where it was passed on July 19. Both the House and the Senate passed a final version of the measure on Aug. 2. Bush signed the bill into law on Aug. 9.
H.R. 2400, Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act 2007Sponsor: Del. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam
Introduced: May 21, 2007
Description: The bill would expand coastal mapping capabilities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It would authorize $20 million in fiscal 2008 for NOAA to establish an integrated plan for mapping onshore and offshore waters. The bill calls for creating a database of mapping information of the Great Lakes, coastal waters and territorial sea, which would allow for swift information exchange among government agencies. The bill also would establish an interagency committee to create mapping standards. Additionally, the measure would authorize the creation of three ocean and costal mapping centers to further study mapping issues and technology. The measure was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee on June 28 and was passed in the House by voice vote on July 23.
H.R. 2547, FDIC Enforcement Enhancement ActSponsor: Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J.
Introduced: May 24, 2007
Description: The bill would give the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation new powers to crack down on scams and identity theft. The measure would impose fines of up to $1 million a day for people falsely representing themselves or their businesses as federally insured or as falsely identifying themselves on the Internet or elsewhere as FDIC insured. The House passed similar legislation as part of another financial services bill in the 109th Congress but the FDIC measure was stripped out in the Senate and it failed to get through Congress. The House Financial Services Committee approved the bill in July. The House passed the measure by voice vote in July.
H.R. 2698, Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization ActSponsor: Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo.
Introduced: June 13, 2007
Description: The bill would provide $1.8 billion over the next four fiscal years for research and development of airport surveillance and security systems under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration, $117.4 million more than requested by President Bush. A key portion of the bill would strengthen the Joint Planning and Development office, which is responsible for developing the next generation of airport transportation systems meeting future safety, security, mobility, efficiency and capacity needs. It would also have to develop a plan to deal with the potential for the system to become incapacitated by a natural disaster or by terrorism. The bill was approved by the House Science and Technology Committee in June.
H.R. 2722, Integrated Deepwater Program Reform ActSponsor: Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.
Introduced: June 14, 2007
H.R. 2830, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn.
Introduced: June 22, 2007
Description: H.R. 2722 would authorize funding for the Coast Guard and restructure its troubled Deepwater fleet modernization program, which is a $24 billion, 25-year effort to produce more than 91 new cutters and 195 new aircraft, as well as update computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. The bill also would require the Coast Guard to use full and open competition in making Deepwater contract awards; get independent certification of assets procured through the program; and appoint a civilian chief acquisitions officer. The House passed the measure unanimously on July 31 after the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill on June 28. The Deepwater program has come under heavy scrutiny, especially because the first eight patrol boats procured under the program were found to have so many problems that they have been decommissioned. H.R. 2830 would authorize Coast Guard programs and $8.3 billion in funding for fiscal 2008. Of that, about $840 million would be for Deepwater. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Committee approved the bill on June 28. The House Homeland Security Committee approved the bill on Sept. 25.
H.R. 2900, Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007Sponsor: Rep. John Dingell , D-Mich
Introduced: June 28, 2007
Description: The bill would establish a publicly accessible database containing information of clinical trials for pharmaceutical and medical device products. It would require drug and medical device manufacturers to register and post the results of all clinical trials that test the safety and effectiveness of their products. The registry would be used to raise awareness of trials in which potential patients could participate. The bill would authorize $10 million for the creation of the database. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the bill on June 21 before it went to the full chamber where it was passed, 403-16 (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll617.xml), on July 11.
H.R. 3046, Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention ActSponsor: Rep. Michael McNulty, D-N.Y.
Introduced: July 16, 2007
Description: The bill is aimed at combating identity theft and would make it harder to buy, sell or display Social Security numbers. The bill would restrict the sale, purchase and public display of the numbers by government and business, to make it less accessible to identity thieves, while providing exceptions for legitimate and necessary uses of the number. The bill provides penalties of up to five years in prison or a $250,000 fine for misuse of the numbers. The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved the legislation in July. Some criticized the bill, saying it would put in place too much government regulation that might drive up the cost of doing business. Several senators testified in favor of the House bill during a series of hearings.
H.R. 3396, Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification ActSponsor: Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.
Introduced: Aug. 3, 2007
Description: The bill would set up the administrative mechanisms needed to collect and distribute sales tax payments for purchases made over the Internet to the states. Under the legislation, a multi-state registration system would be established for sellers to register with the member states of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. The system would include privacy and confidentiality controls so that it may not be used for any purpose other than the administration of sales and use taxes. H.R. 3396 is similar to a Senate companion bill, S. 34, which was introduced in May.
H.RES. 455, Supporting National Internet Safety MonthSponsor: Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill.
Introduced: June 5, 2007
Description: The House resolution would express support for the goals set by the Senate resolution passed May 15 that declares June 2007 "National Internet Safety Month." The House on June 12 passed the measure.
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