Federal Bill Tracker

Federal Bills

If any of these bills is of interest to you, you may wish to contact Congress. Contact the House here, and contact the Senate here.

Issue	Number & Name	Summary	Text	Sponsor	Position	Last Activity
Transportation	H.R.3288 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010	Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. John Oliver [D-MA]	Passed House	Aug. 4, 2009: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 153.
Autism	HR 3069 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated populations in the United States, and for other purposes.	To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support a comprehensive study comparing total health outcomes, including risk of autism, in vaccinated populations in the United States with such outcomes in unvaccinated populations in the United States, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]	In Committee	Jun 26, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Autism	S 1169 - A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE	From House version - Revises TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program) to authorize treatment of autism spectrum disorders, if a health care professional determines that such treatment is medically necessary.	Link to full text	Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY-20]	In Committee	June 3, 2009: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
Autism	HR 2413 - Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009	Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement an Autism Care Center Program to provide grants and other assistance to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing comprehensive care to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and their families. Establishes the Interdepartmental Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate all federal efforts concerning autism spectrum disorders. Requires the Secretary to establish special organizations for Autism research. Requires group health plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.	Link to full text	Rep. Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]	In Committee	Jun 08, 2009: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Health Care	S. 540 - Medical Device Safety Act of 2009	Medical Device Safety Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit specified provisions preempting state and local requirements for medical devices intended for human use from being construed to modify or otherwise affect any action for damages or the liability of any person under state law. Makes this Act effective as if it were included in the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 and applicable to any civil action pending or filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act.	Link to full text	Senator Edward Kennedy, D-MA	In Committee	August 4, 2009: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
Health Care	HR 1691 - Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act	Requires a group health plan that provides medical and surgical benefits to ensure that inpatient (and in the case of a lumpectomy, outpatient) coverage and radiation therapy are provided for breast cancer treatment. Requires that such plans cover a minimum 48 hour stay for mastectomy or breast conserving surgery. Requires such a plan or issuer to ensure that coverage is provided for secondary consultations. Applies such requirements to health insurance issuers offering coverage in the individual market.	Link to full text	Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D, CT-3]	In Committee	May 14, 2009: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Health Care	HR 2688 - Empowered at Home Act of 2009	To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services under the Medicaid Program, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]	In Committee	Jun 03, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Education	HR 2740 - IDEA Fairness Restoration Act	To amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to permit a prevailing party in an action or proceeding brought to enforce the Act to be awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses.	Link to full text	Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]	In Committee	Jun 04, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Medicare	S. 700 - Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009	A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to phase out the 24-month waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for Medicare benefits, to eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]	In committee	Mar. 25, 2009: Introduced, referred the Committee on Finance.
Housing	HR 1675 - Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2009	To amend section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to improve the program under such section for supportive housing for persons with disabilities.	Link to full text	Rep. Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]	House Passed, In Senate	July 23, 2009 - Received in the Senate and Read
Accessibility	HR 3101 - The 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act of 2009	To ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to emerging Internet Protocol-based communication and video programming technologies in the 21st Century.	Link to full text	Rep. Edward Markey [D, MA-7]	In Committee	Jun 26, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Accessibility	HR 1408 - Inclusive Home Design Act of 2009	To require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities.	Link to full text	Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]	In Committee	Mar. 10, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
Accessibility	HR 1443 - Complete Streets Act of 2009	To ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways.	Link to full text	Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]	In Committee	Mar. 11, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Accessibility	HR 734 - Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009	To direct the Secretary of Transportation to study and establish a motor vehicle safety standard that provides for a means of alerting blind and other pedestrians of motor vehicle operation.	Link to full text	Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]	In Committee	Jan 28, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Savings Accounts	HR 1205 - the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 (ABLE Act)	To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the establishment of ABLE accounts for the care of family members with disabilities, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. Ander Crenshaw [R, FL-4]	In Committee	Feb 26, 2009: Referred to House Energy and Commerce & House Ways and Means
Education	S 88 - the IDEA Full Funding Act	IDEA Full Funding Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to reauthorize and make appropriations for the grant program to assist states and outlying areas to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities. Decreases the amount authorized and makes appropriations for FY2010-FY2011, authorizes and makes specified appropriations for FY2012-FY2017, and sets forth a formula for determining the authorization of, and makes, appropriations for FY2018 and thereafter.	Link to full text	Senator David Vitter	In committee	Jan 6, 2009: Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
Paralysis Funding	HR 307 - Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act	To enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]	This bill has become law	Signed into law
Social Security	HR 1670 - Community Choice Act	To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities and older Americans with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]	In Committee	Mar 23, 2009: Introduced, Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Social Security	HR 868 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide funds to States to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities under the Medicaid Program.	“To stabilize and increase the number of direct support professionals in the work force, the wages and benefits of direct support professionals must be improved and made equitable among long term support options. …Medicaid is the single-largest payor of long-term supports and services for people with disabilities. Enhanced Federal Medicaid matching funds should be available to assist States committed to addressing wage differentials among direct support professionals by increasing the wages of direct support professionals and supporting and improving the stability of the direct support professional workforce.”	Link to full text	Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]	In committee	Feb 04, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Social Security	HR 746 - To provide for economic recovery payments to recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits.	Secretary of the Treasury shall make a one-time payment of $500 to individuals 18 and older who, during the 3-month period immediately preceding the month in which this Act is enacted, were entitled to Social Security benefits (as defined in section 86(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) or benefits under chapters 11, 13, or 15 of title 38, United States Code.	Link to full text	Rep. John Adler [D, NJ-3]	In Committee	Jan 28, 2009: Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
Social Security	HR 33 - Disability Benefit Fairness Act of 2009	To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and to eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions.	Link to full text	Rep. Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7]	In Committee	Jan 06, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
Social Security	HR 723/S 36 - Social Security and Medicare Improved Burn Injury Treatment Access Act of 2009	To amend the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for Social Security disability and the 24-month waiting period for Medicare benefits in the cases of individuals with disabling burn injuries.	Link to full text	Rep. Richard Neal [D, MA-2]	In committee	Jan 27, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Social Security	HR 772 - To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for full benefits for disabled widows and widowers without regard to age.	Same as title	Link to full text	Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]	In Committee	Jan 28, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Social Security	HR 770 - To amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the 7-year restriction on eligibility for widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability.	Same as title	Link to full text	Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]	In Committee	Jan 28, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Veterans	HR 456 - Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2009	To amend the Small Business Act to make service-disabled veterans eligible under the 8(a) business development program.	Link to full text	Rep. Rob Wittman [R, VA-1]	In Committee	Jan 09, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Veterans	HR 296 - Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act	To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the process by which a member of the Armed Forces is retired for disability and becomes eligible for retirement pay, and for other purposes.	Link to full text	Rep. Stephen Buyer [R, IN-4]	In Committee	Jan 08, 2009: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.