Congress completed action on the FY2008 appropriations bills before adjourning for the year on December 19. Actions affecting women and families included reauthorizations of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program and Head Start; an increase in the minimum wage; several bills to increase the number of women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; provisions in the Defense Authorization bill to address the physical and mental health problems of women veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; and legislation to reduce college costs and provide increased student financial aid.
Congress also mourned the passing of three women Members of Congress: Reps. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), and Julia Carson (D-IN).
WPI published an FY2008 Appropriations Summary on December 20 (see The Source, 12/20/07). This At-A-Glance summary contains all other legislation important to women and their families that occurred during the first session of the 110th Congress.
The House will reconvene the second session of the 110th Congress on January 15, 2008. The Senate will return on January 22.
Actions Completed
Abstinence Education: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-90) to extend abstinence education programs through December 31, 2007 (September 2007).
Adoption: The Senate passed a resolution (S. Res. 384) expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month (November 2007).
Ann Richards: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 42) honoring former Texas Governor Ann Richards (February 2007).
Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-18) to reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program through FY2012 (March 2007).
Breast Cancer Awareness: The House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 230) supporting the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 2007).
Breast Cancer Stamp: Congress approved legislation (S. 597) to extend until December 31, 2011, current law (P.L. 109-100) requiring the U.S. Postal Service to issue the breast cancer postage stamp (December 2007).
Central America: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 564) recognizing that violence, including violence against women, in Central America threatens peace and stability in the region (October 2007).
Child Abuse and Neglect: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 299) urging Congress to take steps to increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect (April 2007). The House and Senate approved a resolution (S. Con. Res. 45) commending the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation for its work in aiding children and families affected by child abuse, and designating November 2007 as National Courage Month (November/October 2007).
Child Care Workers: The House approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 112) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Child Care Worthy Wage Day (May 2007).
Childhood Cancer: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 470) supporting efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness, treatment, and research (September 2007).
Children’s Health: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 760) supporting the goals and ideals of Children’s Health Month (November 2007).
College Cost Reduction: Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 2669), a bill to increase student financial aid and encourage cooperative education programs in science and math for women and minorities (September 2007).
Crime Victims’ Rights: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 119) supporting the mission and goals of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in order to increase public awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the United States (April 2007).
Cynthia Boles Dailard: The Senate passed a resolution (S. Res. 36) honoring women’s health advocate Cynthia Boles Dailard (February 2007).
Darfur: The House approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 7) calling on “the League of Arab States and each Member State individually to declare the systematic torture, rape, and displacement of Darfurians a genocide” and to increase their efforts to end it (April 2007). The House approved a second resolution (H. Res. 726) calling on the president of the United States and the international community to take immediate steps to respond to, and prevent acts of, rape and sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur, Sudan; eastern Chad; and the Central African Republic (October 2007).
Death Gratuities: The House and Senate approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 175) addressing death gratuities for military children (July 2007).
FY2008 Defense Authorization: Congress passed a bill (H.R. 1585) to authorize $503.8 billion for the Department of Defense and the national security programs at the Department of Energy for FY2008 (December 2007). The measure would prohibit fee increases for TRICARE, the military health program. It also includes provisions to improve medical care for members of the Armed Forces and veterans and to address the physical and mental health problems women veterans experience as they transition to civilian life.
Domestic Violence: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 590) supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, commemorated each October, and expressing the sense of the House that Congress should continue to raise awareness of domestic violence issues (September 2007).
Early Childhood Education: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 164) designating the week of April 22, 2007, as Week of the Young Child and recognizing the importance of early childhood education (April 2007).
Fatherhood: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 474) commending fathers who are caring parents and calling on fathers across the United States to use Father’s Day to rededicate themselves to their children (June 2007).
Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 285) designating September 9, 2007, as National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day (July 2007).
Financial Services Diversity: The House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 140) recognizing the low numbers of minorities and women in the financial services industry and expressing the sense of Congress that the industry should take active measures to increase its demographic diversity (September 2007).
Frances E. Allen: The House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) to honor Frances E. Allen, a pioneer for women in the computer science industry (May 2007).
Foster Parents: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 179) to establish a National Foster Parents Day (April 2007). The House also passed a resolution (H. Res. 263) recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to improve foster care systems nationwide (May 2007).
Gender-Based Persecution: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 32) denouncing gender-based persecutions (October 2007).
Girl Scouts: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 136) commending the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on the occasion of their 95th anniversary (March 2007).
Gold Star Mothers: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 605) supporting the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day to honor women who have lost a daughter or son during military combat (September 2007).
Guatemala: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 100) concerning the murders of women and girls in Guatemala since 2001 (May 2007).
Gun Control: The House and Senate approved a bill (H.R. 2640) that would expand the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to make more electronic data available to states for checking the criminal and mental health records of people who want to purchase guns, including misdemeanor domestic violence records (June/December 2007).
Head Start Reauthorization: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-34) to reauthorize the Head Start program at $7.3 billion in FY2008, $7.5 billion in FY2009, and $7.9 billion in FY2010 (November 2007).
Heart Disease: The House approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 52) designating February 2007 as American Heart Month (February 2007).
Higher Education Reauthorization: Congress passed legislation (P.L. 110-51) to temporarily extend the Higher Education Act (P.L. 105-244) through October 31, 2007. The HEA provides financial assistance including Pell Grants, Stafford and Perkins loans, and campus-based aid to students, colleges, and universities, and governs federally sponsored programs for such institutions (July 2007). A second piece of legislation (P.L. 110-109) to extend HEA programs until April 30, 2008 was approved in October 2007.
International Women’s Day: The House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 140/S. Res. 102) supporting the goals of International Women’s Day (March 2007).
Internet Safety: The Senate and House approved resolutions (S. Res. 205/ H. Res. 455) designating June 2007 as National Internet Safety Month (May/June 2007).
Internally Displaced Persons: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 426) supporting efforts to assist internally displaced persons in Colombia (July 2007).
Interracial Marriage: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 431) to commemorate the 1967 Supreme Court Loving v. Virginia ruling that ended the ban on interracial marriage in the United States (June 2007).
Japanese “Comfort Women”: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 121) calling on the Japanese government to formally apologize for its military’s enslavement of young women during the Japanese occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands in the 1930s and World War II (July 2007).
Jo Ann Davis: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 717) expressing the sorrow of the House over the death of Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) on October 6 (October 2007).
Juanita Millender-McDonald: The House and Senate passed resolutions (H. Res. 328/S. Res. 165) expressing their sorrow over the death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) on April 22 (April 2007).
Julia Carson: The House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 880/S. Res. 407) expressing their condolences on the death of Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN) on December 15, 2007 (December 2007).
Lady Bird Johnson: The House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 533/S. Res. 271) honoring Lady Bird Johnson (July 2007).
Lesotho: The House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 294/S. Res. 103) commending the Kingdom of Lesotho on the occasion of International Women’s Day, for enactment of a law to improve the status of married women and ensure the access of married women to property rights (July/March 2007).
Lois Browne Evans: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 248) honoring the life and achievements of Dame Lois Browne Evans, the first female barrister and attorney general of Bermuda and the first female opposition leader in the British Commonwealth (July 2007).
Lung Cancer: The House passed a resolution (H. Res. 335) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the president should declare lung cancer a public health priority and should implement a comprehensive interagency program to reduce the lung cancer mortality rate by at least 50 percent by 2015 (November 2007).
Mammography: The Senate passed a resolution (S. Res. 343) designating October 19, 2007, as National Mammography Day (October 2007).
Martha Coffin Wright: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 588) recognizing the accomplishments of Martha Coffin Wright in pursuing equal rights for women while recognizing her 200th birthday and induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (October 2007).
Math and Science Education: Congress passed the 21st Century Competitiveness Act (P.L. 110-69) in August 2007. The legislation requires the Department of Education to establish a program and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities in careers in math, science, and engineering.
Mentoring:: The House and Senate approved resolutions (H. Res. 29/S. Res. 61) designating January 2007 as National Mentoring Month (January/February 2007).
Mercury 13 Women: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 421) honoring the 13 women pilots who participated in a rigorous women’s astronaut testing program in 1961 and came to be known as the “Mercury 13” (June 2007).
Methamphetamine Awareness: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 366) designating November 2007 as National Methamphetamine Awareness Month (November 2007). The resolution finds that three-fifths of the nation’s sheriffs report increased methamphetamine use by women and half of the nation’s sheriffs report increased use by teens.
Minimum Wage: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-28) to raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over the next two years (May 2007).
Minority HIV/AIDS: The House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 35) supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 2007).
Missing Persons: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 303) expressing the sense of the House that there should be a day established to heighten awareness of missing persons (September 2007).
National Children and Families Day: The House and Senate approved a resolution (H. Con. Res. 62) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Children and Families Day (March/May 2007).
Ovarian Cancer: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 311) supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (September 2007).
Pell Grants: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-84) to amend the Higher Education Act (HEA) (P.L. 105-244) to increase student eligibility for Pell Grants and lower interest rates on student loan programs (September 2007).
Rosa Parks: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-20) to extend to December 1, 2009, the deadline for the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of civil rights leader Rosa Parks for display in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall (November 2007).
School Counseling: The Senate passed a resolution (S. Res. 23) designating February 5-9, 2007, as National School Counseling Week (February 2007).
Sexual Assault: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 289) designed to raise awareness and encourage prevention of sexual assault in the United States, and to support the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (April 2007).
Shaken Baby Syndrome: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 163) designating the week of April 16, 2007, as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week (April 2007).
Slavery: The House Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution (H. Res. 158) commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade (March 2007).
Small Business Administration (SBA) Reauthorization: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-57) to temporarily reauthorize the SBA through December 15, 2007 (July 2007). A second extension (P.L. 110-136) of the SBA to May 23, 2008, was approved in December 2007.
Stalking Awareness: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 24) designating January 2007 as National Stalking Awareness Month (January 2007). The Senate passed a second resolution (S. Res. 414) designating January 2008 as National Stalking Awareness Month in December 2007.
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Extension: Congress approved legislation (S. 2499) to temporarily extend SCHIP (P.L. 105-33) until March 31, 2009 (December 2007).
Suffragists: The House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 105) supporting the goals and ideals of National Suffragists Day (May 2007).
Susan G. Komen Foundation: The Senate passed a resolution (S. Res. 169) recognizing the Susan G. Komen for the Cure on its leadership in the breast cancer movement on the occasion of its 25th anniversary (April 2007).
Tax Relief: Congress approved legislation (H.R. 3996) to prevent for one year the Alternative Minimum Tax from affecting an additional 21 million taxpayers in tax year 2007 (December 2007).
Teen Dating Violence: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 388) designating the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008, as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week (December 2007).
Title IX: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 406) celebrating the accomplishments of Title IX, and recognizing the need to continue pursuing educational opportunities for women and girls.
Trafficking: The Senate passed a resolution (S. Con. Res. 40) supporting the goals of the annual National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness (June 2007).
Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA): Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-90) to extend Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) through December 31, 2007 (September 2007). TMA (P.L. 109-432) provides continued medical coverage for certain families who become ineligible for Medicaid because of increased earnings or child support payments.
Unidentified Remains: The House approved a resolution (H. Res. 340) on the importance of providing a voice for the victims and victims’ families involved in missing persons cases and unidentified human remains cases (September 2007).
Veterans’ Health: See FY2008 Defense Authorization under “Actions Completed.”
Women Veterans: See FY2008 Defense Authorization under “Actions Completed.”
Women’s Health Week: The Senate approved a resolution (S. Res. 204) declaring May 13-19, 2007, as National Women’s Health Week (May 2007).
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: Congress approved legislation (P.L. 110-28) to extend the Work Opportunity Tax Credit through August 31, 2011 (May 2007).
Outstanding Actions
Abused Children: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (S. 627) to amend the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-415) to authorize $5 million annually for FY2008-2012 to address the health and well-being of abused infants and toddlers (March 2007).
Afghanistan: The House passed legislation (H.R. 2446) that would provide economic, health, and educational aid to women and girls in Afghanistan (June 2007).
African Health: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the African Health Capacity Investment Act (S. 805) (September 2007). The bill would authorize $150 million in FY2008 for financial and technical health assistance to African countries.
AIDS in Prison: The House approved the Stop AIDS in Prison Act of 2007 (H.R. 1943) (September 2007).
Child Care: Congress passed legislation (H.R. 1591) that authorized $50 million per year for FY2008-2012 to establish a small business child care grant program. President Bush vetoed the measure on May 1; the House failed to override the president’s veto.
Child Labor: The House approved a bill (H.R. 2637) that would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 (P.L. 75-718) to address violations of child labor, minimum wage, and overtime laws (June 2007).
Child Product Safety: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (S. 1771) (July 2007). The House approved several bills to improve consumer product safety for children (H.R. 1699, H.R. 1721, H.R. 814, and H.R. 2747) (October 2007). The House passed a bill (H.R. 1216) to reduce the incidence of child injury and death inside and around motor vehicles in December 2007.
Child Safe Viewing: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Child Safe Viewing Act (S. 602) (August 2007).
Child Soldiers: The Senate approved a bill (S. 2135) to ensure that the United States does not act as a safe haven for individuals who participated in the recruitment and enlistment of child soldiers under the age of fifteen (December 2007).
Children and Disasters: The House passed a bill (H.R. 3495) to establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters and a National Resource Center on Children and Disasters (November 2007). The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee passed the Addressing the Disaster Needs of Children Act (S. 1970) in November 2007.
Childhood Cancer: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act (S. 911) (November 2007).
Drug Endangered Children: The House approved the Drug Endangered Children Act of 2007 (H.R. 1199) (September 2007).
Fair Pay: The House passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831) (July 2007).
Female Prisoners: The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill (H.R. 3992) that would, among other provisions, provide $5 million per year for grants to state, local, and tribal governments for mental health treatment of female prisoners and their families (November 2007).
Food Stamps: The House approved a bill (H.R. 2419) that would make changes to the food stamp program and other nutrition programs (July 2007). The Senate approved the bill with an amendment in December 2007.
Genetic Discrimination: The House approved a bill (H.R. 493) that would prohibit employers and health insurance companies from discriminating against applicants based on their, or a family member’s, genetic information (April 2007). The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved a similar bill (S. 358) (January 2007).
Global Poverty: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1302) that would require the president to declare as United States policy the reduction of global poverty (September 2007).
Hate Crimes: The House passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592), a bill that would include attacks based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability in the definition of federal hate crimes (May 2007). The Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 by adding it to H.R. 1585, the FY2008 Defense Authorization bill (September 2007). However, the provision was stripped from H.R. 1585 during the House-Senate conference in December 2007.
Health Centers Reauthorization:, The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee passed the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007 (S. 901) to reauthorize community health centers at $2.189 billion in FY2008, $2.451 billion for FY2009, $2.758 billion for FY2010, $3.116 billion for FY2011, and $3.537 billion for FY2012 (November 2007).
Higher Education Reauthorization: The House Education and Labor Committee approved the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137) to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (P.L. 105-244) through FY2013 (November 2007). The Senate passed its version of the reauthorization bill, the Higher Education Amendments Act (S. 1642), in July 2007.
Housing Vouchers: The House approved the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (H.R. 1851) in July 2007.
Indian Child Abuse Prevention: The Senate passed a bill (S. 398) to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (P.L. 101-630) to identify and remove barriers to reducing child abuse. The legislation would reauthorize the Indian Child Abuse treatment grant program for FY2008-2012 (May 2007).
Indian Health Care: The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved a bill (S. 1200) to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (P.L. 94-437) through FY2017 (May 2007). The Senate Finance Committee approved the measure in September 2007. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed a similar bill (H.R. 1328) in November 2007.
Indian “Untouchables”: The House passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 139) that expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should address discrimination against India’s “untouchables” (Dalits) and the forest tribes of India (Tribals) (July 2007).
International Food Aid: The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved legislation (H.R. 2844) to reauthorize the international food programs of the Agriculture Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-480) (June 2007).
Internet Safety: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed a bill (S. 1965) to protect children from cybercrime and child pornography (September 2007). The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Protect Our Children First Act (S.1829), the Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act (S. 431), and the Internet Safety Education Act (S. 2344) in December 2007. In November, the House approved several bills (H.R. 3461, H.R. 4134, H.R. 3845, H.R. 719, H.R. 4120, and H.R. 4136) to protect children from online child predators and to increase penalties for cybercrimes involving children. The House passed the Securing Adolescents from Exploitation Online (SAFE) Act of 2007 (H.R. 3791) (December 2007). The bill would require “all electronic service communications providers and remote computing service providers” to report violations of child sexual exploitation and pornography laws.
Math and Science Education: The House approved the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362) (April 2007).
Media Ownership: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved a bill (S. 2332) to promote transparency in adopting the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new media ownership rules and increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership (December 2007).
Mental Health Parity: The Senate passed a bill (S. 558) that would require employer-provided health insurance plans to impose the same lifetime limits on mental health benefits as apply to medical and surgical benefits (September 2007). The House Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce Committees approved the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 1424) in July, September, and October 2007, respectively.
Microloans: The House approved the Microloan Amendments and Modernization Act (H.R. 3020), a bill that would amend the Small Business Act (P.L. 85-536) to update the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) current microloan program (September 2007).
Military Order of the Purple Heart: The House approved legislation (H.R. 1119) to amend the congressional charter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (36 U.S.C. §140503(b)) to include spouses (November 2007).
Missing Children: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1684) that would, among other provisions, require the Department of Homeland Security to provide information to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to assist in the location of missing children (May 2007). This provision was included in the Department of Homeland Security Authorization bill.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: The House passed the Protecting Our Children Comes First Act (H.R. 2517). The bill would reauthorize the annual grant (P.L. 108-96) to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at $40 million in FY2008 and “such sums as may be necessary” for FY2009 through 2013 (December 2007).
Native American Family Violence: The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved a bill (S. 398) to reauthorize the Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program through FY2012 (May 2007).
Native American Mental Health: The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved a bill (S. 322) to authorize $1.5 million each year for FY2008-2011 to establish a demonstration project to test the use of telemental health services (February 2007).
Native American Methamphetamine Use: The House approved a bill (H.R. 545) to include territories and tribal governments as eligible grant recipients under the Community Oriented Policing Methamphetamine Hot Spots program, the Drug-Endangered Children program, and the Pregnant and Parenting Women Offenders program (March 2007).
Newborn Screening: The Senate approved the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (S. 1858) (December 2007).
Pell Grants: The House passed a bill (H.R. 990) to repeal a provision that prohibits low-income students from receiving Pell Grant awards in excess of their tuition (February 2007).
Postpartum Depression: The House approved the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act (H.R. 20) (October 2007).
Prisoner Re-entry: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1593) that would, among other provisions, authorize grants to state and local governments, territories, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations that assist incarcerated parents (November 2007).
School Safety: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the School Safety and Law Enforcement Act (S. 2084) (August 2007).
Sex Offenders: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1684) that would, among other provisions, require the Department of Homeland Security to provide information to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to assist in the location of registered sex offenders (May 2007). The provision was included in the Department of Homeland Security Authorization bill.
Small Business Contracting: The House approved the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act (H.R. 1873) (May 2007). The bill would, among other provisions, increase the government’s procurement goal for small disadvantaged and women-owned businesses from five percent to eight percent. In October 2007, the House approved a bill (H.R. 3867) to expand federal procurement opportunities for 8(a), women-owned, HUBZones, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee approved a similar bill (S. 2300) in November 2007.
Small Business Entrepreneurial Development: The House passed a bill (H.R. 2359) that would provide grants to help baby-boomer entrepreneurs and to assist small businesses with capital access, disaster recovery, innovation and competitiveness, affordable health insurance, regulatory assistance, and sustainability; and would increase the number of Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) volunteers (June 2007). The Senate Small Business Committee approved similar legislation (S. 1662) in June 2007.
Small Business Investment: The House approved the Small Business Investment Expansion Act (H.R. 3567). The bill would amend the Small Business Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-536) to expand opportunities for investments in small businesses (September 2007).
Small Business Lending: The House passed the Small Business Lending Improvements Act (H.R. 1332). The bill would make permanent the Community Express program. The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee approved a similar measure (S. 1256) in May 2007. In October 2007, the House Small Business Committee passed a bill (H.R. 3866) that would reauthorize through FY2009 several SBA lending programs, including the Women’s Business Center and Small Business Development Center programs and the National Women’s Business Council.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Reauthorization: The House passed a bill (H.R. 3866) to reauthorize programs within the SBA through FY2009 (November 2007).
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization: The House and Senate passed legislation (H.R. 976) to reauthorize SCHIP through 2012 (September 2007). The president vetoed H.R. 976 on October 3, 2007. A second bill (H.R. 3963) to reauthorize SCHIP was approved by the House and Senate in October 2007; the President vetoed it on December 12, 2007.
Stem Cells: Congress approved a bill (S. 5) that would allow federal funding to be used to conduct and support human embryonic stem cell research (June 2007). President Bush vetoed the measure in June 2007.
Stroke: The House approved a bill (H.R. 477) that would authorize grants for an education campaign about the warning signs of, and treatment options for, stroke; medical professional development programs for stroke and traumatic injury treatment and prevention; and for grants to states and private organizations to conduct a five-year pilot project to improve stroke patient outcomes by coordinating health care delivery through telehealth networks (March 2007)
Student Loans: The House passed a bill (H.R. 5) that would reduce interest rates on need-based federal college loans (January 2007).
Tobacco Regulation: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (S. 625) (August 2007).
Torture: The House approved a bill (H.R. 1678) to authorize $25 million in FY2008 and 2009 for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants to torture treatment programs in the United States, $12 million for the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide grants to foreign treatment centers supporting torture victims, and $12 million annually for the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (April 2007). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the measure in September 2007.
Trafficking: The House approved legislation (H.R. 2399) that would strengthen the prosecution and punishment of those who smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States (May 2007). The House approved the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act that would reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (P.L. 106-386) programs through FY2011-2012 (December 2007).
Tuberculosis Prevention: The House approved the Stop Tuberculosis Now Act (H.R. 1567) that would increase assistance for the prevention, treatment, and control of tuberculosis (November 2007). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the measure in September 2007.
Veteran’s Business Programs: The House approved legislation (H.R. 2366) that would require the Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) to provide technical assistance to servicemembers interested in starting small businesses and would establish the Women Veterans Business Training Program within the OVBD (June 2007). The House and Senate passed similar versions of the the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act (H.R. 4253) (December 2007). The legislation would require the SBA to establish a Women Veterans Business Training Resource Program that would collect information on resources available to women veterans for business training, including vocational and technical education; general business skills, such as marketing and accounting; and business assistance programs targeted to women veterans.
Veterans’ Mental Health: The House approved a bill (H.R. 327) that would establish a comprehensive program to reduce suicide among veterans (March 2007). The Senate passed similar legislation (S. 479) in June 2007.
Veterans’ Outreach: The House passed legislation (H.R. 67) to improve outreach activities for veterans and their families (May 2007).
Women’s Business Centers: The House passed a bill (H.R. 2397) that would revise the current funding formula for Women’s Business Centers. The bill also would require the National Women’s Business Council to report on the problems hindering the success of women entrepreneurs (June 2007). The Senate Small Business Committee approved similar legislation (S. 1671) in June 2007.
