Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6225
Sponsor: Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-06-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces abroad
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
College costs
Commerce
Contracts
District courts
Education
Employee rights
Families
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Higher education
Income tax
Injunctions
Interest rates
Internet
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal fees
Military dependents
Military personnel
Public utilities
Punitive damages
Residence requirements
Science, Technology, Communications
Student enrollment
Student loan funds
Subscription television
Tax administration
Taxation
Telephone
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: 
Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008 - Requires (current law authorizes) the appropriate U.S. district court to use its equity powers in any case in which the court determines it is appropriate, including injunctive relief, to fully vindicate a veteran's employment or reemployment rights with respect to a state or private employer. 

action_date: 2008-07-31
text: 
Improving SCRA and USERRA Protections Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Requires (current law authorizes) the appropriate U.S. district court to use its equity powers in any case in which the court determines it is appropriate, including injunctive relief, to fully vindicate a veteran's employment or reemployment rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) with respect to a state or private employer.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to require an institution of higher education, when a servicemember is ordered to military service and withdraws or takes a leave of absence from such institution, to: (1) provide a credit or refund to the servicemember of tuition and fees paid for the portion of the program of education for which the servicemember did not receive academic credit after such withdrawal or leave; and (2) provide the servicemember an opportunity to reenroll with the same educational and academic status the servicemember had when activated for service.
 
Extends the current interest rate cap in SCRA to student loan obligations of members called to military service.
 
(Sec. 4) Allows servicemembers with deployment orders to terminate or suspend, without fee or penalty, service contracts for services such as phones, utilities, cable television, and Internet access. (Currently, such servicemembers are only permitted to terminate or suspend residential or automobile lease agreements.)
 
(Sec. 5) Provides penalties under SCRA against creditors for violations of interest rate limits for servicemembers.
 
(Sec. 6) Allows a military spouse to vote in the same location as the servicemember with respect to federal, state, and local elections.
 
(Sec. 7) Allows a military spouse to pay taxes in the same state as the servicemember.
 
(Sec. 8) Provides that compensation of a spouse of a servicemember shall not be considered income within a tax jurisdiction of the United States if, when the compensation is earned, the spouse is not a resident or domiciliary of that jurisdiction, and the jurisdiction is where the servicemember is serving in compliance with military orders.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 7/29/2008 H7248-7250)
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 7/29/2008 H7248-7250)
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7707)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Boozman objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: DEBATE - The House resumed debate on H.R. 6225.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6225.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7248-7253)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 497.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-778.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-778.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2008-06-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Introduced in House