114 S365 IS: To improve rangeland conditions and restore grazing levels within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah.
U.S. Senate
2015-02-04
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II114th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 365IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 4, 2015Mr. Hatch (for himself and Mr. Lee) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo improve rangeland conditions and restore grazing levels within the Grand Staircase-Escalante
			 National Monument, Utah.1.Improvement of rangeland conditions and   restoration of grazing levels, Grand Staircase-Escalante
			 National
 Monument(a)In generalAs soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall implement a management program within areas of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that are administered by the Bureau of Land Management—(1)to improve rangeland conditions for wildlife and livestock carrying capacity in those areas; and(2)to restore livestock grazing to the level of usage in those areas that existed as of September 17, 1996.(b)PermitsIn issuing or renewing grazing permits and in issuing or modifying allotment management plans for livestock grazing in the areas described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall incorporate reasonable standards and guidelines that are consistent with—(1)the Utah Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management for BLM Lands in Utah, approved by the Secretary of the Interior on May 20, 1997; and(2)the applicable regulations of the Bureau of Land Management contained in subpart 4100 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to livestock grazing on public land) (or successor regulations).


 HR 3470 ENR: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 744 West Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville, Georgia, as the
U.S. House of Representatives
0
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of America At the First SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven
H. R. 3470

AN ACT
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 744 West Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville, Georgia, as the John Sidney ‘Sid’ Flowers Post Office Building.

1.John Sidney “Sid” Flowers Post Office Building
(a)DesignationThe facility of the United States Postal Service located at 744 West Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville, Georgia, shall be known and designated as the John Sidney Sid Flowers Post Office Building.
(b)ReferencesAny reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the John Sidney Sid Flowers Post Office Building.
 Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.


		I
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1754
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 5, 2011
			Mr. Gary G. Miller of
			 California (for himself and Mr.
			 Sherman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Financial
			 Services

		A BILL
		To permanently increase the conforming loan limits for
		  the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage
		  Association and the FHA maximum mortgage amount limitations.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Preserving Equal Access to Mortgage
			 Finance Programs Act.
		2.Permanent
			 conforming loan limit increase for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
			(a)Freddie
			 Mac
				(1)IncreaseParagraph
			 (2) of section 305(a) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12
			 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)) is amended—
					(A)by inserting
			 (A) after (2);
					(B)in the first
			 sentence, by redesignating clauses (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through
			 (iii), respectively;
					(C)in the second
			 sentence, by striking clause (A) and inserting clause
			 (i); and
					(D)in the last
			 sentence—
						(i)by
			 striking 115 percent each place such term appears and inserting
			 125 percent; and
						(ii)by
			 striking 150 percent and inserting 175
			 percent.
						(2)Discretionary
			 authority to limit decreasesParagraph (2) of section 305(a) of the
			 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)), as amended
			 by paragraph (1), is further amended by adding at the end the following new
			 subparagraph:

						(B)Notwithstanding the calculation of the
				limitation on the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage that may
				be purchased by the Corporation for an area pursuant to the last sentence of
				subparagraph (A), if any recalculation of the local median home price for any
				area would otherwise result in a decrease in the maximum original principal
				limitation for any size residence in any such area, the Director of the Federal
				Housing Finance Agency may prevent or limit a decrease in such limitation from
				taking place for any such area. In taking such action, the Director shall
				consider such factors as market dislocations caused by a decrease in such
				limitation, the extent of the median home price decline, and the causes for
				such reduction in median home
				price.
						.
				(b)Fannie
			 Mae
				(1)IncreaseParagraph
			 (2) of section 302(b) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act
			 (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)) is amended—
					(A)by inserting
			 (A) after (2);
					(B)in the second sentence, by redesignating
			 clauses (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively;
					(C)in the third
			 sentence, by striking clause (A) and inserting clause
			 (i); and
					(D)in the last
			 sentence—
						(i)by
			 striking 115 percent each place such term appears and inserting
			 125 percent; and
						(ii)by
			 striking 150 percent and inserting 175
			 percent.
						(2)Discretionary
			 authority to limit decreasesParagraph (2) of section 302(b) of the
			 Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)), as
			 amended by paragraph (1), is further amended by adding at the end the following
			 new subparagraph:

						(B)Notwithstanding the calculation of the
				limitation on the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage that may
				be purchased by the corporation for an area pursuant to the last sentence of
				subparagraph (A), if any recalculation of the local median home price for any
				area would otherwise result in a decrease in the maximum original principal
				limitation for any size residence in any such area, the Director of the Federal
				Housing Finance Agency may prevent or limit a decrease in such limitation from
				taking place for any such area.  In taking such action, the Director shall
				consider such factors as market dislocations caused by a decrease in such
				limitation, the extent of the median home price decline, and the causes for
				such reduction in median home
				price.
						.
				3.Permanent loan
			 limit increase for FHA
			(a)IncreaseSubparagraph (A) of section 203(b)(2) of
			 the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(2)(A)) is amended—
				(1)in clause (i) by
			 striking 115 percent and inserting 125 percent;
			 and
				(2)in clause (ii) by
			 striking 150 percent and inserting 175
			 percent.
				(b)Discretionary
			 authority To limit decreasesSubparagraph (A) of section 203(b)(2) of
			 the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting
			 after ; and at the end the following: except that
			 notwithstanding the calculation of the maximum dollar amount limitation for any
			 area pursuant to clause (i) of this subparagraph, if any recalculation of the
			 local median home price for any area would otherwise result in a decrease in
			 the maximum dollar amount limitation for any size residence in any such area,
			 the Secretary, considering such factors as market dislocations caused by a
			 decrease in such dollar amount limitation, the extent of the median home price
			 decline, and the causes for such reduction in median home price, may prevent or
			 limit a decrease in such dollar amount limitation from taking place for any
			 such area; and.
			4.Existing loan
			 limitsThis Act may not be
			 construed to affect the loan limits for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
			 Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association in effect under
			 section 146 of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Public Law 111–242; 124
			 Stat. 2615) or the FHA mortgage amount limitations in effect under section 145
			 of such Act.
		5.Effective
			 DateThe amendments made by
			 this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2011.


109 HR 1008 IH: To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and construction of the Riverside-Corona Feeder in cooperation with the Western Municipal Water District of Riverside, California.
U.S. House of Representatives
2005-03-01
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1008
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 1, 2005
Mr. Calvert (for himself, Mr. Lewis of California, and Mr. Issa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the design and construction of the Riverside-Corona Feeder in cooperation with the Western Municipal Water District of Riverside, California.

1.Planning, design, and construction of the Riverside-Corona Feeder
(a)In generalThe Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the Western Municipal Water District, may participate in a project to plan, design, and construct a water supply project, the Riverside-Corona Feeder, which includes 20 groundwater wells and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California.
(b)Agreements and regulationsThe Secretary may enter into such agreements and promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.
(c)Federal cost share
(1)Planning, design, constructionThe Federal share of the cost to plan, design, and construct the project described in subsection (a) shall be the lesser of 35 percent of the total cost of the project or $50,000,000.
(2)StudiesThe Federal share of the cost to complete the necessary planning study associated with the project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 50 percent of the total study cost.
(d)In-kind servicesIn-kind services performed by the Western Municipal Water District shall be considered a part of the local cost share to complete the project described in subsection (a).
(e)LimitationFunds provided by the Secretary under this section shall not be used for operation or maintenance of the project described in subsection (a).
2.Project authorizations
(a)In generalThe Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act (Public Law 102–575, title XVI; 43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

163_.Yucaipa Valley regional water supply renewal project
(a)AuthorizationThe Secretary, in cooperation with the Yucaipa Valley Water District, may participate in the design, planning, and construction of projects to treat impaired surface water, reclaim and reuse impaired groundwater, and provide brine disposal within the Santa Ana Watershed described in the report submitted under section 1606.
(b)Cost sharingThe Federal share of the cost of the project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project.
(c)LimitationFunds provided by the Secretary shall not be used for operation or maintenance of the project described in subsection (a).
(d)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000.
163_.City of Corona Water Utility, California, water recycling and reuse project
(a)AuthorizationThe Secretary, in cooperation with the City of Corona Water Utility, California, is authorized to participate in the design, planning, and construction of, and land acquisition for, a project to reclaim and reuse wastewater, including degraded groundwaters, within and outside of the service area of the City of Corona Water Utility, California.
(b)Cost shareThe Federal share of the cost of the project authorized by this section shall not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project.
(c)LimitationThe Secretary shall not provide funds for the operation and maintenance of the project authorized by this section..
(b)Conforming amendmentsThe table of sections in section 2 of Public Law 102–575 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 163_ the following:

Sec. 163_. Yucaipa Valley Regional Water Supply Renewal Project
Sec. 163_. City of Corona Water Utility, California, water recycling and reuse project.


114 HR 6256 IH: To provide temporary visitation to spouses of United States citizens.
U.S. House of Representatives
2016-09-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I114th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6256IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 28, 2016Mr. Huffman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo provide temporary visitation to spouses of United States citizens.

		1.Admission of spouses of nationals and citizens of the United States as nonimmigrants
 (a)Classification as nonimmigrantsSection 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (U), by striking or at the end;
 (2)in subparagraph (V), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and (3)by inserting after subparagraph (V) the following:

 (W)an alien who is the spouse of a national or citizen of the United States, and has been the spouse of such national or citizen for a period of not less than 180 days, or who is the child of such an alien and is accompanying, or following to join, the alien..
 (b)Requirements for admissionSection 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(s)
 (1)The period of authorized admission for an alien admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(W) shall be 180 days, which may be extended for one additional 180-day period.
 (2)The total number of principal aliens who may be admitted under section 101(a)(15)(W) during any fiscal year may not exceed 5,000.
 (3)The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall establish a process to ensure the expedited admission to the United States of aliens under section 101(a)(15)(W).
 (4)An alien admitted under section 101(a)(15)(W) is not eligible for work authorization.. (c)Adjustment of status prohibitedSection 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (n)Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security may not adjust the status of an alien admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(W) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence..


115 HR 5532 : Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-09-17
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		IIB
		115th CONGRESS2d Session
		H. R. 5532
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
		September 17, 2018Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesAN ACT
		To redesignate the Reconstruction Era National Monument as the Reconstruction Era National
			 Historical Park, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Act. 2.Reconstruction Era National Historical Park (a)DefinitionsIn this section:
 (1)Historical ParkThe term historical park means the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. (2)MapThe term map means the maps entitled Reconstruction Era National Monument Old Beaufort Firehouse, numbered 550/135,755 and dated January 2017; Reconstruction Era National Monument Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church, numbered 550/135,756 and dated January 2017; and Reconstruction Era National Monument Camp Saxton, numbered 550/135,757 and dated January 2017, collectively.
 (3)NetworkThe term Network means the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network established pursuant to this Act. (4)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
				(b)Establishment
				(1)Redesignation of Reconstruction Era National Monument
 (A)In generalThe Reconstruction Era National Monument is redesignated as the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, as generally depicted on the map.
 (B)Availability of fundsAny funds available for the purposes of the Reconstruction Era National Monument shall be available for the purposes of the historical park.
 (C)ReferencesAny references in a law, regulation, document, record, map, or other paper of the United States to the Reconstruction Era National Monument shall be considered to be a reference to the historical park.
					(2)Boundary Expansion
 (A)Beaufort National Historic Landmark DistrictSubject to subparagraph (D), the Secretary is authorized to acquire land or interests in land within the Beaufort National Historic Landmark District that has historic connection to the Reconstruction Era. Upon finalizing an agreement to acquire land, the Secretary shall expand the boundary of the historical park to encompass the property.
 (B)St. Helena IslandSubject to subparagraph (D), the Secretary is authorized to acquire the following and shall expand the boundary of the historical park to include acquisitions under this authority:
 (i)Land and interests in land adjacent to the existing boundary on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, as reflected on the map.
 (ii)Land or interests in land on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, that has a historic connection to the Reconstruction Era.
 (C)Camp SaxtonSubject to subparagraph (D), the Secretary is authorized to accept administrative jurisdiction of Federal land or interests in Federal land adjacent to the existing boundary at Camp Saxton, as reflected on the map. Upon finalizing an agreement to accept administrative jurisdiction of Federal land or interests in Federal land, the Secretary shall expand the boundary of the historical park to encompass that Federal land or interests in Federal land.
 (D)Land acquisition authorityThe Secretary may only acquire land under this Act by donation, exchange or purchase with donated funds.
					(c)Administration
 (1)In generalThe Secretary shall administer the historical park in accordance with this Act and with the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System.
 (2)Management PlanIf the management plan for the Reconstruction Era National Monument— (A)has not been completed on or before the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall incorporate all provisions of this Act into the planning process and complete a management plan for the historical park within 3 years; and
 (B)has been completed on or before the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update the plan incorporating the provisions of this Act.
					3.Reconstruction Era National Historic Network
 (a)In generalThe Secretary shall— (1)establish, within the National Park Service, a program to be known as the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network;
 (2)not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, solicit proposals from sites interested in being a part of the Network; and
 (3)administer the Network through the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. (b)Duties of SecretaryIn carrying out the Network, the Secretary shall—
 (1)review studies and reports to complement and not duplicate studies of the historical importance of Reconstruction Era that may be underway or completed, such as the National Park Service Reconstruction Handbook and the National Park Service Theme Study on Reconstruction;
 (2)produce and disseminate appropriate educational and promotional materials relating to the Reconstruction Era and the sites in the network, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or electronic information;
 (3)enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance;
				(4)
 (A)create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or device for the Network; and (B)issue regulations for the use of the symbol or device adopted under subparagraph (A); and
 (5)conduct research relating to Reconstruction and the Reconstruction Era. (c)ElementsThe Network shall encompass the following elements—
 (1)all units and programs of the National Park Service that are determined by the Secretary to relate to the Reconstruction Era;
 (2)other Federal, State, local, and privately owned properties that the Secretary determines— (A)relate to the Reconstruction Era; and
 (B)are included in, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places; and
 (3)other governmental and nongovernmental sites, facilities, and programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature that are directly related to the Reconstruction Era.
 (d)Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understandingTo achieve the purposes of this Act and to ensure effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network and units and programs of the National Park Service, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with, and provide technical assistance to, the heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of local government, regional governmental bodies, and private entities.
 (e)Network definedThe term Network means the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network established pursuant to this Act.  Passed the House of Representatives September 12, 2018.Karen L. Haas,Clerk


 SCON 18 ENR: Providing for the use of the catafalque situated in the Exhibition Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center in connection with memorial services to be conducted in the United States Senate Chamber for the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from the State of New Jersey.
U.S. Senate
2013-06-04
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		One Hundred Thirteenth Congress of the United
		  States of America
		1st SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third
		day of January, two thousand and thirteen
		S. CON. RES. 18
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			June 4, 2013
			Agreed
			 to

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Providing for the use of the catafalque
		  situated in the Exhibition Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center in connection
		  with memorial services to be conducted in the United States Senate Chamber for
		  the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from the State of New
		  Jersey.

		That the Architect of the Capitol is
			 authorized and directed to transfer the catafalque which is situated in the
			 Exhibition Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center to the Senate Chamber so that
			 such catafalque may be used in connection with services to be conducted there
			 for the Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from the State of New
			 Jersey.

			Secretary of the Senate

			Clerk of the House of Representatives


115 HR 4548 IH: Workplace Action for a Growing Economy Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-12-05
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4548IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 5, 2017Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Takano, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Norcross, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Sánchez, Ms. Adams, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Hanabusa, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Gutiérrez, Ms. Norton, Mr. Khanna, and Ms. Shea-Porter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the WorkforceA BILLTo amend the National Labor Relations Act to strengthen protections for employees to exercise their
			 rights to organize and collectively bargain for improved wages, hours, or
			 other terms and conditions of employment, to sanction violations of such
			 rights and assure meaningful remedies, to establish a process by which
			 employers and employees conclude initial collective bargaining agreements,
			 and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Workplace Action for a Growing Economy Act or the WAGE Act. 2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
 (1)The National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) was enacted to encourage the practice of collective bargaining and to protect the exercise by workers of full freedom of association in the workplace. Since its enactment in 1935, tens of millions of workers have bargained with their employers over wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment and have raised the standard of living for all workers.
 (2)According to research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, through acting collectively and bargaining with their employers, workers who are unionized earn 25.2 percent more than workers who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. They are 40.8 percent more likely to be offered health insurance through work and nearly 5 times as likely to have employer-provided defined benefit pensions. The wage differential is significant for women and people of color. Unionized African-American workers earn 25.1 percent more than African-American workers who are not unionized, and unionized Latino workers earn 45.7 percent more than their peers who are not unionized. Unionized women earn 32.1 percent more than women who are not unionized, and the wage gap between men and women is much smaller at unionized workplaces. The wage gains achieved through collective bargaining agreements benefit workers and their communities.
 (3)Unions and collective bargaining ensure that productivity gains are shared by working people. The decline in the percentage of workers covered by collective bargaining has contributed significantly to skyrocketing income inequality and flat wages.
 (4)As enacted in 1935, the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) protects the right of all workers to join together with their co-workers to advocate for improvements in their pay, benefits, and working conditions, regardless of whether they seek representation by a union. The law protects the right of workers to discuss issues like pay and benefits without retaliation or interference by employers. However, the awareness of workers regarding their rights under the law is lacking, and many employers maintain policies that restrict the ability of workers to discuss workplace issues with each other, directly contravening these rights. Research shows that more than one-half of workers report that their employers have policies that prohibit or discourage workers from discussing pay with their co-workers. These policies and practices impede workers from exercising their rights under the law and impair their freedom of association at work.
 (5)Retaliation by employers against workers who exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) persists at troubling levels. Employers routinely fire workers for trying to form a union at their workplace. In one out of 3 organizing campaigns, one or more workers are discharged for supporting or joining a union. From fiscal years 2014 through 2016, the National Labor Relations Board obtained reinstatement orders for 6,997 workers and obtained awards totaling over $193,000,000 for backpay and other damages for workers who faced illegal retaliation for exercising their rights.
 (6)The current remedies are inadequate to deter employers from violating the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.). The remedies and penalties for violations of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) are far weaker than for other labor and employment laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.). Unlike other major labor and employment laws, there are no civil penalties for violations of the law. Workers cannot go to court to pursue relief on their own; they must rely on the National Labor Relations Board to prosecute their case.
 (7)Unlike orders of other federal agencies, the National Labor Relations Board’s orders are not enforced until the Board seeks enforcement from the Court of Appeals. As far back as 1969, the Administrative Conference of the United States recognized that the absence of a self-enforcing agency order imposes wasteful delays in the enforcement of the Act, and recommended that the Board’s orders be made self-enforcing like those of other agencies. Congress did not act upon this recommendation, and delays in the Board’s enforcement remain a problem for the Act to be an effective law.
 (8)Many workers do not currently enjoy the protections of the Act because they are excluded from coverage by the statute or interpretations of the statute.
 (9)Too often, workers who choose to form unions are frustrated when their employers use delay and other tactics to avoid reaching an initial collective bargaining agreement. Estimates are that in as many as half of new organizing campaigns, workers and their employers fail to reach an initial collective bargaining agreement.
 (10)In order to make the right to collective bargaining and freedom of association in the workplace a reality for workers, the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) must be strengthened.
 3.PurposesThe purposes of this Act are to— (1)strengthen protections for employees engaged in collective action to improve their wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment;
 (2)expand coverage under the Act to more employees; (3)provide a process by which workers and employers can successfully negotiate an initial collective bargaining agreement;
 (4)provide for stronger remedies for employees who face retaliation, discrimination, or other interference with the legal right of the employees to engage in collective action;
 (5)provide for penalties against employers who violate the rights of employees to engage in collective action, in order to act as a meaningful deterrent against violating the law; and
 (6)streamline the enforcement procedures of the National Labor Relations Board to provide for more timely and effective enforcement of the law.
			4.Strengthening remedies and enforcement for employees exercising their rights at work
 (a)BackpaySection 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 160(c)) is amended by striking And provided further, and inserting Provided further, That if the Board finds that an employer has discriminated against an employee in violation of paragraph (3) or (4) of section 8(a) or has committed a violation of section 8(a) that results in the discharge of an employee or other serious economic harm to an employee, the Board shall award the employee back pay and an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to 2 times the amount of such back pay, without any reduction (including any reduction based on the employee’s interim earnings or failure to earn interim earnings): Provided further,.
 (b)Civil penaltiesSection 12 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 162) is amended— (1)by striking Sec. 12. Any person and inserting the following:

						12.Penalties
 (a)Violations for interference with boardAny person; and (2)by adding at the end the following:

 (b)Civil penalties for violations of posting requirementsIf the Board, or any agent or agency designated by the Board for such purposes, determines that an employer has violated section 8(h), the Board shall—
 (1)state the findings of fact supporting such determination; (2)issue and cause to be served on such employer an order requiring that such employer post the notice described in such section and provide the information to new employees described in such section; and
 (3)impose a civil penalty in an amount determined appropriate by the Board, except that in no case shall the amount of the fine exceed $500 for each such violation.
							(c)Violations causing serious economic harm to employees
 (1)In generalAny employer who commits an unfair labor practice within the meaning of paragraph (3) or (4) of section 8(a) or a violation of section 8(a) that results in the discharge of an employee or other serious economic harm to an employee shall, in addition to any remedy ordered by the Board, be subject to a civil penalty. Such penalty shall be in an amount not to exceed $50,000 for each violation, except that the Board shall double the amount of such penalty, to an amount not to exceed $100,000, in any case where the employer has within the preceding 5 years committed another such violation.
 (2)ConsiderationsIn determining the amount of any civil penalty under this subsection, the Board shall consider— (A)the gravity of the unfair labor practice;
 (B)the impact of the unfair labor practice on the charging party, on other persons seeking to exercise rights guaranteed by this Act, and on the public interest; and
 (C)the size of the employer. (3)Director and officer liabilityIf the Board determines, based on the particular facts and circumstances presented, that a director or officer’s personal liability is warranted, a civil penalty for a violation described in this subsection may also be assessed against any director or officer of the employer who directed or committed the violation, had established a policy that led to such violations, or had knowledge of and the authority to prevent the violation and failed to do so.
 (d)Joint and several liabilityAn employer shall be jointly and severally liable under this Act for any violations of this Act involving one or more employees supplied by another employer to perform labor within the employer’s usual course of business.
						.
 (c)Injunctions against unfair labor practices involving discharge or other serious economic lossSection 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 160(j)) is amended— (1)by striking (j) The Board and inserting the following:

						(j)
 (1)The Board; and (2)by adding at the end the following:

 (2)Notwithstanding subsection (m) of section 10, whenever it is charged that an employer has engaged in an unfair labor practice within the meaning of paragraph (1) or (3) of section 8(a) that significantly interferes with, restrains, or coerces employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed under section 7, or involves discharge or other serious economic harm to an employee, the preliminary investigation of such charge shall be made forthwith and given priority over all cases except cases of like character in the office where it is filed or to which it is referred. If, after such investigation, the officer or regional attorney to whom the matter may be referred has reasonable cause to believe such charge is true and that a complaint should issue, he shall bring a petition for appropriate temporary relief or restraining order as set forth in paragraph (1). The district court shall grant the relief requested unless the court concludes that there is no reasonable likelihood that the Board will succeed on the merits of the Board’s claim..
				(d)Private enforcement
 (1)Right to civil actionSection 12 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 162), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

						(e)Right to civil action
 (1)In generalAny person who is injured by reason of any violation of paragraph (1) or (3) of section 8(a) may, in addition to or in lieu of filing a charge alleging such unfair labor practice with the Board in accordance with this Act, bring a civil action in the appropriate district court of the United States against the employer within 180 days of the violation.
 (2)Available reliefRelief granted in an action under paragraph (1) may include any relief authorized by section 706(g) of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–5(g) or by section 1977A(b) of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1981a(b))).
 (3)Attorney’s feeIn any action or proceeding under this subsection, the court may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney’s fee (including expert fees) as part of the costs..
 (2)Conforming amendmentSection 10(b) of the National Labor Relations Act is amended by striking six months and inserting 180 days. (e)Ensuring fair remedies for all workersSection 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 160(c)) is amended by striking suffered by him: and inserting suffered by such employee: Provided further, That back pay shall not be denied on the basis that the employee is, or was during the time of relevant employment or during the back pay period, an unauthorized alien as defined in section 274A(h)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(h)(3)) or any other provision of Federal law relating to the unlawful employment of aliens:.
 (f)Remedying election interferenceSection 9(c) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 159(c)) is amended— (1)by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and
 (2)by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:  (4)Bargaining order based on majority of votesIf the Board finds that, in an election under paragraph (1), a majority of the valid votes cast in a unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining have been cast in favor of representation by the labor organization, the Board shall issue an order requiring the employer to collectively bargain with the labor organization in accordance with section 8(d). This order shall be deemed an order under section 10(c) of the Act, without need for a determination of an unfair labor practice.
						(5)Dismissal; bargaining orders in other situations
 (A)DismissalIf the Board finds that, in an election under paragraph (1), a majority of the valid votes cast in a unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining have not been cast in favor of representation by the labor organization, the Board shall dismiss the petition, subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C).
 (B)Special rules for employer violations or interferenceIn any case where a majority of the valid votes cast in a unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining have not been cast in favor or representation by the labor organization and the Board determines that the election should be set aside because the employer has committed a violation of this Act or otherwise interfered with a fair election, and the employer has not demonstrated that the violation or other interference is unlikely to have affected the outcome of the election, the Board shall, without ordering a new or rerun election, issue an order requiring the employer to bargain with the labor organization in accordance with section 8(d) if, at any time during the period beginning 1 year preceding the date of the commencement of the election and ending on the date upon which the Board makes the determination of a violation or other interference under subparagraph (A), a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit have signed authorizations designating the labor organization as their collective bargaining representative.
 (C)Other election interferenceIn any case where the Board determines that an election under this paragraph should be set aside, the Board shall direct a rerun election with appropriate additional safeguards necessary to ensure a fair election process, except in cases where the Board issues a bargaining order under subparagraph (B)..
				5.Modernization
 (a)Prevention of unfair labor practicesSection 8 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158) is amended by adding at the end the following:

					(h)Postings of notice
 (1)In generalThe Board shall promulgate regulations requiring each employer to post and maintain, in conspicuous places where notices to employees and applicants for employment are customarily posted both physically and electronically, a notice setting forth the rights and protections afforded employees under this Act. The Board shall provide to employers the form and text of such notice.
 (2)Notification of new employeesThe Board shall promulgate regulations requiring employers to notify each new employee of the information contained in the notice described in paragraph (1)..
			(b)Enforcing compliance with orders of the Board
 (1)In generalSection 10 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 160) is amended— (A)by striking subsection (e);
 (B)by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); (C)by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

							(d)Enforcing compliance with orders of the board
 (1)In generalEach order of the Board shall take effect upon issuance, unless otherwise directed by the Board, and shall remain in effect, unless modified by the Board or unless a court of competent jurisdiction issues a superseding order.
 (2)Violations of orders by the boardAny person who fails or neglects to obey an order of the Board shall forfeit and pay to the Board a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation, which shall accrue to the Board and may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Board to the district court of the United States in which the unfair labor practice or other subject of the order occurred, or in which such person or entity resides or transacts business. Each separate violation of such an order shall be a separate offense, except that in a case of violation through continuing failure to obey or neglect to obey a final order of the Board, each day of continuance of such failure or neglect shall be deemed a separate offense. No action by the Board under this paragraph may be made until 30 days following the issuance of an order.
 (3)ProcedureIf, after having provided a person or entity with notice and an opportunity to be heard regarding a request under paragraph (2) for the enforcement of an order, the court determines that the order was regularly made and duly served, and that the person or entity is in disobedience of the same, the court shall enforce obedience to such order by a writ of injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise, to—
 (A)restrain such person or entity or the officers, agents, or representatives of such person or entity, from further disobedience of such order; or
 (B)enjoin upon such person or entity, officers, agents, or representatives obedience to the same.; (D)in subsection (f)—
 (i)by striking proceed in the same manner as in the case of an application by the Board under subsection (e) of this section and inserting proceed as provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection;
 (ii)by striking Any and inserting the following:  (1)Within 30 days of the issuance of an order, any; and
 (iii)by adding at the end the following:  (2)No objection that has not been urged before the Board, its member, agent, or agency, shall be considered by a court, unless the failure or neglect to urge such objection shall be excused because of extraordinary circumstances. The findings of the Board with respect to questions of fact if supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole shall be conclusive. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shall show to the satisfaction of the court that such additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the hearing before the Board, its member, agent, or agency, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the Board, its member, agent, or agency, and to be made a part of the record. The Board may modify its findings as to the facts, or make new findings, by reason of additional evidence so taken and filed, and it shall file such modified or new findings, which findings with respect to questions of fact if supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole shall be conclusive, and shall file its recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of its original order. Upon the filing of the record with it the jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and decree shall be final, except that the same shall be subject to review by the appropriate United States court of appeals if application was made to the district court, and by the Supreme Court of the United States upon writ of certiorari or certification as provided in section 1254 of title 28, United States Code..
 (2)Conforming amendmentsThe National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is further amended— (A)in section 9(d), by striking section 10(e) or 10(f) and inserting subsection (d) or (f) of section 10; and
 (B)in section 10— (i)in subsection (f), by striking subsection (e) of this section and inserting subsection (d); and
 (ii)in subsection (g), by striking subsection (e) or (f) of this section and inserting subsection (d) or (f). 6.Coverage (a)Ensuring that employees are not wrongly classified as supervisors and denied the protections of the actSection 2(11) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(11)) is amended—
 (1)by inserting and for a majority of the individual’s worktime after interest of the employer; (2)by striking assign,; and
 (3)by striking or responsibly to direct them,. (b)Ensuring that employees are not misclassified as independent contractors and denied the protections of the actSection 2(3) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(3)) is amended by inserting at the end of the section the following:

 An individual performing any service shall be considered to be an employee and not an independent contractor unless—(A)the individual is free from control and direction in connection with the performance of the service, both under the contract for the performance of service and in fact;
 (B)the service is performed outside the usual course of the business of the employer; and (C)the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business of the same nature as that involved in the service performed..
 7.Facilitating initial collective bargaining agreementsSection 8 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158), as amended by section 5(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

 (i)Whenever collective bargaining is for the purpose of establishing an initial agreement following certification or recognition, the provisions of subsection (d) shall be modified as follows:
 (1)Not later than 10 days after receiving a written request for collective bargaining from an individual or labor organization that has been newly organized or certified as a representative as defined in section 9(a), or within such further period as the parties agree upon, the parties shall meet and commence to bargain collectively and shall make every reasonable effort to conclude and sign a collective bargaining agreement.
 (2)If after the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which bargaining is commenced, or such additional period as the parties may agree upon, the parties have failed to reach an agreement, either party may notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service of the existence of a dispute and request mediation. Whenever such a request is received, it shall be the duty of the Service promptly to put itself in communication with the parties and to use its best efforts, by mediation and conciliation, to bring them to agreement.
 (3)If after the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the request for mediation is made under paragraph (2), or such additional period as the parties may agree upon, the Service is not able to bring the parties to agreement by conciliation, the Service shall refer the dispute to a tripartite arbitration panel established in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Service. The arbitration panel shall render a decision settling the dispute and such decision shall be binding upon the parties for a period of 2 years, unless amended during such period by written consent of the parties..


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1495
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			July 22, 2009
			Mr. Franken (for
			 himself, Mr. Isakson,
			 Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Graham, Mr.
			 Begich, and Mr. Brown)
			 introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Veterans'
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To require the Secretary of Veterans
		  Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability
		  of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with
		  physical or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Service Dogs for Veterans Act of
			 2009.
		2.Pilot program on use of service dogs for
			 the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or
			 disabilities
			(a)FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
				(1)The United States owes a profound debt to
			 those who have served the United States honorably in the Armed Forces.
				(2)Disabled veterans suffer from a range of
			 physical and mental injuries and disabilities.
				(3)In 2008, the Army reported the highest
			 level of suicides among its soldiers since it began tracking the rate 28 years
			 before 2009.
				(4)A scientific study documented in the 2008
			 Rand Report entitled Invisible Wounds of War estimated that
			 300,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
			 currently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
				(5)Veterans have benefitted in multiple ways
			 from the provision of service dogs.
				(6)The Department of Veterans Affairs has been
			 successfully placing guide dogs with the blind since 1961.
				(7)Thousands of dogs around the country await
			 adoption.
				(b)Program requiredNot later than 120 days after the date of
			 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a
			 three-year pilot program to assess the benefits, feasibility, and advisability
			 of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with
			 physical or mental injuries or disabilities, including post-traumatic stress
			 disorder.
			(c)Partnerships
				(1)In generalThe Secretary shall carry out the pilot
			 program by partnering with nonprofit organizations that—
					(A)have experience providing service dogs to
			 individuals with injuries or disabilities;
					(B)do not charge fees for the dogs, services,
			 or lodging that they provide; and
					(C)are accredited by a generally accepted
			 industry-standard accrediting institution.
					(2)Reimbursement of costsThe Secretary shall reimburse partners for
			 costs relating to the pilot program as follows:
					(A)For the first 50 dogs provided under the
			 pilot program, all costs relating to the provision of such dogs.
					(B)For dogs provided under the pilot program
			 after the first 50 dogs provided, all costs relating to the provision of every
			 other dog.
					(d)Participation
				(1)In generalAs part of the pilot program, the Secretary
			 shall provide a service dog to a number of veterans with physical or mental
			 injuries or disabilities that is greater than or equal to the greater
			 of—
					(A)200; and
					(B)the minimum number of such veterans
			 required to produce scientifically valid results with respect to assessing the
			 benefits and costs of the use of such dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation
			 of such veterans.
					(2)CompositionThe Secretary shall ensure that—
					(A)half of the participants in the pilot
			 program are veterans who suffer primarily from a mental health injury or
			 disability; and
					(B)half of the participants in the pilot
			 program are veterans who suffer primarily from a physical injury or
			 disability.
					(e)StudyIn carrying out the pilot program, the
			 Secretary shall conduct a scientifically valid research study of the costs and
			 benefits associated with the use of service dogs for the treatment or
			 rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities.
			 The matters studied shall include the following:
				(1)The therapeutic benefits to such veterans,
			 including the quality of life benefits reported by the veterans partaking in
			 the pilot program.
				(2)The economic benefits of using service dogs
			 for the treatment or rehabilitation of such veterans, including—
					(A)savings on health care costs, including
			 savings relating to reductions in hospitalization and reductions in the use of
			 prescription drugs; and
					(B)productivity and employment gains for the
			 veterans.
					(3)The effectiveness of using service dogs to
			 prevent suicide.
				(f)Reports
				(1)Annual report of the
			 SecretaryAfter each year of
			 the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
			 findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program.
				(2)Final report by the National Academy of
			 SciencesNot later than 180
			 days after the date of the completion of the pilot program, the National
			 Academy of Sciences shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the
			 pilot program.


115 HRES 313 IH: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to exclude certain provisions relating to water resources development projects of the Corps of Engineers or the Bureau of Reclamation from the definition of congressional earmark, and for other purposes.
U.S. House of Representatives
2017-05-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. RES. 313IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 3, 2017Mr. Thomas J. Rooney of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on RulesRESOLUTIONAmending the Rules of the House of Representatives to exclude certain provisions relating to water resources development projects of the Corps of Engineers or the Bureau of Reclamation from the definition of congressional earmark, and for other purposes.
Whereas the Rules of the House of Representatives define an earmark as a Member request for funding targeted to a specific State, locality, or congressional district, other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process; Whereas the Congressional Research Service reports that 85 percent of Corps of Engineers projects (Corps projects) and 75 percent of Bureau of Reclamation projects (Reclamation projects) are geographically specific studies or projects, and the appropriation of funds for Corps and Reclamation projects is not determined through a formula-driven or competitive award process; and
Whereas the appropriation of funds for Corps and Reclamation projects is not intended to supersede applicable allocation authorities under section 302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633(a)), or to preclude the requirement that a Corps or Reclamation project receive an authorization prior to the allocation of appropriations for the project: Now, therefore, be it 1.Short titleThis resolution may be cited as the Responsible Environmental Preservation and American Infrastructure Restoration Resolution or the REPAIR Resolution.
2.Exclusion of certain water resources development projects from definition of congressional earmarkClause 9(e) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended— (1)by striking (e) For the purpose and inserting (e)(1) For the purpose; and
(2)by adding at the end the following:  (2)For the purpose of this clause, the term congressional earmark does not include a provision or report language described in subparagraph (1) if the provision or report language provides, authorizes, or recommends an amount of discretionary budget authority for a project of the Corps of Engineers or the Bureau of Reclamation.  .


114 HR 364 IH: Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-01-14
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 364
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 14, 2015
Mr. Clawson of Florida (for himself and Mr. Byrne) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL
To prohibit assistance to the Palestinian Authority until it withdraws its request to join the International Criminal Court.

1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015. 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings:
(1)On December 31, 2014, Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, signed several international conventions in an attempt to join the International Criminal Court. (2)The Palestinian Authority has indicated that it will seek to use the International Criminal Court as a means to pursue charges against Israel.
(3)The Palestinian Authority remains engaged in a unity government with Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for countless deaths and whose charter declares that there is no solution to the Palestinian question except by Jihad. (4)The United States provides more than $400,000,000 in assistance to the Palestinian Authority each year.
(5)Section 7041(i)(2) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015 (division J of Public Law 133–235) includes limitations on assistance to the Palestinian Authority if it seeks to join the International Criminal Court. (6)The United States Government must make immediately clear to the Palestinian Authority that its attempts to join the International Criminal Court will carry serious consequences.
3.Prohibition on fundingNotwithstanding any other provision of law, no amounts may be obligated or expended to provide any assistance, loan guarantee, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority, or any affiliated governing entity, until the Palestinian Authority withdraws its request to join the International Criminal Court.


		III
		112th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. RES. 553
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			September 12, 2012
			Mr. Kohl (for himself,
			 Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Collins, Mr.
			 Enzi, Mr. Sanders,
			 Mr. Blumenthal, and
			 Mr. Casey) submitted the following
			 resolution; which was considered and agreed to

		RESOLUTION
		Designating September 22, 2012, as
		  National Falls Prevention Awareness Day to raise awareness and
		  encourage the prevention of falls among older adults.

		Whereas older adults, 65 years of age and older, are the
			 fastest-growing segment of the population in the United States, and the number
			 of older adults in the United States will increase from 35,000,000 in 2000 to
			 72,100,000 in 2030;
		Whereas 1 out of 3 older adults in the United States falls
			 each year;
		Whereas falls are the leading cause of injury, death, and
			 hospital admissions for traumatic injuries among older adults;
		Whereas, in 2010, approximately 2,300,000 older adults
			 were treated in hospital emergency departments for fall-related injuries, and
			 more than 650,000 were subsequently hospitalized;
		Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
			 Prevention, in 2008, more than 20,000 older adults died from injuries related
			 to unintentional falls;
		Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
			 Prevention, the total cost of fall-related injuries for older adults is
			 $80,900,000,000, including more than $28,300,000,000 in direct medical
			 costs;
		Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
			 estimate that if the rate of increase in falls is not slowed, the annual cost
			 under the Medicare program will reach $59,600,000,000 by 2020; and
		Whereas evidence-based programs show promise in reducing
			 falls and facilitating cost-effective interventions, such as comprehensive
			 clinical assessments, exercise programs to improve balance and health,
			 management of medications, correction of vision, and reduction of home hazards:
			 Now, therefore, be it

		That the Senate—
			(1)designates
			 September 22, 2012, as National Falls Prevention Awareness
			 Day;
			(2)commends the
			 Falls Free Coalition and the falls prevention coalitions in 43 States and the
			 District of Columbia for their efforts to work together to increase education
			 and awareness about the prevention of falls among older adults;
			(3)encourages
			 businesses, individuals, Federal, State, and local governments, the public
			 health community, and health care providers to work together to promote the
			 awareness of falls in an effort to reduce the incidence of falls among older
			 adults in the United States;
			(4)urges the Centers
			 for Disease Control and Prevention to continue developing and evaluating
			 strategies to prevent falls among older adults that will translate into
			 effective fall prevention interventions, including community-based
			 programs;
			(5)encourages State
			 health departments, which provide significant leadership in reducing injuries
			 and injury-related health care costs by collaborating with colleagues and a
			 variety of organizations and individuals, to reduce falls among older adults;
			 and
			(6)recognizes
			 proven, cost-effective falls prevention programs and policies and encourages
			 experts in the field to share their best practices so that their success can be
			 replicated by others.