zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
H1B Strengthening Anti-Fraud Effectiveness Act or H1B SAFE Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security, if the Secretary has specific information concerning an employer's improper hiring of a nonimmigrant H-1B alien (temporary employment in a specialty occupation or as a fashion model), to provide the Secretary of Labor with such information which may be used to initiate a Department of Labor compliance investigation. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to require an employer filing an H-1B labor condition application with the Department of Labor to include the application number on the subsequent H-1B petition filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Visitors Interested in Strengthening America (VISA) Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize a Department of Homeland Security official to waive certain entry documentary requirements for a nonimmigrant child (unmarried and under the age of 16) who is a citizen or national of Mexico and accompanying parent or adult chaperone in instances of: (1) medical visits; (2) student groups; or (3) special community events. Sets forth additional requirements for such entries.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and Immigration Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) bar to U.S. admission. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) convene a panel of public health experts to review immigration policies regarding HIV as a communicable disease of public health significance (and thus a health-related ground for inadmissibility); and (2) make a determination and report to Congress regarding the continued listing of HIV as a health-related ground for inadmissibility.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and provide an equal number of annual immigrant visas (55,0000) to certain employment-based aliens who obtain an advanced degree in the United States.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
America's Border Security Act of 2007 - Sets forth border security and enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting: (1) use of Department of Defense (DOD) surveillance equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); (2) road and barrier construction; (3) ports of entry construction; (4) communications enhancements; (5) aerial surveillance programs; (6) personnel increases; and (7) a national border security plan.

Date: 2007-08-04
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Border Control and Contractor Accountability Act of 2007 - Provides that a federal contractor who employs directly or through a subcontractor an alien who is not authorized to work shall: (1) be debarred or suspended from federal contracting for three years; and (2) have the contract terminated unless the contractor or subcontractor agrees to terminate the employment of any such alien. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the position of Small Business Administration Liaison within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure that the Small Business Administration (SBA) does not make or guarantee a loan to an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with private entities for domestic transport from Border Patrol custody to detention facilities of aliens apprehended at or along U.S. international land or maritime borders. Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from contracting with a company that employs individuals unless the company agrees to participate in the basic pilot employment confirmation program (under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996).

Date: 2007-09-07
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Accountability in Enforcing Immigration Laws Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to subject all illegal alien entrants to fines. (Under current law, first-time offenses are subject to such fines and/or six months' imprisonment, and subsequent offenses are subject to such fines and/or two years' imprisonment.) Directs United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide for: (1) detention of illegal aliens who are apprehended by state or local law enforcement officers; and (2) reimbursement of state and local detention costs. Requires certain airport security screeners to undergo immigration status checks. Requires owners and operators of high-risk critical infrastructure sites, in order to receive buffer zone protection grants, to conduct terrorist watchlist and immigration status database checks of security employees. Condemns rapes by smugglers along the U.S. land border and urges the government of Mexico to work with United States Customs and Border Protection to take preventive action. Affirms the inherent authority of state and local law enforcement personnel to assist in immigration enforcement while carrying out their routine duties. States that such provision shall not be construed to require such personnel to: (1) report the identity of a victim of, or a witness to, a criminal offense to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); or (2) arrest such victim or witness for an immigration-related violation. Directs DHS to establish an immigration-related training manual for state and local law enforcement personnel. Provides financial assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies for immigration enforcement assistance. Continues the institutional removal program and expands it to all states. Authorizes permanent appropriations for the state criminal alien assistance program. Provides for the listing of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center Database.

Date: 2007-09-14
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
No Sanctuary for Illegals Act - Prohibits the distribution of federal funds to a state or a political subdivision of a state that is determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be interfering with federal immigration law enforcement. Terminates such prohibition when the Secretary certifies that the state or political subdivision has entered into an agreement with the Secretary to cease such interference.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the definition of "refugee" the legally recognized spouse of a person who has been forced to abort a pregnancy or undergo involuntary sterilization.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
New IDEA (Illegal Deduction Elimination Act) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for wages paid to or on behalf of an unauthorized alien.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Taxation
Local Law Enforcement Restoration Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to state that specified unlawful alien employment provisions shall not preempt any state or local law that imposes: (1) employment eligibility verification requirements imposed upon employers or employees consistent with or in addition to employment eligibility verification requirements; (2) civil or criminal penalties for violation of such state or local employment eligibility verification requirements; (3) civil or criminal penalties for prohibited acts; (4) licensing sanctions for violation of such state or local employment eligibility verification requirements; (5) licensing sanctions for prohibited acts; or (6) limitations on the private right to sue for up to treble damages. (Current law provides that such unlawful alien employment provisions shall preempt any state or local law imposing criminal or civil sanctions [other than through licensing or similar laws] upon those who employ, recruit or refer for a fee for employment, unauthorized aliens.) Applies such provisions to all applicable state or local laws that were enacted before, on, or after January 1, 2005.

Date: 2007-09-20
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Border Security and Elimination of Sanctuary for Illegal Aliens Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the worsening crisis of illegal immigration must be solved. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) increase incentives to recruit Border Patrol agents through repayment of higher education loans; (2) establish a retention program; and (3) make construction of border fencing a priority. Authorizes the Secretary to deploy newly-developed technology along the land and maritime borders. Requires that a state or local law enforcement agency that arrests an alien unlawfully in the United States for any reason shall notify United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement respecting such arrest and provide the identity of the arrested person. Provides for: (1) such person's expedited removal from the United States, and (2) criminal penalties and expedited removal for a subsequent unlawful presence. Makes inadmissible to the United States an alien who has been unlawfully present in the United States and who attempts to illegally enter or reenter the United States. (Under current law, such person must be unlawfully in the United States for an aggregate period exceeding one year.)

Date: 2007-09-24
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Safeguarding Families of Soldiers Act - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of: (1) a parent or spouse of an Armed Forces member deployed in Iraq in connection with Operation Freedom or in Afghanistan in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom; or (2) a son or daughter under the age of 21 years old of such Armed Forces member. Authorizes waiver of specified grounds of inadmissibility for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when otherwise in the public interest.

Date: 2007-09-27
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Citizenship and Immigration Backlog Reduction Act - Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a plan for ensuring that within 18 months of the date of enactment of this Act the National Name Check Program will no longer have any requested name checks from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in backlog status (as defined by this Act). States that beginning 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act the Program is not authorized to have any file in backlog status. Provides that after such date any name check request from USCIS held by the Program for longer than six months shall: (1) be referred to the Secretary who shall adjudicate interim benefits (unless there is reasonable cause to suspect that the applicant poses a threat to national security, otherwise poses a threat to the United States, or has broken U.S. immigration law); and (2) have the name check fee refunded.

Date: 2007-10-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require distribution of state criminal alien assistance program funds no later than 120 days after the last day of the annual program application period.

Date: 2007-10-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Non-Citizen Enforcement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by at least 2,000 in each post-FY2010 fiscal year year until effective control of the border has been achieved through the Secure Border Initiative. Empowers state or local officers and employees to arrest an alien unlawfully present in the United States who has been ordered removed in abstentia. Provides for such aliens' listing on the absconder category of the national criminal information center database. Increases funding for the state criminal alien assistance program (SCAAP). Subject an individual unlawfully present in the United States to criminal penalties. Increases penalties for firearms possession and controlled substance distribution violations by aliens unlawfully present in the United States. Provides a 20-year maximum penalty for smuggling into the United States an alien previously deported on criminal conviction grounds.

Date: 2007-10-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require DNA testing for an alien seeking a visa based on a biological relationship to a family member. Sets forth related provisions respecting fees and testing facilities.

Date: 2007-10-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Approves the final rule promulgated by the Department of Homeland Security entitled "Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter." Declares that such rule shall have the force and effect of enacted law until changed by law.

Date: 2007-10-23
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Families First Immigration Enforcement Act - Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in a workplace enforcement operation that is calculated to apprehend or does apprehend at least 50 aliens, to do the following: (1) give state agencies sufficient notice to arrange for representatives who speak the detainees' language and to provide for any special needs; (2) afford access to state social service agencies to screen and interview detainees to determine if medical risks or risks to relatives exist; (3) consider, upon recommendation, the release of detainees on age, medical, or family related humanitarian grounds; and (4) provide a toll-free number for families of detainees to report their relationship to DHS or state social services. Requires that such aliens have access to legal orientation presentations through the Executive Office for Immigration Review's legal orientation program. States that detainees should be held within the jurisdiction of the local United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office to the extent that space allows. Requires a detainee's release within 72 hours of apprehension if such alien is not subject to mandatory detention, does not pose a flight risk, or is subject to humanitarian release. States that such alien shall be released: (1) on his or her own recognizance; (2) by posting a minimum bond; (3) on parole under the Immigration and Nationality Act; or (4) through the intensive supervision appearance or similar program.

Date: 2007-10-25
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Combat Illegal Immigration Through Employment Verification Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make employment of unauthorized aliens unlawful. Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) employer document verification requirements; and (2) employment authorization and/or identity documents. Sets forth employment eligibility verification system (EEVS) provisions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for the disclosure of certain taxpayer identity information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist in immigration enforcement; and (2) increase specified penalties for employer failure to provide correct information returns. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish within the Criminal Investigation office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) a unit to investigate tax-related violations related to the employment of unauthorized aliens. Sets forth IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA) immigration-related enforcement provisions. Provides for increases in worksite enforcement and immigration fraud detection personnel.

Date: 2007-10-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amerasian Paternity Recognition Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to confer automatic citizenship on aliens residing in the United States in lawful permanent resident status: (1) pursuant to a classification petition approved under a provision that gives preferential treatment to persons born in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, or Thailand after 1950 and before October 22, 1982, and fathered by a U.S. citizen; or (2) who were born in Vietnam after January 1, 1962, and before January 1, 1976, and fathered by a U.S. citizen.

Date: 2007-10-30
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Pay for All Your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to pay emergency ambulance and medical service providers for the cost of uncompensated care of aliens aided by a border patrol officer or other federal immigration official.

Date: 2007-10-31
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Health
Keeping Families Together Act of 2007 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Act) to repeal the provision amending the definition of "aggravated felony," and restore provisions of law amended by such provision as if it had not been enacted, including residency-or status-related rights of an affected legal alien. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise detention of criminal alien provisions, effective as if included in the Act. Repeals, as if included in the Act: (1) certain provisions respecting termination of continuous presence or physical presence in the United States; and (2) the definition of "conviction." Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to admit certain lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens returning to the United States who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation or removal, effective as of a specified date, as if certain sections of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 had not been enacted. Revises provisions respecting judicial review of removal orders. Requires the Secretary to establish a post-proceeding removal relief process for affected aliens.

Date: 2007-10-31
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit the Secretary of State to reduce the period of an alien's required service performed for the U.S. government or the American Institute in Taiwan in order for such alien to qualify for special immigrant status in instances of service performed under extraordinary conditions.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Non-Citizen Identification Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to require the issuance of Social Security cards with specified enhanced security features. Allows the Commissioner of Social Security to charge a reasonable fee to the recipient as a condition for issuance of such a card. Provides that, in the computation of an individual's average indexed monthly earnings, or in certain circumstances an individual's average monthly wage, the individual shall not be credited with any wages paid, or any self-employment income derived, while such individual was not a U.S. citizen or national and was illegally in the United States. Requires issuance of special Social Security cards to adult illegal aliens. Prescribes criminal penalties for illegal aliens who do not possess such a Social Security card. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to plan and implement a campaign to educate the people of the United States about the new Social Security cards provided for in this Act, and the requirement that illegal alien adults have such a card.

Date: 2007-11-05
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to replace the current nonimmigrant (H-1B) visa category for fashion models with a new (P-4) visa category. Defines such category as a fashion model who is of distinguished merit and ability and who is seeking to enter the United States temporarily to perform fashion modeling services that involve events or productions which have a distinguished reputation or that are performed for an organization or establishment that has a distinguished reputation for, or a record of, utilizing prominent modeling talent. Provides that such entrants may not: (1) exceed 1,000 in any fiscal year, not including accompanying spouses or children; and (2) stay in the United States for more than 10 years (initial five-year period with one five-year extension). Makes an employer petition for such alien models eligible for expedited consultation procedures. States that applicable H-1B regulations, guidelines, and precedents in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act for the adjudication of fashion model petitions shall be applied to P-4 petitions, except to the extent modified by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Date: 2007-11-05
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007 or SAVE Act of 2007 - Sets forth border security and enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting: (1) increases in Border Patrol and investigative personnel; (2) recruitment of former military personnel; (3) use of Department of Defense (DOD) equipment; (4) infrastructure improvements; (5) aerial and other surveillance; (5) a national strategy to secure the borders; (6) emergency deployment of Border Patrol agents; and (7) expansion of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism along the northern and southern borders. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act and specified maritime law sections to revise alien smuggling provisions. Sets forth provisions respecting border security on certain federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior. Border Law Enforcement Act - Authorizes a border relief grant program for a tribal, state, or local law enforcement agency in a county within 25 miles of the southern border of the United States. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to make the basic employment eligibility confirmation pilot program permanent. Sets forth conditions for the mandatory use of the E-verify system. Requires: (1) employer/employee notification of social security number mismatches and multiple uses, and related information sharing with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and (2) establishment of electronic birth and death registration systems. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) penalize specified employers for failure to correct information returns; and (2) prohibit employers from deducting from gross income wages paid to unauthorized aliens, with an exception for an employer participating in the basic employment eligibility confirmation program. Increases criminal alien program (CAP) personnel. Establishes within DHS a rewards program to assist in the elimination of commercial operations to produce or sell fraudulent immigration-related documents and to assist in the investigation, prosecution, or disruption of commercial alien smuggling operations. Provides for: (1) increased alien detention facilities; (2) additional district court judgeships; and (3) a media campaign to inform the public of changes made by this Act including a multilingual media campaign explaining noncompliance penalties.

Date: 2007-11-06
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Requires any applicant for benefits under title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act, the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) program under the Trade Act of 1974 (TA74), or the alternative trade adjustment assistance program (ATAA) under TA74 to present satisfactory documentation providing both citizenship and identity as a condition of receiving benefits under such programs.

Date: 2007-11-09
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Social welfare
Prevention of Unsafe Licensing Act - Amends the REAL ID Act of 2005 to prohibit a state from issuing a driver's license or identification document to a person unless the state has satisfied certain citizenship or lawful immigration status verification requirements.

Date: 2007-11-14
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Denies U.S. admission to any alien who is or was a leader or member of the Magyar Garda (Hungarian Guard) or an immediate family member of such person. Authorizes the President, with congressional notification, to waive such prohibition if in the U.S. national interest.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to allow public institutions of higher education to use the employment eligibility confirmation system to verify the immigration status of current or prospective students for the purpose of determining their eligibility for in-state tuition.

Date: 2007-12-12
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Education
Common Sense English Act - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to declare that, notwithstanding any other provision of the equal employment opportunities provisions of the Act, it is not an unlawful employment practice for an employer to require employees to speak English while engaged in work.

Date: 2007-12-12
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Labor and employment
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the special immigrant religious worker program through October 1, 2013.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Immigration Law Corrections Act of 2008 - Rescinds specified funds made available under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 for: (1) the Executive Office for Immigration Review's legal orientation programs; and (2) defender services in immigration enforcement proceedings. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, to eliminate the Secretary of Homeland Security's discretionary authority to not install security fencing and related security resources at locations along the southwest border.

Date: 2008-01-15
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Fence By Date Certain Act - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to revise deadline and funding provisions for certain fencing and security project requirements along the southern border.

Date: 2008-01-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit P-1 visa nonimmigrant athletes to renew their period of authorized U.S. admission in five-year increments. (Current law permits a single five-year renewal of admission.)

Date: 2008-01-17
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Reinstatement of the Secure Fence Act of 2008 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct at least 700 miles of two-layered, 14-foot reinforced fencing along the southwest border and provide for the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors within six months of enactment of this Act. Prohibits the inclusion of fencing in existence on January 1, 2008, as part of the fencing requirement under this Act.

Date: 2008-01-23
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Renders nonresident aliens ineligible for any federal income tax rebate enacted by Congress in 2008. Prohibits the payment of any tax rebate to an individual who does not include a valid identification number (i.e., social security number) on a tax return.

Date: 2008-02-07
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Taxation
Start Building a Real Fence Act of 2008 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to the construction of physical fencing along the southern border of the United States.

Date: 2008-03-10
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 to extend the alien investor (EB-5) regional center program for five years. Expresses the sense of Congress that, to the extent practicable, qualifying program investments should be made in targeted employment areas including rural areas and high unemployment areas.

Date: 2008-03-10
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Religious Worker Visa Extension Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud in the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program by December 31, 2008. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) extend the special immigrant program for non-minister religious workers until January 1, 2010; and (2) extend the program until January 1, 2016, (to be effective March 1, 2009) if the Secretary issues such final regulations by December 31, 2008. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress on such regulations' effectiveness by September 30, 2010. Requires that such report shall include an analysis of a random sample of non-minister special immigrant religious workers, before their second anniversary of being admitted, to determine whether they are still employed by the religious organization that petitioned for them, and if not, the reasons for their departure from such employment.

Date: 2008-03-10
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to revise the termination date for the basic pilot employment eligibility confirmation program from 11 years after its beginning date to not later than December 31, 2018.

Date: 2008-03-12
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Innovation Employment Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the annual H-1B nonimmigrant visa (specialty occupation) cap from 65,000 to 130,000 starting in FY2008. Provides that for FY2010-FY2015 if the cap has been reached in the prior year the current cap would increase to the greater of 180,000 and the limitation applicable for the previous year increased by 20% percent. Exempts from H-1B caps an alien who has earned a master's or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and with respect to whom the petitioning employer requires such education as a condition for employment. Establishes a 20,000 annual cap for aliens who earned a master's or higher degree from an institution of higher education outside of the United States in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and with respect to whom the petitioning employer requires such education as a condition for employment. Revises H-1B provisions to: (1) require an employer to provide specified job information in the employment advertisement; (2) authorize the Secretary of Labor to initiate an H-1B employer investigation; (3) increase employer penalties; and (4) provide whistleblower protections.

Date: 2008-03-13
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
New American Innovators Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to treat as a special immigrant, exempt from numerical limitations, any alien who has received a Ph.D. from a U.S. institution of higher education within the three-year period preceding the alien's petition for special immigrant status.

Date: 2008-03-13
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Strengthening United States Technology And Innovation Now Act or the SUSTAIN Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that the total number of aliens who may be issued H-1B nonimmigrant visas (specialty occupation) or otherwise acquire such status shall be 195,000 for FY2008 and FY2009.

Date: 2008-03-14
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
10k Run for the Border Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase employer civil fines for: (1) hiring, or recruiting or referring for a fee, an alien that the employer knows is not authorized for employment; and (2) continuing to employ such alien. Sets forth a federal-state (and local) allocation of such additional penalty funds.

Date: 2008-04-03
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that prospective employers of H-1B nonimmigrants participate in an educational, training, or mentorship program to train local U.S. workers in science, math, engineering, or technology related to the position for which an H-1B nonimmigrant is sought.

Date: 2008-04-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Securing the Homeland Through Agency Reporting Enhancement Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to any case in which the Social Security account number in the wage records of an employee provided by the employer to the Social Security Administration does not match relevant records otherwise maintained by the Administration. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security, in such a case, to send a prompt written notice ("no match" letter): (1) informing the employer of the discrepancies; (2) requesting information that would assist the Commissioner in resolving the discrepancies; and (3) informing the employer that a copy of such notice is being forwarded to assist the Secretary of Homeland Security in the enforcement of applicable federal immigration laws relating to employment of individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. Requires the Commissioner to forward such a copy to the Secretary of Homeland Security, including the information in which discrepancies appear.

Date: 2008-04-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Senior Citizenship Act of 2008 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain older persons from the naturalization U.S. history-government and English language requirements and permit certain other older persons to take such history-government examination in a language other than English.

Date: 2008-04-09
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit funds from being dispersed to a country that denies or unreasonably delays the acceptance of its citizens, nationals, or residents who have been ordered removed under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) from the United States. Amends INA to prohibit visa issuance to citizens, nationals, or residents of such country unless: (1) the country is in full compliance with travel document requirements under this Act; or (2) Congress waives such prohibition. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress every three months listing countries that deny or delay such repatriation. Imposes assistance and visa prohibitions on a listed country that does not issue appropriate travel documents for such aliens. Authorizes presidential waiver of such assistance and visa prohibitions.

Date: 2008-04-10
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Homefront Heroes Helping Frontline Families Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of up to $500 for volunteer services provided to military families through the America Supports You program of the Department of Defense.

Date: 2008-04-14
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an E-3 visa nonimmigrant category for nationals of the Republic of Korea seeking to enter the United States temporarily to perform services in a specialty occupation.

Date: 2008-04-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish the fiscal year worldwide level of employment-based immigrants at 140,000 plus: (1) the previous year's unused visas; and (2) the number of unused visas from FY1992-FY2007.Establishes the fiscal year worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants at 480,000 minus the number of certain aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations plus: (1) the previous year's unused visas; and (2) the number of unused visas from FY1992-FY2007. States that such annual level shall not be less than 226,000.

Date: 2008-04-23
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
High Skilled Per Country Level Elimination Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants; (2) increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants; (3) establish the fiscal year worldwide level of employment-based immigrants at 140,000 plus the previous year's unused visas; and (4) establish the fiscal year worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants at 480,000 minus the number of certain aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations plus the previous year's unused visas. (States that such annual level shall not be less than 226,000.)

Date: 2008-04-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Rodney J. Johnson Community Protection Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the penalties for unlawfully bringing in and harboring aliens for commercial advantage with prior federal felony convictions.

Date: 2008-05-01
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008 - Directs: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for the delivery of medical and mental health care to all immigration detainees in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody; and (2) that such procedures address all detainee health needs, including primary care, emergency care, chronic care, prenatal care, dental care, eye care, mental health care, medical dietary needs, and other medically necessary specialized care.

Date: 2008-05-01
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Improving Methods to Promote Regular Occurrences of the Verification of Employability Status Act of 2008 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to eliminate the pilot program status of the E-verify (employment authorization) program. Revises confirmation provisions. Adds provisions respecting fraudulent documentation and sanctions. Provides that information posters required to be displayed shall be written only in English.

Date: 2008-05-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) States that any person who served honorably as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Armed Forces) in support of contingency operations shall be eligible for naturalization as if the person had served during a period of presidentially-designated military hostilities. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the period for filing a naturalization application to one year after completion of eligible military service. (Sec. 3) Permits a conditional permanent resident alien who is a member of the Selected Reserve or an active-duty member of the Armed Forces to file the petition to remove conditional status during the six month period after service discharge. Exempts a U.S. citizen soldier who is married to a conditional permanent residents from having to appear at an in-person interview for their spouses' removal of conditional status. (Sec. 4) Sets forth factors to be considered in initiating removal proceedings against active duty members of the Armed Forces or veterans. (Sec. 5) Prohibits removal of an alien who is a member or veteran of the Armed Forces based upon: (1) illegal reentry; (2) expedited removal for commission of certain crimes; or (3) inspection for admissions or asylum. Exempts from specified grounds of inadmissibility or deportation an alien who is: (1) a member of the Armed Forces who has served honorably; (2) a veteran of the Armed Forces who separated under honorable conditions; (3) the spouse, child, son, daughter, parent, or minor sibling of a member of the Armed Forces. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to waive other grounds (with specified exceptions) for such removal. Sets forth waiver factors. (Sec. 6) Exempts from worldwide immigrant visa numerical limitations an alien who is eligible for a family-sponsored immigrant visa and is either the spouse or child of a permanent resident alien who is serving in the Armed Forces. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to adjust to permanent resident status an alien who is a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter, or minor sibling of a person who is serving or has served in the Armed Forces honorably during the period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending on a date presidentially-designated as the date of termination of the Vietnam hostilities, or thereafter during any presidentially-designated period of military hostilities. Permits posthumous benefits under specified circumstances. Waives certain grounds of inadmissibility.

Date: 2008-05-08
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow an alien widow of a U.S. citizen who was married for less than two years at the time of the citizen spouse's death who proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit to self-petition (within the required two years) for continued immediate relative status. Applies such provision to all applications and petitions pending on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Extends the petition filing deadline for two years after the date of enactment of this Act for an alien spouse if: (1) the U.S. citizen spouse died before the date of enactment of this Act; (2) the alien and the citizen spouse were married for less than two years at the time of the citizen spouse's death; and (3) the alien has not remarried.

Date: 2008-05-13
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and provide an equal number of annual immigrant visas (55,0000) to certain employment-based aliens who obtain an advanced degree in the United States.

Date: 2008-05-20
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain U.S. naturalization requirements for a person who is born in American Samoa and resides continuously within American Samoa from birth to the time of admission to citizenship. (States that absence from American Samoa for a continuous period of more than 180 days shall break the residence continuity unless a person establishes that he or she did not abandon residence in American Samoa during such period.)

Date: 2008-06-05
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Border Health Care Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend through FY2012 federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Health
Naturalized Citizens Assistance Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to add to the list of adult education and literacy programs for which certain grants must be used programs of financial literacy education for newly naturalized citizens to help them achieve financial literacy through instruction on such matters as banking, retirement savings, managing credit, as well as predatory lending, identity theft, and other financial abuse schemes.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Labor and employment
E-Verify Extension and Expansion Act of 2008 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to replace the current three employment eligibility confirmation pilot programs with two pilot programs: (1) the revised E-Verify program in all 50 states; and (2) the secure electronic employment verification system (SEEVS) in all 50 states by December 1, 2009. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish such programs. Terminates such pilot programs not later than December 31, 2013. States that the E-Verify program shall be voluntary except for: (1) the federal government; and (2) employers who have violated certain employment provisions.

Date: 2008-07-10
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include among nonimmigrant classifications: (1) an alien seeking to enter the United States temporarily and solely to receive medical treatment (including participation in a research study) for a disease or condition that if untreated threatens to undermine the alien's survival or day-to-day functioning with an increased likelihood of progression to a more severe disease or condition; or (2) such alien's accompanying or following son, daughter, spouse, or parent. Sets forth related conditions of admission.

Date: 2008-07-16
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act of 2008 - Makes 3,000 immigrant visas in FY2010-FY2012 available to individuals who: (1) were born in Tibet; and (2) have been continuously residing in India or Nepal prior to the date of the enactment of this Act. Makes such visas available to the sons, daughters, grandsons, or granddaughters of such individuals.

Date: 2008-07-17
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit issuance of a nonimmigrant temporary religious worker visa (R-visa) to an alien whose country of nationality has been determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security to not extend reciprocal immigration treatment to U.S. nationals.

Date: 2008-07-23
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the employment eligibility confirmation pilot programs (which includes the E-Verify basic pilot program). Directs the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into a fiscal year agreement which shall: (1) provide funds to the Commissioner for such programs' full costs in quarterly advances; and (2) require an annual accounting and reconciliation of costs incurred and funds provided. Provides for funding continuation in the absence of an agreement. Requires that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct studies regarding: (1) erroneous tentative nonconfirmations under the E-Verify program; and (2) such program's effects on small entities.

Date: 2008-07-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration
Foster Children Opportunity Act - Amends part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require state plans to have procedures to help alien children in the child welfare system achieve special immigrant juvenile status and lawful permanent resident status. Requires state child welfare agencies to document their efforts to pursue special immigrant juvenile status and legal immigrant status for eligible alien foster children. Requires the permanency hearing for an alien child who will not be returned to a parent to determine: (1) whether petitions for special immigrant juvenile status and lawful permanent resident status have been filed on the child's behalf; and (2) if no petition has been filed, whether it is in the best interests of the child to have such a petition filed or to have immigration counsel appointed. Authorizes the use of court improvement program grant funds to educate and train judges and lawyers to assist alien children in achieving special immigrant juvenile status and lawful permanent resident status.

Date: 2008-07-29
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Social welfare
Loophole Elimination and Verification Enforcement Act or the LEAVE Act - Revises immigration- and alien-related provisions regarding: (1) alien smuggling and related offenses; (2) identity security; (3) birthright citizenship; (4) housing and homeownership; (5) taxes and social security; (6) employee verification; (7) financial services; (8) border and law enforcement; (9) state and local government authority; and (10) in-state tuition.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: Immigration (Immigration)
Subject: Immigration