My Legislation

Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment and Prevention Act (HR 4367)
The Domestic Violence Screening, Treatment and Prevention Act would provide training for health professionals to routinely screen their patients for signs of domestic abuse and to learn where to refer patients for assistance. I am very pleased that many provisions of this bill were included in the comprehensiveViolence Against Women Act of 2005, which became Public Law No. 109-162 in January 2006.

HEART for Women Act (HR 4747)
The HEART for Women Act, introduced with Rep. Barbara Cubin (WY), will improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women. It is has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. The same legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Debbie Stabenow and Lisa Murkowski. For more information on my bill please click here. Neither of these bills came to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act (HR 898)
The Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act would raise public awareness about stroke, expand access to care for stroke patients, and educate medical professionals on preventing and treating stroke. It was referred to the House Subcommittee on Health in March 2005, but did not come to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

Quality Nursing Care Act (HR 1372)
The Quality Nursing Care Act would require hospitals to adopt and implement staffing plans in conjunction with the nursing staff of the institution. H.R. 1372 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Health in March 2005, but did not come to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

The National Nurse Act (HR 4903)
The National Nurse Act would create an Office of the National Nurse. This individual would serve as a national spokesperson on important public health issues and encourage more people to pursue nursing and nurse education as a career. H.R. 4903 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Health in March 2006, but did not come to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress. For more information on my bill please click here.

Capital Construction Fund Qualified Withdrawal Act (H.R. 2174)
The Capital Construction Fund Qualified Withdrawal Act would allow fishers to access their Capital Construction Fund (CCF) savings, without incurring significant tax penalties, for retirement, fishery capacity reduction, or new gear to reduce bycatch. Currently, fishers lose as much as 70 percent in taxes and penalties if they withdraw their savings from the CCF for non-fishing purposes. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services in May 2005, but did not come to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

The Los Padres National Forest Conservation Act (H.R. 3149)
The Los Padres National Forest Conservation Act would withdraw the Los Padres National Forest from all forms of new oil and gas development, including issuance of Federal permits or leases, exploration and drilling. Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer introduced identical legislation in the Senate. H.R. 3149 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health in August 2005. Neither the House nor Senate version of this bill came to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

The California Ocean and Coastal Protection Act (H.R. 4782)
The California Ocean and Coastal Protection Act would provide permanent protection for California’s coast from future drilling and would prohibit a harmful and unnecessary inventory of oil and gas resources from being conducted off California’s coast. Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer have introduced identical legislation in the Senate. This bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources in February 2006. Neither the House nor Senate version of this bill came to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

The City of Oxnard Water Recycling and Desalination Act (H.R. 2334)
The City of Oxnard Water Recycling and Desalination Act would authorize the City of Oxnard’s Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment (GREAT) program. The GREAT program is a comprehensive regional water resources project that combines wastewater recycling and reuse, groundwater injection, storage and recovery, and groundwater desalination to provide a safe and reliable water supply to the City of Oxnard and the surrounding area. This legislation passed the House in September 2006 but was not considered by the Senate.

The Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area Act (H.R. 3534)
The Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area Act would designate the Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Luis Obispo County as an Outstanding Natural Area within the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System. The addition of the Light Station to the NLCS would focus attention on the restoration of the Light Station and surrounding area and serve as a means to increase public awareness of the Light Station’s scientific, cultural and educational values. This legislation passed the House in September 2006 but was not considered by the Senate.

The Disaster Preparation and Local Action Now Act (H.R. 3793)
The Disaster Preparation and Local Action Now (Disaster PLAN) Act would reauthorize a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant program that provides funding for states and local governments to protect themselves from the devastating effects of natural disasters - earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. This measure would help local communities identify and assess risks from natural disasters and put measures in place to reduce damage. The President signed a bill reauthorizing the FEMA grant program on December 22, 2005. H.R. 3793 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management in September 2005, but did not come to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act, HR 5465
This bill would standardize the development of comprehensive courses of treatment for cancer patients, including symptom management and palliative care beyond the initial treatment phase. By placing a focus on long-term goals for the patient, we can greatly help improve cancer survivors’ quality of life. H.R. 5465 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Health in June 2006, but did not come to a vote before the close of the 109th Congress.

Please click here to view a list of the bills I have proudly cosponsored in the 109th Congress.

Pictured above: (left) Congresswoman Capps joins community leaders at a Veterans for Peace event in Santa Barbara. (right) Congresswoman Capps honors a Central Coast veteran for his service.