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Bills I have introduced

H.R.300
Title: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act (introduced 1/8/2009)
Latest Major Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
Description: NOAA was established by an executive order by President Richard Nixon in 1970, but the functions and responsibilities of NOAA have never officially been codified by Congress through an organic act. Such an act is used to establish federal agencies or a territory of the United States. The NOAA Organic Act would provide funding authorization for all of NOAA’s programs under a single law, rather than the more than 200 laws currently authorizing the agency.

H.R.500
Title: Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (introduced 1/14/2009)
Latest Major Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
Description: Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require certain vessels operating in U.S. waters to have invasive species management plans; (2) direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish vessel performance requirements, including provisions for ballast water exchange, treatment, and discharge, and civil and criminal penalties for violations; (3) require federal agencies to restrict the importation of live aquatic organisms of species not in trade without screening and approval; and (4) declare importation of such species to be unlawful and prescribe civil and criminal penalties for violations. The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 500) follows recommendations developed by federal, state, and local officials, as well as hundreds of non-government officials, in the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.

H.R.705
Title: National STEM Education Tax Incentive for Teachers Act of 2009
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Description: Addresses the teacher shortage in math and science by providing tax credits to teachers equal to 10 percent of their undergraduate tuition, up to $1,000 per year for 10 years. Teachers in high-needs school districts may receive up to $1,500 for each of their first five years of service.

H.R.1615
Title: Medical Economic Deferment for Students (MEDS) Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Description: Allows entering medical residents to defer payment on subsidized loans for up to three years without accruing interest, in certain circumstances. A rule existed to allow such a deferment for medical students called the 20/220 rule, which allows students to defer payment without interest if their debt burden is greater than 20 percent of their income, and the difference of their income and debt burden is less than 220 percent of the federal poverty level. Unfortunately, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act will eliminate the 20/220 rule on July 1, 2009, and this assistance for medical students will cease.

H.R.2511
Title: Science Accountability Act of 2009
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Description: This bill would hold states and schools accountable for ensuring K-12 students learn science by requiring science assessments as part of the accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.

H.Res. 91
Title: Resolution honoring the life and service of Dr. William Spoelhof, president emeritus of Calvin College
Latest Major Action: Passed in the House (only House approval needed for final passage of a resolution)
Description: Honoring Dr. William Spoelhof, who passed away on December 3, 2008 at age 98. Dr. Spoelhof made an impression on the lives of thousands of people during his 25-year tenure as president of Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

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Bills I have cosponsored

H.R. 14
Title: The Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
Description: This bill would call for the study of the changes in ocean chemistry caused by changes in the atmosphere. Many scientists are concerned that rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may greatly change the chemistry and wildlife of our water resources.

H.R. 445
Title: The Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
Description: This bill would provide grants to advance hybrid research for trucks bigger than 14,000 pounds. Right now we can do light-weight hybrids, but significant fuel savings could be achieved if work trucks and industrial transportation vehicles could be converted to hybrid engines.

H.R. 890
Title: The American Renewable Energy Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Description: Creates a national renewable electricity standard. Public utilities would be required to derive 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

H.R.1240
Title:Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Description: Establishs a geography education grant program under title II, Teacher Quality Enhancement.Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to a national nonprofit educational organization or consortium, with 75% to be used for subgrants to institutions of higher education associated with state geographic alliances, nonprofit educational organizations, or state or local educational agencies.

H.R.1589
Title: Bullying and Gang Reduction for Improved Education Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Description: Currently, the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA), which was implemented as part of the No Child Left Behind Act to prevent school violence, does not mention bullying or harassment, and contains only a few fleeting references to gang violence. The bill would amend SDFSCA to allow schools to use funding they receive from SDFSCA to implement anti-bullying and gang programs. It also expands the purpose of the SDFSCA to specifically include the promotion of healthy, physically active lifestyles so that children become involved in positive social activities rather than turning toward gang activity.

H.R.1646
Title: Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Description: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable income tax credit of up to $500 for the purchase of a qualified hearing aid for an individual who is either: (1) age 55 or older; or (2) is claimed as a dependent of the taxpayer. Denies such tax credit to any taxpayer whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000.

H.R.2223
Title: Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Description: Creates a comprehensive nationwide system for national and state criminal background checks for applicants who would be in direct contact with patients in long-term care facilities.

H.R.2408
Title: Scleroderma Research and Awareness Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Description: Directs the National Institutes of Health to expand research related to scleroderma, and authorizes $60 million through 2012 to research the disease, develop new treatments, and create family and “child-onset” patient registries. It also authorizes $2.5 million each year through 2012 for a public awareness campaign. Funding in the bill must be approved by Congressional appropriators.

H.R.2579
Title: Pathways to College Act
Latest Major Action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Description: Creates a competitive grant program to help low-income school districts implement programs designed to increase the number of students who are entering and succeeding in college.

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