Selected Pending and Recently Enacted Federal Legislation
(From OJP Office of Communications and Thomas)1
New Public Laws - Bills Signed by the President.
Signed on 10/13/2008:
S. 431, Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008 or the
“KIDS Act of 2008" (to require convicted sex offenders to register online identifiers).
Public law number not yet available.
S. 1738, Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology To Eradicate Cyber
Threats to Our Children Act of 2008 or the “PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008" (to
require the Department of Justice to develop and implement a National Strategy Child
Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, to improve the Internet Crimes Against
Children Task Force, to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs, and to
make other improvements to increase the ability of law enforcement agencies to
investigate and prosecute child predators). Public law number not yet available.
S. 3605, Criminal History Background Checks Pilot Extension Act of 2008 (to
extend the pilot program for volunteer groups to obtain criminal history background
checks). Public law number not yet available.
Signed on 10/8/2008:
H.R. 1199, Drug Endangered Children Act of 2007: To extend the grant
program for drug-endangered children. Now Public Law No: 110-345.
H.R. 4120, Effective Child Pornography Prosecution Act: To amend title 18,
United States Code, to provide for more effective prosecution of cases involving child
pornography, and for other purposes. Public law number not yet available. [Bill amends
the criminal statutes only - no grants or assistance programs.]
Signed on 10/7/2008:
S. 2982, Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008: To amend the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, and for other purposes). Public law
number not yet available. [HHS bill.]
H.R. 6893, Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of
2008: To amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to connect and
support relative caregivers, improve outcomes for children in foster care, provide for
tribal foster care and adoption access, improve incentives for adoption, and for other
purposes
1
Thomas is the web source of legislative information operated by the Library of Congress. See
http://thomas.loc.gov for additional details. Compilation is current as of 10/13/08.
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Bills With the President.
Bills Presented to the President on 10/3/2008S. 1276, Methamphetamine Production Prevention Act of 2008 (to facilitate the
creation of methamphetamine precursor electronic logbook systems, and for other
purposes). Cleared Congress on 29 September.
S. 2304, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization
and Improvement Act of 2008 (to amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 to provide grants for the improved mental health treatment and
services provided to offenders with mental illnesses, and for other purposes). Cleared
Congress on 29 September.
Bills Presented to the President on 10/6/2008S. 3641, to authorize funding for the National Crime Victim Law Institute to
provide support for victims of crime under Crime Victims Legal Assistance Programs as
a part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. (Cleared Congress on 2 October.)
Bills Presented to the President on 10/7/2008H.R. 6083, State and Local Prosecutors National Training Program ( to
authorize funding to conduct a national training program for State and local prosecutors).
(Cleared Congress on 3).
For additional information on Presidential bill signings, see
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081013-5.html
Juvenile Justice and Related Issues
S.3155
Title: A bill to reauthorize and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act of 1974, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced
6/18/2008), cosponsors (8).
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2008 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under
General Orders. Calendar No. 1033
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H.R.4300
Title: To establish a meaningful opportunity for parole for each child offender sentenced
to life in prison, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3]
(introduced 12/6/2007), cosponsors (1).
Latest Major Action: 1/14/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee (Chairman Scott [VA])
of House Judiciary Committee to hold hearing 9/11/08.
S.3277
Title: A bill to amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's
programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget.
Sponsor: Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] (introduced 7/16/2008), cosponsors (7).
Latest Major Action: 7/16/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read
twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
Child and Youth Protection
S.3173
Title: A bill to amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow children in
foster care to be placed with their parents in residential family treatment centers that
provide safe environments for treating addiction and promoting healthy parenting.
Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 6/20/2008), cosponsors (None).
Latest Major Action: 6/20/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read
twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
H.R.6307
Title: To amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to assist children in
foster care in developing or maintaining connections to family, community, support,
health care, and school, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7]
(introduced 6/19/2008), cosponsors (27).
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received
in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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S.3344
Title: A bill to defend against child exploitation and child pornography through improved
Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and enhanced tools to block illegal images,
and to eliminate the unwarranted release of convicted sex offenders.
Sponsor: Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] (introduced 7/26/2008), cosponsors (None).
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2008 Read the second time. Placed on Senate
Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 906.
H.R.6096
Title: To require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress annual reports on the
progress made by the United States in negotiating international agreements relating to
international child abduction with countries that are not contracting parties to the Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, and for other
purposes. Sponsor: Rep Lampson, Nick [TX-22] (introduced 5/20/2008), cosponsors (7).
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
H.R.6167
Title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen penalties for child
pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed
against children. Sponsor: Rep Keller, Ric [FL-8] (introduced 6/3/2008), cosponsors (1).
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
H.R.6358
Title: To require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and
neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, George [CA-7] (introduced 6/24/2008), cosponsors (None).
Latest Major Action: 6/26/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received
in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions.
H.R.5876
Title: To require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent
child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, George [CA-7] (introduced 4/23/2008), cosponsors (18).
Latest Major Action: 6/24/2008 House floor actions. Status: Mrs. Bachmann
moved to recommit with instructions to Education and Labor. House Reports:
110-669.
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S.2756
Title: A bill to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish
permanent background check system. Sponsor: Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE]
(introduced 3/13/2008) and two co-sponsors.
Sponsor: Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] (introduced 3/13/2008), cosponsors (9).
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2008 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under
General Orders. Calendar No. 904.
H.R.5606
Title: To amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent
background check system. Sponsor: Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] (introduced
3/13/2008), cosponsors (34).
Latest Major Action: 4/14/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Other Health-Related Bills (Does Not Include All Medicaid and SCHIP Bills)
H.R.6607
Title: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide monthly benefits for certain
uninsured children living without parents. Sponsor: Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1]
(introduced 7/24/2008), cosponsors (None).
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the
House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R.6621
Title: To amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for the
reinstatement of enrollment for medical assistance and child health assistance of certain
youth who were enrolled for such assistance immediately before becoming inmates of
public institutions upon the release of such youth from such institutions.
Sponsor: Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] (introduced 7/24/2008), cosponsors (None).
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred
to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
S.1211
Title: A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide enhanced penalties for
marketing controlled substances to minors. Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA]
(introduced 4/25/2007), cosponsors (2).
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2008 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under
General Orders. Calendar No. 908.
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H.R.5513
Title: To reduce youth usage of tobacco products, to enhance State efforts to eliminate
retail sales of tobacco products to minors, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep
Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] (introduced 2/28/2008) and thirteen co-sponsors.
Latest Major Action: 2/28/2008 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Employment
H.R.5444
Title: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for summer youth
employment activities. Sponsor: Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6] (introduced 2/14/2008)
sixty four co-sponsors.
Latest Major Action: 2/14/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred
to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned.
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