An Obama Blog

There’s something I’m really tired of hearing. I hear it from talk show hosts, from the talking heads on TV — it’s a given apparently that Barack Obama has a thin resume with little actual experience. This is strange, because he’s been in the Illinois state senate for eight years and in the U.S. Senate for four. That’s twelve years of legislative experience, how can this man have no accomplishments to speak of?

Actually, his record is quite clear and anyone with access to Google can see what he has and has not done. This is another example of a line being repeated so often that it’s become accepted fact, even among the people who are supposed to know what they’re talking about.

It amazes me that this is so often the premise of any discussion about the experience of the candidates. Take away this subtle tool of GOPers. In a moment I’m going to review with you some of Barack’s senatorial accomplishments, but I want to go over some other points with you first.

“150 days” of Experience

Another thing I frequently hear is that he has “150 days” of experience in the Senate. Um… no. He has been in the Senate for four years. Perhaps you mean that he was in the Senate briefly before he announced his candidacy? So what? He is still an active member of the Senate: he has sponsored 70 bills since January 2007 whereas John McCain has sponsored only 22 in that same time.

The Ever-Present “Present” Vote

In Illinois, when called to a vote state senators may vote yes, no or present on any bill. The present vote is a tool used by all politicians in the legislature to express a variety of political positions including displeasure with one part of an otherwise popular bill or avoiding taking a stance on a tough issue. Barack Obama voted “present” almost 130 times. Republican partisans would like to leave it there, but that’s not the whole story: Obama cast more than 4,000 votes in the Illinois legislature, meaning he voted present about 3% of the time!¹

Moreover, Obama sponsored more than 800 bills during his time.² Among those bills were a bill to provide job skills training for welfare recipients, a bill that banned gifts from lobbyists and a bill that would require utilities to get some of their power from renewable sources. If you read comments across the Internet, you’ll frequently see it said, without missing a beat, that Obama was a self-serving politician who fell in with the corrupt establishment. He sponsored a bill to end the practice of lobbyist gifting, as well as 21 other ethics and reform bills.

Obama’s U.S. Senate Record

Here are some highlights from Obama’s Senate career.

• Obama assembled “the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from Congress”

  As a senator, Barack Obama pased an ethics reform bill that the Washington Post said “qould bring far more transparency to money in Washinton …”³ This bill prohibits lawmakers from accepting gifts, meals and entertainment from lobbyists, in addition to forbidding lobbyists from throwing parties for lawmakers and paying for their travel.

  This bill would require senators to wait two years instead of one year after leaving the Senate to become a lobbyist. Moreover, under this bill lobbyists must reveal not only their own campaign contributions, but all the contributions they have bundled: the co-ordination and collection of donations from many sources. The Washington Post calls bundled donations “the real source of [lobbyists'] power”.

• Obama reached out to Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to secure nonproliferation

  Senators Obama joined Senator Lugar on a trip to Russia to survey Russian nuclear weapons storage and dismantling sites. The existing Nunn-Lugar initiative covers assissting former Soviet Union states in securing and dismantling their nuclear weapons stockpiles. After coming back from that trip, Lugar and Obama authored the Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation initative which would do for conventional arms what Nunn-Lugar does for nuclear weapons: secure vulnerable stockpiles of shoulder fired missiles and other non-nuclear weapons.

  Richard Lugar had this to say about his work with Obama on this bill:

  “After that, we had legislation that we cosponsored together which passed” dealing with dangerous missiles. “So I am pleased we had that opportunity to work together,” Lugar said. “I’m pleased we had the association Sen. Obama describes.”⁴

• Obama has introduced almost 600 bills during his time in the Senate

  I’m citing an analysis from Daily Kos for this select list of bills he has sponsored and passed, because I have been unable to find any major news organization who has done this sort of work. They apply for 2005-2007.

  Bills Summarized
  • Energy Efficiency & Climate Change
  • Foreign Policy
  • Public Health
  • Healthcare
  • Ethics & Reform
  • National Security
  • Veterans
  • Consumer Protection
  • Elections
  • Education
  • Hurricane Katrina Relief
  • Environmental Issues
  • Social Issues

  Energy Efficiency & Climate Change

  1. S. 115: Oil SENSE Act — A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry.
  2. S. 133: American Fuels Act of 2007 — A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
  3. S. 767: Fuel Economy Reform Act — A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.
  4. S. 768: Fuel Economy Reform Act — A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.
  5. S. 1151 [109th]: Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005 — A bill to provide for a program to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, to support the deployment of new climate change-related technologies, and ensure benefits to consumers.
  6. S. 1324: National Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States.
  7. S. 1389: Climate Change Education Act — A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program.
  8. S. 2202: Renewable Fuel Standard Extension Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to increase the renewable content of gasoline, and for other purposes.
  9. S. 269 [109th]: Small Business and Farm Energy Emergency Relief Act of 2005 — A bill to provide emergency relief to small business concerns affected by a significant increase in the price of heating oil, natural gas, propane, or kerosene, and for other purposes.
  10. S. 1794 [109th]: Strategic Gasoline and Fuel Reserve Act of 2005 — A bill to establish a Strategic Gasoline and Fuel Reserve.
  11. S. 3554 [109th]: Alternative Diesel Standard Act of 2006 — A bill to establish an alternative diesel standard, and for other purposes.
  12. S. 3623 [109th]: Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Energy Act of 2006 — A bill to promote coal-to-liquid fuel activities.
  13. S. 1920 [109th]: Renewable Diesel Standard Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to establish a renewable diesel standard, and for other purposes.
  14. S. 2555 [109th]: A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633… — A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the “Lane Evans Post Office Building”.
  15. S. 1994 [109th]: Fuel Security and Consumer Choice Act — A bill to require that an increasing percentage of new automobiles be dual fueled automobiles, to revise the method for calculating corporate average fuel economy for such vehicles, and for other purposes.
  16. S. 2025 [109th]: Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act — A bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
  17. S. 2614 [109th]: Alternative Energy Refueling System Act of 2006 — A bill to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a program to provide reimbursement for the installation of alternative energy refueling systems.
  18. S. 1389: Climate Change Education Act — A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program.
  19. S. 2405: Keeping Americans Warm Act of 2007 — A bill to provide additional appropriations for payments under section 2604(e) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981.
  20. S. 339: Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act — A bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
  21. S. 3694 [109th]: Fuel Economy Reform Act — A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles, and for other purposes.
  22. S. 1617: Fuel Reduction using Electrons to End Dependence On the Mid-East (FREEDOM) Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for plug-in electric drive motor vehicles.
  23. S. 2348 [109th]: Nuclear Release Notice Act of 2006 — A bill to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require a licensee to notify the Atomic Energy Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of fission products in excess of allowable limits.
  24. S. 294: Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 — A bill to reauthorize Amtrak, and for other purposes.
  25. S. 2405: Keeping Americans Warm Act of 2007 — A bill to provide additional appropriations for payments under section 2604(e) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981.

  Foreign Policy

  1. S. 2125 [109th]: Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006 — A bill to promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  2. S. 2370 [109th]: Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 — A bill to promote the development of democratic institutions in areas under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.
  3. S. 313 [109th]: Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 2005 — A bill to improve authorities to address urgent nonproliferation crises and United States nonproliferation operations.
  4. S. 433: Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 — A bill to state United States policy for Iraq, and for other purposes.
  5. S. 1430: Iran Sanctions Enabling Act — A bill to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran’s energy sector, and for other purposes.
  6. S. 831: Sudan Divestment Authorization Act of 2007 — A bill to authorize States and local governments to prohibit the investment of State assets in any company that has a qualifying business relationship with Sudan.
  7. S. 2433: Global Poverty Act of 2007 — A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
  8. S. 1320 [109th]: Multilateral Debt Relief Act of 2005 — A bill to provide multilateral debt cancellation for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, and for other purposes.
  9. S. 1129 [109th]: Development Bank Reform and Authorization Act of 2005 — A bill to provide authorizations of appropriations for certain development banks, and for other purposes.
  10. S. 3131: Oil Speculation Control Act of 2008 — A bill to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to ensure the application of speculation limits to speculators in energy markets, and for other purposes.
  11. S. 977: Furthering the Independence of Federal Prosecutors Act of 2007 — A bill to amend chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, to ensure United States attorneys are able to act impartially, and for other purposes.
  12. S. 2224: Nuclear Release Notice Act of 2007 — A bill to require a licensee to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of radioactive substances.

  Public Health

  1. S. 2803 [109th]: Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 — A bill to amend the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to improve the safety of mines and mining.
  2. S. 597: An act to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the authority of the United… — An act to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal to raise funds for breast cancer research.
  3. S. 707 [109th]: PREEMIE Act — A bill to reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity.
  4. S. 1197 [109th]: Violence Against Women Act of 2005 — A bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
  5. S. 1821 [109th]: Pandemic Preparedness and Response Act — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to preparation for an influenza pandemic, including an avian influenza pandemic, and for other purposes.
  6. S. 1880 [109th]: National Biodefense and Pandemic Preparedness Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance biodefense and pandemic preparedness activities, and for other purposes.
  7. S. 969 [109th]: Attacking Viral Influenza Across Nations Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to preparation for an influenza pandemic, including an avian influenza pandemic, and for other purposes.
  8. S. 1518: Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to reauthorize the Act, and for other purposes.
  9. S. 1790: Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2007 — A bill to make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes.
  10. S. 625: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act — A bill to protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products.
  11. S. 4024 [109th]: Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health and healthcare of racial and ethnic minority and other health disparity populations.
  12. S. 2066: Back to School: Improving Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education in Schools Act of 2007 — A bill to establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.
  13. S. 1067: Healthy Places Act of 2007 — A bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes.
  14. S. 2506 [109th]: Healthy Places Act of 2006 — A bill to require Federal agencies to support health impact assessments and take other actions to improve health and the environmental quality of communities, and for other purposes.
  15. S. 1068: Healthy Communities Act of 2007 — A bill to promote healthy communities.
  16. S. 2071: Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2007 — A bill to enhance the ability to combat methamphetamine.
  17. S. 910: Healthy Families Act — A bill to provide for paid sick leave to ensure that Americans can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families.
  18. S. 1818: Missing Mercury in Manufacturing Monitoring and Mitigation Act — A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out the use of mercury in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda, and for other purposes.
  19. S. 1306: Lead Free Toys Act of 2007 — A bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children’s products containing lead to be banned hazardous substances.
  20. S. 2132: A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate… — A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of children’s products that contain lead, and for other purposes.
  21. S. 1811: Lead Poisoning Reduction Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to assess and reduce the levels of lead found in child-occupied facilities in the United States, and for other purposes.
  22. S. 2132: A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate… — A bill to prohibit the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of children’s products that contain lead, and for other purposes.

  Healthcare

  1. S. 334 [109th]: Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.
  2. S. 1262 [109th]: Health Technology to Enhance Quality Act of 2005 — A bill to reduce healthcare costs, improve efficiency, and improve healthcare quality through the development of a nation-wide interoperable health information technology system, and for other purposes.
  3. S. 1418 [109th]: Wired for Health Care Quality Act — A bill to enhance the adoption of a nationwide inter operable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States.
  4. S. 2347: Prevention Through Affordable Access Act — A bill to restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics.
  5. S. 2278: Community and Healthcare-Associated Infections Reduction Act of 2007 — A bill to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of community and healthcare-associated infections (CHAI), with a focus on antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  6. S. 692: VA Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
  7. S. 1824: Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2007 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative under the Medicare program to assess and report on health care quality in hospitals.
  8. S. 1784 [109th]: National MEDiC Act — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to promote a culture of safety within the health care system through the establishment of a National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation Program.
  9. S. 1873: Improving Emergency Medical Care and Response Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish demonstration programs on regionalized systems for emergency care, to support emergency medicine research, and for other purposes.
  10. S. 5: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research.
  11. S. 1525 [109th]: Medical Malpractice Insurance Antitrust Act of 2005 — A bill to ensure that commercial insurers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers.
  12. S. 901: Health Care Safety Net Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Community Health Centers program, the National Health Service Corps, and rural health care programs.
  13. S. 3771 [109th]: Health Centers Renewal Act of 2006 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide additional authorizations of appropriations for the health centers program under section 330 of such Act.
  14. S. 401: Keep Children Covered Act of 2007 — A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to eliminate funding shortfalls for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for fiscal year 2007.
  15. S. 2061: Fair Home Health Care Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt certain home health workers from the provisions of such Act.
  16. S. 2103: Medicare Independent Living Act of 2007 — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the in the home restriction for Medicare coverage of mobility devices for individuals with expected long-term needs.
  17. S. 823: Microbicide Development Act — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to facilitating the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and for other purposes.
  18. S. 2569: Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act of 2008 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Cancer Institute to make grants for the discovery and validation of biomarkers for use in risk stratification for, and the early detection and screening of, ovarian cancer.
  19. S. 1172 [109th]: Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005 — A bill to provide for programs to increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers.
  20. S. 976: Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2007 — A bill to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments.
  21. S. 1183: Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act — A bill to enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, and for other purposes.

  Ethics & Reform

  1. S. 2488: OPEN Government Act of 2007 — A bill to promote accessibility, accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act), and for other purposes.
  2. S. 2590 [109th]: Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 — A bill to require full disclosure of all entities and organizations receiving Federal funds.
  3. S. 230: Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act of 2007 — A bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
  4. S. 2280 [109th]: STOP FRAUD Act — A bill to stop transactions which operate to promote fraud, risk, and under-development, and for other purposes.
  5. S. 525: Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act of 2007 — A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit judges, to divide the Ninth Judicial Circuit of the United States into 2 circuits, and for other purposes.
  6. S. 2180 [109th]: Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2006 — A bill to provide more rigorous requirements with respect to disclosure and enforcement of ethics and lobbying laws and regulations, and for other purposes.
  7. S. 10: Restoring Fiscal Discipline Act of 2007 — A bill to reinstate the pay-as-you-go requirement and reduce budget deficits by strengthening budget enforcement and fiscal responsibility.
  8. S. 2261 [109th]: Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act of 2006 — A bill to provide transparency and integrity in the earmark process.
  9. S. 2179 [109th]: CLEAN UP Act — A bill to require openness in conference committee deliberations and full disclosure of the contents of conference reports and all other legislation.
  10. S. 2590 [109th]: Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 — A bill to require full disclosure of all entities and organizations receiving Federal funds.
  11. S. 674: Transparency and Accountability in Military and Security Contracting Act of 2007 — A bill to require accountability and enhanced congressional oversight for personnel performing private security functions under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.
  12. S. 2147: Security Contractor Accountability Act of 2007 — A bill to require accountability for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.
  13. S. 2519: Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007 — A bill to prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other purposes.

  National Security

  1. S. 467 [109th]: Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005 — A bill to extend the applicability of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002.
  2. S. 2167 [109th]: PATRIOT Act Extension bill — A bill to amend the USA PATRIOT ACT to extend the sunset of certain provisions of that Act and the lone wolf provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to July 1, 2006.
  3. S. 2369 [109th]: A bill to require a more reasonable period for delayed-notice search warrants, to… — A bill to require a more reasonable period for delayed-notice search warrants, to provide enhanced judicial review of FISA orders and national security letters, to require an enhanced factual basis for a FISA order, and to create national security letter sunset provisions.
  4. S. 1630 [109th]: National Emergency Family Locator Act — A bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the National Emergency Family Locator System.
  5. S. 2167 [109th]: PATRIOT Act Extension bill — A bill to amend the USA PATRIOT ACT to extend the sunset of certain provisions of that Act and the lone wolf provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to July 1, 2006.
  6. S. 2486 [109th]: Chemical Security and Safety Act of 2006 — A bill to ensure that adequate actions are taken to detect, prevent, and minimize the consequences of chemical releases that result from terrorist attacks and other criminal activity that may cause substantial harm to public health and safety and the environment.

  Veterans

  1. S. 1184 [109th]: A bill to waive the passport fees for a relative of a deceased member of the Armed… — A bill to waive the passport fees for a relative of a deceased member of the Armed Forces proceeding abroad to visit the grave of such member or to attend a funeral or memorial service for such member.
  2. S. 117: Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2007 — A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.
  3. S. 479: Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act — A bill to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
  4. S. 1180 [109th]: SAVE Reauthorization Act of 2005 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs servicing the needs of homeless veterans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, and for other purposes.
  5. S. 1084: Homes for Heroes Act of 2007 — A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
  6. S. 43 [109th]: Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2005 — A bill to provide certain enhancements to the Montgomery GI Bill Program for certain individuals who serve as members of the Armed Forces after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and for other purposes.
  7. S. 713: Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act of 2007 — A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.
  8. S. 1084: Homes for Heroes Act of 2007 — A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
  9. S. 2151 [109th]: Fair Share for Military Children in Public Schools Act — A bill to authorize full funding of payments for eligible federally connected children under title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by fiscal year 2011.
  10. S. 1999: A bill to provide for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Prevention,… — A bill to provide for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries, and for other purposes.
  11. S. 1271: Homecoming Enhancement Research and Oversight (HERO) Act — A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.
  12. S. 1817: A bill to ensure proper administration of the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder, and for other purposes — A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.
  13. S. 1885: Military Family Job Protection Act — A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
  14. S. 3592 [109th]: A bill to appropriate $160,500,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve… — A bill to appropriate $160,500,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve security for personal data of veterans and other persons held by the Department of Veterans Affairs and to provide remedial assistance to veterans and other persons who have had personal data stolen from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

  Consumer Protection

  1. S. 842 [109th]: Employee Free Choice Act — A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.
  2. S. 2: Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.
  3. S. 1062 [109th]: Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.
  4. S. 2725 [109th]: Standing with Minimum Wage Earners Act of 2006 — A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal Minimum wage and to ensure that increases in the Federal minimum wage keep pace with any pay adjustments for Members of Congress.
  5. S. 3829 [109th]: Tax Relief and Minimum Wage Act of 2006 — A bill to extend and expand certain tax relief provisions and to increase the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes.
  6. S. 2917 [109th]: Internet Freedom Preservation Act — A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure net neutrality.
  7. S. 2411: Credit Card Safety Star Act of 2007 — A bill to require the establishment of a credit card safety star rating system for the benefit of consumers, and for other purposes.
  8. S. 2332: Media Ownership Act of 2007 — A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
  9. S. 2484 [109th]: Protecting Taxpayer Privacy Act — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the disclosure of tax return information by tax return preparers to third parties.
  10. S. 218: Working Family Child Assistance Act — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the income threshold used to calculate the refundable portion of the child tax credit.
  11. S. 185: Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 — A bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
  12. S. 2092: Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2007 — A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to improve protections for employees and retirees in business bankruptcies.
  13. S. 2201 [109th]: Federal Aviation Administration Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act of 2006 — A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to modify the mediation and implementation requirements of section 40122 regarding changes in the Federal Aviation Administration personnel management system, and for other purposes.
  14. S. 2419: Working Families Flexibility Act — A bill to permit employees to request, and to ensure employers consider requests for, flexible work terms and conditions, and for other purposes.

  Elections

  1. S. 453: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 — A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.
  2. S. 737 [109th]: SAFE Act — A bill to amend the USA PATRIOT ACT to place reasonable limitations on the use of surveillance and the issuance of search warrants, and for other purposes.
  3. S. 1975 [109th]: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2005 — A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.
  4. S. 185: Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007 — A bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
  5. S. 2030: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating… — A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists.
  6. S. 4102 [109th]: Election Jamming Prevention Act of 2006 — A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the use of telecommunications devices for the purposes of preventing or obstructing the broadcast or exchange of election-related information.
  7. S. 223: Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act — A bill to require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports in electronic form.
  8. S. 2412: Presidential Funding Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of public financing for Presidential elections, and for other purposes.
  9. S. 1487: Ballot Integrity Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require an individual, durable, voter-verified paper record under title III of such Act, and for other purposes.

  Education

  1. S. 513: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to revive previous authority on the use… — A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to revive previous authority on the use of the Armed Forces and the militia to address interference with State or Federal law, and for other purposes.
  2. S. 1574: Teaching Residency Act — A bill to establish Teaching Residency Programs for preparation and induction of teachers.
  3. S. 2111: Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act — A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of early intervention services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports.
  4. S. 2227: Success in the Middle Act of 2007 — A bill to provide grants to States to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and postsecondary endeavors, to improve State and district policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades, to develop and implement effective middle school models for struggling students, and for other purposes.
  5. S. 2428: National STEM Scholarship Database Act — A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  6. S. 116: STEP UP ACT OF 2007 — A bill to authorize resources to provide students with opportunities for summer learning through summer learning grants.
  7. S. 924: Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act — A bill to strengthen the United States Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater Program.
  8. S. 1642: Higher Education Amendments of 2007 — A bill to extend the authorization of programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
  9. S. 379 [109th]: A bill to build capacity at community colleges in order to meet increased demand for… — A bill to build capacity at community colleges in order to meet increased demand for community college education while maintaining the affordable tuition rates and the open-door policy that are the hallmarks of the community college system.
  10. S. 1228: Campus Law Enforcement Emergency Response Act of 2007 — A bill to amend section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding law enforcement emergencies.
  11. S. 2060: Teachers at the Table Act — A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a Volunteer Teacher Advisory Committee.

  Hurricane Katrina Relief

  1. S. 2319 [109th]: Hurricane Katrina Recovery Act of 2006 — A bill to provide for the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, and for other purposes.
  2. S. 1637 [109th]: Katrina Emergency Relief Act of 2005 — A bill to provide emergency relief to meet the immediate needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina for health care, housing, education, and financial relief, and for other purposes.
  3. S. 1647 [109th]: Hurricane Katrina Bankruptcy Relief and Community Protection Act of 2005 — A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
  4. S. 2257 [109th]: Hurricane Katrina Working Family Tax Relief Act of 2006 — A bill to provide for an enhanced refundable credit for families who resided in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area on August 28, 2005.
  5. S. 1749 [109th]: Fair Wages for Hurricane Katrina Recovery Workers Act — A bill to reinstate the application of the wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act to Federal contracts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
  6. S. 1836 [109th]: Gulf Coast Infrastructure Redevelopment and Recovery Act of 2005 — A bill to provide for reconstruction, replacement, and improvement of infrastructure in the Gulf Coast Region.

  Environmental Issues

  1. S. 218: Working Family Child Assistance Act — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the income threshold used to calculate the refundable portion of the child tax credit.
  2. S. 1426 [109th]: Drinking Water Security Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize and extend provisions relating to contaminant prevention detection, and response.
  3. S. 728 [109th]: Water Resources Development Act of 2005 — A bill to provide for the consideration and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, and for other purposes.
  4. S. 1995 [109th]: Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2005 — A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to enhance the security of wastewater treatment works.
  5. S. 1930: Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 — A bill to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prevent illegal logging practices, and for other purposes.
  6. S. 1194 [109th]: Spent Nuclear Fuel Tracking and Accountability Act — A bill to direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish guidelines and procedures for tracking, controlling, and accounting for individual spent fuel rods and segments.

  Social Issues

  1. S. 1989: Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2007 — A bill to provide a mechanism for the determination on the merits of the claims of claimants who met the class criteria in a civil action relating to racial discrimination by the Department of Agriculture but who were denied that determination.
  2. S. 2521: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007 — A bill to provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees.
  3. S. 535: Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act — A bill to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes.
  4. S. 2286 [109th]: Equality for Two-Parent Families Act of 2006 — A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to eliminate the separate work participation rate for 2-parent families under the temporary assistance for needy families programs.

  References

  1. Hernandez, Raymond, and Christopher Drew. “It’s Not Just ‘Ayes’ and ‘Nays’: Obama’s Votes in Illinois Echo.” The New York Times. 20 Dec. 2007.8 Sept. 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html/4?_r=1&oref=slogin>.
  2. The New York Times. “Image > Obama’s Record in the Illinois Senate.” The New York Times. 29 July 2007.8 Sept. 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_obama_graphic.html>.
  3. The Washington Post. “Real Ethics Reform.” The Washington Post. 20 Jan. 2007.9 Sept. 2008 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011901456.html>.
  4. Strickland, Ken. “Lugar: Obama ad ‘accurate’” 15 July 2008. 9 Sept. 2008 <http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/15/1200047.aspx>.