House of Representatives
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Dennis Kucinich
U.S. House: Representative
Democratic
Next Election Year: 2010
Education:
MA, Speech Communications, Case Western Reserve University, 1974
BA, Speech Communications, Case Western Reserve University, 1973
Profession:
Consultant, Publicly Owned Electric Systems, 1979-present
President, Marketing and Communications Firm, 1985-1995
Instructor, Communications and Political Science, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University, 1991-1994
Professor, Political Science, Case Western Reserve University, 1982-1992
Communications Entrepreneur, Software and Public Relations, 1982-1992
Clerk of Courts, Cleveland Municipal Court, 1976-1977
Sportswriter
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(2009) HR 3221 Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN
Outcome: Motion Agreed (345/75)
Summary: -The proposed amendment to the bill does the following (Sec. 602):-Specifies that the prohibition on federal funding and assistance shall apply to an organization that has been indicted for a violation of campaign finance and voter registration laws, has failed to comply with lobbying disclosure requirements, has filed a fraudulent form with a regulatory agency, or employs an individual who has been indicted for a violation of election law;
-Provides that an organization subject to the prohibition under this section is ineligible to receive Federal contracts or grants, and cannot enter into any form of Federal agreement;
-Prohibits any Federal employee or contractor from promoting or recommending an organization subject to the prohibition under this section; and
-Declares that the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) and its affiliates are included among the organizations that are subject to the prohibition on federal assistance under this section. -The motion to recommit was introduced by Representative Darrell Issa on September 17, 2009, and the text of the proposed amendment can be found in the Congressional Record on page H9699. |
Kucinich's Vote
N |
(2009) HR 3221 Student Aid Program Modifications
Outcome: Bill Passed (253/171)
Summary: -Prohibits the making or insuring of any new loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program after June 30, 2010 (Sec. 201).
-Establishes the Federal Direct Perkins Loan Program and sets the interest rate on loans made under the program at 5 percent per year (Sec. 221).
-Makes up to $6 billion of annual loan authority available for purposes associated with the Federal Direct Perkins Loan Program (Sec. 224).
-Appropriates $2.03 billion for fiscal year 2007-2008 and $2.73 billion for fiscal year 2008-2009 to finance an increase in Federal Pell Grants and provides for Federal Pell Grant amounts to be adjusted for inflation in award year 2011-2012 and each subsequent award year (Sec. 101).
-Appropriates $2.02 billion for grants for public school facility renovation, modernization, and repair (Sec. 345).
-Appropriates $1 billion per year for early education projects for fiscal years 2009-2010 to 2016-2017 (Sec. 409).
-Appropriates $730 million per year for the American Graduation Initiative for fiscal years 2009-2010 to 2012-2013, and $680 million per year for fiscal years 2013-2014 to 2018-2019 (Sec. 501).
-Appropriates $600 million per year from fiscal year 2009-2010 through fiscal year 2013-2014 to be distributed as grants to organizations and programs related to expansion of access to and completion of higher education (Sec. 102).
-Appropriates $50 million for fiscal year 2009-2010 for technical assistance to institutions of higher education to aid in the establishing and administering of loan programs, and authorizes appropriations for unspecified "necessary sums" to be used for the same purposes for fiscal years 2011-2014 (Sec. 216).
-Appropriates $30 million for supplemental grants for public school modernization, renovation, repairing, and construction in the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and specifies that an amount equal to the damages inflicted on public school facilities during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in each district shall be allocated to the relevant local educational agencies in affected areas (Secs. 322, 345).
-Mandates that all iron, steel and manufactured goods used for renovation, repair, construction, and modernization projects funded by this act must be produced in the United States, unless the Secretary of Education finds this requirement is "inconsistent with the public interest" (Sec. 336).
-Prohibits federal funding or assistance from being provided to an organization which is found to have violated state or federal campaign finance or election laws, and specifically names the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and affiliated organizations as ineligible for federal funding or assistance (Sec. 602).
-Waives student loan repayment requirements for students who must withdraw from college enrollment because of an obligation to return to military service (Sec. 105).
-Requires the Secretary of Education to make direct loan servicing contracts by way of a competitive bidding process, if "practicable" (Sec. 214). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2009) HR 3221 Student Aid Program Modifications
Outcome: (/)
Summary: |
Kucinich's Vote
C |
(2009) HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (275/149)
Summary: -Authorizes funding to promote, operate, and expand service-learning programs in elementary and secondary schools through training, curriculum development, program assessment methods, and community outreach (Sec. 1201).
-Allows the Secretary of Education to designate up to 25 Campuses of Service, or institutions of higher education where service-learning is an important component of the curriculum to receive a government award to develop or disseminate service-learning models (Sec. 1203).
-Establishes Youth Engagement Zones to involve middle and high school students in community service, including Summer of Service programs (Sec. 1204).
-Expands AmeriCorps openings over 8 years, allowing for up to 250,000 AmeriCorps volunteers by fiscal year 2017 (Sec. 1301).
-Establishes the Education Corps to improve schools, the Healthy Futures Corps to serve unmet health needs within communities, the Clean Energy Corps to work on energy projects, the Veterans Corps to work with veterans and their families, and the Opportunity Corps to work with the economically disadvantaged (Sec. 1302).
-Raises the amount of the full-time national service educational award to the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant (Sec. 1404).
-Aims to increase the percentage of disadvantaged youths in the National Civilian Community Corps to over 50 percent by 2012 (Sec. 1503).
-Expands the National Civilian Community Corps' mission to include projects on energy conservation, environmental stewardship or conservation, infrastructure improvement, urban and rural development, or disaster preparedness needs (Sec. 1506).
-Establishes the Serve America Fellowship to assist with areas of national need, as determined by the State Commissions on National and Community Service (Sec. 1805, 1606).
-Establishes Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships and expands the Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program Grants, and the National Senior Service Corps to encourage community or national service among citizens age 55 and older (Secs. 1805, 2142, 2143, 2144, 2145).
-Establishes the Social Innovation Fund, National Service Programs Clearinghouses, and Volunteer Generation Fund to help local groups train, develop, and maintain volunteers (Secs. 1807, 1808). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2009) HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion
Outcome: Bill Passed (321/105)
Summary: -Authorizes funding to promote, operate, and expand service-learning programs in elementary and secondary schools through training, curriculum development, program assessment methods, and community outreach (Sec. 1201).
-Allows the Secretary of Education to designate up to 25 Campuses of Service, or institutions of higher education where service-learning is an important component of the curriculum, to receive a government award to develop or disseminate service-learning models (Sec. 1202).
-Establishes Youth Engagement Zones to involve middle and high school students in community service, including Summer of Service programs (Sec. 1203).
-Establishes the Education Corps to improve schools, the Healthy Futures Corps to serve unmet health needs within communities, the Clean Energy Corps to address environmental needs, the Veterans Corps to work with veterans and their families, and the Opportunity Corps to work with the economically disadvantaged (Sec. 1302).
-Aims to increase the percentage of disadvantaged youths in the National Civilian Community Corps to over 50% by 2012 (Sec. 1503).
-Expands the National Civilian Community Corps' mission to include projects on energy conservation, environmental conservation, infrastructure improvement, urban and rural development, or disaster preparedness needs (Sec. 1506).
-Establishes State Commissions on National and Community Service to determine local need for community service programs (Sec. 1605).
-Creates a study of the E-Verify system to determine citizenship status (Sec. 1710).
-Establishes the Serve America Fellowship to assist with areas of national need, as determined by the State Commissions on National and Community Service (Sec. 1803).
-Establishes Silver Scholarships and expands the National Senior Service Corps to encourage community or national service among citizens 55 and older (Secs. 1803, 2203).
-Establishes the Innovative and Model Program Support, Social Innovation Fund and Volunteer Generation Fund to support non-profit, faith based and civic programs (Secs. 1803, 1822). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2009) HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill")
Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (246/183)
Summary: -Allows an income tax credit of up to $400 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $70,000 or $800 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $140,000 (Div. B, Sec. 1001).
-Rescinds taxes on up to $2,400 of unemployment benefits (Division B, Sec. 1007).
-Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 and increases benefits by $25 per week (Division B, Sec. 2001, 2002).
-Provides COBRA assistance for coverage beginning after the enactment of this bill of up to 35 percent of the premium amount (Div. B, 3001).
-Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Div. B, Sec. 1002).
-Extends the first-time homebuyer's tax credit to December 1, 2009 and increases the maximum amount of the tax credit to $8,000 or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately (Div. B, Sec. 1006).
-Extends tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Div. B, Sec. 1101).
-Establishes the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board to oversee appropriated funds and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Div. A, Title XV).
-Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Div. A, Title XIII).
-Increases the Hope Scholarship credit by making up to $2,000 of education expenses deductible, plus 25% of such expenses that exceed $2,000 but not $4,000 dollars (Div. B, Sec. 1004).
-Grants qualified school construction bonds for up to $11 billion in 2009 and $11 billion in 2010 (Div. B, Sec. 1521).
-Requires states to periodically verify if documented immigrants receiving benefits still maintain legal immigrant status (Div. B, Sec. 1853).
-Appropriates $4.7 billion for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (Div. A, Titles II).
-Appropriates $650 million to extend the digital to analog converter box program (Div. A, Title II).
-Appropriates $16.8 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy (Div. A, Title IV).
-Appropriates $100 million for border security, fencing, infrastructure and technology (Div. A, Title VI).
-Appropriates $13 billion for education of the disadvantaged, $12.2 billion for special education, and $15.84 billion for student financial assistance, including Pell Grants (Div. A, Title VIII).
-Appropriates $27.5 billion for highway, rail, and port infrastructure construction and repair (Div. A, Title XII). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2009) HR 1 Appropriations, Tax Law Amendments, and Unemployment Benefit Amendments ("Stimulus Bill")
Outcome: Bill Passed (244/188)
Summary: -Allows an income tax credit of up to $500 for individuals with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 or $1,000 for joint returns for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of less than $150,000 (Division B, Sec. 1001).
-Requires projects funded by this bill to use only iron and steel produced in the United States, unless it is inconsistent with public interest, there are insufficient quantities produced in the United States, or it would increase the cost of the overall project by over 25 percent (Division A, Sec. 1110).
-Increases the credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more children to 45 percent and reduces the marriage tax by changing the formula for the amount of credit allowed (Division B, Sec. 1101).
-Prohibits funds appropriated in this Act from being used to enter into contracts with businesses that do not participate in the E-verify program for their employees (Division A, Sec. 1114).
-Increases the Hope Scholarship credit to allow a 100% deduction for the first $2000 spent on tuition and related expenses and a 25% deduction for another $4000 (Division B, Sec. 1201).
-Grants qualified school construction bonds for up to $11 billion in 2009 and $11 billion for 2010 (Division B, Sec. 1511).
-Extends tax credits for electricity produced from wind facilities until 2013, and from other renewable resource facilities such as biomass, geothermal, solar energy, landfill gas, trash combustion, and qualified hydropower facilities until 2014 (Division B, Sec. 1601).
-Extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act to December 31, 2009 (Division B, Sec. 2001).
-Provides COBRA assistance for coverage beginning after the enactment of this bill of up to 35 percent of the premium amount (Division B, Sec. 3002).
-Allows temporary Medicaid coverage for individuals who currently receive unemployment benefits or who were receiving but have exhausted unemployment benefits on or after July 1, 2008 (Division B, Sec. 3003).
-Establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to allow for the electronic use and exchange of information that secures and protects patient health information, improves health care quality, reduces medical errors and health disparities, reduces costs from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate or duplicate care, and incomplete information, and improves coordination of care between hospitals, laboratories, and physician offices (Division B, Title IV).
-Establishes the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop a broadband map of the United States to identify the availability of broadband service from commercial or public providers in each state (Division B, Sec. 6001).
-Authorizes grants for any non-recurring costs related to building broadband infrastructure (Division B, Sec. 6002).
-Provides financial assistance of up to 50 percent of costs for electric "smart grid" system demonstration projects to increase reliability, security, and efficiency while meeting future growth demands of energy (Division B, Sec. 7002).
-Expands the definition of low income families eligible for weatherization assistance to include families whose income is 200 percent of the poverty level and increases the assistance per household from $2,500 to $5,000 (Division B, Sec. 7004).
-Appropriates $67.79 billion for the Department of Education, including $1.34 billion for Pell Grant funding (Division A, Title IX). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 7060 Renewable Energy Credits and Other Business and Individual Credits
Outcome: Bill Passed (257/166)
Summary: - Extends tax credits for wind facilities until January 1, 2010, and credits for qualified biomass, geothermal or solar, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash combustion, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities until October 1, 2011 (Sec. 101, 102).
- Extends residential energy efficient property credits for solar electric, solar water heating, and fuel cell property expenditures until December 31, 2016 (Sec. 104).
- Extends the residential energy efficient property credit allowable against the alternative minimum tax to the taxable year starting in 2007 (Sec. 104).
- Reduces the maximum income tax deduction allowed for domestic production of oil and gas (Sec. 401).
- Extends the business research credit through December 31, 2009 (Sec. 221).
- Extends tax deductions for college tuition payments through the taxable year ending December 31, 2009 (Sec. 202).
- Allows a base credit of $3,000 for plug-in electric motor vehicles, with up to an additional $2,000 for vehicles drawing propulsion energy from a battery of 5 or more kilowatt hours of capacity (Sec. 124).
- Encourages bicycle commuting by allowing tax-free reimbursements to cover expenses such as the purchase of a bicycle and maintenance if the bicycle is regularly used to travel between the employee's residence and place of employment (Sec. 126).
- Extends the Federal Unemployment Tax Act surtax that employers pay with respect to individuals they employ through 2010 (Sec. 404).
- Extends tax credits for solar energy property until January 1, 2017 and credits for fuel cell and microturbine property until December 31, 2016 (Sec. 103). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions
Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (380/49)
Summary: -Requires the Secretary of Education to make available online a list of the most expensive and least expensive colleges on a website, along with a list of the colleges that have had the largest increases in tuition and fee rates over a three year period (Sec. 111).
-Requires the colleges with the largest increases in tuition and fee rates to submit a report describing the causes of these increases and a description of how the institution will try to reduce costs (Sec. 111).
-Requires textbook publishers to disclose the retail cost of textbooks or supplemental materials, copyright dates of any previous editions, a description of the substantial content revisions, and whether any other format is available when college faculty select course materials (Sec. 112).
-Requires textbook publishers that bundle textbooks and supplemental materials to also sell them separately (Sec. 112).
-Requires colleges and institution-affiliated organizations that participate in a preferred lender arrangement to disclose the maximum amount of Federal grant and loan aid available to students on the organization's website (Sec. 120).
-Establishes federal grants to cover 50 percent of costs for colleges related to implementing emergency systems to notify the campus community of a significant emergency or dangerous situation through cellular, text message, or other advanced communication, and to develop procedures for the community to follow in case of an emergency or dangerous situation (Sec. 802).
-Requires colleges with on-campus student housing facilities to publish an annual fire safety report disclosing the number of fires and the cause of each fire, the number of injuries related to a fire that result in treatment at a medical facility, the number of deaths related to a fire, and the value of property damage caused by a fire (Sec. 488).
-Requires colleges to disclose the report on disciplinary proceedings conducted against an alleged perpetrator of any violent crime or a nonforcible sex offense to the alleged victim upon written request (Sec. 493).
-Prohibits private educational lenders from engaging in revenue sharing with a covered college and from directly or indirectly offering gifts to a college in exchange for any advantage or consideration related to its private education loan activities (Sec. 1011).
-Expands federal Pell Grants to allow awards of up to two grants for students taking more than two semesters or the equivalent each year (Sec. 401).
-Raises the maximum Pell grant from $5,800 to $8,000 per academic year by 2014 (Sec. 401). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (416/12)
Summary: -Appropriates $8.48 billion for natural disaster relief and recovery, including $5.76 billion for construction of flood prevention and protection structures in Louisiana.
-Allows an individual with an emergency unemployment compensation to receive either 50 percent of the total regular compensation of an individual's benefit year or 13 times the individual's average weekly benefit amount for that year (Sec. 4002).
-Allows a veteran who has served an aggregate of 36 months or 30 continuous days of active duty after September 11, 2001 to receive a full scholarship for in-state tuition at a public university, a monthly housing stipend, and a lump sum each term for books and supplies (Sec. 5003).
-Provides that members of the Armed Forces who have served at least six years and agree to serve four more may transfer 18 to 36 months of their educational assistance entitlements to their spouse or children (Sec. 5003).
-Allows the President to waive sanctions against economic or military assistance to North Korea (Sec. 1405).
-Provides $400 million for Mexico and $65 million for Central America to combat drug trafficking (Sec. 1406-1407). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 2642 G.I. Bill Expansion and Other Domestic Provisions
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (256/166)
Summary: -Designates differing amounts of payments to be made to fund the higher education of individuals who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces beginning on or after September 11, 2001 based on factors such as length of active duty service and disabilities accrued, and specifies that these payments shall not exceed the cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state in which the individual is enrolled (Sec. 3003).
-Requires the Secretary of Defense to match assistance given to members of the Armed Forces by institutions of higher learning to cover fees and expenses beyond what other provisions of this amendment provide (Sec. 3003).
-Finances payments to Armed Forces members receiving educational benefits under this amendment by levying a tax equal to 0.47 percent of income exceeding $500,000 for a single taxpayer other than a corporation or $1 million for a joint return (Sec. 7001).
-Qualifies unemployed individuals in participating states for emergency unemployment compensation if the individuals have exhausted all rights to regular compensation, have no rights to regular or extended compensation, or are not receiving compensation under the unemployment compensation law of Canada (Sec. 4001).
-Extends and expands moratoria relating to Medicaid through April 1, 2009, including cutting Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers, removing Medicaid reimbursements for graduate medical education programs, excluding certain social services related to families and children from being included in the Medicaid program, and restricting optional case management services, outpatient hospital services, or allowable provider taxes (Sec. 5001).
-Appropriates $25 million in 2009 and the same amount in each subsequent year for the purpose of reducing Medicaid fraud and abuse (Sec. 5001).
-Appropriates funds for military construction, veterans affairs, international affairs and other security-related matters, including $8.7 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, $4.76 billion for military construction and veterans affairs, $1.25 billion for agriculture, and $229.3 million for commerce, justice, and science.
-Appropriates funds for domestic matters, including $5.76 billion for hurricane-related expenses for the greater New Orleans area, $210 million for periodic censuses and programs, $178 million for the federal prison system, and $110 million for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations. |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 5715 Student Loan Provision Changes
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (388/21)
Summary: -Increases the loan limit above the determined financial need for graduate students enrolled in an eligible institution from $10,000 to $12,000, allows a limit of up to $2,000 for dependent undergraduate students, and increases the limit amounts for independent undergraduate students from $4,000 to $6,000 for the first two years of study and from $5,000 to $7,000 for the second two years of study (Sec. 2).
-Increases the total federal loan limit for undergraduate studies from $23,000 to $31,000 for dependent students and from $46,000 to $57,500 for independent students (Sec. 2).
-Allows a six-month grace period after a student has less than half of a full time class load before parent borrowers must start making payments (Sec. 3).
-Authorizes the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase loans originated on or after October 1, 2003 from eligible lenders if there is an inadequate availability of loan capital to meet the demand for student loans, with a temporary authority that expires on July 1, 2009 (Sec. 7). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 5715 Student Loan Provision Changes
Outcome: Bill Passed (383/27)
Summary: -Increases the loan limit above the determined financial need for graduate students enrolled in an eligible institution from $10,000 to $12,000, allows a limit of up to $2,000 for dependent undergraduate students, and increases the limit amounts for independent undergraduate students from $4,000 to $6,000 for the first two years of study and from $5,000 to $7,000 for the second two years of study (Sec. 2).
-Sets the total loan limit for undergraduate studies at $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students (Sec. 2).
-Allows a six month grace period after a student has less than half of a full time class load before parent borrowers must start making payments (Sec. 3).
-Authorizes the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase loans originated on or after October 1, 2003 from eligible lenders if there is an inadequate availability of loan capital to meet the demand for student loans, with a temporary authority that expires on July 1, 2009 (Sec. 7). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2008) HR 4137 Higher Education Act Amendments and Extensions
Outcome: Bill Passed (354/58)
Summary: -Requires the government to make available online a list of the most expensive and least expensive colleges on a website, along with a list of the colleges that have had the largest increases in tuition and fee rates over a three year period (Sec. 109).
-Requires the colleges with the largest increases in tuition and fee rates to submit a report describing the causes of these increases (Sec. 109).
-Requires textbook publishers to disclose the retail cost of textbooks and supplemental materials before selling them to school officials (Sec. 110).
-Requires textbook publishers that bundle textbooks and supplemental materials to also make the textbooks and supplemental materials available separately (Sec. 110).
-Requires colleges and lending institutions to disclose to the government any preferred lender relationships (Sec. 115).
-Prohibits colleges from entering into any kind of revenue sharing arrangement with lenders (Sec. 115).
-Expands federal Pell Grants to allow awards of up to two grants for students taking more than two semesters or the equivalent each year (Sec. 401).
-Raises the maximum Pell grand from $5,800 to $9,000 per academic year (Sec. 401).
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Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) HR 2764 Inclusion of Consolidated Appropriations
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (253/154)
Summary: - Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to enter into a "permanent basing rights agreement" between the United States and Iraq (Division J, Sec. 680).
- Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used "in any way whatsoever to support or justify the use of torture, cruel or inhumane treatment by any official or contract employee of the United States Government" (Division B, Sec. 521; Division J, Sec. 681).
- Extends the implementation deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires a passport for travel by land or sea to Canada or the United States, to after June 1, 2009 (Division E, Sec. 545).
- Allows individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada, so long as the drugs are not controlled substances and the amount does not exceed a 90-day supply (Division E, Sec. 558).
- Sets the maximum Pell Grant award for students at $4,241 during the 2008-2009 award year (Division G, Title III).
- Expresses the support of Congress for a nationwide program of "mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases" to abate the growth of such emissions, in a manner that will not "significantly harm the United States economy" (Division E, Sec. 430).
- Prohibits the Department of the Interior from conducting oil or natural gas offshore pre-leasing, leasing, or related activities in certain coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico (Division F, Sec. 104-105).
- Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the U.S. southwest border, including 370 miles to be completed by December 31, 2008 (Division E, Section 564).
- Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to establish a cross-border motor carrier program that would allow Mexico-based motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones along the border between the United States and Mexico (Division K, Sec. 136).
- Grants certain Iraqi and Afghan refugees access to resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits for up to six months (Division G, Sec. 525).
- Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Arab League boycott of Israel is an "impediment to peace in the region," that the boycott should be immediately terminated, and that all Arab League states should normalize relations with Israel (Division J, Sec. 635).
- Directs the President to submit a report to Congress that outlines in classified and unclassified terms a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites are secure by 2012 (Division J, Sec. 699M).
- Allows a woman to breastfeed her child on federal property if she and her child are authorized to be at the location (Division D, Sec. 727).
- Prohibits funds from being used for "research, development, or demonstration activities related exclusively to the human exploration of Mars" (Division B, Title III).
- Appropriates $90.9 billion for the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration, with $1.3 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $89.6 billion (Division A).
- Appropriates $57.0 billion for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Science, with $3.2 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $53.8 billion (Division B).
- Appropriates $32.9 billion for the Departments of Energy and Interior and water development projects, with $2.0 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $30.9 billion (Division C).
- Appropriates $34.5 billion for the Department of the Treasury, the Judiciary, the Executive Office of the President, and the District of Columbia, with $1.4 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $33.1 billion (Division D).
- Appropriates $41.2 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, with $2.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $38.6 billion (Division E).
- Appropriates $27.2 billion for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, with $81.6 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $27.1 billion (Division F).
- Appropriates $410.3 billion for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, with $1.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $408.7 billion (Division G).
- Appropriates $4.2 billion for the legislative branch, with $3.8 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $4.2 billion (Division H).
- Appropriates $108.6 billion for military construction and veterans' affairs, with $128.5 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $108.5 billion (Division I).
- Appropriates $35.8 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, with $158.0 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $35.7 billion (Division J).
- Appropriates $311.3 billion for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, with $6.3 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $305.0 billion (Division K). |
Kucinich's Vote
N |
(2007) HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Outcome: Veto Override Failed (277/141)
Summary: -Provides that Iraqi and Afghan immigrants who are granted special immigrant status are eligible for up to six months of resettlement assistance and entitlement programs available to refugees (Sec. 525).
-Prohibits funds in the bill from being used to implement a totalization agreement between the Social Security programs of the United States and Mexico (Sec. 526).
-$13.63 billion for the Department of Labor, including $3.37 billion for training and employment services, $3.47 billion for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations, and $1.65 billion for the office of the Job Corps
-$480.03 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $30.01 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $401.41 billion for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and $27.32 billion for the Administration for Children and Families
-$63.58 billion for the Department of Education, including $16.38 billion for student financial assistance, $15.93 billion for education for the disadvantaged, and $12.36 billion for special education
-$53.98 for related agencies, including $51.81 billion for the Social Security Administration, $1.35 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, and $420.00 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting |
Kucinich's Vote
- |
(2007) HR 1429 Head Start Act of 2007
Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (381/36)
Summary: -Authorizes $7.35 billion for fiscal year 2008, $7.65 billion for fiscal year 2009, $8.00 billion for fiscal year 2010, and such funds as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (Sec. 5).
-Allows Head Start programs to increase the number of participants by 35 percent by including participants whose families' incomes are between 100 and 130 percent of the poverty level, as long as children from families whose income is at or below the poverty level or who are homeless have priority for inclusion in the programs (Sec. 14).
-States that by 2013, at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers and education coordinators will have a baccalaureate or advanced degree in childhood education and all teaching assistants will have an associate's degree, and that by 2010, all teachers providing direct services to children and families participating in Early Head Start programs (which provide services for children from 0-3 years of age) located in Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a child development associate credential (Sec. 15, Sec. 19).
-Requires that all Head Start teachers attend 15 hours of professional development training per year (Sec. 19). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Outcome: Concurrence Vote Passed (274/141)
Summary: -Provides that Iraqi and Afghan immigrants who are granted special immigrant status are eligible for up to six months of resettlement assistance and entitlement programs available to refugees (Sec. 525).
-Prohibits funds in the bill from being used to implement a totalization agreement between the Social Security programs of the United States and Mexico (Sec. 526).
-$13.63 billion for the Department of Labor, including $3.37 billion for training and employment services, $3.47 billion for state unemployment insurance and employment service operations, and $1.65 billion for the office of the Job Corps
-$480.03 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $30.01 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $401.41 billion for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and $27.32 billion for the Administration for Children and Families
-$63.58 billion for the Department of Education, including $16.38 billion for student financial assistance, $15.93 billion for education for the disadvantaged, and $12.36 billion for special education
-$53.98 for related agencies, including $51.81 billion for the Social Security Administration, $1.35 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, and $420.00 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants
Outcome: Conference Report Adopted (292/97)
Summary: -Appropriates $33.60 billion to gradually increase Pell Grant amounts to $5,400 by 2012 and maintains funding through 2017 (Sec. 102).
-Incrementally lowers the current 6.8 percent interest rate for Federal Subsidized Student Loans and Federal Direct Stafford Loans every year until the rate is set at 3.4 percent for loans disbursed after July 1, 2011, and before July 1, 2012 (Sec. 201).
-Establishes an auction for each state to determine the lenders who will provide Federal PLUS Loans to colleges and universities in the state, to be held every two years in order to determine the two lenders with the lowest bids for special allowance payments (Sec. 701).
-Appropriates $57.00 million a year through 2011 for Upward Bound programs that did not receive funding in 2007 but have been given a grant score over 70 (Sec. 103).
-Creates $4,000 a year TEACH Grants to encourage teachers to take courses in mathematics, sciences, foreign languages, bilingual education, special education, reading, and other high-need fields and requires teachers to teach the subject they took courses in for at least four years (Sec. 104).
-Allows members of the military services to defer loan payments for up to 180 days after demobilization for Federal Family Education Loans, Stafford Loans, and Perkins Loans (Sec. 202).
-Allows loan forgiveness for employees who have made 120 monthly payments on student loans while employed in public service (Sec. 401).
-Raises the income protection allowance through 2013 to $6,000 for dependent students, $9,330 for single independent students without dependents or married independent students without dependents who are both enrolled in college, and $14,960 for married independent students where one is enrolled in college. Adopts a table detailing allowances for independent students with dependents through 2013 (Sec. 601).
-Raises the maximum income required to automatically attain a zero expected family contribution from $20,000 to $30,000 a year and adjusts the required income level in future years based on the Consumer Price Index (Sec. 602).
-States that if a borrower's income level is above 150 percent of the poverty line, student loan repayments can be capped at 15 percent of the amount that their income exceeds that rate (Sec. 203).
-Eliminates the "exceptional performer" status through which lenders are entitled to 100 percent payment of unpaid principles and interests from guaranty agencies (Sec. 302). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Outcome: Bill Passed (276/140)
Summary: -Increases the maximum Pell Grant for which a college student is eligible from $4,310 during the 2007-2008 award year to $4,700 during the 2008-2009 award year [Title III].
-Prohibits funding in this Act from being used for the transportation of teachers or students in order to overcome a racial imbalance or carry out a racial desegregation plan in any school or school system [Title III (sec. 301)].
-Prohibits funding in this Act from being used to require a student to attend a school other than the school which is nearest to the student's home, except in the case of a student requiring special education [Title III (sec. 302)].
-Prohibits funding in this Act from being "used to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools" [Title III (sec. 303)].
-Prohibits funds appropriated in this Act from being used to perform abortions or to provide health benefits coverage that includes the coverage of abortion [Title V (sec. 507)].
-Prohibits the expenditure of funds appropriated to the Department of Labor in the procurement of goods produced by forced or indentured child labor [Title I (sec. 102)].
-Requires the Secretary of Labor to issue a full monthly transit subsidy of at least $110 to each of its employees in the National Capital Region beginning September 30, 2007 [Title I (sec. 103)].
-Authorizes up to $20 million in grants to states "to address the gap in health care coverage faced by trade adjustment assistance participants and dislocated workers" [Title I (sec. 107)].
-Allows the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the Director of the Office of AIDS Research to transfer up to 3 percent of the total amount of funding among institutes for the purpose of research relating to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [Title II (sec. 208)].
-$10.25 billion for the Department of Labor.
-$478.54 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, including $29.65 billion for the National Institutes of Health and $400.98 billion for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
-$64.94 billion for the Department of Education, including $16 billion for education for the disadvantaged and $12.3 billion for special education.
-$43.76 billion for related agencies, including $41.80 billion for the Social Security Administration.
- $63.54 million to establish the Medicare rural hospital flexibility grants program, $35 million for grant adjustments for existing community health centers, and $310.91 million for voluntary family planning projects, not to be expended for abortions.
- $2.66 billion for low-income home energy assistance, $3.95 billion for child support enforcement and family support programs, $2.14 billion for child care assistance for low-income families, $6.96 billion to fund the Head Start Act through September 30, 2009, and $136.7 million to provide abstinence education. |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) HR 2669 Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants
Outcome: Bill Passed (273/149)
Summary: -Appropriates $20.16 billion dollars authorized for Pell Grants for the fiscal years 2008-2017 and increases student Pell Grant award eligibility by $200 each award year during the 2008-10 academic years, $300 in 2010-2011, and $500 in 2011-2012 and each subsequent academic year (Title I (sec. 101 (b))).
-Increases the maximum Pell Grant award to $7,600 for the 2008-09 academic year, $8,600 for 2009-10, $9,600 for 2010-11, $10,600 for 2011-12, and $11,600 for 2012-13 (Title I (sec. 101 (b))).
-Repeals existing tuition sensitivity provisions, which reduce Pell Grant eligibility for students attending lower-cost schools (Title I (sec. 101 (d))).
-Reduces interest rates on Stafford and other federally backed loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the period from 2008-2013 (Title I (sec. 111 (a))).
-Increases aggregate limits on federally insured loans from $23,000 to $30,500 for undergraduate students and from $65,500 to $73,000 for graduate and professional students (Title I (sec. 112 (b))).
-Reduces the percentage of student loans guaranteed by the federal student loan insurance program from 98 percent to 95 percent (Title I (sec. 115 (a))).
-Lowers the loan guaranty agency collection fee from 23 percent to 16 percent of funds collected from loan defaults (Title I (sec. 116)).
-Increases the loan origination fee from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of principal on loans made after October 1, 2007 (Title I (sec. 118)).
-Provides for $5,000 in loan forgiveness over a period of five years for those employed in areas of national need, including early childhood educators, nurses, librarians, foreign language specialists, highly qualified teachers in bilingual education or in low-income schools, child welfare workers, speech-language pathologists, those engaged in national service, school counselors, and public sector employees (Title I (sec. 131)).
-Releases public servants from federal loan obligations after 120 payments over ten years of repayment (Title I (sec. 132)).
-Limits monthly payments on loans to 15 percent of the amount by which the borrower's adjusted gross income exceeds 150% of the poverty line (Title I (sec. 133)).
-Provides for complete loan forgiveness for those who have experienced a period of economic hardship lasting over twenty years (Title I (sec. 133))
-Appropriates $60 million for the fiscal years 2008-2012 to institutions that have less than average annual tuition increases or guaranteed tuition to be used for additional grants from the schools for students who are also eligible for Pell grants (Title II (sec. 202)). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education
Outcome: Bill Passed (291/126)
Summary: |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
(2007) HR 5 College Student Relief Act of 2007
Outcome: Bill Passed (356/71)
Summary: -Reduces the interest rate for FFEL and DL loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent by July of 2011 (Sec. 2).
-Insures 95 percent of the unpaid principal of loans under the FFEL program, down from 97 percent (Sec. 3).
-Reduces the percentage of defaulted FFEL loan collections (currently 24 percent) each year until the rate is equal to the average rate paid to collection agencies that have contracts with the Secretary of Education (Sec. 4).
-Eliminates exceptional performer status for FFEL lenders (Sec. 5).
-Reduces lender special allowance payments to FFEL lenders (Sec. 6).
-Exempts small lenders from the reduction in FFEL lender special allowance payments (Sec. 6).
-Increases loan fees for FFEL lenders from 0.5 percent to 1.0 percent of the principal amount of the loan for loans made on or after July 1, 2007 (Sec. 7).
-Increases the rebate fee charged to holders of FFEL consolidated loans to 1.3 percent of the principal plus accrued unpaid interest on such loans, starting July 2007, provided that at least 90 percent of the holder's total principal and accrued unpaid interest outstanding are from FFEL consolidated loans (Sec. 8). |
Kucinich's Vote
Y |
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