Legislation

Sponsored — A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to diabetes self-management training by designating certain certified diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes self-management training services under part B of the Medicare Prorgram.

Cosponsored — A resolution honoring the coal miners who perished in the Upper Big Branch Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia, extending the condolences of the United States Senate to the families of the fallen coal miners, and recognizing the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers.

Cosponsored — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that fees charged for baggage carried into the cabin of an aircraft are subject to the excise tax imposed on transportation of persons by air.

Cosponsored — A resolution expressing sympathy for the people of Poland in the aftermath of the devastating plane crash that killed the country's President, First Lady, and 94 other high ranking government, military, and civic leaders of April 10, 2010.

Cosponsored — A bill to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage.

Sponsored — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an investment tax credit for biomass heating property.

Cosponsored — A bill to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to waive the non-Federal share requirement under certain programs.

Sponsored — A bill to establish penalties for servicers that fail to timely evaluate the applications of homeowners under home loan modification programs.

Cosponsored — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of Department of Defense health coverage as minimal essential coverage.

Cosponsored — A resolution recognizing the 189th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy.

Cosponsored — A bill to establish the Office for Global Women's Issues and the Women's Development Advisor to facilitate interagency coordination and the integration of gender considerations into the strategies, programming, and associated outcomes of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development, and for other purposes.

Cosponsored — A resolution expressing support for designation of a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day".

Cosponsored — A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a program to assist eligible schools and nonprofit entities through grants and technical assistance to implement farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.

Cosponsored — A bill to prohibit proprietary trading and certain relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds, to address conflicts of interest with respect to certain securitizations, and for other purposes.

Cosponsored — A bill to amend the miscellaneous rural development provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to certain entities that will use the funds to make loans to consumers to implement energy efficiency measures involving structural improvements and investments in cost-effective, commercial off-the-shelf technologies to reduce home energy use.

Cosponsored — A bill to increase the competitiveness of United States businesses, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturing firms, in interstate and global commerce, foster job creation in the United States, and assist United States businesses in developing or expanding commercial activities in interstate and global commerce by expanding the ambit of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and the Technology Innovation Program to include projects that have potential for commercial exploitation in nondomestic markets, providing for an increase in related resources of the Department of Commerce, and for other purposes.

Cosponsored — A resolution recognizing the history and continued accomplishments of women in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Cosponsored — A resolution improving the Senate cloture process.

Cosponsored — A bill to improve the Small Business Act, and for other purposes.