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Bill Extends Tax Credits for Solar, Wind, and other Renewable Energies
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today voted to pass H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act, which extends and expands tax incentives for renewable energy. This legislation includes a much-needed six year extension of the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar energy and a three year extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for energy derived from biomass, geothermal, hydropower, landfill gas and solid waste.
Bill Would Remove Immigration Related Obstacles for Military Families
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R.6020, which allows active duty soldiers and veterans who serve honorably to become citizens expeditiously. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Mike Pence (R-IN), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), and Michael Turner (R-OH), also includes provisions to:<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
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Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today issued the following statement on the FY 2008 Emergency Supplemental bill vote.
Bill Would Allow Best and Brightest in STEM Fields to Stay in the United States.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R.6039, which would allow masters and Ph.D. level graduates from U.S. universities in science, technology, engineering, and math to obtain green cards without waiting in long lines, if they have job offers from U.S. employers. The measure enjoys strong bipartisan support, initial co-sponsors include: Reps.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5950, the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008, which would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for the timely and effective delivery of medical and mental health care to all immigration detainees.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5921, co-sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), which would eliminate the arbitrary per-country caps for employment-based immigrants. Current law caps at 7% the number of employment-based immigrants that can come from any one country during the year. Because of this cap, a Chinese or Indian post-graduate at the top of his/her class at MIT may have to wait half a decade or more for a green card, much longer than a student from a less-populated country.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5882, which would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department (DOS) to use visas (“green cards”) that went unused in prior years due to bureaucratic processing delays. The bill would also allow DHS and DOS to use green cards that go unused in the future by allowing them to “roll over” to the next fiscal year until they are used. This bill would not authorize any new green cards, but would ensure that green cards authorized by Congress are actually allocated.
House CAO Beard Joins Rep. Lofgren for Green Tech Discussion in CA
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) held a panel discussion program entitled “How Going Green saves Money, Jobs & Improves Lives,” at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose today. The discussion program focused on the growing “green” technology market and on the integration of those technologies. Rep. Zoe Lofgren was joined by Rep.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5638, a bill creating an exemption for repair parts in U.S. patent law. This bill applies only to repair and replacement parts that restore an article’s original appearance. This legislation was introduced partly in response to a recent International Trade Court (ITC) decision holding that automakers could assert patents on purely ornamental and cosmetic features of exterior vehicle parts to prevent the manufacture or importation of repair parts, such as bumpers.
Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the bi-partisan, pro-consumer “Cell Tax Fairness Act,” which provides for a 5-year moratorium on any new discriminatory wireless tax or fee. A typical consumer already pays 15.19% in federal, state, and local taxes on their cell phone bill as compared to 7.07% for most other taxable goods and services. Between January 2003 and July 2007, the effective rate of taxation on wireless service increased four times faster than the rate for other taxable goods and services.