Home Run!

Rep. Laura Richardson (D., Calif.) wins the pennant with this bill:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Build America Bonds Extension for Rural and Urban Transportation and Highways Act of 2011' or the `BABE RUTH Act of 2011'.

David and Jane and Michael and Kristen

Victims' names still a staple, including:

• David's Law, by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas)
• Michael Jon Newkirk Transportation Safety Enhancement Act , by Rep. Jackson Lee

• Jane's Law, by Rep. Steve Cohen (D., Tenn.).
• Kristen's Act Reauthorization, by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D., Texas). 

The POWER That Be

More POWER to the Silver State! Sen. John Ensign (R., Nev.) won't take a back seat to Sen. Reid when it comes to bill titles, like this one:  

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Prisoner Opportunity, Work, and Education Requirement Act' or the `POWER Act'.

Step 1 Accomplished!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) has the solution:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Middle Class Success Act'.

Verdi, Puccini and... Connolly?

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D., Va.) composes his OPERA.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Oil Pollution Environmental Review Act' or `OPERA'.

Take this JOBS Act and...

Will Rep. Paul Broun (R., Ga.) have a tough job passing his JOBS Act? 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Jumpstarting Our Business Sector Act of 2011'.

Sounds Fishy!

Sen. Scott Brown (R., Mass.) gives us the FISH Act -- that's the Fishing Impact Statement Honesty Act of 2011.

Better, Best, BESTEST!

Who's got the best Best Practices Act? Rep. Bob Filner (D., Calif) takes on Rep. Bobby Rush (D., Ill.):

Mr. Filner's BEST (Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training) Practices Act

vs.

Mr. Rush's BEST PRACTICES (Building Effective Strategies To Promote Responsibility Accountability Choice Transparency Innovation Consumer Expectations and Safeguards) Act

ACCESS Act of 2011

Rep. Sam Graves (R., Mo.) gives us the ACCESS Act. Here's the whole bill:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Airport Master Plan Customer Convenience Enhancement, Security, and Sustainability Act of 2011' or the `ACCESS Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. AIRPORT MASTER PLANS.

Section 47101 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(i) Additional Goals for Airport Master Plans- In addition to the goals set forth in subsection (g)(2), the Secretary of Transportation shall encourage (including through Federal Aviation Administration advisory circulars) airport sponsors and State and local officials to consider in airport master plans the following:

`(1) Customer convenience.

`(2) Airport ground access.

`(3) Access to airport facilities.'.

Preamble

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported on the explosion of creativity on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers took the once-fusty and utilitarian function of naming bills into new heights of expression. But time did not stop on January 12, 2011, so, as a continuing service to the creative community in Washington and beyond, this blog will highlight some of the most notable nomenclatural achievements of the 112th Congress. Of course, Washington isn't the only place where lawmaking has been enlivened by the decorative use of acronyms, slogans and victim names, so readers are invited to add their own finds from statehouses, city halls and other artistic microcommunities.