hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Border Tunnel Prevention Act

Bill: 109-s-2652
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Boundaries
Canada
Drug abuse
Drug traffic
Fines (Penalties)
Forfeiture
Illegal aliens
Immigration
International Affairs
Latin America
Mexico
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Smuggling
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Tunnels
Weapons of mass destruction

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Border Tunnel Prevention Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country. Imposes a 20-year prison term for such offense. Doubles penalties for persons who use such a tunnel or passage to smuggle an alien, illegal goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction, or members of a terrorist organization

Imposes a 10-year prison term on any person who knows of or recklessly disregards the construction or use of an unauthorized tunnel or passage on land that such person owns or controls. 

Subjects to forfeiture any property involved in, or traceable to, the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or passage. 

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons convicted of criminal offenses related to the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or passage. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Protection of Young Consumers Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2654
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer credit
Consumer protection
Continuing education
Credit cards
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational accountability
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Insurance
Nonprofit organizations
Performance measurement
Personal budgets
Saving and investment
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Teaching materials
Youth

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Protection of Young Consumers Act of 2006 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit consumer reporting agencies from furnishing reports in connection with firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by consumers under age 21. Allows consumers who are at least 18, but not yet 21, to elect, in writing, to have their names and addresses included in any list of names provided by such agencies in connection with such transactions.
 
Youth Financial Education Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a new title IV part D Promoting Youth Financial Literacy. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to state educational agencies to implement financial education programs for elementary and secondary school students. Makes a state's allocation proportionate to its share of such students.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) make a competitive five year grant to, or contract with, a national nonprofit organization to establish a national clearinghouse for instructional materials and information on model financial education programs and best practices; and (2) develop and use performance measures to evaluate the financial education programs and clearinghouse established pursuant to this Act.
 

 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3592-3593)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Card Reform Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2655
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Consumer credit
Consumer education
Credit cards
Federal Reserve System
Fees
Government Operations and Politics
Interest rates
Law
Loan defaults

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Credit Card Reform Act of 2006 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a credit card issuer from using any adverse information concerning any consumer (including information contained in any consumer report, or any change in the consumer's credit score) as the basis for increasing any annual percentage rate of interest (APR) applicable to a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan, or from removing or increasing any introductory APR.
 
Prohibits a credit card issuer, also, from changing the terms of a credit card contract or agreement under an open end consumer credit plan without written consumer consent.
 
Prohibits a credit card issuer from imposing adverse consequences for late payment if the cardholder's payment is postmarked or initiated by electronic funds transfer on or before the required postmark date in accordance with this Act.
 
Limits late payment and related fees to an amount reasonably related to the cost to the card issuer of consumer default, omission, or violation of the credit plan agreement.
 
Requires a credit card issuer to verify, when the account is opened or the credit limit increased, that the consumer will be able to make the scheduled payments based on a consideration of current and expected income, current obligations, and employment status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3592-3593)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Paperwork Amnesty Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2656
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Amnesties
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Economics and Public Finance
Fines (Penalties)
Government paperwork
Law
Small business
Tax administration
Tax assessment
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Small Business Paperwork Amnesty Act of 2006 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation. 
 
Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Iran Sanctions Extension Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2657
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Energy
Export controls
Export finance
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign loans
Government Operations and Politics
Iran
Middle East and North Africa
Petroleum industry
President and foreign policy
Sanctions (International law)
State-sponsored terrorism
Terrorism
Weapons of mass destruction

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Iran Sanctions Extension Act of 2006 - Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to extend the authorities under such Act with respect to Iran. (Sanctions under such Act no longer apply to Libya pursuant to Presidential Determination 2004-30, April 23, 2004.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-06-22
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2658
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Air force
Armed forces reserves
Army
Congressional reporting requirements
Defense budgets
Defense contracts
Defense procurement
Department of Defense
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Military and naval supplies
Military civic action
Military command and control
Military promotions
Military training
National Guard
Officer personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
National Defense Enhancement and National Guard Empowerment Act of 2006 - Expands the: (1) authority of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Bureau) to include membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) (and raises the grade of the Chief from lieutenant general to general); and (2) functions of the Bureau to include facilitating and coordinating, with other federal agencies and the states, the use of Guard personnel and resources for, and in, contingency operations, military operations other than war, natural disasters, and support of civil authorities.
 
Directs the Chief to: (1) identify gaps between federal and state capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and (2) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on Guard programs and activities to address such gaps.
 
Requires annual Department of Defense (DOD) budget justification documents to include separate amounts for Guard training and equipment for military assistance to civil authorities and other domestic operations.
 
Establishes within the JCS an Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress calling for consideration of eligible reserve officers for promotion to the grades of lieutenant general or vice admiral on the active duty list.
 
Requires the position of Deputy Commander of the U.S. Northern Command to be filled by a qualified Guard officer eligible for promotion to the grade of lieutenant general.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3593-3596)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2659
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Indian lands
Minorities

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Native American Veterans Cemetery Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to any tribal organization for establishing, expanding, or improving veterans' cemeteries on trust lands owned by, or held in trust for, the organization.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 109-715.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3597)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3597)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the National Security Act of 1947 to require notice to Congress of certain declassifications of intelligence information, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-2660
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Executive Office of the President
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Presidential powers
Security classification (Government documents)

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to direct the President, no later than 15 days after the declassification of any intelligence by the President or Vice-President, to notify the congressional intelligence committees.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that any such notification should also be submitted to the: (1) Director of National Intelligence; (2) Archivist of the United States; and (3) heads of applicable elements of the intelligence community.
 
Directs the President to: (1) submit to such committees a current list of each official of the Executive Office of the President (other than the President) who is authorized to declassify information other than information originally classified by such official; and (2) update such list upon any addition or removal of an official.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Intelligence. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3598)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3597-3598)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2661
Sponsor: Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congress
Congressional oversight
Election administration
International Affairs
National self-determination
Puerto Rico
Referendum
Statehood (American politics)
Territories (U.S.)

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2006 - Directs the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico during the 110th Congress on the sole question of continued U.S. territorial status or a path toward a permanent non-territorial status.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Commerce to provide emergency disaster assistance to mitigate the economic losses caused by salmon fishery restrictions along the California and Oregon coast, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-2662
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2006-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
California
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Fees
Fishery management
Fishing boats
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Income tax
Local finance
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minorities
Native Americans
Oregon
Overfishing
Salmon
Small business
State finance
Tax exclusion
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
 Provides emergency disaster assistance to persons, entities, Indian tribes, fishermen and related businesses, and state and local governments to mitigate economic losses caused by federal fisheries restrictions put in place to meet the needs of Klamath River Fall Chinook Salmon.
 
Excludes such assistance from the gross income of an individual or entity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2663
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2006-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Authorization
Birth defects
Clinical trials
Communication in medicine
Conferences
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Demography
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Environmental Protection
Environmental health
Epidemiology
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to child health services
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Genetic counseling
Government Operations and Politics
Health education
Hereditary diseases
Higher education
Hospitals
Indian medical care
Infants
Medical education
Medical laboratories
Medical research
Medical screening
Medical statistics
Medical supplies
Medical technology
Medical tests
Minorities
Minority health
Nonprofit organizations
Nursing education
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Research grants
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Technological innovations
Technology transfer

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: 
Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2006 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Associate Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to awards grants to eligible entities to: (1) provide education and training in newborn screening and congenital, genetic, and metabolic disorders to health care professionals and newborn screening laboratory personnel; (2) develop educational programs about newborn screening for parents, families, and patient advocacy and support groups; and (3) establish, maintain, and operate a system to assess and coordinate treatment relating to congenital, genetic, and metabolic disorders.
 
Requires the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children to: (1) recommend a uniform screening panel for newborn screening programs that includes the heritable disorders for which all newborns should be screened; and (2) develop a model decision-matrix for newborn screening program expansion.
 
Directs the Secretary to adopt or reject any new or pending recommendations by the Advisory Committee.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) provide for quality assurance for screening laboratories; (2) provide for population-based pilot testing for evaluating use of new screening tools on a mass scale; (3) collect, analyze, and make available data on certain heritable disorders; and (4) operate regional centers for the conduct of applied epidemiological research on the prevention of such disorders.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3708-3710)
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3706-3707)
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Pharmacy Access Improvement (PhAIm) Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2664
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2006-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Administrative procedure
Commerce
Consumer education
Cost accounting
Department of Health and Human Services
Drugs
Electronic funds transfers
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Generic drugs
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Hospitals
Indian medical care
Intellectual property
Interest
Law
Long-term care
Mail-order business
Marketing
Medicare
Minorities
Names
Nursing homes
Pharmacies
Pharmacists
Physicians
Prescription pricing
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Standards
Telephone
Trademarks
Urban affairs
Urban areas

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: 
Pharmacy Access Improvement (PhAIm) Act of 2006 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program ) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to participating pharmacies and standards for access to them. Requires that such standards ensure that enrollees residing in long-term care facilities have access to a long-term care network pharmacy.
 
Requires prompt payment of clean claims to pharmacies by prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PD Plans) Defines prompt payment as within 14 days from submission for claims submitted electronically, and within 30 days for claims submitted otherwise. Requires payment of interest, also, if a payment is not issued, mailed, or otherwise transmitted within the applicable number of calendar days. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 24-hour toll-free telephone number dedicated to providing Medicare prescription drug benefit information to pharmacists and pharmacy staff.
 
Amends SSA title XVIII to require PDP sponsors to establish toll-free pharmacy and physician and provider hotlines.
 
Requires a PDP sponsor to utilize standardized technology for any communication or transaction occurring between the PDP and a participating pharmacy.
 
Prohibits a Medicare prescription drug card issued by a PDP sponsor from displaying the name, brand, logo, or trademark (co-branding) of any pharmacy.
 
Provides for submission of claims by pharmacies located in or contracting with long-term care facilities.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish reasonable dispensing fees for covered Medicare part D drugs dispensed through participating pharmacies.
 
Requires a PDP sponsor to encourage generic utilization by paying an increased dispensing fee for generic drugs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3710)
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate