hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2678
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2006-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administration of justice
Auditing
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Congressional-judicial relations
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Federal employees
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Inspectors general
Judges
Judicial ethics
Judicial officers
Misconduct in office
Supreme Court justices
Waste in government spending
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: 
Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2006 - Amends the federal judicial code to establish the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch of the U.S. government, to be headed by an Inspector General appointed by the Chief Justice.
 
Requires the Office to: (1) investigate matters pertaining to the Judicial Branch, including possible misconduct in office of justices and judges; (2) conduct and supervise audits and investigations; and (3) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse.
 
Provides for whistleblower protection. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Transforming Energy Now Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2680
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2006-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agricultural credit
Agriculture and Food
Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Commerce
Diesel motor
Economics and Public Finance
Energy prices
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal aid to transportation
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Hydrogen
Income tax
Law
Liquefied natural gas
Liquefied petroleum gas
Marketing
Motor vehicle pollution control
Natural gas
Service stations
Tax credits
Taxation
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: 
Transforming Energy Now Act of 2006 - Amends the Clean Air Act to establish a 10% minimum renewable fuel requirement for motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States after 2015.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 30 to 50% the tax credit rate for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property costs (service stations capable of dispensing alternative fuels to retail consumers).

Establishes in the Treasury the Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Trust Fund to provide grants to increase the number of retail service stations dispensing alternative transportation fuels. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to transfer 90% of civil penalties for noncompliance with automobile fuel economy standards to the Trust Fund to finance such grant program.

Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide low-interest loans to build service stations which dispense E-85 (85% ethanol content) fuel to retail consumers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Equipment Accountability Act

Bill: 109-s-2681
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2006-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces abroad
Armed forces reserves
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Iraq compilation
Military and naval supplies
Military operations
Military readiness
Military training
Military withdrawal
National Guard

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: 
National Guard Equipment Accountability Act - Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned, within 90 days after withdrawing or diverting equipment from a unit of the Reserve to a unit of the Reserve being ordered to active duty, or to a unit of a regular component of the Armed Forces, for purposes of the discharge of the mission of such unit or units, to report to the Secretary of Defense on the withdrawal or diversion of such equipment, including a plan to replace the equipment within the unit from which it was withdrawn or diverted.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3716-3717)
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to exclude from admission to the United States aliens who have made investments directly and significantly contributing to the enhancement of the ability of Cuba to develop its petroleum resources, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-2682
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2006-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Aliens
Boundaries
Caribbean area
Commerce
Contracts
Corporation directors
Corporations
Cuba
Energy development
Executives
Families
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign investments
Gas in submerged lands
Gas industry
Gas pipelines
Immigration
Latin America
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Married people
Natural gas
Oil and gas leases
Oil and gas royalties
Petroleum
Petroleum engineering
Petroleum in submerged lands
Petroleum industry
Petroleum pipelines
Prospecting
Sanctions (International law)
Stockholders
Submarine oil well drilling
Territorial waters
Transportation and Public Works
Treaties
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: 
States that the Maritime Boundary Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba shall have no force and effect after the date of the enactment of this Act.
 
Amends the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to exclude from U.S. entry an alien who: (1) is an officer or principal of an entity, or a shareholder who owns a controlling interest in an entity that makes an investment of $1 million or more (or any combination of investments that equals or exceeds $1 million in any 12-month period) that significantly contributes to Cuba's ability to develop petroleum and natural gas resources off its north coast; or (2) is a spouse, minor child, or agent of such person.
 
Exempts on a case-by-case basis entries for medical reasons or property-related litigation.
 
Defines &quot;investment&quot; for purposes of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3718)
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3717-3718)
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on 2-cyanopyridine.

Bill: 109-s-2683
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2006-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Chemicals
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on 2-cyanopyridine.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on Mixed Xylidines

Bill: 109-s-2684
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2006-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Chemicals
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on Mixed Xylidines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain textured rolled glass sheets.

Bill: 109-s-2685
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2006-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Commerce
Glass and glass industry
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on certain textured rolled glass sheets.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep the Promise of Medicare Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2687
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2006-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Indexing (Economic policy)
Insurance premiums
Medical economics
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: 
Keep the Promise of Medicare Act of 2006 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cap the Medicare part B premium for each month in 2007 at the same rate for each month in 2006, adjusted for inflation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Personal Philanthropy Account Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2688
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2006-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Charities
Employee benefit plans
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Law
Self-employed
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Tax penalties
Tax returns
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: 
Personal Philanthropy Account Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction (whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions) for cash contributions to a personal philanthropy account. Defines &quot;personal philanthropy account&quot; as a tax-exempt trust created to make distributions for charitable purposes. Sets forth rules providing for default charitable distributions in the event of an account holder's death and minimum annual distribution requirements.

Allows an exclusion from the gross income of an employee for contributions made by an employer to the employee's personal philanthropy account. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase certain alternative fuel and vehicle tax incentives and to eliminate certain tax incentives for major integrated oil companies, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-2689
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2006-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Coal
Commerce
Depletion allowances
Depreciation and amortization
Diesel motor
Electric vehicles
Energy
Energy prices
Energy supplies
Excise tax
Fuel cells
Geology
Geophysical prediction
Hydrogen
Income tax
Liquefied natural gas
Liquefied petroleum gas
Natural gas
Oil and gas royalties
Oil well drilling
Petroleum
Petroleum industry
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Service stations
Tax credits
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the tax credits for: (1) alcohol used as fuel; (2) biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel; (3) alternative fuels; (4) alternative motor vehicles; and (5) alternative fuel vehicle refueling property (service stations for dispensing ethanol and other alternative fuels to retail customers).
 
Denies to major integrated oil companies (companies with average daily worldwide crude oil production of at least 500,000 barrels) : (1) two-year amortization of geological and geophysical expenditures; (2) percentage depletion for oil and gas properties; and (3) tax deductions for intangible drilling and development costs. 
 
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from providing crude oil and natural gas producers on federal lands exemptions from royalty payment requirements during periods when the average U.S. price of crude oil is over $55 per barrel and the average price of natural gas is $10 per 1000 cubic feet.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing Knowledge, Innovation, and Leadership Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2691
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2006-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative remedies
Alien labor
Aliens
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Employee selection
Engineering
Engineers
Foreign students
Foreign-trained physicians
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Graduate education
Health
Higher education
Identification of criminals
Immigrant education
Immigrants
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Labor supply
Law
Mathematics
Minimum wages
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientists
Skilled labor
Temporary employment
Visas
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: 
Securing Knowledge, Innovation, and Leadership Act of 2006 or the SKIL Act of 2006 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt from the annual H-1B (specialty occupation) visa cap an alien who has: (1) earned a master's or higher degree from an accredited U.S. university; or (2) been awarded a medical specialty certification based on post-doctoral training and experience in the United States.
 
Increases the annual H-1B cap, with a 20% increase for the following year if the previous year's quota is reached. 
 
Exempts from worldwide immigration caps an alien who: (1) has earned a master's or higher degree from an accredited U.S. university; (2) has been awarded medical specialty certification based on postdoctoral training and experience in the United States; (3) will work in shortage occupations; (4) has earned a master's degree or higher in science, technology, engineering, or math and has been working in a related field in the United States during the three-year period preceding his or her immigrant visa application; (5) has extraordinary ability or received a national interest waiver; or (6) is the spouse or minor child of an employment-based immigrant.
 
Increases the annual immigrant visa cap.
 
Revises student visa provisions.
 
Authorizes an L-1 (intracompany transfer) visa extension beyond the fifth or seventh year if the individual has a immigrant application pending.
 
Permits an alien with an approved labor certification to apply for permanent resident status adjustment if there is no visa immediately available by paying a $500 supplemental fee.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a pre-certification procedure for employers who file multiple employment petitions.
 
Revises certain labor certification provisions.
 
Prohibits immigration application approval until background and security checks have been completed and any fraud allegations have been resolved.
 
Authorizes temporary workers (E, H, I, L O, or P visas) who have not violated their status to renew their same category visa from within the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3896)
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain microphones used in automotive interiors.

Bill: 109-s-2692
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2006-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Automobiles
Science, Technology, Communications
Sound recording and reproducing
Tariff
Transportation and Public Works
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on certain microphones used in automotive interiors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair and Accurate Representation Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2693
Sponsor: Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT]
Introduced: 2006-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census
Congress
Congressional districts
Illegal aliens
Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: 
Fair and Accurate Representation Act of 2006 - Amends federal census law to direct the Secretary of Commerce to adjust census figures as necessary so that illegal aliens are not counted for purposes of the apportionment of Representatives in the Congress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3896)
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2695
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2006-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Archives
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Federal aid to research
Federal employees
Freedom of information
Government paperwork
History
Internet
Licenses
Periodicals
Publishers and publishing
Research
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: 
Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006 - Requires each federal agency with extramural research expenditures of over $100 million to develop a specified federal research public access policy that is consistent with and advances the purposes of the agency. 
 
Makes each federal research public access policy applicable to: (1) researchers employed by the federal agency whose works remain in the public domain; and (2) researchers funded by the agency. Specifies exclusions.
 
Requires the submission of annual reports by each federal agency on its federal research public access policy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3898-3899)
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend all of the authorizations of appropriations and direct spending programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until after implementing legislation for the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization negotiations is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-2696
Sponsor: Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO]
Introduced: 2006-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Acreage allotments
Agricultural subsidies
Agriculture in foreign trade
Authorization
Congress
Cotton
Dairy industry
Department of Agriculture
Economics and Public Finance
Feed grains
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
Legislation
Milk
Peanuts
Sugar
Trade agreements
Trade negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: 
Extends, with specified exceptions, commodity programs and other direct spending programs under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until implementing legislation for the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations is enacted into law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3899)
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Act

Bill: 109-s-2697
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2006-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: ASEAN countries
Advice and consent of the Senate
Congress
Department of State
Diplomats
East Asia
Executive reorganization
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Presidential appointments

Summary:
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: 
United States Ambassador for ASEAN Act - Establishes in the Department of State the position of U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN.

action_date: 2006-05-25
text: 
United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Act - Establishes in the Department of State the position of U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Affairs. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.

action_date: 2006-09-07
text: 
United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Act - Establishes in the Department of State the position of U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-09-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2006-09-08
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2006-09-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2006-09-07
text: Passed Senate with amendments and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9214-9215; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S9214; text as passed Senate: CR S9214-9215)
action_date: 2006-09-07
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9214-9215; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S9214; text as passed Senate: CR S9214-9215)
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 457.
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Lugar with amendments and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2006-05-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Lugar with amendments and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2006-05-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3900)
action_date: 2006-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate