hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to increase the number of Federal judgeships, in accordance with recommendations by the Judicial Conference, in districts that have an extraordinarily high immigration caseload.

Bill: 109-s-3773
Sponsor: Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]
Introduced: 2006-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Congress
District courts
Government Operations and Politics
Immigration
Judges
Presidential appointments

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: 
Directs the President to appoint additional district court judges to carry out the 2005 recommendations of the Judicial Conference of the United States for district courts in which criminal immigration filings totaled more than 50% of all criminal filings for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2004.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8612)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8612)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

Bill: 109-s-3774
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2006-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Classified defense information
Federal employees
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Information leaking
Military personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: 
Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the intentional and unauthorized disclosure of classified information (information or material requiring protection against unauthorized disclosure for national security reasons). Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8612-8613)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
African Health Capacity Investment Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3775
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2006-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Access to health care
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Alien labor
Commerce
Communicable diseases
Community health services
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Data banks
Developing countries
Development credit institutions
Distance education
Economic assistance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Emigration
Environmental Protection
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Health facilities
Health information systems
Health planning
Health services administration
Health surveys
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Immigration
International agencies
International monetary system
Labor and Employment
Malaria
Mathematics
Medical economics
Medical education
Medical personnel
Medical supplies
Nongovernmental organizations
Nursing education
Occupational health and safety
Paramedical personnel
Performance measurement
Personnel management
Potable water
President and foreign policy
Preventive medicine
Public-private partnerships
Quality of care
Recruiting of employees
Rural health
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Student loan funds
Technical assistance
Tuberculosis
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Water quality
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: 
African Health Capacity Investment Act of 2006 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance, including through international or nongovernmental organizations, for programs to improve human health care capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.
 
Directs the President to develop and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for coordinating, implementing, and monitoring assistance programs for human health care capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8614-8616)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8778-8780)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
State-Based Health Care Reform Act

Bill: 109-s-3776
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2006-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Administrative fees
Airline passenger traffic
Ambulatory care
Auctions
Aviation safety
Commerce
Congress
Congressional hearings
Customs administration
Drugs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Grants-in-aid
Health insurance
Health planning
Higher education
Insurance premiums
Law
Licenses
Medicaid
Medical economics
Medically uninsured
Performance measurement
Quality of care
Radio spectrum allocation
Rebates
Social Welfare
Student loan funds
Transportation and Public Works
User charges

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: 
State-Based Health Care Reform Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Health Care Reform Task Force to: (1) approve state, local, or tribal applications for a health care reform grant; and (2) establish minimum performance measures with respect to coverage, quality, and cost of state health care programs.
 
Requires states seeking a grant to submit to the Task Force a state health care plan that: (1) designates the lead state entity that will be responsible for administering the program; (2) contains a list of the minimum benefits that will be provided to all individuals covered under the state program; (3) includes specific target dates for decreasing the number of uninsured individuals in the state; (4) describes how the state will ensure that an increased number of individuals residing within the state will have expanded access to health care coverage; (5) describes the minimum benefits package that will be provided to every beneficiary; (6) includes provisions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health care in the state; and (7) complies with premium and cost sharing limitations.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide a matching grant to a state with an approved application to enable the state to carry out the state health program.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the grant program and specifies offsetting savings and fee provisions. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to carry out a Student Aid Reward Program to encourage institutions of higher education to participate in the student loan program under such Act that is most cost-effective for taxpayers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8618-8621)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8616-8618)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Export Products Not Jobs Act

Bill: 109-s-3777
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Income tax
Interest
Tax deductions
Tax penalties
Tax rates
Tax shelters
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: 
Export Products Not Jobs Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) revise rules and definitions relating to the taxation of controlled foreign corporations to limit deferral of tax for certain types of income earned overseas; (2) treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled in the United States as domestic corporations for income tax purposes; (3) define &quot;economic substance&quot; for purposes of evaluating tax shelter transactions; (4) impose a penalty for underpayments of tax resulting from transactions lacking in economic substance; (5) deny a tax deduction for interest on such underpayments; and (6) eliminate the 35% income tax rate on corporations and personal service corporations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8622-8626)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8621-8622)
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide that if Congress enacts a phased-in increase in the Federal minimum wage as provided for in the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006, the pay increase of Members of Congress will be phased-in over the same time frame.

Bill: 109-s-3779
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2006-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional salaries
Cost of living adjustments
Labor and Employment
Legislation
Minimum wages

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: 
Requires a phased-in calendar 2007 cost-of-living pay adjustment for Members of Congress if a law is enacted during calendar 2006 that provides for an increase in the federal minimum wage that takes effect on two or more dates in any calendar year.
 
Prohibits any regularly scheduled cost-of-living adjustments for Members of Congress during calendar 2008 and 2009. Declares that the calendar 2007 adjustment shall be phased in by thirds over the three-year period 2007-2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2006-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Predict Accurate Storm Surge Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3780
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Coastal engineering
Flood damage prevention
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Planning
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Standards
Storms
Weather forecasting

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Predict Accurate Storm Surge Act of 2006 - Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce to develop a storm surge scale to be used in conjunction with the Saffir-Simpson scale to measure and predict the impact of storm surges.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Improvement Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3781
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alabama
Coastal zone
Disaster relief
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Flood control
Flood damage prevention
Highway finance
Homestead law
Housing and Community Development
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Hurricanes
Infrastructure
Land transfers
Land use
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mississippi
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Road construction
Transportation and Public Works
Urban affairs
Urban housing
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Disaster Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Improvement Act of 2006 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for hazard mitigation activities in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, except that: (1) the President may contribute up to 90% of the cost of hazard mitigation measures; (2) the assistance shall be available for at least five years; and (3) the total contributions for a major disaster shall not exceed 15% of the estimated aggregate amount of grants to be made under that Act for such hurricanes. Deems an enhanced mitigation plan of Louisiana or Mississippi to have been approved when the President declared a major disaster relating to such hurricanes if such a plan is approved within 180 days after enactment of this Act.
 
Allows funds made available for hazard mitigation for Louisiana in excess of $500 million to be made available for: (1) the design and construction of hurricane and flood protection projects and coastal restoration projects to reduce storm surge in any area in the state in which a major disaster relating to such hurricanes was declared by the President; (2) the construction and improvement of federal-aid highways or state highways within such area that the governor determines to be integral for the evacuation of southern Louisiana in response to a disaster; and (3) carrying out any coordinated effort authorized by the governor relating to environment or land use management, economic development, the acquisition or disposition of property, property management, or urban homesteading.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Hurricane and Flood Protection Tax Credit Act

Bill: 109-s-3782
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Emergency Management
Flood damage prevention
Hurricanes
Income tax
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Hurricane and Flood Protection Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 30% of expenditures for a hurricane or flood protection project which is authorized but unfunded (or partially funded) under federal law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Foreign Trade Zones Act to simplify the tax and eliminate the drawback fee on certain distilled spirits used in non-beverage products manufactured in a United States foreign trade zone for domestic use and export.

Bill: 109-s-3783
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Alcohol tax
Commerce
Drug industry
Finance and Financial Sector
Food additives
Food industry
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Free ports and zones
Health
Surety and fidelity
Tax penalties

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Foreign Trade Zones Act to permit the transfer of distilled spirits used in a foreign trade zone for the manufacture or production of nonbeverage products (i.e., medicines, medicinal preparations, food products, flavors, flavoring extracts, or perfume, which are unfit for beverage purposes) to an activated foreign trade zone without payment of applicable excise taxes. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) require manufacturers and producers of such nonbeverage products to file an adequate bond and permit; and (2) examine records and compel testimony to enforce the provisions of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Rhode Island Federal Worker Fairness Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3784
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Blue collar workers
Federal employees
Pay equity
Rhode Island
Skilled labor
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Rhode Island Federal Worker Fairness Act of 2006 - States that the wage schedules and rates applicable to prevailing rate employees in the Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, wage area shall be the same as the wage schedules and rates applicable to prevailing rate employees in the Boston, Massachusetts, wage area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8805)
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8804-8805)
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Surety Bond Improvement Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3785
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative fees
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Governmental investigations
Insurance premiums
Law
Small business
Surety and fidelity

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Surety Bond Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to: (1) authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee any surety against loss from a small business principal's breach of bond on any total work or contract amount that does not exceed $3 million (currently, $2 million); (2) allow the Administrator to authorize a surety that issues, monitors, or services such bonds to use rates approved by the insurance commissioner in the state in which the contract will be performed; and (3) prohibit the Administrator from refusing to make payment on a surety guarantee based on facts, circumstances, or defects that the Administrator should reasonably have identified during the guarantee process.
 
Requires the Administrator to notify the congressional small business committees regarding a proposed change in fees charged to guarantee surety bonds.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the surety bond guarantee program is not required to be self-funding and, therefore, may at times operate at a loss.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8805)
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Information Security Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3786
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Computer security measures
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Information technology
Internet
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Small Business Information Security Act of 2006 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish the Small Business Information Security Task Force to address the information technology security needs of small businesses. Requires the Task Force, among other duties, to make recommendations to the Administrator on the establishment of an Internet portal to be used by the SBA to receive and dispense information and resources with respect to such needs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8805-8806)
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-Day Slavery Act

Bill: 109-s-3787
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reorganization
Crime and Law Enforcement
Debtor and creditor
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Forced labor
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
Kidnapping
Labor and Employment
Law
Legislation
Marriage
Police
Prosecution
Prostitution
Public corruption
Rule of law
Sex-oriented businesses
Slavery
Smuggling
Victims of crimes
Women
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-day Slavery Act - Defines &quot;modern-day slavery.&quot;
 
Establishes a congressional Commission on the Abolition of Modern-day Slavery which shall: (1) study matters relating to modern-day slavery, including vulnerabilities of commonly affected populations; (2) study the roles of the rule of law, lack of enforcement, and corruption within international law enforcement institutions that allow the proliferation of modern-day slavery; (3) review relevant governmental programs; and (4) convene additional experts from nongovernmental organizations as part of the Commission's review. 
 
States that the Commission shall seek to promote goals of: (1) providing a comprehensive evaluation of best practices to prevent modern-day slavery, to rescue and rehabilitate its victims, and to prosecute traffickers and increase accountability within countries; (2) identifying countries which provide the greatest opportunity for abolition of modern-day slavery specific to U.S. involvement; (3) examining the economic impact on communities and countries that demonstrate measured success in fighting modern-day slavery; and (4) increasing education and awareness about modern-day slavery.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8807-8808)
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8806-8807)
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Assisted Suicide Prevention Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3788
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug abuse
Drugs
Euthanasia
Health
Pain
Suicide

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Assisted Suicide Prevention Act of 2006 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit medical practitioners from using a controlled substance for the purpose of assisting suicide or causing the death of any person. Provides that dispensing, distributing, or administering a controlled substance to alleviate pain or discomfort in the usual course of professional practice consistent with public health and safety is a legitimate medical purpose, even if the use of such substance may increase the risk of death. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Timely Access to Care Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3789
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2006-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Asbestos
Disabled
Environmental Protection
Health
Medicare
Old age, survivors and disability insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: 
Timely Access to Care Act of 2006 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage of individuals disabled by reason of exposure to tremolite asbestos. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate