hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct an inquiry into the retail prices of natural gas and gasoline.

Bill: 109-s-1732
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2005-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Alcohol as fuel
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Energy
Energy prices
Energy supplies
Gasoline
Governmental investigations
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Petroleum industry
Petroleum refineries
Petroleum reserves
Restrictive trade practices
Strategic materials

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: 
Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to: (1) initiate an inquiry into the retail prices (both before and after Hurricane Katrina) of natural gas and gasoline, including gasoline containing ethanol, within 14 days after enactment of this Act, to determine if they are being artificially manipulated by reduction of refinery capacity, by speculation in oil market, or by any other form of manipulation; (2) report the results to Congress within 14 days after initiation of the inquiry; and (3) hold a public hearing to present such results within 14 days after issuing the report.
 
Directs the FTC to: (1) take appropriate action in cooperation with the attorney general of any affected state if it determines that the increase in natural gas and gasoline prices, including gasoline containing ethanol, is a result of market manipulation; and (2) notify the Secretary of Energy if it determines that the increase in such prices is not the result of market manipulation. 
 
Requires the Secretary, within 14 days after receiving the FTC notification, to decide if expanded use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should be implemented to assure adequate supplies of gasoline.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish pilot projects under the medicare program to provide incentives for home health agencies to utilize home monitoring and communications technologies.

Bill: 109-s-1733
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2005-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Communication in medicine
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Government Operations and Politics
Home care services
Medical technology
Medicare
Performance measurement
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct pilot projects under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for the purpose of providing incentives to home health agencies to utilize home monitoring and communications technology.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10237)
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Valle Vidal Preservation Act

Bill: 109-s-1734
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2005-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Environmental Protection
National forests
Natural areas
Nature conservation
New Mexico

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: 
Valle Vidal Preservation Act - Establishes the Valle Vidal National Preserve in New Mexico to preserve the wildlife, scenic, watershed, recreational, geological, educational, and scientific values of the area. Withdraws federal lands within the Preserve from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land, mining, and mineral and geothermal leasing laws.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10237-10238)
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Iranian Nuclear Trade Prohibition Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1737
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Crime and Law Enforcement
Energy
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Import restrictions
Iran
Middle East and North Africa
Nuclear exports
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear nonproliferation
President and foreign policy
State-sponsored terrorism
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: 
Iranian Nuclear Trade Prohibition Act of 2005 - Expresses the sense of Congress that countries should choose between trading with state sponsors of terrorism or maintaining good trade relations with the United States. 
 
Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to direct the President to prohibit the United States or any U.S. entity from purchasing nuclear fuel assemblies (not including low-enriched uranium) from any person or government or affiliated entity that sells nuclear fuel assemblies to Iran. Authorizes the President, with congressional notification, to waive such prohibition for national security purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2005-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the material witness statute to strengthen procedural safeguards, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-s-1739
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Arrest
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal investigation
Depositions
Detention of persons
Evidence (Law)
Grand jury
Law
Right to counsel
Subpoena
Warrants (Law)
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Rewrites provisions of the federal criminal code regarding material witnesses.
 
 Authorizes a judicial officer (officer) to: (1) order the arrest of a person as a material witness if it appears from an affidavit filed by a party in a federal criminal case, or by a government attorney in a matter before a federal grand jury, that there is probable cause to believe that the person's testimony is material and that the person has been served with a summons or subpoena (summons) and has failed or refused to appear; and (2) waive the summons requirement upon finding by clear and convincing evidence that service is likely to result in the person fleeing or that the person's appearance cannot adequately be secured.
 
Establishes warrant requirements, including that the witness be brought before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay and be informed of the right to counsel. 
 
Requires an officer, at the initial appearance, to: (1) inform a witness of the warrant and right to counsel; (2) allow the witness a reasonable opportunity to consult with counsel; and (3) release or detain the witness (authorizes detention where release will not reasonably assure the witness's appearance, but only if the testimony cannot adequately be secured by deposition). Limits the detention period. 
 
Requires: (1) a detention order to direct that a witness be held in a facility separate from persons charged with or convicted of a criminal offense, under the least restrictive conditions possible; and (2) the Attorney General to report annually to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S10298-10299)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10296-10298)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Generate Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1740
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Dividends
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Mutual funds
Saving and investment
Tax deferral
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Generate Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding Act of 2005 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that no gain shall be recognized on the receipt of a capital gain dividend distributed by a regulated investment company if such dividend is automatically reinvested in additional shares of the company pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S10299)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10299)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Food and Stamp Act of 1977 to exclude certain military housing allowances from the eligibility requirements for food stamps.

Bill: 109-s-1742
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Food stamps
Housing and Community Development
Housing subsidies
Military housing
Military pay
Social Welfare
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exclude certain military housing allowances from food stamp eligibility requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Post-Disaster Consumer Protection Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1743
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Aviation fuels
Diesel motor
Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy prices
Fines (Penalties)
Gasoline
Governmental investigations
Heating
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Law
Petroleum
Petroleum industry
Profit
Restrictive trade practices
Service stations
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Post-Disaster Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - Makes it unlawful for a supplier to sell, or to offer to sell, any oil or gas product at an unconscionably excessive price (&quot;price gouging&quot;) during the 30-day period following declaration of a major disaster by the President.
 
Defines &quot;unconscionably excessive price&quot; as one that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determines represents a gross disparity between the price charged by a supplier for that product after a major disaster is declared and the average price the supplier charged for that product in the affected area during the 30-day period immediately before the disaster declaration.
 
Empowers the FTC to: (1) treat a violation of this Act as an unfair or deceptive act or practice prohibited under the Federal Trade Commission Act (ACT); and (2) prevent any person from violating this Act in the same manner as provided under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
Subjects a violator of this Act to the penalties provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S10300)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10299-10300)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Price Gouging Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1744
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Diesel motor
Disasters
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy prices
Fines (Penalties)
Gasoline
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Law
Legal fees
Petroleum industry
Prices
Profit
Punitive damages
Telephone

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Price Gouging Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to direct the Federal Trade Commission to: (1) consult with certain senior law enforcement officials following the declaration of a major disaster by the President in order to determine whether any supplier is charging unconscionably excessive prices for gasoline or diesel fuel in the affected area; (2) establish a toll-free hotline to receive consumer reports of price gouging in the affected area; and (3) establish a program to develop and distribute public informational materials in English and Spanish to assist residents of the affected area in detecting and avoiding price gouging.
 
Prohibits unconscionably excessive prices for any gasoline or diesel fuel in an affected area during the 180-day period after the date on which a major disaster is declared by the President.
 
Subjects violations of this Act to specified civil and criminal penalties.
 
Authorizes victims and state Attorneys General to bring a civil action against violators of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S10300-10301)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Services Disaster Assistance Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1745
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Alabama
Authorization
Block grants
Community development
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Hurricanes
Infrastructure
Louisiana
Mississippi
Poverty
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Community Services Disaster Assistance Act of 2005 - Provides that a state that receives a payment or allotment under the Community Services Block Grant Act (CSBGA) may use not more than 1% of the portion of the block grant payment or allotment available for expenditure to transfer funds to Louisana, Mississippi, or Alabama. Requires a state that receives such funds to use them to make community services grants, or carry out related activities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive income limitations on eligibility to receive CSBGA assistance for any area in which the President has determined that an emerency, or a major disaster exists, related to Hurricane Katrina, for the purpose of assisting individuals who resided in such an area on August 22, 2005.
 
Provides that an eligible entity or a state lead agency may send an employee who receives compensation under CSBGA to such an area to provide disaster assistance. 
 
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) federal law permits the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to utilize eligible entities to provide emergency assistance under CSBGA; and (2) FEMA should make this emergency assistance available to such entities immediately.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 219.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Relief Personnel Protection Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1746
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Assault
Capital punishment
Disaster relief
Disasters
Emergency Management
Federal employees
Federal officials
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Homicide
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Life imprisonment
Mandatory sentences
Military civic action
Military personnel
Protection of officials
Sentences (Criminal procedure)

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Emergency Relief Personnel Protection Act of 2005 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit, during a presidentially-declared major disaster or emergency, forcibly assaulting, resisting, or interfering with: (1) any U.S. officer or employee performing official duties relating to the emergency or any person assisting such officer; and (2) any person providing services in support of disaster relief efforts in coordination with a federal coordinating officer. Provides for enhanced penalties for using or possessing a deadly or dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury in the commission of such a violation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Good Samaritan Liability Improvement and Volunteer Encouragement Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1747
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Aviation safety
Charitable contributions
Civil actions and liability
Damages
Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Employers' liability
Equipment and supplies
Evidence (Law)
Federal preemption
Good samaritan laws
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Judicial review
Labor and Employment
Liability (Law)
Nonprofit organizations
Punitive damages
Social Welfare
State courts
State laws
Traffic accidents and safety
Transportation and Public Works
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Good Samaritan Liability Improvement and Volunteer Encouragement Act of 2005 (GIVE Act of 2005) - Exempts from liability for acts or omissions: (1) disaster relief volunteers; (2) employers or business partners of disaster relief volunteers; (3) hosts or enabling persons, entities, or organizations; and (4) governmental and intergovernmental entities for donations of disaster relief goods.
 
Specifies limits to punitive and non-economic damages for willful, knowing, or reckless misconduct based on the actions of disaster relief volunteers and governmental or intergovernmental donors.
 
Provides for: (1) judicial review of allegations; (2) supplemental disaster declarations by the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (3) state election for nonapplicability of a provision of this Act to certain civil actions in state court.
 
Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 with respect to liability protection for actions of volunteers generally.
 
Exempts persons from civil liability relating to any injury or death involving: (1) donations of equipment to nonprofit organizations; or (2) use of facilities, a motor vehicle or aircraft provided to nonprofit organizations.
 
Provides for judicial review of allegations


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10301-10302)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a congressional commission to examine the Federal, State, and local response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Region of the United States especially in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas impacted in the aftermath and make immediate corrective measures to improve such responses in the future.

Bill: 109-s-1748
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alabama
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional oversight
Congressional reorganization
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency communication systems
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal budgets
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Hurricanes
Louisiana
Mississippi
Planning
Science, Technology, Communications
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Establishes in the legislative branch a bipartisan Katrina Commission to report to the President and Congress on : (1) the federal, state, and local response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Region of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other affected areas; (2) the circumstances surrounding the Hurricane's approach, and the extent of federal, state, and local government preparedness for and response to it; (3) planning necessary for future cataclysmic events that will require a significant marshaling of federal resources, mitigation, response, and recovery to avoid significant loss of life; (4) whether any decisions differed with respect to response and recovery for different communities, and what problems occurred as a result of a lack of a common plan, communication structure, and centralized command structure; and (5) immediate corrective measures that can be taken to prevent problems with federal response to future cataclysmic events.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 220.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Wages for Hurricane Katrina Recovery Workers Act

Bill: 109-s-1749
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2005-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alabama
Commerce
Construction industries
Construction workers
Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Floods
Government contractors
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Hurricanes
Labor and Employment
Louisiana
Minimum wages
Mississippi
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: 
Fair Wages for Hurricane Katrina Recovery Workers Act - Reinstates the application of the wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act to all federal contracts in counties affected by Hurricane Katrina, notwithstanding the President's proclamation dated September 8, 2005, or any other provision of law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10302-10303)
action_date: 2005-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Guarantee Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-1750
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2005-09-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Entitlements
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Social security beneficiaries

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: 
Social Security Guarantee Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a benefit guarantee certificate to each individual born before 1950 who is determined by the Commissioner of Social Security as of the date of the issuance of the certificate to be entitled to benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act.

States that any such certificate constitutes budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts, and represents the obligation of the federal government to provide for the payment to the individual to whom the certificate is issued benefits under OASDI in amounts in accordance with the guarantee set forth in the certificate. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-11-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12828-12829)
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10379-10380)
action_date: 2005-09-22
text: Introduced in Senate