hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3714
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2006-07-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: College costs
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational tests
Elementary and secondary education
Engineering
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Graduate education
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Mathematics
Mentoring
Overhead costs
Recruiting of employees
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Teacher salaries
Teacher supply and demand
Teachers
Teaching
Technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: 
Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006 - Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to create a Math and Science Teaching Corps to significantly improve mathematics and science achievement among secondary school students. 
 
Requires the Director of the Corps to carry out a program that awards: (1) Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for Prospective Teachers (MSTC Fellowships) to teachers possessing comprehensive subject area knowledge; (2) grants to partner institutions to pay the tuition, fees, and overhead costs of the fellows; and (3) grants to participating local educational agencies to pay the expenses associated with facilitating the induction and professional development services for the fellows.
 
Requires MSTC Fellowship recipients to: (1) receive specified pedagogical training; (2) teach mathematics or science, for a specified stipend, in a public secondary school for four years, and participate in induction and professional development programs; (3) participate in additional weekend or summer professional development activities in their first two years of teaching; and (4) receive mentoring training in their third year of teaching, and provide mentoring in their fourth year.
 
Requires the Director to carry out a program that awards Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for Experienced Teachers (MSTC Master Fellowships). Requires an MSTC Master Fellowship recipient to: (1) continue to teach mathematics or science, for a specified stipend, in a secondary school of a participating agency for at least five of the seven years after receiving such fellowship; (2) serve as a leader and mentor within the individual's department and school; and (3) attend subject or pedagogy workshops offered by the participating local educational agency.
 
Requires that at least 30% of the recipients in each category of fellowship teach at hard-to-staff schools. Provides bonus stipends to such recipients.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the treatment of eligible combined defined benefit plans and qualified cash or deferred arrangements.

Bill: 109-s-3715
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2006-07-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Commerce
Defined benefit pension plans
Small business
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish a hybrid tax-exempt retirement plan to be known as an eligible combined plan, which is maintained by a small employer (having not more than 500 employees) and which combines features of a defined benefit plan and a qualified cash or deferred compensation arrangement. Sets forth benefit, contribution, vesting, and nondiscrimination requirements for such combined plans. Permits automatic contributions to such combined plans on behalf of employee participants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8261-8262)
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Pitcher Street in Utica, New York, as the "Captain George A. Wood Post Office Building".

Bill: 109-s-3716
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2006-07-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Army
Congressional tributes
Government Operations and Politics
Names
New York State
Officer personnel
Postal facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Pitcher Street in Utica, New York, as the "Captain George A. Wood Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8130)
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3717
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2006-07-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Agriculture and Food
Communication in medicine
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Exercise
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health education
Higher education
Hospitals
Mammography
Medical education
Medical residents
Medical screening
Medical supplies
Medical tests
Medicare
Nutrition
Physical fitness
Preventive medicine
Smoking
Social Welfare
Sports and Recreation
X-rays

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: 
Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2006 - Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to issue and periodically review standards setting forth the minimum technical criteria for medical diagnostic equipment used in medical settings, to ensure that such equipment: (1) is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and (2) allows independent entry to, use of, and exit from the equipment by such individuals to the maximum extent possible. Applies such standards to examination tables and chairs, weight scales, mammography equipment, x-ray machines, and other radiological equipment commonly used for diagnostic purposes by health professionals.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for programs to promote good health, disease prevention, and wellness for individuals with disabilities and prevent secondary conditions in such individuals. Requires the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee on Wellness for Individuals With Disabilities to set priorities to carry out such programs, review grant proposals, make recommendations for funding, and annually evaluate the progress of such programs in implementing the priorities.
 
Provides for training programs to improve competency and clinical skills for providing health care and communicating with patients with disabilities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8130-8131)
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Schools Energy Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3719
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2006-07-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative energy sources
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Energy
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
School buildings
Tax credits
Tax-exempt securities

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: 
Renewable Schools Energy Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for investment in qualified renewable school energy bonds. Defines &quot;qualified renewable school energy bond&quot; as a bond with a 20-year term, 95% of the proceeds of which are used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy products for public school and school district administrative buildings in states with a specified percentage of population growth. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8131-8132)
action_date: 2006-07-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Farm and Ranch Land Protection Flexibility Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3720
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation
Conservation easements
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Farm lands
Forest conservation
Grants-in-aid
Grassland ecology
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Real estate appraisal
Riparian ecology

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Farm and Ranch Land Protection Flexibility Act of 2006 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the farmland protection program.
 
Includes as eligible program land woodlots, wooded corners, and forested riparian areas that comprise up to 50% of the offered acreage.
 
Defines: (1) &quot;permanent conservation easement&quot;; and (2) &quot;qualified state or local entity.&quot;
 
 Gives priority to farm and ranchland: (1) with prime, unique, or other productive soils at risk of nonagricultural development; (2) that will stay in production agriculture; (3) in rural communities that face intense conversion pressure; (4) in areas that have locally-led land-use planning and zoning strategies; and (5) in watersheds that would benefit most from the protection of farm and ranch resources. 
 
Provides for: (1) grants to eligible state or local entities to purchase permanent conservation easements; and (2) grant agreements with eligible state or local entities to purchase conservation easements using a combination of their own funds and grant funds. 
 
Sets forth matching grant and performance standard provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Eightmile Wild and Scenic River Act

Bill: 109-s-3723
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut
Water Resources Development
Watersheds
Wild rivers

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Eightmile Wild and Scenic River Act - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments in the Eightmile River in Connecticut as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) manage Eightmile River in accordance with the Eightmile Watershed Management Plan, dated December 8, 2005, and such amendments to the Plan as the Secretary determines to be consistent with this Act; and (2) coordinate the management responsibilities of the Secretary relating to the River with the Eightmile River Coordinating Committee, as described in such Plan. 
 
Bars the Eightmile River from: (1) being administered as part of the National Park System; nor (2) being subject to laws and regulations that govern such System. 
 
Recognizes specified tributaries of the Eightmile River Watershed as integral to the protection and enhancement of the River and that watershed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8200-8201)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8199-8200)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
EPSCoR Research and Competitiveness Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3724
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
High technology
National Science Foundation
Research centers
Research grants
Scientific instruments and apparatus

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
EPSCoR Research and Competitiveness Act of 2006 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2011 to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). 
 
Requires the Director of the NSF: (1) in the administration of the NSF's research infrastructure improvement grant program, to authorize states participating in the grant program to include partnership with out-of-state research institutions if the amount of funding transferred to another state does not exceed 5% of the amount of the grant in any fiscal year; and (2) from the amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act, to make available specified amounts for FY2007-FY2011 to such grant program. 
 
Requires the Director to obligate and spend not less than 20% of the amount available for EPSCoR on co-funding projects that are ranked by a peer-review process in the top 20% of all proposals submitted in response to an announced competition. Requires the submission of annual reports providing information concerning: (1) co-funded projects on a state-by-state basis; and (2) the amount and use of co-funding by each of the NSF's directorates.
 
Requires the Director: (1) through the Office of Cyber Infrastructure, to develop and publish a plan enabling states participating in EPSCoR to develop partnerships and participate fully in the NSF's Cyber Infrastructure Initiative; and (2) through the Office of Major Research Instrumentation, to develop and publish a plan enabling states participating in EPSCoR to develop partnerships and participate fully in the NSF's major research instrumentation program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8201)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3725
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Cocaine
Crack (Drug)
Drug abuse
Drug traffic
Firearms
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Imprisonment
Law
Long-term care
Mandatory sentences
Nursing homes
Prison alternatives
Sentencing guidelines
Social Welfare
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violence
Weapons

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2006 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to to decrease mandatory minimum sentencing thresholds for powder cocaine and increase such thresholds for crack cocaine. 

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines to: (1) reflect changes to mandatory minimum sentences made by this Act; (2) provide increased sentences for defendants who use violence or weapons in the course of a drug trafficking offense or who play an active role in the commission of such offenses; and (3) limit sentencing for defendants who play a lesser role in the commission of drug offenses and who receive little or no compensation from their crime. 

Requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to carry out a pilot program for home detention of nonviolent prisoners age 65 or older.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Railroad Retirement Technical Improvement Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3726
Sponsor: Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of the Treasury
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Law
Railroad retirement plans

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Railroad Retirement Technical Improvement Act of 2006 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to repeal a provision requiring the Railroad Retirement Board to enter into an arrangement with a nongovernmental financial institution to serve as disbursing agent for annuity and death benefits. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to serve as the disbursing agent for such benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8410)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Residency Program Fairness Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3727
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Higher education
Hospital care
Hospitals
Housing and Community Development
Medical education
Medical residents
Medicare
Rural health
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Medicare Residency Program Fairness Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to payments to hospitals for the direct graduate medical education (DGME) costs of inpatient hospital services, particularly the redistribution among qualifying hospitals of unused resident positions which figure in the calculation of DGME costs.
 
Requires a specified adjustment to the reduction of Medicare resident positions for rural and small urban hospitals, where that reduction was based on a cost report subsequently settled, whether as a result of an appeal or otherwise, if the reference resident level under such settled cost report is higher than the resident level used for the reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8201-8202)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8201)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Stable Fire Funding Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3729
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Fire fighters
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Government trust funds
National forests

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Stable Fire Funding Act of 2006 - Establishes in the Treasury separate funds to be used to pay 80% of the cost for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service emergency wildland fire suppression activities that exceed amounts annually appropriated for wildland fire suppression activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring the Integrity of the Medicare Program Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3730
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2006-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Auditing
Collection of accounts
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Directories
Employee selection
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Labor and Employment
Medicare
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Ensuring the Integrity of the Medicare Program Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the use of recovery audit contractors under the Medicare Integrity Program for audits of Medicare secondary payer claims and activities. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Labor to provide for access by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS) and recovery audit contractors conducting audit and recovery activities under this Act to: (1) the National Directory of New Hires database; and (2) the database of the CMMS Coordination of Benefits Contractor with respect to specified audit and recovery periods.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3731
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2006-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional legal counsel
Congressional-executive relations
Constitutional law
Government Operations and Politics
Judicial opinions
Judicial review
Law
Legislation
Legislative resolutions
Parties to actions
Presidential powers
Senate
State courts
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: 
Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2006 - Prohibits any state or federal court from relying on or deferring to a presidential signing statement as a source of authority when determining the meaning of any Act of Congress. 
 
Provides that: (1) any U.S. court, upon the filing of an appropriate pleading by the Senate, through its Office of Senate Legal Counsel, and/or the House of Representatives, through its Office of General Counsel, may declare the legality of any presidential signing statement, whether or not further relief is or could be sought; and (2) any such declaration shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree and shall be reviewable as such. 
 
Amends federal law to provide for congressional intervention in any action, suit, or proceeding in the Supreme Court involving the construction or constitutionality of any Act of Congress for which a presidential signing statement was issued, including passage of a concurrent resolution declaring the view of Congress on the proper interpretation of the Act at issue.
 

 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8271-8272)
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain liquid crystal divide (LCD) flat panel displays.

Bill: 109-s-3732
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2006-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain liquid crystal divide (LCD) flat panel displays.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain plasma flat panel displays.

Bill: 109-s-3733
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2006-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain plasma flat panel displays.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate