hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain rubber basketballs.

Bill: 109-s-2580
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Basketball
Commerce
Equipment and supplies
Rubber
Sports and Recreation
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend through December 31, 2009, the duty on certain rubber basketballs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain volleyballs.

Bill: 109-s-2581
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Equipment and supplies
Sports and Recreation
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on certain volleyballs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain basketballs.

Bill: 109-s-2582
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Basketball
Equipment and supplies
Sports and Recreation
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on certain basketballs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain synthetic basketballs.

Bill: 109-s-2583
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Basketball
Commerce
Equipment and supplies
Sports and Recreation
Synthetic products
Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 2009, the duty on certain synthetic basketballs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Rocky Mountain Forest Insects Response Enhancement and Support Act

Bill: 109-s-2584
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Arizona
Biomass energy
Colorado
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Energy
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Forest health
Forest management
Grants-in-aid
Idaho
Infrastructure
Logging
Mining royalties
Montana
National forests
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oil and gas royalties
Pests
South Dakota
Tree diseases
Utah
Water Resources Development
Water supply
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Rocky Mountain Forest Insects Response Enhancement and Support Act or the Rocky Mountain FIRES Act - Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to require the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to use not less than 70% of the funds allocated for authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects in the Rocky Mountain region for: (1) projects in the wildland-urban interface; and (2) projects on land that is in proximity to a municipal water supply system or a stream feeding such a system in a municipal watershed and that has been identified for such projects in community wildfire protection plans. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to designate insect-emergency areas. 
 
Authorizes grants to: (1) at-risk communities in the Rocky Mountain region to assist such communities in preparing or revising a community wildfire protection plan; and (2) owners or operators of facilities that use biomass to offset their costs of purchasing biomass.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish at least one collection point for the placement of vegetative material removed from federal or other land as part of a hazardous fuel reduction project.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3235)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Fallen Heroes Family Savings Act

Bill: 109-s-2585
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Education
Education savings accounts
Finance and Financial Sector
Government life insurance
Health
Higher education
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Labor and Employment
Medical savings accounts
Military pensions
Survivors' benefits
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Fallen Heroes Family Savings Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax free rollovers of military death gratuities to Roth individual retirement accounts, health savings and Archer medical savings accounts, and Coverdell education savings accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3235-3236)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Minority Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pilot Program of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2586
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Black colleges
Business education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Curricula
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Entrepreneurs
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to education
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign trade promotion
Higher education
Hispanic Americans
Indian education
Management
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Minority education
Science, Technology, Communications
Service industries
Small business
Social Welfare
Strategic planning
Technology transfer

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Minority Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pilot Program of 2006 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to make grants to historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges, and Hispanic serving institutions, or to any entity formed by a combination of such institutions: (1) to assist in establishing an entrepreneurship curriculum for undergraduate or graduate studies; and (2) for the placement of small business development centers on the physical campus of the institution.

Requires an institution of higher education receiving a grant to: (1) develop a curriculum that includes training in various skill sets needed by successful entrepreneurs; and (2) open a small business development center. 
 
Limits this pilot program to two fiscal years, and a grant to $1 million per fiscal year for any one institution of higher education.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3236-3237)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Firefighters Special Operation Task Force Act

Bill: 109-s-2587
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Chemical industries
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency communication systems
Employee training
Energy
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Fire departments
Fire fighters
Fire prevention
Grants-in-aid
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Layoffs
Motor vehicles
Nuclear power plants
Petroleum refineries
Police communication systems
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Weapons of mass destruction

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Firefighters Special Operation Task Force Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to authorize the Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration to award grants to a task force (two or more fire services operating under a cooperative agreement to coordinate incident response within a geographic area) for: (1) salary and benefits to hire or rehire firefighting personnel to provide services to the task force; (2) expenses related to the participation of firefighting personnel in appropriate training courses offered by the Department of Homeland Security, the National Fire Academy, or a state or local fire academy; (3) training related to incident response; (4) appropriate equipment or support systems for task force members; or (5) improved communications between task force members and a local police department or hospital.
 
Requires the Administrator, in selecting grantees, to give priority to task forces serving geographic areas within 50 miles of: (1) a nuclear power facility; (2) a large facility that produces, treats, or refines chemicals or petroleum products; (3) a business district of national significance; or (4) a location with one or more critical infrastructures.
 
Requires grantees to provide non-federal matching funds of at least 55% of the amount awarded by the Administrator for each fiscal year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care Access for Small Businesses Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2588
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Health insurance
Insurance premiums
Married people
Medical economics
Medically uninsured
Nonprofit organizations
Performance measurement
Small business
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Health Care Access for Small Businesses Act of 2006 - Amends the Social Security Act to create a new title XXII to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants for the startup and operation of 50 eligible three-share pilot programs for a five-year period. Characterizes a three-share program as three-way health insurance premium sharing among employer, employee, and the grant funds.
 
Authorizes the use of grants to establish three-share programs, provide for contributions to premiums, and establish risk pools.
 
Requires grant applicants to: (1) be either nonprofits or local governmental entities; (2) define the program's service region; (3) have the capacity to carry out administrative functions associated with managing health plans; and (4) have demonstrated community involvement.
 
Requires programs to pay for the costs of services through monthly premiums, divided among employee, employer, and grant funds according to specified percentages.
 
Sets forth minimal coverage requirements for three-share program eligibility.

Requires the Administrator to develop a formula to determine which businesses qualify as distressed businesses for purposes of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4883-4884)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to exempt persons with disabilities from the prohibition against providing section 8 rental assistance to college students.

Bill: 109-s-2591
Sponsor: Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federal aid to housing
Higher education
Housing subsidies
Law
Rental housing
Social Welfare
Students
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Amends the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, relating to the tenant-based rental assistance program, to exempt certain students with disabilities from the prohibition against providing Section 8 assistance to college students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2592
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agriculture and Food
Body weight
Child health
Child nutrition
Chronically ill
Department of Agriculture
Diet
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Fund raising
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Law
Obesity
Oils and fats
Salt
School lunch program
Sugar
Vending machines

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2006 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to revise the definition of &quot;food of minimal nutritional value,&quot; the sale of which in areas where school meals are sold or eaten is prohibited as a condition for federal funding of school lunch and breakfast programs.
 
 Applies such definition (and prohibition) to all food sold outside such programs anywhere on school campuses at any time of the day, with the possible limited exemption of food sold at school fundraisers.
 
Requires the Secretary, when revising such definition, to consider the recommendations of authoritative scientific organizations and evidence concerning the relationship between diet and health.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3241-3242)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3240-3241)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom of Choice Act

Bill: 109-s-2593
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Abortion
Civil actions and liability
Communication in medicine
Discrimination in medical care
Discrimination in public facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Health
Law
Patients' rights
Reproduction
Sex discrimination
Women
Women's health
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
Freedom of Choice Act - Declares that it is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to: (1) bear a child; (2) terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or (3) terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health. 
 
Prohibits a governmental entity from: (1) denying or interfering with a woman's right to exercise such choices; or (2) discriminating against the exercise of those rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information. Provides that such prohibition shall apply retroactively. 
 
 Authorizes an individual aggrieved by a violation of this Act to obtain appropriate relief, including relief against a governmental entity, in a civil action.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3242-3243)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3242)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
7(a) Loan Program Reauthorization Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2594
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Bank loans
Business education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Economics and Public Finance
Entrepreneurs
Executive reorganization
Federally-guaranteed loans
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Law
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Ombudsman
Small Business Administration
Small business
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
7(a) Loan Program Reauthorization Act of 2006 - Amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize through FY2009 the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program under section 7(a) of such Act (guaranteed general business loans to small businesses). Increases the maximum amount of individual loans. Authorizes: (1) lower loan fees in some cases; and (2) an alternative business size standard for purposes of loan qualification.
 
Establishes within the SBA an Office of Minority Small Business Development, administered by the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business Development.
 
Directs the SBA Administrator to establish a National Preferred Lenders Program, under which the Administrator may authorize an SBA-preferred lender to operate in any area served by a district office of the SBA and make loans to small businesses in such areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3243-3245)
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
504 Loan Program Modernization Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2595
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2006-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Depressed areas
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Law
Loan defaults
Loans
Nonprofit organizations
Rural economic development
Securities
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: 
504 Loan Program Modernization Act of 2006 - Amends the Small Business Act to extend through FY2009 the authorization of appropriations for the 504 Loan Program (a program initiated under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 that provides long-term financing to small businesses for expansion or modernization, delivered through nonprofit certified development companies (CDCs) established in the communities of such small businesses).
 
Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to outline requirements for development companies to qualify as CDCs for purposes of small business loans guaranteed by and administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Includes among such requirements that such companies: (1) employ fewer than 500 employees; (2) have a primary function of providing long-term financing to small businesses under the 504 Loan Program; and (3) maintain nonprofit status. Outlines additional requirements concerning board of directors, staffing, areas of operations (including multistate operation), and conflicts of interests. Includes as a goal of CDC projects the expansion of business in low-income communities.
 
Provides for, among other things: (1) the repeal of the sunset on reserve requirements for premier certified lenders; (2) permissible debt refinancing for state and local development companies; (3) a report from the SBA Administrator assessing the impact on fostering economic development caused by changes in fees for SBA-guaranteed small business loans; (4) additional equity for small business loans; (5) CDC contracting with a qualified third party to perform foreclosures and liquidations of defaulted small business loans; and (6) a report from the Administrator on the operation of the Premier Certified Lenders Program during the previous three-year period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2006-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the boundaries for a certain empowerment zone designation.

Bill: 109-s-2596
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2006-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Boundaries
Economics and Public Finance
Enterprise zones
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Maine
Rural economic development
Tax incentives

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: 
Includes all of Aroostook County, Maine, within the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone (for Department of Agriculture empowerment zone purposes).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3381)
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3380-3381)
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Housing Fairness Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2597
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2006-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Mortgage guaranty insurance
Mortgages
Single family housing

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: 
 Federal Housing Fairness Act of 2006 - Amends the National Housing Act to revise eligibility requirements for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) single family mortgage insurance to increase the maximum principal obligation to the lesser of: (1) 100% (currently 95%) of the median single-family house price in the area; or (2) 100% (currently 87%) of the alternative the dollar amount limitation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Alpena, Michigan, Community Based Outpatient Clinic Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2598
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2006-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Clinics
Health
Michigan
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: 
Alpena, Michigan, Community Based Outpatient Clinic Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and operate a community-based outpatient clinic for veterans at a location selected by the Secretary in Alpena, Michigan.
 
Requires clinic operation within one year after the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2006-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate