hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National STEM Scholarship Database Act

Bill: 110-s-2428
Sponsor: Sen. Obama, Barack [D-IL]
Introduced: 2007-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Electronic mail systems
Engineering
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government publicity
Higher education
Mathematics
Minorities
Minority education
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Student aid
Technical education
Web sites
Women
Women's education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: 
National STEM Scholarship Database Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain, on the public website of the Department of Education, a database of information on public and private programs of financial assistance for the study of postsecondary and graduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

 Requires that such database: (1) provide separate information for each field of study; (2) be searchable by category and combinations of categories; (3) indicate programs targeted toward specific demographic groups; (4) provide searchers with program sponsor contact information and hyperlinks; and (5) include a recommendation that students and families carefully review application requirements and a disclaimer that scholarships presented in the database are not provided or endorsed by the Department or the federal government.

Requires the Secretary and the entity contracted to furnish and regularly update information to consult with public and private sources of scholarships and make easily available a process for the sources to provide regular and updated information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to equalize the limit on the liability for oil tankers and cargo vessels and to provide for the investment of amounts in the Damage Assessment Restoration Revolving Fund.

Bill: 110-s-2429
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Law
Liability for environmental damages
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Merchant ships
Oil pollution
Revolving funds
Tankers
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: 
Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to limit the liability for damages resulting from the discharge of oil into U.S. navigable waters or the exclusive economic zone by a cargo vessel to the same extent as such damages are limited for tank vessels. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to invest amounts deposited into the Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund in interest bearing U.S. obligations and to deposit the earned interest in such Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Maritime Emergency Prevention Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2430
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accident prevention
Civil actions and liability
Computers
Damages
Emergency Management
Labor and Employment
Law
Liability (Law)
Marine safety
Merchant seamen
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: 
Maritime Emergency Prevention Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to command, using the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), the pilot of a vessel to modify the speed or direction of a vessel in an emergency or hazardous conditions as determined by the local Coast Guard (CG) VTS director. Prohibits the filing of a civil action for damages against the Secretary or any officer in the exercise of their authority under this Act in any federal or state court.
 
Requires a federally licensed pilot of a vessel to carry and use a laptop computer equipped with a navigation system in cases where state or local pilotage authorities determine that the use of such computer is practical and necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to address emergency shortages in food banks.

Bill: 110-s-2431
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2007-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Appropriations
Economics and Public Finance
Food relief

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture $40 million of otherwise unappropriated funds to implement the emergency food assistance program established under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14855-14856)
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
AMT Equity Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2432
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2007-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Income tax
Minimum tax
Tax credits
Tax exemption
Tax penalties
Tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: 
AMT Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2007: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against regular and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability; and (2) the increased AMT exemption amounts. Repeals, for taxable years beginning in 2007, the AMT for individual taxpayers whose adjusted gross income does not exceed $100,000 ($200,000 in the case of a joint return). 

Imposes, for taxable years beginning in 2007, a graduated increase in capital gains tax rates for any individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million ($2 million in the case of a joint return). Exempts such a taxpayer from any estimated tax penalties resulting from an increase in capital gains tax rates in 2007. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Computer Trespass Clarification Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2434
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-12-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Computer crimes
Computer hackers
Computers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Contracts
Criminal investigation
Electronic surveillance
Internet
Law
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Victims of crimes
Warrants (Law)

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: 
Computer Trespass Clarification Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) exclude from the definition of &quot;computer trespasser&quot; for purposes of determining the legality of interceptions of computer communications any person who has any relationship with the owner or operator of a protected computer (currently, only persons who have a contractual relationship with the owner or operator of a protected computer are excluded); (2) require the owner or operator of a protected computer to be attempting to respond to communications activity that threatens the integrity or operation of such computer before authorizing the interception of a computer trespasser's communications by a person acting under color of law (e.g., law enforcement officers); and (3) limit the length of warrantless surveillance of a computer trespasser to the earlier of 96 hours or as soon as communications that are sought are obtained. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S15032-15033)
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15032)
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Reasonable Notice and Search Act

Bill: 110-s-2435
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-12-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congress
Evidence (Law)
Law
Searches and seizures
Sunset legislation
Warrants (Law)
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: 
Reasonable Notice and Search Act - Amends the federal criminal code to revise provisions governing search warrants authorized under the USA PATRIOT ACT to: (1) limit the authority to delay notice of the issuance of such search warrants to cases involving danger to the life or physical safety of an individual, flight from prosecution, destruction of or tampering with evidence sought by such warrants, or intimidation of potential witnesses; (2) require notification of the issuance of such warrants within seven days (currently, within a &quot;reasonable period not to exceed 30 days&quot;) after execution; and (3) allow extensions of the delay in notification for additional periods of up to 21 days if the court finds that the execution of a warrant will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual or result in flight from prosecution, destruction of or tampering with evidence sought by the warrant, or intimidation of potential witnesses.

Terminates the authority to delay notification of USA PATRIOT ACT search warrants on December 31, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S15033)
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15033)
action_date: 2007-12-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Dr. Luis A.M. Gonzalez and Dr. Virginia Aguila Gonzalez.

Bill: 110-s-2437
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2007-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Provides for the relief of Dr. Luis A.M. Gonzalez and Dr. Virginia Aguila Gonzalez.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2438
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2007-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Economics and Public Finance
Fees
National parks
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation
User charges
Water Resources Development
Wetlands
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: 
Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act of 2007 - Rewrites specified provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. 
 
Provides for the application and administration of certain admission and use fee authorities under the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965, the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, and the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 as if the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act had not been enacted. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the Law Enforcement National Data Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals as a separate offense category.

Bill: 110-s-2439
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2007-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Animals
Criminal justice information
Criminal statistics
Government Operations and Politics
Protection of animals

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: 
Requires the Attorney General to modify the National Incident Based Reporting System, the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and the Law Enforcement National Data Exchange Program to list cruelty to animals as a separate offense category.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15064)
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
FISA Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2440
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2007-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Courts of special jurisdiction
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Electronic surveillance
Foreign agents
International Affairs
Judicial review
Law
Supreme Court
Terrorism
Warrants (Law)

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: 
 FISA Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to authorize the Attorney General (AG) and Director of National Intelligence to jointly authorize, for periods up to one year, the targeting (electronic surveillance) of persons located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information. Requires specified targeting and surveillance minimization procedures to be followed, with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Court) review of such procedures.
 
States that chapters 119 (Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and Interception of Oral Communications) and 121 (Stored Wire and Electronic Communications and Transactional Records Access) of the federal criminal code and FISA shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance and interception of domestic communications may be conducted.
 
Requires the AG to submit semiannually to the congressional intelligence committees copies of any orders of the Court or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review that include significant construction or interpretation of FISA.
 
Revises generally provisions concerning the application for, and issue of, Court orders. Allows the AG to authorize the emergency employment of electronic surveillance under certain circumstances, including: (1) determining that an emergency exists; (2) informing a Court judge of such determination; and (3) applying for a Court order authorizing such surveillance. Provides similar authority an outlines similar procedures for the emergency employment of a physical search.
 
Requires the AG, after authorizing the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device on an emergency basis, to apply to the Court for an authorization order within 168 (current law requires 48) hours after the emergency installation and use.
 
Authorizes the Court to sit 
en banc 
when: (1) necessary to secure or maintain uniformity of Court decisions; or (2) the proceeding involves a question of exceptional importance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 529.
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2007-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with alternatives to comply with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.

Bill: 110-s-2442
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2007-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Appropriations
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Forest conservation
Forest health
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Supplemental appropriations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: 
Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to provide that the Secretary of Agriculture shall not be required to obligate funds to cover the cost of canceling a Forest Service stewardship multiyear contract until the contract is canceled.
 
Authorizes cancellation costs to be paid from: (1) appropriations originally made available for the contract's performance; (2) appropriations currently available for procurement of the type of service concerned and not otherwise obligated; or (3) funds appropriated for payments for such performance or procurement.
 
Provides that in a case in which payment or obligation of such funds would constitute an &quot;Anti-Deficiency Act&quot; violation the Secretary may: (1) seek a supplemental appropriation; or (2) request funds from a specified permanent judgment appropriation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the release of any revisionary interest of the United States in and to certain lands in Reno, Nevada.

Bill: 110-s-2443
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2007-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Nevada
Railroad land grants
Railroads
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: 
Releases any reversionary interests of the United States (including interests under the Union Pacific Railroad Act) in and to specified railroad lands in the City of Reno, Nevada, that were originally granted to the Union Pacific Railroad under the provisions of such Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-572.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Sustainability Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2444
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2007-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Building materials
Community and school
Conferences
Curricula
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government service contracts
Graduate education
Green products
Higher education
Industry-university relations
Nonprofit organizations
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Recycling of waste products
Refuse and refuse disposal
Research grants
School administration
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Sustainable development
Teacher education
Transportation and Public Works
Waste reduction

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: 
Higher Education Sustainability Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to establish sustainability programs at institutions of higher education (IHEs).
 
 Directs the Secretary to contract with an IHE, nonprofit organization, or consortium of such institutions for administration of the grant program.
 
Requires such programs to develop and implement: (1) sustainability practices, including in the areas of energy management, green building, waste management, purchasing, transportation, and toxics management; and (2) other aspects of sustainability that integrate campus operations with multidisciplinary educational programs and are applicable to the private and government sectors.
 
Directs the Secretary to convene a summit of higher education experts, federal representatives, and business and industry leaders to encourage cooperative efforts to enhance sustainability programs at IHEs and apply such programs to the community and workplace.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Citizenship Processing Backlog Reduction Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2446
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Citizenship
Civil service retirement
Department of Homeland Security
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Naturalization
Temporary employment

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: 
Citizenship Processing Backlog Reduction Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the application of provisions relating to annuities and pay on reemployment or any similar legal provision under a government retirement system on a case-by-case basis for an annuitant reemployed on a temporary basis if: (1) such waiver is necessary due to an emergency involving a direct threat to life or property or other unusual circumstances; or (2) the annuitant is employed in a position that provides assistance to the Secretary with a substantial backlog of naturalization petitions or assistance for processing petitions filed from January 31-July 30, 2007.

Provides that an annuitant as to whom such a waiver is in effect shall not be considered an employee for purposes of any government retirement system.

Terminates the Secretary's authority under this Act regarding naturalization petitions on January 1, 2009. Prohibits an annuitant to whom such a waiver applies from being so employed after January 1, 2010.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to make a technical correction to section 119 of title 17, United States Code.

Bill: 110-s-2447
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2007-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Cable television
Copyright
Intellectual property
Law
Licenses
Science, Technology, Communications
Television programs
Television relay systems

Summary:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: 
Applies statutory license requirements to secondary transmissions by a satellite carrier to subscribers in certain counties of primary transmissions of a network station located in a state in which there are located four such counties that, on January 1, 2004, had a specified combined number of television households and that were in local markets principally comprised of counties in another state, if the satellite carrier or any cable operator was making such secondary transmissions to any subscribers in such a county on that date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate