hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2530
Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Commerce
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Cost accounting
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Endangered species
Energy
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Finance and Financial Sector
Power marketing administrations
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrators of the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Southeastern Power Administration to provide: (1) estimates of each customer's share of each Administration's direct and indirect costs for compliance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in monthly billing statements; and (2) an annual report estimating such costs (on a project-by-project basis for the Western Area Power Administration and on a system-wide basis for the other Administrations) to the House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Improved Hurricane Tracking and Forecasting Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2531
Sponsor: Rep. Melancon, Charlie [D-LA-3]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Emergency Management
Hurricanes
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine biology
Meteorological satellites
Ocean currents
Oceanography
Space activities
Storms
Weather forecasting

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Improved Hurricane Tracking and Forecasting Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to carry out a program for an improved ocean surface winds vector satellite for purposes including: (1) to address science and application questions related to air-sea interaction and coastal circulation; (2) to improve forecasting for hurricanes, coastal winds and storm surge, and other weather-related disasters; (3) to ensure continuity of quality for satellite ocean surface vector wind measurements so that existing weather forecasting and warning capabilities are not degraded; and (4) to advance satellite ocean surface vector wind data capabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Minority-Owned Venture Empowerment Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2532
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Competitive bidding
Crime and Law Enforcement
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Law
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Minority-Owned Venture Empowerment Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program, to be known as the Pre-8(a) Program, to provide technical assistance to small businesses with respect to the receipt and performance of federal procurement contracts. Prohibits a participating small business from being awarded a contract under the Program which is awarded using procedures other than competitive procedures under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (wherein the SBA provides for the performance of federal procurement contracts by small, disadvantaged, and minority-owned businesses). Limits to $750,000 the maximum net worth of a small business Program participant.
 
Modifies the 8(a) program under the Small Business Act to require small businesses to complete the Pre-8(a) Program before participating in the 8(a) program. Limits to $100 million the aggregate value of contracts an 8(a) participant may enter into. Requires the Administrator, for the 8(a) program, to establish for each industry classification a maximum level of net worth for an economically disadvantaged individual, but prohibits establishing a net worth of less than $750,000. Makes some small businesses eligible for 8(a) participation in a contract using other than competitive procedures (restricted competition), under certain circumstances.
 
Allows a contracting officer, under specified conditions, to utilize restricted competition in the award of federal procurement contracts for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
FERS Redeposit Act

Bill: 110-hr-2533
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Annuities
Civil service retirement
Congress
Congressional pensions
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government trust funds
Interest
Labor and Employment
Survivors' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
FERS Redeposit Act - Allows each federal employee who has returned to government service and who has received a refund of retirement contributions under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) (or any other retirement system established for federal employees covering service for which such employee or Member may be allowed credit under FERS provisions) to deposit (to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund) the amount that was so received, with interest. Allows deposits in one or more installments. 
 
Disallows the recapture of credit for service covered by the refund until such a deposit is made.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2007-05-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1164)
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
To permit statues honoring citizens of the District of Columbia to be placed in Statuary Hall in the same manner as statues honoring citizens of the States are placed in Statuary Hall, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-2534
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Commemorations
District of Columbia
Government Operations and Politics
Sculpture

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Permits statues honoring deceased citizens of the District of Columbia to be placed in Statuary Hall. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1166-1167)
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
HOPE VI Green Building and Technical Assistance Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2536
Sponsor: Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Affordable housing
Building construction
Computers
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to housing
Government Operations and Politics
Green products
Internet
Law
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public housing
Recycling of waste products
Residential rehabilitation
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
HOPE VI Green Building and Technical Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prescribe green communities requirements for grant applicants regarding revitalization programs for severely distressed public housing.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from making a grant unless the applicant's revitalization plan complies with both the mandatory and some of the nonmandatory green communities affordable housing design, development, and operation criteria as they appear on the national Green Communities program checklist. Adds to such criteria specified requirements for nonresidential structures covered by the plan.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish verification procedures.
 
Repeals current technical assistance and program oversight funding authority, including those for assistance in connection with establishment and operation of computer centers in public housing through the Neighborhoods Networks initiative. Replaces it with mandatory funding for additional grants to assist: (1) potential and actual revitalization grant applicants in developing and planning revitalization programs; or (2) revitalization grant recipients in obtaining technical assistance in carrying out such programs.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Defend the American Dream Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2538
Sponsor: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-8]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Advertising
Alien labor
Aliens
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Electronic government information
Employee rights
Employers' liability
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Income tax
Law
Personnel records
Recruiting of employees
Science, Technology, Communications
Skilled labor
Small business
Tax returns
Taxation
Transfer of employees
Visas
Wages
Web sites
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Defend the American Dream Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require employers of H-1B (specialty occupations) nonimmigrants to use one of three specified methods (whichever results in the highest wages) to determine wages for purposes of required wage attestations. Requires such employers who previously employed one or more H-1B nonimmigrants to submit with their labor condition application (LCA) a copy of the W-2 Wage and Tax Statement filed with respect to those nonimmigrants. 

Extends to 180 days the period during which certain H-1B employers must show nondisplacement of U.S. workers. Requires such employers to actively engage in recruitment efforts. Prohibits such employers from outsourcing or otherwise contracting for the placement of an H-1B nonimmigrant with another employer, regardless of whether the other employer is H-1B dependent employer. 

Revises H-1B employer requirements with respect to: (1) job advertising on a free Department of Labor website (as required under this Act); (2) information sharing; (3) prohibiting H-1B-exclusive employment advertising; and (4) prohibiting an employer of not less than 50 employees in the United States from having more than 50% H-1B nonimmigrant employees. 

Eliminates the exemption from H-1B numerical admission limitations for certain aliens with a US master's or higher degree.

Revises the H-1B definition of &quot;specialty occupation.&quot;

Requires the Secretary of Labor to be responsible for investigations of wage complaints and allegations of fraud in the filing of LCAs. Increases monetary penalties for LCA violations.

Applies the nondisplacement requirement to all H-1B employers.

Provides H-1B alien whistleblower protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
National Guard Redeployment and Homeland Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2539
Sponsor: Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces abroad
Congress
Congress and military policy
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military and naval supplies
Military occupation
Military operations
Military posture
Military withdrawal
National Guard

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
National Guard Redeployment and Homeland Protection Act of 2007 - Requires the President, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to: (1) complete the redeployment to the United States of Army and Air National Guard units serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and (2) return all essential National Guard equipment used in such Operation to the states for use for domestic security purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Honoring Existing Retirement Obligations for Every Servicemember Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2540
Sponsor: Rep. Pomeroy, Earl [D-ND-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employee rights
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Military personnel
Pension funds
Veterans' employment
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Honoring Existing Retirement Obligations for Every Servicemember Act of 2007 - Provides that, with respect to a person whose absence from regular employment was necessitated by required service in the uniformed services, if that person dies during the period of such service, then the employer shall treat the person as not having incurred a break in employment until the date of the person's death, for purposes of pension and retirement benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Tribal Economic Development and Infrastructure Support Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2541
Sponsor: Rep. Renzi, Rick [R-AZ-1]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Community development
Economics and Public Finance
Federal-Indian relations
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government securities
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Indian economic development
Indian housing
Infrastructure
Minorities
Poverty
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Tribal Economic Development and Infrastructure Support Act of 2007 - Amends the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to: (1) authorize Indian tribes to issue notes and other obligations (guarantee loans) to finance community and economic development activities; and (2) require at least 70% of the aggregate funds received by an Indian tribe or tribally designated housing entity as a result of a guarantee under such Act to be used for the support of activities that benefit low-income Indian families on Indian reservations and other Indian areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Border Law Enforcement Enhancement Act

Bill: 110-hr-2542
Sponsor: Rep. Rodriguez, Ciro D. [D-TX-23]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Arizona
Boundaries
California
Detention of persons
Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to law enforcement
Hours of labor
Illegal aliens
Immigration
Labor and Employment
Law enforcement officers
New Mexico
Police
Prisons
Recruiting of employees
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Border Law Enforcement Enhancement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to make grants to sheriff's offices and local and tribal police departments in jurisdictions within 25 miles of the U.S. southern border for: (1) law enforcement operations; (2) detention (including construction and operation of detention facilities) and transfer of illegal aliens to federal authorities; (3) enforcement of substance trafficking laws and other state and federal criminal laws; and (4) hiring, equipping, training, and overtime.
 
States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize state or local law enforcement agencies to exercise federal immigration law enforcement authority. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Military Commissions Revision Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2543
Sponsor: Rep. Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-47]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aliens
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Crime and Law Enforcement
Detention of persons
Evidence (Law)
Habeas corpus
Jurisdiction
Law
Military law
Police questioning
Terrorism
Torture

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Military Commissions Revision Act of 2007 - Amends federal law concerning powers and procedures of military commissions (commissions) to redefine the term &quot;unlawful enemy combatant&quot; as a person who has engaged in, attempted, or conspired to engage in acts of armed hostilities or terrorism against the United States or its co-belligerents, and who is not a lawful enemy combatant.
 
Repeals the requirement that a finding by a combatant status review tribunal that a person is an unlawful enemy combatant be dispositive for purposes of jurisdiction for trial by a commission.
 
Allows statements obtained by a degree of coercion less than torture to be admitted only if the military judge finds that: (1) the totality of the circumstances indicates that the statement possesses probative value; (2) the interests of justice would best be served by admitting the statement; and (3) the interrogation methods used do not amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
 
Prohibits a court or judge jurisdiction to hear or consider an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed by an alien enemy combatant detained by the United States who has been determined by a combatant status review panel to have been properly detained, unless two years has elapsed since the date of detention, and no criminal charges are pending against the detainee at the time the writ is filed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-2544
Sponsor: Rep. Sestak, Joe [D-PA-7]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional Record
Congressional agencies
Congressional committees (House)
Congressional employees
Congressional ethics
Congressional investigations
Congressional officers
Congressional reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
House Standards of Official Conduct
House of Representatives
House rules and procedure
Judges
Law
Members of Congress
Misconduct in office

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes within the House of Representatives an Independent Ethics Commission composed only of former federal judges.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
Congressional Research Accessibility Act

Bill: 110-hr-2545
Sponsor: Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4]
Introduced: 2007-05-24 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Authorization
Confidential communications
Congressional Research Service
Congressional information resources
Congressional publicity
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Library of Congress
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: 
Congressional Research Accessibility Act - Requires the Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to make available through a centralized electronic database, for purposes of access by the public through the websites maintained by Members and committees of the House of Representatives, the following information: (1) CRS issue briefs; (2) CRS reports that are available to Members of Congress through the CRS website; and (3) CRS authorization of appropriations products and appropriations products. Excludes any information that is either confidential or the product of an individual, office, or committee research request. 
Requires the information to be made accessible between 30 and 40 days after the first day it is available to Members of Congress through the CRS website. 
Allows the Director to make such information available without the prior approval of specified congressional committees.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-05-24
text: Introduced in House