hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to allow the United States Postal Service to pay its share of contributions for annuitants' health benefits out of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.

Bill: 110-hr-7313
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal employees
Government employees' health insurance
Government trust funds
Health
United States Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: 
Requires government contributions for health benefits for an individual who first becomes an annuitant by reason of retirement from employment with the United States Postal Service on or after July 1, 1971, or for a survivor of such an individual or of an individual who died on or after that date while employed by the Postal Service, to be paid first from the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund up to the amount contained in the Fund, with any remaining amount paid by the Postal Service (current law requires such contributions to be paid by the Postal Service through September 30, 2016).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Workforce Fairness and Tax Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7314
Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Trade adjustment assistance
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: 
Workforce Fairness and Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the inclusion of unemployment compensation in gross income; (2) allow tax-free distributions from retirement plans for unemployed individuals; (3) allow an exclusion from gross income for employee severance payments; and (4) increase the tax credit for the health insurance costs of individuals receiving trade adjustment assistance and certain pension payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Retiree Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7315
Sponsor: Rep. Rehberg, Dennis R. [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: 
Retiree Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend in 2008 and 2009 requirements for minimum distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans. Permits taxpayers who have already received a distribution between January 1, 2008, and the enactment of this Act to recontribute such distribution to their retirement plans by December 31, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Bill: 110-hr-7317
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Land transfers
South Carolina

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct, and report to Congress on, a study on the acquisition of a specified parcel of land in Beaufort, South Carolina, to be used for expansion of the Beaufort National Cemetery.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to acquire a parcel of land adjacent to Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Bill: 110-hr-7318
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Congressional oversight
Land transfers
South Carolina

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) acquire a specified parcel of land in Beaufort, South Carolina, to be used for expansion of the Beaufort National Cemetery; and (2) report to Congress on the acquisition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Simeon Simeonov, Stela Simeonova, Stoyan Simeonov, and Vania Simeonova.

Bill: 110-hr-7319
Sponsor: Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Provides for the relief of Simeon Simeonov, Stela Simeonova, Stoyan Simeonov, and Vania Simeonova.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Rebeca Rojas de Guzman.

Bill: 110-hr-7320
Sponsor: Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]
Introduced: 2008-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Provides for the relief of Rebeca Rojas de Guzman.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Economic Recovery Through Responsible Homeownership Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7325
Sponsor: Rep. Dreier, David [R-CA-26]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Income tax
Tax credits
Tax refunds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Economic Recovery Through Responsible Homeownership Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a refundable tax credit for the purchase in 2009 or 2010 of a residence located in the United States if the construction of such residence began before 2010 and the taxpayer makes a downpayment of at least 10% of the purchase price. Limits the amount of such credit to $5,000 ($10,000 if the downpayment is at least 15% of the purchase price).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR  E2360)
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
Systematic Foreclosure Prevention and Mortgage Modification Act

Bill: 110-hr-7326
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to housing
Foreclosure
Housing finance
Loan defaults
Losses
Mortgages

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Systematic Foreclosure Prevention and Mortgage Modification Act - Directs the Chairperson of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to establish a systematic foreclosure prevention and mortgage modification program by: (1) paying mortgage servicers $1,000 to cover expenses for each loan modified according to specified standards; and (2) sharing up to 50% of any losses incurred if a modified loan should subsequently re-default.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
Homeowners' Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7328
Sponsor: Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Housing finance and home ownership
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Judicial procedure and administration
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Homeowners' Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the federal bankruptcy code to eliminate the pre-petition credit counseling requirement for a debtor under chapter 13 (Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income) who is facing foreclosure, if the debtor submits to the court a certification that the debtor has received notice that the holder of a claim secured by the debtor's principal residence may commence foreclosure.
 
Allows modification of the rights of claim holders, in the event of a foreclosure notice for a chapter 13 debtor, among other means by: (1) reducing a claim to equal the value of the debtor's interest in the residence securing such claim, and any adjustments to a related adjustable rate of interest; (2) waiving early repayment or prepayment penalties; and (3) extending the repayment period.
 
 Denies debtor liability for certain fees and charges incurred while the bankruptcy case is pending and arising from a debt secured by the debtor's principal residence, unless the claim holder observes specified requirements.
 
Adds to conditions for court confirmation of a plan in bankruptcy that: (1) the holder of a claim secured by the debtor's principal residence retain the lien securing the claim until the later of the payment of such claim as reduced and modified or the discharge of a debtor from all debts; and (2) the plan modifies the claim in good faith. 
 
Excludes from final discharge of a debtor from all debts: (1) any payments to claim holders whose rights are modified under this Act; and (2) any unpaid portion of a claim as reduced. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize funding for emergency management performance grants to provide for domestic preparedness and collective response to major disasters,and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-7329
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Building construction
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency planning and evacuation
Government buildings, facilities, and property

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to revise the definition of &quot;major disaster&quot; to include a catastrophic incident. 

Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish an emergency management performance grants program to address domestic preparedness and collective response to major disasters. Limits the federal share of the cost of a program funded activity to 50%. Sets forth guidelines for the Administrator to apportion funds to carry out the program among the states on the basis of population.

Revises the program providing grants to states for emergency operations centers to provide that such centers are to be equipped, upgraded, and constructed for domestic preparedness and collective response to a major disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
College Football Playoff Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7330
Sponsor: Rep. Barton, Joe [R-TX-6]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
College sports
Deceptive advertising
Education
Federal Trade Commission
Football
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Marketing
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
College Football Playoff Act of 2008 - Prohibits promoting, marketing, or advertising a post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) game as a championship or national championship game (or any merchandise that refers to the game as a championship or national championship game) unless such game is the final game of a single elimination post-season playoff system for which all NCAA Division I FBS conferences and unaffiliated Division I FBS teams are eligible.

Treats a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act. 

Makes this Act applicable to any game that occurs after January 31, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2379)
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
Save America's Cities Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7331
Sponsor: Rep. Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Child safety and welfare
Law enforcement administration and funding
Roads and highways
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Save America's Cities Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to each local government having jurisdiction under state law over an area having a population of 1 million or more an amount of the appropriations under this Act (proportional to the population of the area) to improve public safety, clean and maintain streets, and preserve services benefitting children and youth, as otherwise authorized by state and local law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for counterfeiting or selling Presidential inauguration tickets, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-7332
Sponsor: Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term for up to six months for knowingly: (1) transferring for money or property a ticket to a presidential inaugural ceremony; (2) falsely making, forging, counterfeiting, or altering such a ticket, with intent to defraud; or (3) entering or attempting to enter a presidential inaugural ceremony with a forget ticket, with intent to defraud. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7333
Sponsor: Rep. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Auditing
Bank failures
Economic stabilization
Economics and Public Finance
Employee selection
Federal employees
Financial crises
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Inspectors general

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2008 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to authorize the Special Inspector General to exercise specified employment authorities for additional personnel, but not after six months following enactment of this Act.
 
Authorizes the Special Inspector General to conduct, supervise, and coordinate an audit or investigation of any action taken under such Act, except any action related to: (1) graduated authorization to purchase troubled assets; (2) oversight and audits by the Comptroller General; (3) the Comptroller General's study and report on margin authority; and (4) the Congressional Oversight Panel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
TARP Accountability Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7334
Sponsor: Rep. LaTourette, Steven C. [R-OH-14]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Business records
Consumer credit
Credit and credit markets
Financial crises and stabilization
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
TARP Accountability Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to require inclusion within each report of condition filed by an insured depository institution which received assistance under the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) the amount of any increase in new lending during the period covered by the report (or the amount of any reduction in any decrease in new lending) that is attributable to TARP assistance.
 
 Requires, in the alternative, that if the institution cannot accurately quantify the effect such assistance has had on new lending, then it report the total amount of the increase in new lending, if any, during the covered period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 31, United States Code, to allow certain local tax debt to be collected through the reduction of Federal tax refunds.

Bill: 110-hr-7335
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Collection of accounts
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Income tax
Local taxation
Tax refunds
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to reduce the federal tax refund of any taxpayer who owes a past-due, legally enforceable tax obligation to a local government by the amount of such obligation. Requires notice to the taxpayer of the refund reduction. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit disclosure of taxpayer information to agencies of states requesting refund offsets for tax debts owed to local governments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prevent the alternative minimum tax from effectively repealing the Federal tax exemption for interest on State and local private activity bonds.

Bill: 110-hr-7336
Sponsor: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-2]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bonds
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Interest
Minimum tax
Tax exemption
Tax preferences

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate tax-exempt interest earned on private activity bonds as an item of tax preference for purposes of calculating the alternative minimum tax. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
To require certain air carriers of foreign air transportation to disclose the nature and source of delays and cancellations experienced by air travelers.

Bill: 110-hr-7337
Sponsor: Rep. Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Airlines
Business records
Commerce
Department of Transportation
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to revise certain airline service quality performance reporting regulations to require air carriers that provide foreign air transportation, including foreign air carriers with permits, to disclose the nature and source of flight delays and cancellations experienced by air travelers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in House