hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Robert James Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5812
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-04-15 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Disabled
Health
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Social security beneficiaries
Social security eligibility
Terminally ill

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-15
text: 
Robert James Act of 2008 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to authorize waivers by the Commissioner of Social Security of the five-month waiting period for entitlement to benefits based on disability in cases in which such waiting period would cause undue hardship to terminally ill beneficiaries. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2008-04-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-04-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-15
text: Introduced in House
Free Speech Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5814
Sponsor: Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-3]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Damages
Freedom of speech
Injunctions
Legal fees
Libel and slander

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Free Speech Protection Act of 2008 - Allows any U.S. person against whom a lawsuit for defamation is brought in a foreign country on the basis of the content of any speech by that person that has been published, uttered, or otherwise disseminated in the United States to bring an action in a U.S. district court against any person who, or entity which, brought the suit, if the speech at issue in the foreign lawsuit does not constitute defamation under U.S. law.

Allows the award of treble damages if it is determined by a preponderance of the evidence that the person or entity bringing the foreign lawsuit intentionally engaged in a scheme to suppress rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution by discouraging publishers or other media from publishing, or by discouraging financial supporters from employing, retaining, or supporting the research, writing, or other speech of an individual.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Skilled Trades Second Responders Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5815
Sponsor: Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-3]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Construction workers
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disaster relief
Emergency medicine
Employee training
Health
Labor and Employment
Occupational health and safety
Rescue work
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Skilled Trades Second Responders Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to establish a national program for the training, certification, registration, tracking, and integration of skilled construction workers to assist first responders in responding to disasters, including natural and manmade disasters and terrorist attacks.
 
Requires the Director to coordinate and consult with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other relevant agencies, and private organizations, including construction industry contractors, joint labor-management training funds, and building trade unions, that are experienced in providing rescue and recovery assistance to first responders and in the cleanup, demolition, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of disaster sites after recovery operations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Coordinated American Response To Extreme Radicals Act

Bill: 110-hr-5816
Sponsor: Rep. Knollenberg, Joe [R-MI-9]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Appropriations
Armed Forces and National Security
Carter Administration
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Ex-presidents
Georgia
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Human rights
Nonprofit organizations
Peace
Rescission of appropriated funds
Social Welfare
Terrorism
Victims of terrorism
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Coordinated American Response To Extreme Radicals Act - Prohibits funds from being made available for assistance to the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
Rescinds all amounts appropriated by the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 for assistance to the Carter Center, and makes rescinded amounts available for assistance to U.S. victims of terrorism.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
To establish a new nonimmigrant category for Korean aliens seeking to enter the United States temporarily to perform services in a specialty occupation, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-5817
Sponsor: Del. Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [D-AS-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Alien labor
Aliens
East Asia
Labor and Employment
Skilled labor
South Korea
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an E-3 visa nonimmigrant category for nationals of the Republic of Korea seeking to enter the United States temporarily to perform services in a specialty occupation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Traditional Use Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5820
Sponsor: Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Birds
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Conservation easements
Economics and Public Finance
Eminent domain
Environmental Protection
Federal-state relations
Fishing
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Hunting
Land banking
Land transfers
Landowners
Motor vehicles
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation
Transportation and Public Works
Walking

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Traditional Use Protection Act of 2008 - Directs the Forest Service to establish a grant program to allow states to acquire land rights in perpetuity in order to preserve and maintain such land for traditional use (hunting, fishing, access to water, motorized recreation, hiking, bird watching, and non-motorized recreational activities) by the public, or to make subgrants to an entity for such purposes.
 
Requires that land rights be acquired only from a willing seller. Prohibits acquisition through eminent domain.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Military Honor and Decency Act

Bill: 110-hr-5821
Sponsor: Rep. Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Defense
Federal employees
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Lease and rental services
Military bases
Military personnel
Periodicals
Pornography
Post exchanges
Retail trade

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Military Honor and Decency Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to review, at least annually, material that is not deemed to be sexually explicit to determine if the material should be deemed sexually explicit and thus prohibited under provisions prohibiting the sale or rental of sexually explicit material: (1) on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DOD); or (2) by a member of the Armed Forces or a civilian DOD officer or employee acting in an official capacity.
 
Revises the definition of &quot;sexually explicit material&quot; to (among other things) prohibit print periodicals that regularly feature or give prominence to nudity or sexual or excretory activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to waive the 10 percent penalty on withdrawals from qualified retirement plans upon receipt of notice of foreclosure on a principal residence.

Bill: 110-hr-5822
Sponsor: Rep. Cardoza, Dennis A. [D-CA-18]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Labor and Employment
Mortgages
Tax penalties
Tax-deferred compensation plans

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt a taxpayer from the 10% penalty on premature withdrawals from tax-exempt retirement plans if such taxpayer received a foreclosure notice relating to a mortgage on a principal residence and makes a withdrawal from a retirement account after July 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-5823
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Checkoff
Economics and Public Finance
Government trust funds
Homeless
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Social Welfare
Tax returns
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Treasury the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund and to allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns $3.00 of income taxes ($6.00 in the case of joint returns) to be paid over to such Fund to provide assistance to homeless veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Mortgage Education Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5824
Sponsor: Rep. Kagen, Steve [D-WI-8]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Commerce
Consumer credit
Counseling
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Housing and Community Development
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military operations
Mortgages
Social Welfare
South Asia

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Veterans Mortgage Education Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a program to advise members of the Armed Forces who are returning from active duty abroad on actions to prevent or forestall mortgage foreclosures, including credit counseling and home mortgage counseling.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Keeping America's Food Safe Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5827
Sponsor: Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6]
Introduced: 2008-04-16 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Curricula
Data banks
Department of Health and Human Services
Discrimination in employment
Education
Electronic government information
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Fines (Penalties)
Food industry
Food safety
Food service
Foodborne diseases
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Health
Health education
Import restrictions
Imports
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Law
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Standards
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: 
Keeping America's Food Safe Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require: (1) certification of any food safety laboratory or a sampling service that is analyzing, testing, or collecting samples of imported food; and (2) such laboratories or services to submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the results of all tests conducted on behalf of an importer.

Sets forth civil penalties for: (1) an importer that knowingly engages in the falsification of test results submitted to the Secretary; and (2) a laboratory or service that knowingly submits false test results to the Secretary. 

Requires the Secretary to establish a certification program to ensure that imported food meets the food safety standards applied to food produced in the United States.

Prohibits food from being permitted entry into the United States from a foreign facility in a foreign country unless there are certifications from the facility and country.

Sets forth certification requirements for foreign countries.

Requires the Secretary to develop and maintain a website that: (1) provides information on federal food standards and best practice requirements for food preparation; (2) assists health professionals to improve their ability to diagnose and treat food-related illness and advise individuals whose health conditions place them at particular risk; and (3) promotes public awareness of food safety issues. Directs the Secretary to develop and maintain a website to provide the public with appropriate information on developing school curricula regarding food safety issues.

Establishes whistle-blower's protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-16
text: Introduced in House
Securing Exports Through Coordination and Technology Act

Bill: 110-hr-5828
Sponsor: Rep. Manzullo, Donald A. [R-IL-16]
Introduced: 2008-04-17 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Business records
Commerce
Common carriers
Conferences
Confidential communications
Customs administration
Department of Commerce
Electronic data interchange
Electronic government information
Export controls
Exports
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Freight forwarders
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Judicial review
Law
Licenses
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: 
Securing Exports Through Coordination and Technology Act - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to revise filing requirements under the Automated Export System (AES).
 
Requires carriers obliged to file Shipper's Export Declarations to file them through AES (either directly or through intermediaries) before items are exported from any U.S. port, unless the Secretary of Commerce grants an exception. (Under current law such a filing may be made after departure of the carrier from the port or place of exportation or transportation.) Defines &quot;intermediary&quot; as a freight forwarder, a non-vessel operating common carrier, or an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet and its service providers.
 
Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) the confidentiality and the sharing of Shipper's Export Declarations with the public and government agencies; and (2) conferences and seminars to educate exporters about U.S. export laws and the AES.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) grant licenses to persons to file information in the AES; and (2) deny, suspend, or revoke a license. Provides for administrative and judicial appeal of license denials, suspensions, or revocations.
 
Requires the Secretary to issue regulations to ensure that the AES will not accept filings with respect to exports that would violate U.S. export control laws or trade sanctions regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Introduced in House
Separating Servicemember Handbook Development Act

Bill: 110-hr-5831
Sponsor: Rep. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2008-04-17 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability evaluation
Disabled
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government publications
Government publicity
Health
Internet
Iraq compilation
Military dependents
Military discharges
Science, Technology, Communications
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations
War casualties
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: 
Separating Servicemember Handbook Development Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to direct the Secretary of Defense to develop and maintain, in a handbook and on a publically-available Internet website, a comprehensive description of the compensation and other benefits to which an Armed Forces member, and the family of the member, would be entitled on separation or retirement resulting from a serious injury or illness. Requires that the handbook be provided to each member as soon as practicable following an injury or illness for which the member may retire or separate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Introduced in House
Military Healthcare for Dependents Act

Bill: 110-hr-5832
Sponsor: Rep. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2008-04-17 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Armed forces reserves
Defense contracts
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Military dependents
Military hospitals
Military medicine
Relocation
Residence requirements

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: 
Military Healthcare for Dependents Act - Amends federal provisions concerning contracts for medical care for spouses and children of members of the Armed Forces (members) to: (1) eliminate the requirement that the dependent must reside with the member in order to be eligible for such care; (2) remove a duty order condition with respect to coverage for a dependent of a member who has relocated without the dependent from a remote location where the member and dependent resided together; and (3) remove the condition that, in order for dependents of certain reserve members to be eligible for such care, the residence must be located more than 50 miles, or more than one hour's drive, from the nearest adequate military medical treatment facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-17
text: Introduced in House