hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
TRADE Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-652
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2007-02-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Afghanistan
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
American investments
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Cambodia
Clothing
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
East Asia
East Timor
Government Operations and Politics
Kiribati
Laos
Maldives
Nepal
Oceania
President and foreign policy
Samoa
Solomon Islands
South Asia
Sri Lanka
Tariff preferences
Textile fabrics
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Yemen

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies Act of 2007 or TRADE Act of 2007 - Authorizes the President to designate Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Maldives, Nepal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Yemen, and Sri Lanka or their successor political entities (TRADE Act of 2007 countries) as beneficiary TRADE Act of 2007 countries eligible to receive duty-free treatment for certain articles that are the growth, product, or manufacture of such countries, if after receiving the advice of the International Trade Commission (ITC) the President determines that such articles are not import-sensitive in the context of imports from such countries. 
Conditions such designation upon eligibility requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Trade Act of 1974.
 
Prescribes the rule of origin for the articles for the duty-free treatment.
 
Applies duty-free treatment, without any quantitative limitations, granted to textile and apparel articles under AGOA to articles imported directly into the U.S. customs territory from a beneficiary TRADE Act of 2007 country if their assembly meets specified U.S. origin requirements.
 
Grants AGOA preferential treatment for apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary TRADE Act of 2007 countries or such former countries, or both, from regional fabric from yarn originating either in the United States or one or more of such countries.
 
 Establishes: (1) limitations on such preferential treatment; and (2) special rules for apparel articles wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary TRADE Act of 2007 countries or former beneficiary countries, or both, regardless of the country of origin of the yarn or fabric used to make such articles; and (3) applicable percentages of such benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act

Bill: 110-s-653
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2007-02-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Airline passenger traffic
Aliens
Alliances
Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Electronic data interchange
Identification devices
International Affairs
International cooperation
Passports
Science, Technology, Communications
Technical assistance
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Travel
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: 
Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should modernize the visa waiver program by enhancing program security requirements and extending visa-free travel privileges to nationals of foreign countries that are allies in the war on terrorism; and (2) such expansion will have positive security, economic, and bilateral effects.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the visa waiver program to authorize waiver of low visa refusal rate requirements for a country that meets security and counterterrorism cooperation requirements and has a sustained reduction in visa refusal rates.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to consider: (1) specified security-related issues in determining whether to waive low visa refusal requirements; and (2) visa overstay rates in determining program eligibility.

Provides for the following program security enhancements: (1) implementation of an electronic travel authorization system which shall provide biographical information; (2) participant country reporting of lost and stolen passports to the U.S. government; (3) participant country acceptance of its citizens or nationals removed from the United States; and (4) security-related information exchange about a country's citizens or nationals traveling to the United States.

Requires the Secretary to establish an exit system that records the departure on a flight leaving the United States of every alien program participant. Requires that such system: (1) match an alien's biometric information against watch lists and immigration information; and (2) compare such biometric information against air carrier manifests to confirm departures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-656
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Africans
Alien labor
Aliens
Department of Homeland Security
Deportation
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Immigrants
Labor and Employment
Law
Liberia
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2007 - Provides for the permanent resident status adjustment of certain Liberian nationals.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Endangered Species Reform Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-658
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Animals
Biological research
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Department of the Interior
Emergency Management
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Housing and Community Development
Law
Public meetings
Right of petition
Science, Technology, Communications
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Endangered Species Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior to use data that are empirical or have been field-tested or peer-reviewed in any case in which such Act requires the Secretary to use the best scientific and commercial data available in the determination of a species for inclusion on the endangered or threatened species list.

Requires the Secretary to determine that a species is endangered or threatened only if there is sufficient biological information to support recovery planning for the species. 
Specifies information required in a petition to add a species to the endangered or threatened list. Requires the Secretary to notify and provide a copy of a petition to the agency of each state in which the species is believed to occur and to solicit the assessment of such agency as to whether the petitioned action is warranted. 
Directs the Secretary, upon publication of a proposed regulation determining an endangered or threatened listing, to make publicly available all information on which the determination is based, as well as all information relating to the species that does not support such determination (with an exception for disclosures protected under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act).
Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations that establish criteria that must be met for scientific and commercial data to be used as the basis for a determination that a species is endangered or threatened.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of the death gratuity with respect to members of the Armed Forces without a surviving spouse who are survived by a minor child.

Bill: 110-s-659
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Families
Grandparents
Labor and Employment
Military pensions
Parents
Siblings
Single people
Survivors' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Provides that, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or inactive duty for training, and who dies without a surviving spouse but with one or more children under age 18 who will be in the custody of a parent, brother, or sister, the death gratuity for such member shall be payable to such parent, brother, or sister as designated by the member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Majan Jean.

Bill: 110-s-660
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Provides for the relief of Majan Jean.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Harriet Beecher Stowe House Special Resource Study Act

Bill: 110-s-662
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Authors and authorship
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Governmental investigations
Historic sites
History
Maine
National parks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Harriet Beecher Stowe House Special Resource Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a study of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Brunswick, Maine, to evaluate: (1) the national significance of the House and surrounding land; and (2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the House and such land as a unit of the National Park System. 

action_date: 2008-06-16
text: 
Harriet Beecher Stowe House Special Resource Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete and report on a special resource study of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Brunswick, Maine, to evaluate: (1) the national significance of the House and surrounding land; and (2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the House and such land as a unit of the National Park System. 

Authorizes appropriations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 783.
action_date: 2008-06-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-351.
action_date: 2008-06-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-351.
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-514.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty.

Bill: 110-s-663
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Defense
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Law
Military dependents
Military pensions
Survivors' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that all members of the Armed Forces should be permitted to select who shall receive the death gratuity (awarded for members who die while on active duty or inactive duty training), and that the Secretaries of Defense and the military departments should take appropriate action to afford members such opportunity, along with appropriate counseling.
 
Revises the current statutory priority list of designated death gratuity beneficiaries to place first in such list any individual designated by the person (member) in writing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2172-2173)
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2172)
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Government Disaster Relief Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-664
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alabama
Construction costs
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Hurricanes
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Louisiana
Maintenance and repair
Mississippi

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
 Local Government Disaster Relief Act of 2007 - Provides that the federal share of assistance provided under provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for the repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities because of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita shall be 100%. Makes this Act applicable to assistance provided on or after August 28, 2005.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-30
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require congressional approval of loans made by the Secretary of Transportation in excess of $1,000,000,000.

Bill: 110-s-665
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congress
Congressional oversight
Economics and Public Finance
Expedited congressional procedure
Federal aid to transportation
Government lending
House rules and procedure
Legislative resolutions
Senate rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary from making a loan or loans to any entity in excess of $1 billion in the aggregate over a five-year period unless the loan exceeding the limit is approved by joint resolution no later than six months after notice is provided to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Oil Industry Tax Break Repeal Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-666
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting
Alaska
Alternative energy sources
Commerce
Depletion allowances
Depreciation and amortization
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy efficiency
Energy research
Energy transportation
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign tax credit
Gas industry
Geology
Geophysical prediction
Government trust funds
Income tax
Inventories
Natural gas
Oil well drilling
Petroleum industry
Pipelines
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Valuation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Oil Industry Tax Break Repeal Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the amortization period for the geological and geophysical expenditures of certain large integrated oil companies (defined as having an average daily worldwide crude oil production level of at least 500,000 barrels and more than $1 billion in gross receipts) from five to seven years; (2) limit the oil depletion allowance; (3) terminate accelerated depreciation of natural gas distribution lines and Alaska natural gas pipelines, expensing of equipment used in refining of liquid fuels, the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, and the tax credits for enhanced oil recovery and for producing oil and gas from marginal wells; (4) classify natural gas gathering lines as 15-year property for depreciation purposes; and (5) deny large integrated oil companies the tax deduction for income attributable to the domestic production of oil, natural gas, or related products.

Requires large integrated oil companies to revalue their LIFO inventories of crude oil, natural gas, or other petroleum products according to a specified formula. Denies such oil companies a foreign tax credit for payments to certain foreign countries from which they receive a specified economic benefit as a dual capacity taxpayer. 

Establishes in the Treasury the Energy Trust Fund and directs the transfer to such Fund of revenues resulting from the repeal of oil industry tax benefits by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Education Begins at Home Act

Bill: 110-s-667
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Armed Forces and National Security
Caregivers
Child abuse
Child development
Child health
Child welfare
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Cost accounting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Day care
Demography
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Elementary and secondary education
Employee training
English language
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Eye diseases
Families
Family services
Fathers
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to education
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health
Health education
Hearing disorders
Indian children
Infants
Labor and Employment
Law
Literacy programs
Maternal health services
Medical screening
Medical tests
Mental depression
Military dependents
Minorities
Native Americans
Parent and child
Parent-school relationships
Pregnant women
Preschool education
Preventive medicine
Public service advertising
Social Welfare
Standards
State employees
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Education Begins at Home Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make: (1) grants to states for programs of early childhood home visitation; and (2) competitive grants to local educational agencies and other eligible applicants for early home visitation for families with English language learners. Directs the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make competitive grants to eligible applicants for early home visitation for military families.
 
Amends the Head Start Act to direct the Secretary of HHS to establish standards for home visitor staff in Early Head Start programs with respect to their training, qualifications, and conduct of home visits.
 
Revises Early Head Start programs to provide for: (1) training in parenting skills and child development; (2) certain home-based and family support services; (3) procedures for transition into Head Start or other local early childhood education programs; (4) staff communication and program coordination; and (5) professional development and personnel enhancement. 
 
Directs the Secretary of HHS to develop and implement a public information and educational campaign to inform the public and new parents about the importance of proper care for infants and children under five years of age. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2173-2178)
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Tanning Accountability and Notification Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-668
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Barber and beauty shops
Congressional reporting requirements
Environmental Protection
Equipment and supplies
Eye diseases
Governmental investigations
Health
Product safety
Skin cancer
Skin diseases
Ultraviolet radiation
Warning labels

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
Tanning Accountability and Notification Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to determine whether: (1) the labeling requirements for indoor tanning devices provide sufficient information to consumers regarding the risks that the use of such devices pose for the development of irreversible damage to the eyes and skin, including skin cancer; (2) adding the warning suggested by the American Academy of Dermatology or any other additional warning to the current warning label would communicate such risks more effectively; and (3) there is no warning that would be capable of adequately communicating such risks. Requires the Secretary, in making such determinations, to: (1) conduct appropriate consumer testing using the best available methods for determining consumer understanding of label warnings; and (2) hold public hearings and solicit comments from the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2178-2179)
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2178)
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
LIHEAP Emergency Reform Act

Bill: 110-s-669
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2007-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy assistance for the poor
Families
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Heating
Housing and Community Development
Law
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: 
LIHEAP Emergency Reform Act - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to authorize the Governor of a state to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for: (1) certification of an energy emergency in that state; and (2) an allotment of certain appropriated amounts.
 
Directs the Secretary to adopt prescribed procedures for equitable consideration of such applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate