hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-22
Sponsor: Sen. Webb, Jim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Apprenticeship
Armed forces reserves
College costs
Correspondence schools and courses
Education
Employment tests
Flight training
Higher education
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Scholarships
Student loan funds
Transportation and Public Works
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to entitle to educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill individuals in certain length-of-service categories who, commencing on or after September 11, 2001, serve on active duty in the Armed Forces.

 Establishes the duration of such assistance (in most cases 36 months) and assistance amounts. Requires programs of education pursued with such assistance to be approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Allows for the pursuit of an approved program of education while on active duty. Allows, under such assistance, for the pursuit of: (1) programs on less than a half-time basis; (2) apprenticeship or other on-job training; (3) correspondence courses; (4) flight training; (5) tutorial assistance; and (6) licensure and certification tests. Makes individuals entitled to assistance under this Act also eligible for supplemental educational assistance for additional active duty service.

Requires the Secretary to carry out a program, to be known as the &quot;Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program,&quot; under which colleges and universities may enter into an agreement with the Secretary to cover, for certain individuals, a portion of established charges not otherwise covered and match contributions toward such costs.

Requires educational assistance under this Act to be used within 15 years of the individual's discharge or release from active duty (with exceptions). Allows individuals currently under the Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance program to elect to participate in the post-9/11 educational assistance program with respect to any unused entitlement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S57-61)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S56-57)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Biofuels Security Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-23
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alcohol as fuel
Automobile industry
Automobiles
Commerce
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection
Franchises (Retail trade)
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government vehicles
Law
Motor vehicle pollution control
Petroleum industry
Restrictive trade practices
Service stations
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Biofuels Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to replace provisions prescribing the volume of renewable fuel that gasoline sold in the United States must contain with provisions that require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine the applicable volume for 2010 and beyond. Requires such volume to be at least 10 billion gallons in 2010, 30 billion gallons in 2020, and 60 billion gallons in 2030.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy to promulgate regulations to ensure that each major oil company that sells gasoline in the United States through wholly-owned or branded stations provides pumps that dispense E-85 fuel (a blend approximately 85% of the content of which is derived from ethanol produced in the United States) at not less than: (1) a specified percentage of all of its stations (increasing from 5% in 2008 to 50% in 2017); and (2) a minimum percentage of its stations in each state. Allows a company to earn and sell production credits when it exceeds the percentage required. Prohibits companies from using credits purchased to fulfill geographic distribution requirements.
 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to increase to 100% the proportion of vehicles acquired by a federal fleet in and after 2008 that must be light duty alternative fueled vehicles.
 
Amends the Clayton Act to: (1) prohibit restricting the right of a franchisee to install a renewable fuel pump; and (2) define &quot;gasohol&quot; as any blend of ethanol and gasoline.
 
Requires makers of new automobiles capable of operating on gasoline or diesel fuel to ensure that a specified percentage of automobiles manufactured in any model year after 2007 for sale in the United States (increasing from 10% in 2008 to 100% in 2017) are dual fueled automobiles. Allows the manufacturer to earn and sell production credits if it exceeds the number required.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to promote the use of fuel mixtures containing gasoline or diesel fuel and one or more alternative fuels.
 
Prescribes formulas to be used by the Administrator to measure the fuel economy of dual fueled automobiles manufactured in model years beginning 18, 30, 42, and 54 months after enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S62-63)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S61-62)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Citizen Petition Fairness and Accuracy Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-25
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Commerce
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug approvals
Drug industry
Fines (Penalties)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Law
Legal fees
Marketing

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Citizen Petition Fairness and Accuracy Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that any citizen petition or request for stay of action related to an abbreviated new drug application include a statement that to the petitioner's best knowledge and belief, the petition: (1) includes all information and views on which the petitioner relies; (2) is well grounded in fact and is warranted by law; (3) is not submitted for an improper purpose; and (4) does not contain a materially false, misleading, or fraudulent statement. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate any petition that does not comply with such requirements.
 
Allows the Secretary to impose penalties for knowingly and willfully submitting a petition for an improper purpose or that contains a materially false, misleading or fraudulent statement. Provides that such penalties may include: (1) imposition of a civil penalty; (2) suspension or revocation of the petitioner's authority to submit such a petition; and (3) dismissal of the petition. Requires the Secretary to refer such a violative petition to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for further action. Sets forth the factors that the Secretary shall consider in taking an enforcement action or determining the penalty.
 
Permits any person aggrieved by a petition that may contain violations to submit a request, with a certification of good faith, for the Secretary to initiate an investigation. Subjects such person to civil penalties for knowing and intentional submission of a violative request.
 
Requires the Secretary to take final agency action on such a petition within six months. Prohibits the Secretary from extending the review period for any reason.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S65-66)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S64-65)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-26
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: College costs
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Education savings accounts
Employee benefit plans
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax exclusion
Tax exemption

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a tax-exempt lifelong learning account for the payment of certain employee higher education and training expenses; (2) allow individuals a nonrefundable tax credit for contributions to such accounts; and (3) allow employers a business-related tax credit for contributions to such accounts.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on such accounts and the tax credits enacted by this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S572-573)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Generics First Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-28
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drugs
Generic drugs
Medicare
Prescription pricing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Generics First Act of 2007 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exclude from coverage under the Medicare part D prescription drug program all nongeneric (brand name) drugs unless no generic drug has been approved, and the brand name drug is determined to be medically necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S70)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S69)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify the tax treatment of certain payments made to homeowners by the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Mississippi Development Authority.

Bill: 110-s-29
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Floods
Home repair and improvement
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Hurricanes
Income tax
Losses
Louisiana
Mississippi
Residential rehabilitation
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Sets forth a special rule for the tax treatment of amounts received by a taxpayer from the Louisiana Recovery Authority or the Mississippi Development Authority for the repair or reconstruction of such taxpayer's primary residence due to hurricane damage in 2005.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S70)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
H-1B Visa Fraud Prevention Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-31
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Alien labor
Auditing
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Labor and Employment
Law
Visas
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: 
H-1B Visa Fraud Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise employer and government requirements with respect to H-1B (specialty occupation) nonimmigrant aliens.
 
Increases labor condition application penalties.
 
Provides H-1B alien whistleblower protections.
 
Requires the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to submit to Congress a fraud risk assessment of the H-1B visa program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6465-6466)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6464-6465)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Defense Acquisition Reform Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-32
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2007-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional investigations
Cost control
Cost effectiveness
Defense contracts
Defense procurement
Department of Defense
Ethics
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Law
Military readiness
Military research
Performance measurement
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: 
Defense Acquisition Reform Act of 2007 - Prohibits the Secretary of the military department concerned from reprogramming or otherwise providing additional funds for a major defense acquisition program (MDAP) that experiences a specified percentage in program acquisition unit costs until the Joint Requirements Oversight Council submits an assessment of the performance requirements for the item to be procured. Adds to the membership of the Council. Requires the Council to approve the initial operational test and evaluation of a MDAP in an environment not specified in its test and evaluation master plan.
 
Requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe mechanisms that provide cost control measures in contracts for the acquisition of property for the Department of Defense (DOD) that may be authorized or approved by the program manager.
 
Designates military department deputies for acquisition matters.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a committee on strategic investment in MDAPs.
 
Requires a report from the: (1) Comptroller General on potential modifications of DOD organization and structure for the acquisition of MDAPs; and (2) Secretary on the implementation of recommendations concerning total ownership costs and readiness rates for major weapon systems.
 
Prohibits the milestone decision authority for a MDAP from granting Milestone B approval until such authority obtains a program business case analysis from a federally funded research and development center.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide guidance on the use of award fees in contracts under DOD acquisition programs; (2) define &quot;substantial savings&quot; for purposes of DOD multiyear contracts; (3) submit an investment strategy for the allocation of funds among MDAPs; and (4) prescribe ethics compliance requirements for DOD contractors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6467-6471)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6466-6467)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to redesignate the Office for Vocational and Adult Education as the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education.

Bill: 110-s-33
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2007-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult education
Career education
Department of Education
Education
Executive reorganization
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: 
Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to redesignate the Office of Vocational and Adult Education of the Department of Education as the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. 
 
Amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to make conforming amendments.

action_date: 2007-05-22
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to redesignate the Office of Vocational and Adult Education of the Department of Education as the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. 
 
Amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to make conforming amendments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6492-6493; text as passed Senate: CR S6492-6493)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6492-6493; text as passed Senate: CR S6492-6493)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act

Bill: 110-s-34
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2007-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Congress
Congressional oversight
Data banks
Electronic commerce
Excise tax
Government Operations and Politics
Intergovernmental tax relations
Internet
Interstate compacts
Judicial review
Law
Minorities
Right of privacy
Sales tax
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
State government-Indian relations
State taxation
Tax administration
Tax credits
Tax rates
Tax refunds
Tax returns
Tax simplification
Telecommunication industry

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: 
Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act - Grants the consent of Congress to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (Agreement), the multistate agreement for the administration and collection of sales and use taxes adopted on November 12, 2002. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Agreement provides sufficient simplification and uniformity to warrant federal authorizations to states that are parties to it (member states) to require remote sellers (sellers without a physical presence in the taxing state) to collect and remit the sales and use taxes of such states and their local taxing jurisdictions.

Authorizes each member state, after 10 states (comprising at least 20% of all states imposing a sales tax) have petitioned for and become member states, to require all sellers, except those sellers with gross remote taxable sales nationwide of less than $5 million, to collect and remit sales and use taxes on remote sales owed to such member state under the terms of the Agreement.

 Permits a federally recognized Indian tribe that imposes a generally applicable sales tax to petition to become a member state. 

Allows any person affected by the Agreement to petition the Governing Board established by the Agreement for a determination of any issue arising under the Agreement. Provides for judicial review of Governing Board determinations by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. 

Sets forth minimum simplification requirements for the Agreement.

Expresses the sense of Congress that member states should work with each other to prevent double taxation where a foreign country has imposed a transaction tax on a digital good or service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act to establish a biofuels promotion program to promote sustainable production of biofuels and biomass, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-36
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2007-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation
Agricultural education
Agricultural extension work
Agricultural pollution
Agricultural research
Agricultural subsidies
Alternative crops
Authorization
Biomass energy
Cellulose
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Energy
Energy crops
Energy research
Environmental Protection
Farm lands
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Science, Technology, Communications
Storage
Sustainable agriculture

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: 
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a biofuels innovation program which shall: (1) encourage production of dedicated energy crops in a sustainable manner that protects the soil, air, water, and wildlife; (2) provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators of eligible cropland to produce energy crops and crop mixes to support development and expansion of crop use for biofuels, power or heat generation to supplement or replace nonbiobased energy sources, and biobased products to supplement or replace non-biobased products; (3) establish biofuels innovation program project areas; and (4) provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators for harvesting, storing, and transporting cellulosic material. 
 
Extends (and increases for FY2008-FY2010) authorization of appropriations for research, extension, and educational programs on biobased energy technologies and products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate