hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5884
Sponsor: Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19]
Introduced: 2008-04-23 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil procedure
Confidential communications
Court records
Discovery (Law)
Evidence (Law)
Government Operations and Politics
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: 
Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2008 - Amends the federal judicial code to prohibit a court from entering an order restricting the disclosure of information obtained through discovery, approving a settlement disagreement that would restrict such disclosure, or restricting access to court records in a civil case, unless the court has found that: (1) such order would not restrict the disclosure of information which is relevant to the protection of public health or safety; or (2) the public interest in the disclosure of potential health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information, and the requested protective order is no broader than necessary to protect the privacy interest. Prohibits any party from requesting, as a condition for the production of discovery, that another party stipulate to an order that would violate this Act. 
 
Prohibits a court from: (1) approving or enforcing an order prohibited under this Act, or any provision of an agreement between parties to a civil action, that restricts a party from disclosing information to any federal or state agency with authority to enforce laws regulating an activity relating to such information; or (2) enforcing any provision of a settlement agreement that prohibits a party from disclosing that a settlement was reached or the terms of the settlement, other than the amount paid, or from discussing a case or evidence that involves matters related to public health or safety, except where the court finds that the public interest in disclosure of potential health and safety hazards is outweighed by a confidentiality interest.
 
Makes it a rebuttable presumption that the interest in protecting personally identifiable information relating to an individual's financial or health, or other similar information, outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit, require, or authorize the disclosure of classified information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Introduced in House
Limiting the Intrusive Miles of International Terrorist Sponsors Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5886
Sponsor: Rep. Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Access to airports
Airports
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Diplomats
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Government Operations and Politics
Hospital care
Hospitals
Hotels, motels, etc.
New York City
President and foreign policy
Right to travel
Sanctions (International law)
State-sponsored terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
United Nations delegations
United Nations headquarters

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Limiting the Intrusive Miles of International Terrorist Sponsors Act of 2008 or LIMITS Act of 2008 - Directs the President to restrict to the designated area the travel of officials and representatives of countries that are designated as state sponsors of terrorism who are visiting the U.N. headquarters complex in connection with official business. 
 
Authorizes presidential waiver of such restriction upon submission of a report to Congress explaining why it is in the national interest to do so.
 
Excludes from such restriction: (1) direct travel to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport or LaGuardia Airport to the designated area in connection with meetings at the U.N. headquarters complex; (2) land travel to and from any lodgings or other hotel accommodations in which an official or representative is staying if such lodging or other hotel accommodation is within the designated area; and (3) travel to and from New York University medical center or Bellevue Hospital Center for emergency medical care.
 
Defines: (1) &quot;designated area&quot;; (2) &quot;state sponsor of terrorism&quot;; and (3) &quot;United Nations headquarters complex.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Soledad Canyon Mine Act

Bill: 110-hr-5887
Sponsor: Rep. McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [R-CA-25]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Commercial arbitration
Compensation (Law)
Corporation taxes
Courts of special jurisdiction
Environmental Protection
Federal-city relations
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Landowners
Law
Mining claims
Mining engineering
Mining leases
Sand and gravel industry
Taxation
Valuation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Soledad Canyon Mine Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to cancel Bureau of Land Management mineral contracts CA-20139 and CA-22901 and withdraw from further mineral entry the areas subject to them, which are located in Soledad Canyon adjacent to Santa Clarita, California.

Requires Transit Mixed Concrete Corporation to receive, as compensation for cancellation of the contracts, their fair market value and its expenditures and covered liabilities in trying to bring the contracts into commercial production.

Increases the adjusted basis of the contracts upon cancellation for federal tax purposes.

Directs the Secretary, before any disposition of land, mineral or surface estate for any area located in the city of Victorville, California, to: (1) consult with the city and surface owners; and (2) prohibit mining in such area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility.

Bill: 110-hr-5888
Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Health
Health planning
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Allows reimbursement to a veteran who receives emergency treatment in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs facility if, among other requirements, the veteran has no contractual or legal recourse against a third party that would, in whole (currently, in whole or part), extinguish the veteran's liability to the provider.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Orphan Works Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5889
Sponsor: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alternative dispute resolution
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Copyright
Data banks
Governmental investigations
Intellectual property
Law
Legislation
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Orphan Works Act of 2008 - Limits the remedies in a civil action brought for infringement of copyright in an orphan work if the infringer proves that: (1) the infringer performed and documented a reasonably diligent search in good faith to locate the copyright owner before using the work, but was unable to locate the owner; (2) a Notice of Use was filed with the Register of Copyrights before the work was used; and (3) the infringing use of the work provided attribution to the owner of the copyright, if known. 
 
Permits an award of reasonable compensation for the use of the infringed work, except if: (1) the infringement is performed without any commercial advantage and for primarily a charitable, religious, scholarly, or educational purpose; and (2) the infringer ceases the infringement expeditiously after receiving notice of the claim for infringement.
 
Directs the Register of Copyrights to: (1) undertake a certification process for the establishment of an electronic database to facilitate the search for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works that are subject to copyright protection; and (2) study and report to Congress on remedies for copyright infringement claims by an individual copyright owner or a related group of copyright owners seeking small amounts of monetary relief.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the function of the deposit requirement in the copyright registration system .


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
To adjust the boundary of Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas and provide for three ecotourism projects within the preserve, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-5891
Sponsor: Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Biological diversity
Boats and boating
Boundaries
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Land transfers
Landowners
Natural areas
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation
Texas
Tourism
Walking

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Adjusts the boundary of Big Thicket National Preserve, located in East Texas, to include any lands acquired from willing sellers totaling not more than 100,000 acres of land near the Preserve. 
 
Permits any owner of private property included within the boundaries of the Big Thicket National Preserve to have their property immediately removed by submitting a written request for such withdrawal. 

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to construct and operate: (1) a system of canopy walks, elevated boardwalks, and associated interpretation that connect visitors with the ecological diversity of Big Thicket National Preserve; (2) a Big Thicket National Preserve interpretive center; and (3) canoe and kayaking trails in Big Thicket National Preserve. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Emergency Housing Assistance Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5894
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Authorization
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Eviction
Federal aid to housing
Finance and Financial Sector
Food relief
Foreclosure
Homeless
Housing finance
Housing subsidies
Mortgages
Nonprofit organizations
Public utilities
Relocation
Rent
Rental housing
Shelters for the homeless
Social Welfare
Surety and fidelity
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Emergency Housing Assistance Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for grants under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Allows only up to 3.5% of such funds to be used for administrative costs.
 
Limits the use of grants to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board under this Act, and any monies received by any private nonprofit organization or local government from the National Board from such amounts, solely for housing-related assistance needed to prevent homelessness in connection with the foreclosure on a dwelling occupied by an eligible family. Specifies among the uses of such assistance relocation expenses, security and utility deposits, mortgage payments, rent payments, utility payments, and other foreclosure or eviction prevention expenses.
 
Allows an eligible family to receive such assistance for up to three months. Requires such assistance to be provided directly to mortgage servicers, property managers, utility companies, or other entities necessary to prevent the homelessness of such family. (No funds shall be provided directly to the family).
 
Requires the National Board, and any private nonprofit organization or local government receiving monies from it, to maintain such monies in an account separate from other funds provided under the Program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Solicitation Disclosure Act

Bill: 110-hr-5895
Sponsor: Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advertising
Commerce
Consumer education
Financial services
Government Operations and Politics
Mail-order business
Sales promotion

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Solicitation Disclosure Act - Requires that any mailed unsolicited commercial offer for any financial product or service (including loans or other credit, insurance, debt refinancing or cancellation, mortgages, and investments) include, on the outside envelope (or if mailed without an envelope, at the top of the solicitation), the label &quot;This Is an Unsolicited Commercial Offer From&quot; followed by the name of the person or company making the offer. Excludes advertisements for retail consumer goods from the definition of &quot;unsolicited commercial offer.&quot;
 
Provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Federal Trade Commission Act and by other agencies under specified Acts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Environmental Justice Enforcement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5896
Sponsor: Rep. Solis, Hilda L. [D-CA-32]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil actions and liability
Civil rights enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Injunctions
Law
Legal fees
Racial discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Environmental Justice Enforcement Act of 2008 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to declare that discrimination based on disparate impact under federally assisted programs (including exclusion from participation and denial of benefits) is established only if a person aggrieved by discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin demonstrates that: (1) a covered entity has a policy or practice causing a disparate impact on that basis and fails to demonstrate that the challenged policy or practice is related to and necessary to achieve the nondiscriminatory goals of the program or activity alleged to have been operated in a discriminatory manner; or (2) a less discriminatory alternative policy or practice exists, but the covered entity refuses to adopt it.
 
Authorizes an aggrieved person to: (1) bring a civil action in federal or state court to enforce such person's rights; and (2) recover equitable relief, attorney's fees, and costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Travel Trailer Residents' Health Registry Act

Bill: 110-hr-5897
Sponsor: Rep. Barrow, John [D-GA-12]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Communication in medicine
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Directories
Emergency Management
Emergency housing
Environmental Protection
Environmental health
Epidemiology
Formaldehyde
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health counseling
Health education
Health information systems
Health surveys
Housing and Community Development
Indoor air pollution
Medical records
Medical research
Mental health services
Mobile homes
Physical examinations
Public service advertising
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Travel Trailer Residents' Health Registry Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS Secretary) to: (1) establish and maintain a health registry for individuals exposed to formaldehyde in temporary housing units provided by the government when displaced by a major disaster that occurred between August 29, 2005, and January 1, 2008; (2) include in the registry information the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) determines is necessary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of such exposure; (3) develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the registry; and (4) periodically notify such individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure.
 
Directs the DHS Secretary to contract with the HHS Secretary to provide health examinations, consultations, and mental health counseling free of charge to each eligible individual.

Requires the HHS Secretary to contract with an independent scientific organization to report to Congress on: (1) the effectiveness of actions taken to collect and maintain information on the health consequences of such exposure; (2) recommendations to improve such collection and maintenance; and (3) the most effective and prudent means of addressing medical needs of eligible individuals.

Requires: (1) such health consultation and mental health counseling to provide to each eligible individual information on examination results and on developments; and (2) the Secretary to commence an epidemiological study of the immediate and long-term effects of such exposure sufficient to further understand the medical needs of eligible individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
Silver Alert Grant Program Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5898
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2008-04-24 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Alzheimer's disease
Caregivers
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal justice information
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Families
Federal aid to law enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Mentally disabled
Missing persons
Police communication systems
Right of privacy
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: 
Silver Alert Grant Program Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to states to implement or improve a Silver Alert system. Defines &quot;Silver Alert system&quot; to mean a state-administered notification system to help locate missing individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses.

Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress on Silver Alert systems, including: (1) a list of states that have established such systems; (2) information on each state's system; (3) actions states have taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the individuals for whom Silver Alerts are issued; and (4) ways that states have facilitated and improved communication about missing individuals between families, caregivers, law enforcement officials, and other authorities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Introduced in House