hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare Telehealth Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2812
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Medicare
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Telemedicine

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
Medicare Telehealth Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to telehealth services to provide for: (1) an increase in the number of types of originating sites; (2) no facility fee for certain such sites; (3) expansion of practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services; and (4) changes in the process for updating the list of telehealth services.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a Telehealth Advisory Committee to make recommendations on the appropriate addition or deletion of telehealth services and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2437-2438)
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
China Currency Manipulation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2813
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Balance of payments
China
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
East Asia
Foreign exchange
International Affairs
International monetary system
Trade negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
China Currency Manipulation Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) make an affirmative determination that the People's Republic of China (PRC) is manipulating the rate of exchange between its currency and the U.S. dollar; (2) establish and report to Congress on a plan of action to remedy such currency manipulation; (3) initiate expeditiously bilateral negotiations with the PRC to ensure that it regularly adjusts the rate of exchange between its currency and the U.S. dollar in order to permit effective balance of payment adjustments and eliminate unfair competitive advantage in trade; and (4) instruct the Executive Director to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to use the U.S. vote to ensure that the PRC takes such action to achieve such goals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Student Aid for All Act

Bill: 110-s-2815
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Debtor and creditor
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Higher education
Parents
Scholarships
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
Strengthening Student Aid for All Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum annual and aggregate unsubsidized Stafford loan amounts that may be provided to undergraduate students under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program.
 
Allows parents of dependent students to defer PLUS FFEL principal repayment until such students cease to be enrolled as undergraduates on at least a half-time basis.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to act as the secondary market of last resort for FFELs, until July 2009, by purchasing such loans from lenders who cannot sell them in the private financial markets and thereby raise the capital needed to make new loans. Permits the Secretary to act in such capacity after such date if economic conditions threaten timely, uninterrupted access to student loans. 
 
Changes title IV need analyses by allowing the calculation of a negative expected family contribution. Increases the Pell Grant available to students whose expected family contribution is a negative number.
 
Allows institutions of higher education (IHEs) to participate in the FFEL lender-of-last-resort program, thereby requiring guaranty agencies serving as lenders of last resort to make FFELs to students of such IHEs regardless of their ability to otherwise obtain such loans. Authorizes the Secretary to advance needed funds to guaranty agencies acting as lenders of last resort in such situations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2442-2443)
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2440-2442)
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
National Park Centennial Fund Act

Bill: 110-s-2817
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Commerce
Continental shelf
Cultural property
Department of the Interior
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Employee training
Energy
Energy conservation
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Environmental technology
Federal employees
Gas in submerged lands
Government Operations and Politics
Gulf of Mexico
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minorities
Minority employment
National parks
Nature conservation
Oil and gas leases
Oil and gas royalties
Oil well drilling
Petroleum in submerged lands
Pluralism (Social sciences)
Postage stamps
Professional education
Public-private partnerships
Restoration ecology
Revolving funds
Science, Technology, Communications
Sports and Recreation
Tourism
Trails
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and the disabled
Water Resources Development
Water conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
National Park Centennial Fund Act - Establishes a revolving fund in the Treasury to be known as the National Park Centennial Fund, into which, not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, on October 1, 2008, and each October 1 thereafter through 2016, there shall be transferred, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $100 million to carry out this Act. 

Requires the annual budget submission of the President for the Department of the Interior to include a list of National Park Centennial proposals. 

Requires the list to include projects under the following initiatives: (1) an Education in Parks Centennial Initiative; (2) a Diversity in Parks Centennial Initiative; (3) a Supporting Park Professionals Centennial Initiative; (4) an Environmental Leadership Centennial Initiative; (5) a Natural Resource Protection Centennial Initiative; (6) a Cultural Resource Protection Centennial Initiative; and (7) a Visitor Enjoyment and Health Centennial Initiative. 

Sets forth requirements for: (1) the deposit of revenues in excess of specified amounts received from offshore oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico into the Fund; and (2) the establishment of special rate postage stamps as a means through which the public can contribute to the Fund. Treats the amounts received pursuant to such requirements as offsetting receipts for this Act's purposes. Terminates the authority provided for such offsets on September 30, 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2444-2445)
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Health Plans Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2818
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Commerce
Employee health benefits
Federal advisory bodies
Federal preemption
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Health insurance
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Small business
Standards
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
Small Business Health Plans Act of 2008 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for the establishment and governance of small business health plans, which are group health plans sponsored by trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations that meet ERISA certification requirements. Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) apply the rules and standards of this Act to Alternative Market Pooling Organizations, such as unions, churches, and other groups; and (2) consult with the domicile state regarding the Secretary's exercise of authority over such plans. Allows other existing plans to be treated as small business health plans under certain circumstances. 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to promulgate Minimum Standards for premium variations and Model Small Group Rating Rules for plans under this Act. 

Requires the Secretary to issue the List of Required Benefits of covered benefits, services, or categories of providers that are required to be provided by health insurance issuers in at least 26 states as a result of state mandate laws. Applies covered benefit, service, or category of provider mandates from the List to states with laws requiring such mandates, but does not apply such mandates from the List to states with no such laws. Supersedes any and all state laws relating to such mandates in the health insurance market.

Requires the Secretary to establish the Health Insurance Consensus Standards Board to develop recommendations that harmonize inconsistent state health insurance laws. Provides that any harmonized standards adopted by the Secretary will supersede state laws related to the areas covered by the harmonized standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend and expand the number of States qualifying for supplemental grants under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Bill: 110-s-2820
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aid to dependent children
Cash welfare block grants
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to change the TANF supplemental grant for population increases in certain states into simply a supplemental grant for certain states, for FY2009 and FY2010, including both qualifying states that received and qualifying states that did not receive a supplemental grant for FY2008, if their TANF resources are below average.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2448-2449)
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2821
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-04-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Bonds
Capital gains tax
Coal
Electric appliances
Electric power production
Electric power transmission
Electric utilities
Energy
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Finance and Financial Sector
Fuel cells
Geothermal resources
Housing and Community Development
Hydroelectric power
Incineration
Income tax
Investment tax credit
Irrigation
Landfills
Methane
Minimum tax
Refuse as fuel
Solar energy
Standards
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax deferral
Water Resources Development
Wind power

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend certain tax incentives for energy production and conservation. 

Extends through 2009 the tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources (e.g., biomass, geothermal energy, landfill gas, and trash combustion). Includes marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as a renewable resource eligible for such credit. Allows sales of electricity produced from renewable resources to regulated public utilities. 

Extends the energy investment tax credits for solar energy (through 2016) and for fuel cell and microturbine property (through 2017). Repeals the dollar per kilowatt limitation for fuel cell property under the energy investment tax credit. Allows public electric utilities to qualify for such credit. 

Extends through 2009 the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures. Repeals the $2,000 limitation on the tax credit for solar electric property. Allows an offset against the alternative minimum tax (AMT) of tax credit amounts. 

Extends through 2009 the tax credit for investment in clean renewable energy bonds. Increases the national limitation amount for such bonds.

Extends through 2009 deferral provisions relating to the recognition of gain by certain electric utilities. 

Extends through 2009 the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property. Includes residential biomass fuel stoves (pellet stoves) as eligible energy property for purposes of such credit.

Extends through 2010 the tax credit for energy efficient new homes. 

Extends through 2009 the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings and increases the allowable amount of such deduction.

Extends the tax credit for energy efficient appliances to include appliances produced in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Revises and updates energy efficiency standards for such appliances in accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal a section of that Act relating to exportation or importation of natural gas.

Bill: 110-s-2822
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2008-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy facilities
Exports
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Imports
Liquefied natural gas
Natural gas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-04
text: 
 Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal provisions amending the Natural Gas Act to extend its jurisdiction to: (1) the exportation or importation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in it; and (2) liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.
 
States that the Natural Gas Act shall be applied and administered as if such provisions and attendant amendments had not been enacted.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2614)
action_date: 2008-04-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2613-2614)
action_date: 2008-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Transportation Empowerment Act

Bill: 110-s-2823
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2008-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: American Samoa
Animals
Bridges
Budget deficits
Commerce
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Diesel motor
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Energy
Excise tax
Federal aid to transportation
Finance and Financial Sector
Forest roads
Gasoline
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Government trust funds
Guam
Highway finance
Highway maintenance
Highway planning
Highway use tax
Indian lands
Infrastructure
Interstate compacts
Interstate highway system
Limited access highways
Mass rapid transit
Minorities
National forests
National parks
Northern Mariana Islands
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public-private partnerships
Road construction
Science, Technology, Communications
Tax rates
Taxation
Toll roads
Traffic accidents and safety
Transportation research
Virgin Islands
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: 
Transportation Empowerment Act - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for the interstate maintenance program, emergency relief, the interstate bridge program, the federal lands highways program, highway safety programs, surface transportation research, and certain administrative expenses. Authorizes a state, upon determining that excess funds have been made available, to transfer the excess funds to, and use them for, any surface transportation purpose (including mass transit and rail) in the state. Revises requirements regarding state apportionments under the interstate maintenance component for resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, and reconstructing the Interstate System. 
 
Prohibits any restriction on the ability of a state, as part of any highway improvement project, to impose and collect a toll on any highway that is part of the Interstate System. Allows a state to use revenue collected from such toll only for a new highway infrastructure project in the state.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to: (1) extend, for five years, the availability of HTF funds for certain authorized expenditures; (2) set a core programs financing rate for gasoline, special motor fuels, kerosene, and diesel fuel; (3) establish in the HTF an Infrastructure Special Assistance Fund; and (4) provide for the return of excess tax receipts to states for transportation purposes. 
Grants consent to states to enter into interstate compacts to establish infrastructure banks to invest in the construction of surface transportation projects. 
Amends the IRC to reduce taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and special fuels funding the HTF. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the collective bargaining rights and procedures for review of adverse actions of certain employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-2824
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2008-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Appellate courts
Collective bargaining
Department of Veterans Affairs
District courts
Employee rights
Employee-management relations in government
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grievance procedures
Judicial review
Labor and Employment
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: 
Repeals specified exceptions to rights of certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to engage in collective bargaining.
 
Requires a final decision of the VA with respect to the review of an adverse personnel action against a VA employee to be issued not later than 60 days after such action has been appealed. Subjects such decision to judicial review in the appropriate U.S. District Court or, if the decision is made by a labor arbitrator, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2638)
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2825
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability evaluation
Disabled
Health
Hearing aids
Self-help devices for the disabled
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: 
Veterans' Compensation Equity Act of 2008 - Requires that, for each veteran requiring continuous medication or the use of one or more adaptive devices (such as a hearing aid) prescribed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or other licensed health care provider for the treatment of a service-connected disability, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall assign a disability rating of not less than 10%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2638)
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2638)
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
8/29 Investigation Team Act

Bill: 110-s-2826
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Coastal engineering
Coastal zone
Congress
Disaster relief
Federal advisory bodies
Flood control
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Hurricanes
Law
Legislation
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: 
8/29 Investigation Team Act - Establishes a bipartisan 8/29 Investigation Team to examine: (1) the events beginning on August 29, 2005, with respect to the failure of the flood protection system in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and (2) each flood control and restoration project that has been carried out since that date in the region in which those events occurred.

Prohibits any elected federal official from serving as a Team member. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding member qualifications.

Urges the Team to: (1) review findings and recommendations of all studies conducted in the aftermath of the levee failures in Louisiana on or after August 29, 2005; (2) review the ongoing U.S. exposure to flood control system failures; and (3) report on necessary legislative or regulatory changes.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to repeal a requirement with respect to the procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels.

Bill: 110-s-2827
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2008-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air pollution control
Alternative energy sources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Environmental Protection
Fuel
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Government vehicles
Synthetic fuel
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal provisions prohibiting any federal agency from entering into a contract for procurement of an alternative or synthetic fuel for any mobility-related use, other than for research or testing, unless the contract specifies that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and combustion of the fuel must be less than or equal to such emissions from the equivalent conventional fuel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Glacier National Park Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 110-s-2828
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2008-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Anniversaries
Coins and coinage
Finance and Financial Sector
Montana
National parks
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Silver

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-08
text: 
Glacier National Park Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Glacier National Park in Montana, to mint and issue $1 coins emblematic of the Park, its natural features, and wildlife. 

Prohibits the minting of any coins under this Act after December 31, 2010. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate