hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6076
Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2008-05-15 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Authorization
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Consumer education
Debtor and creditor
Depreciation and amortization
Economics and Public Finance
Federal Reserve System
Federal aid to housing
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Government paperwork
Housing finance
Law
Loan defaults
Mortgage interest rates
Mortgages
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 
Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to establish the right of an eligible deferred-foreclosure consumer, defendable in court, to defer initiation of a foreclosure or related action, including a foreclosure sale, brought by any creditor, servicer, or holder of an eligible deferred-foreclosure mortgage, during a specified deferment period.
 

 
Declares invalid any foreclosure action or proceeding regarding a deferred-foreclosure mortgage if the creditor or servicer fails to notify the consumer: (1) at least 30 days before instituting the action or proceeding; and (2) at least once during each subsequent 30-day period until the foreclosure becomes final.
 
Prescribes procedures governing: (1) initiating foreclosure deferment; (2) payment notices during the deferment period; and (3) the manner of consumer payment during the deferment period.
 
Amortizes over the life of the mortgage the difference between the amount of monthly payment due under the eligible deferred-foreclosure mortgage and the deferment payment amount.
 
Prohibits a creditor or servicer from imposing any late fee or other fee or charge during the deferment period.
 
Requires the creditor or servicer to provide the consumer with separate, written notification, distinct from all other correspondence, regarding: (1) any interest rate increase with respect to a sub-prime mortgage; (2) any minimum monthly payment increase with respect to a negative amortization mortgage; (3) clear and conspicuous disclosure of the good faith estimate of the monthly payment applicable after the adjustment or reset date; and (4) a list of alternatives available to consumers prior to the date of adjustment or increase.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to implement foreclosure mitigation activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to permit local jurisdictions within a State to conduct early voting in elections for Federal office held in such jurisdictions, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6077
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-05-15 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Absentee voting
Ballots
Congress
Congressional elections
Election administration
Government publicity
Local laws
Postage stamps
Presidential elections
State laws
State-local relations
Voting

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 
Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to: (1) permit local jurisdictions within a state to conduct early voting in elections for federal office held in such jurisdictions; (2) require acceptance of absentee ballots without sufficient postage; (3) require ballots cast at incorrect polling places by eligible voters to be counted; and (4) provide notification of individuals whose names do not appear on the official list of eligible voters for the polling place to cast ballots at the correct polling place.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E936)
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia Act

Bill: 110-hr-6079
Sponsor: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-29]
Introduced: 2008-05-15 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: American investments
Armenia
Blockade
Boundaries
Central Asia
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Europe
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign investments
Middle East and North Africa
Turkey

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 
End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the President and Secretary of State should call upon Turkey to comply with the long-standing U.S. position that Turkey should lift its ongoing blockade with Armenia. 
 
Directs the Secretary to report on U.S. plans and steps taken to end such blockade.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
HUBZone Equity for Distressed Communities Act

Bill: 110-hr-6080
Sponsor: Rep. Walberg, Timothy [R-MI-7]
Introduced: 2008-05-15 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Depressed areas
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Labor and Employment
Metropolitan areas
Small business
Suburbs
Unemployment
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: 
HUBZone Equity for Distressed Communities Act - Amends Small Business Act provisions relating to HUBZones (historically underutilized business zones) to define &quot;qualified suburban area&quot; as any village, city, town, or economic development area governed by a public authority, district, or other unit of general local government, located in a county that includes, or is located in, a metropolitan statistical area and that meets certain low income or high unemployment qualifications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Introduced in House
Auto File Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6084
Sponsor: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2008-05-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Earned income tax credit
Income tax
Social Welfare
Tax administration
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-19
text: 
Auto File Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program for mailing pre-filled income tax returns to assist certain taxpayers who may be eligible for the earned income tax credit in completing their tax returns.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-05-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-19
text: Introduced in House
To make emergency supplemental appropriations for Katrina recovery for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6086
Sponsor: Rep. Alexander, Rodney [R-LA-5]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alabama
Army Corps of Engineers
Civil engineering
Coastal zone
Department of Defense
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Flood control
Florida
Government Operations and Politics
Hurricanes
Infrastructure
Louisiana
Metropolitan areas
Mississippi
Supplemental appropriations
Texas
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
Makes emergency supplemental FY2008 appropriations for disaster relief and recovery related to Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, Dennis, and Rita to the Department of Defense (Civil) for construction, flood control, and coastal emergencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
To sunset the Federal recognition and acknowledgment process within the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6087
Sponsor: Rep. Campbell, John [R-CA-48]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Department of the Interior
Federal-Indian relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Law
Minorities

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
 Bars an American Indian Group seeking federal tribal acknowledgment that does not submit a letter of intent to the Secretary of the Interior within 180 days after receiving notice under this Act from petitioning for or receiving status as a federally recognized Indian tribe through any administrative process.

 Requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register the need of any group to submit such a letter and to notify each group with a pending petition for federal tribal acknowledgment by first class mail. 

Directs the Secretary, when multiple petitions are submitted by groups claiming the same name, to inform each group that all such petitions shall receive no consideration and such petitions shall not be considered.

Authorizes: (1) the Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) to expedite a finding declining to acknowledge a group if it determines that the group clearly did not demonstrate in the application that it meets at least three of seven required criteria; and (2) a group that has an application denied to appeal to the Board of Indian Appeals.

Sets deadlines for the submission of applications and for the consideration of petitions. Terminates the Federal Recognition and Acknowledgment Process by the earlier of three years after enactment of this Act or upon completion of all final decisions by OFA. Provides that no groups shall thereafter be acknowledged as federally recognized Indian tribes through an administrative process. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act

Bill: 110-hr-6088
Sponsor: Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congress
Congressional investigations
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Family violence
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Internet
Law
Lawyers
Legal education
Legal services
Nonprofit organizations
Professional associations
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Stalking
Victims of crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence to work in collaboration with the American Bar Association Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and other organizations to create, recruit lawyers for, and provide training, mentoring, and technical assistance for a National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network.

Requires the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice to designate five states in which to implement the pilot program of a National Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Referral Project and distribute funds under this Act.

Requires the Attorney General to award grants to national domestic violence legal technical assistance providers to expand their services to provide training and ongoing technical assistance to volunteer attorneys in the National Domestic Violence Volunteer Network, statewide legal coordinators, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and Internet-based legal referral organizations.

Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) award grants to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to provide information about statewide legal coordinators and legal services; and (2) award grants to Internet-based non-profit organizations with a demonstrated expertise on domestic violence to provide state-specific information about statewide legal coordinators and legal services through the Internet. 

Directs the National Institute of Justice to study and report to Congress on the scope and quality of legal representation and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, including the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

Directs the Attorney General to establish the Domestic Violence Legal Advisory Task Force.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E976)
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act

Bill: 110-hr-6089
Sponsor: Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Communication in medicine
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Medical research
Medical tests
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acting through the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for planning, establishing, and providing basic operating support for up to 20 national pediatric research consortia. Requires each such consortium to: (1) supplement, but not replace, the establishment of a comprehensive pediatric research portfolio; (2) conduct basic, clinical, behavioral, social, and translational research; and (3) conduct training and demonstration of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods relating to pediatrics.

Requires the Director of NIH to provide for the coordination of information and ensure regular communication between consortia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and to re-allocate those visas to certain employment-based immigrants who obtain an advanced degree in the United States.

Bill: 110-hr-6090
Sponsor: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Alien labor
Aliens
Education
Foreign students
Higher education
Immigrants
Labor and Employment
Skilled labor
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and provide an equal number of annual immigrant visas (55,0000) to certain employment-based aliens who obtain an advanced degree in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
Save Medicare Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6091
Sponsor: Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Budget deficits
Congress
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Legislation
Medical fees
Medicare
Physicians
Quality of care
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
Save Medicare Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to: (1) increase the Medicare physician payment update for 2009; and (2) extend the physician quality reporting system, the incentive payment program for physician scarcity areas, the floor on the work geographic adjustment to the physician fee schedule, and the accommodation for physicians ordered to active duty in the armed services.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act should be deficit neutral over the five year period beginning on October 1, 2008; and (2) Congress should address the challenges facing the Medicare program in a fiscally responsible manner.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Medicare program should provide payments to physicians and other health professionals that serve as positive incentives for participation in voluntary initiatives to improve health care quality; and (2) financing for such initiatives should be non-punitive and exempt from the Medicare physician fee schedule budget neutrality requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6093
Sponsor: Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Civil actions and liability
Claims
Damages
Government liability
Health
Medical malpractice
Military personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Tort Claims Act to allow claims for damages to be brought against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the Armed Forces arising out of a negligent or wrongful act or omission in the performance of medical, dental, or related health care functions that: (1) takes place other than in the context of combat; and (2) is provided by persons acting within the scope of their office or employment by or at the direction of the Armed Forces, whether inside or outside the United States.
 
Provides for a reduction of claims under this Act by the present value of other benefits attributable to such death or injury received by the member and by that member's estate, survivors, and beneficiaries pursuant to other federal law. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
World War II War Crimes Accountability Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6094
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2008-05-20 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Commemorations
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional tributes
Criminal investigation
Extradition
Genocide
Government Operations and Politics
History
Immigration
International Affairs
International cooperation
Jewish holocaust (1939-1945)
Murder
Nazism
Political persecution
President and foreign policy
Prosecution
Research centers
Torture
Visas
War crimes
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: 
World War II War Crimes Accountability Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the United States should encourage extradition and prosecution of the remaining Nazi war criminals; (2) the Simon Wiesenthal Center should be commended for its historic work in bringing to light the atrocities of the Holocaust and in advancing justice for Nazi war criminals through Operation: Last Chance; and (3) the Office of Special Investigation of the Department of Justice is advancing U.S. foreign policy by bringing wanted World War II criminals to justice and should be commended for its actions.
 
Directs the Attorney General, in evaluating the effect on U.S. law enforcement and security interests for purposes of a country's eligibility for visa waiver program designation, to consider the extent to which such country is: (1) cooperating in extraditing or prosecuting Nazi war criminals; and (2) admitting into its territory aliens ordered removed from the United States because of participation in Nazi persecution, genocide, torture, or extrajudicial killing.
 
Authorizes the President, after congressional notification, to not terminate a country's designation based upon such evaluation if in the national interest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-20
text: Introduced in House