hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
End the Trade Deficit Act

Bill: 110-hr-6795
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Balance of payments
Congress
Congressional hearings
Congressional reporting requirements
Federal advisory bodies
Free trade
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
International competitiveness
Legislation
Trade agreements

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
End the Trade Deficit Act - Establishes the Emergency Commission To End the Trade Deficit to develop a trade policy plan to eliminate the U.S. merchandise trade deficit and to develop a competitive trade policy for the 21st century.

Requires the Commission to report to the President and to Congress on: (1) its findings and conclusions; (2) a detailed plan for reducing both the overall trade deficit and specific bilateral trade deficits; and (3) any recommendations for administrative and legislative actions necessary for such reductions.

Prohibits the President from submitting to Congress any free trade agreement or legislation implementing one until: (1) the report has been delivered to Congress and to the President; and (2) specified congressional committees have completed a hearing on it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Stop Very Unscrupulous Loan Transfers from Underprivileged countries to Rich, Exploitive Funds Act

Bill: 110-hr-6796
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Foreign loans and debt
Government information and archives
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Stop Very Unscrupulous Loan Transfers from Underprivileged Countries to Rich, Exploitive Funds Act or the Stop VULTURE Funds Act - Prohibits: (1) any U.S. person from engaging in sovereign debt profiteering, or any person engaging in sovereign debt profiteering in the United States; and (2) any U.S. court from issuing a summons, subpoena, writ, judgment, attachment, or execution in aid of a claim which would further sovereign debt profiteering.
 
Sets forth: (1) required court disclosures in actions involving collection of sovereign debt; and (2) related responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Incumbent Worker Development Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6797
Sponsor: Rep. Kagen, Steve [D-WI-8]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Incumbent Worker Development Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Labor to establish a program of grants to states to assist employers to provide incumbent worker training to enhance the knowledge and skills of an employee in order to improve his or her job performance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for certain cancers occurring in veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam and were exposed to certain herbicide agents, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6798
Sponsor: Rep. Kagen, Steve [D-WI-8]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cancer
Digestive diseases
Disabled
Health
Veterans' disability compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Presumes to be service-connected, and therefore compensable through veterans' disability compensation, cancers of any tissues through the opening of the gastrointestinal tract to the end, becoming manifest to a degree of disability of 10% or more.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Worker Savings Account Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6799
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Worker Savings Account Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish worker savings accounts to make payments to workers during periods of unemployment; (2) treat such accounts in the same manner as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for tax purposes; (3) allow employer matching contributions to such accounts; (4) make a portion of the tax credit for contributions to retirement accounts (saver's credit) refundable; and (5) require increases in the saver's credit to be paid into a worker savings account.

Provides that no provision of this Act shall be construed to diminish an employer's obligation to pay federal and state unemployment taxes or to reduce the amount of unemployment compensation to which a worker may be entitled. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1688)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6800
Sponsor: Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health programs administration and funding
Intellectual property
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medical research
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2008 -Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to replace the current part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) program, adopted by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, with a revised prescription drug benefit program under a new part D (Prescription Medicine Benefit for the Aged and Disabled) for all Medicare beneficiaries.
 
Provides for reductions in the price of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries.
 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) revise requirements with respect to the commercial and personal importation of prescription drugs and the disposition of certain drugs denied admission; and (2) prescribe requirements with respect to Internet sales of prescription drugs.
 
Provides that if any federal agency or any non-profit entity undertakes federally funded health care research and development, and is to convey or provide a patent or other exclusive right to use such research and development for a drug or other health care technology, such agency or entity shall not make such conveyance or provide such patent or other right until the recipient first agrees to a reasonable pricing agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary determines that the public interest is served by a waiver of the reasonable pricing agreement.
 
Sets forth Medigap transition requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-08-01
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: 2008-08-01
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: 2008-08-01
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: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
New York/New Jersey High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Expansion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6801
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
New Jersey
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
New York/New Jersey High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Expansion Act of 2008 - Designates the counties of Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence in the state of New York as high-intensity drug trafficking areas and incorporates such counties into the New York/New Jersey high-intensity drug trafficking area program administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Veterans' Authorities Extension Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6802
Sponsor: Rep. Buyer, Steve [R-IN-4]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Disability and paralysis
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Veterans' Authorities Extension Act of 2008 - Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) include noninstitutional extended care services within authorized services; (2) provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who participated in certain chemical and biological testing conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD); (3) carry out certain income verification in order to verify eligibility for needs-based care and services; and (4) establish research corporations.
 
Extends through: (1) FY2013 VA authority to conduct recovery audits with respect to benefit overpayments; and (2) 2009 VA authority to provide nursing home care to certain service-connected disabled veterans in need of such care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Real Estate Assessment Center Inspection Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6803
Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-11]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Housing and community development funding
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Real Estate Assessment Center Inspection Improvement Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to take necessary actions to improve the activities of the Real Estate Assessment Center of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for physical assessment and inspection of public housing and federally assisted multifamily housing, including developing a detailed process to improve planning and preparation for such inspections.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) make the three-day Real Estate Assessment Center physical inspection training for non-inspectors, held in Washington, DC, available to personnel of all public housing agencies throughout the nation, by use of the Web or other electronic means; and (2) convene an advisory committee to review and make recommendations for revising, as necessary, the Center's scoring system. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Families and Small Business Energy Tax Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6804
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy prices
Income tax credits
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Public utilities and utility rates
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Families and Small Business Energy Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer an income-based refundable tax credit for the lesser of 50% of such taxpayer's residential energy costs for a taxable year or $750 ($1,500 for married taxpayers filing jointly). Defines &quot;residential energy costs&quot; as amounts paid in 2008 or 2009: (1) to any utility for natural gas used in the taxpayer's principal residence during the heating season (September through March); and (2) for heating oil or propane.

Allows a certain small farming or commercial fishing businesses (gross receipts of not more than $20 million) a tax credit for up to 15% of amounts paid in 2008 or 2009 for gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, propane, and natural gas.

Increases and makes permanent the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property expenditures.

Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to authorize additional appropriations for outreach activities to inform eligible households of available energy-related assistance and for residential weatherization and repair activities for low-income households. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, 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: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Biofuels Pipeline Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6805
Sponsor: Rep. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN-2]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Energy
Energy storage
Energy transportation
Environmental Protection
Fuel
Income tax
Motor vehicle pollution control
Partnerships
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Biofuels Pipeline Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the definition of qualifying income for publicly traded partnerships to include income and gains from the transportation, storage, or marketing of any fuel which meets certain registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for the purchase of new neighborhood electric vehicles.

Bill: 110-hr-6807
Sponsor: Rep. Hall, John J. [D-NY-19]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the purchase of a new neighborhood electric vehicle. Limits the amount of such credit to the lesser of $1,000 or the amount paid for such vehicle. Defines &quot;new neighborhood electric vehicle&quot; as a U.S. manufactured vehicle which: (1) draws propulsion energy solely from onboard sources of a rechargeable energy storage system; (2) is classified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a low-speed vehicle; (3) has four wheels; (4) has a top attainable speed in one mile of more than 20 mph and not more than 35 mph on a paved level surface; and (5) has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 2,500 pounds. Terminates such credit after 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Presidential Commission to Study the Culture and Glorification of Violence in America Act

Bill: 110-hr-6808
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-23]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime prevention
Criminology
Economic conditions
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Firearms
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Health
Presidential commissions
Psychology
School discipline
School security
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Violence
Violence in mass media

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Presidential Commission to Study the Culture and Glorification of Violence in America Act - Establishes the Presidential Commission to Study the Culture and Glorification of Violence in America. Sets forth the duties of such Commission, including an examination of: (1) the glorification of violence in the United States; (2) the relationship between psychological factors and increased violence; (3) the role of media; (4) the correlation between economic frustration and increased violence; (5) the correlation between ease of access to firearms and increased violence; and (6) the role of the schools in preventing violent behaviors and identifying potential perpetrators of violence. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1686)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Energy for Schools Act

Bill: 110-hr-6809
Sponsor: Rep. Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH-2]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Energy
Energy prices
Federal aid to education
Fuel
Public schools
School buildings
School buses
Secondary education
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Energy for Schools Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to: (1) state educational agencies (SEAs) in order to award subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to assist public schools with the increased costs of fuel for school buses and energy for public school buildings; and (2) LEAs that do not receive a subgrant from an SEA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit to employers for reimbursing the expenses of employees who provide carpooling.

Bill: 110-hr-6810
Sponsor: Rep. Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH-2]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Car pools
Commuting
Employee benefit plans
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Tax credits
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a tax credit for 50% of the first $250 paid to any employee as reimbursement for carpooling expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Duncan Plaza Homeless Disaster Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6811
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson, William J. [D-LA-2]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Homelessness and emergency shelter
Income tax credits
Low- and moderate-income housing
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Duncan Plaza Homeless Disaster Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an enhanced low-income housing tax credit for low-income housing projects providing temporary living accommodations for homeless individuals located in areas determined by the President to warrant individual or individual and public assistance due to a disaster declaration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To prohibit United States foreign assistance to countries with budget surpluses.

Bill: 110-hr-6812
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Foreign aid and international relief

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Prohibits the provision of U.S. foreign assistance to a country with a budget surplus (as defined by this Act). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House