hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act

Bill: 110-s-2627
Sponsor: Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Authorization
Biennial budgets
Budget reconciliation
Budget resolutions
Congress
Congressional budget
Congressional reporting requirements
Federal budget process
Fiscal year
Governmental investigations
House rules and procedure
Legislation
Planning-programming-budgeting
Senate rules and procedure
Strategic planning

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require: (1) biennial (currently, annual) budget resolutions; (2) biennial appropriations Acts; and (3) biennial government strategic and performance plans.
 
Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on such period; and (2) report the findings to the House and Senate Budget Committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. (text of measure as introduced: CR S972-975)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S971-972)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat income earned by mutual funds from exchange-traded funds holding precious metal bullion as qualifying income.

Bill: 110-s-2628
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector
Gold
Income tax
Mutual funds
Platinum
Precious metals
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Silver
Tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat income earned by mutual funds from interests holding certain gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bullion that are regularly traded on an established U.S. securities market as qualifying income (i.e., passed through and taxed at individual income tax rates).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Nino's Act

Bill: 110-s-2629
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Clinical trials
Drugs
Families
Medicaid
Medical research
Pharmaceutical research
Prescription pricing
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Nino's Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for mandatory Medicaid coverage of drugs prescribed for certain research study child participants, regardless of Medicaid eligibility otherwise, if the state provides drug coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S976)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S975-976)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2630
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Fisheries
Fishing boats
Grants-in-aid
Health insurance
Health planning
Labor and Employment
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Medically uninsured

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Commercial Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a grant program to assist commercial fishing states in establishing or strengthening programs to expand health care coverage and access for uninsured or underinsured workers in the commercial fishing industry and their families.

Requires the Secretary to provide: (1) program planning grants for commercial fishing states and organizations within such states, including for initial research and planning to develop a qualified health care coverage program; and (2) implementation and administration grants for such states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S977-978)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.

Bill: 110-s-2631
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Burma
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional gold medals
Democracy
Dissenters
East Asia
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
International Affairs
Nonviolence

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S980)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S979-980)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Sex Offender Registration and Notification Retroactivity Correction Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2632
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information
Ex-offenders
Government Operations and Politics
Identification of criminals
Sex offenders

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Sex Offender Registration and Notification Retroactivity Correction Act of 2008 - Makes the registration requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act applicable to sex offenders convicted before, on, or after the enactment of that Act. 

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) apply registration requirements to sex offenders regardless of the date of their offense or the date of their travel in interstate commerce; and (2) make failure to register or update a sex offender registration a continuing offense for as long as such failure exists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S980-981)
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq.

Bill: 110-s-2633
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces abroad
Crime and Law Enforcement
Defense budgets
Economics and Public Finance
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Military occupation
Military operations
Military training
Military withdrawal
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Directs the President to transition the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq to the following purposes: (1) conducting limited scope and duration operations against al Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations; (2) providing security for U.S. infrastructure and personnel; (3) training and equipping Iraqi security services and U.S. forces; and (4) redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq. Exempts such activities from the funding and redeployment provisions of this Act.
 
Directs the President to begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. 
 
Prohibits funds from being obligated or expended to continue the U.S. Armed Forces deployment in Iraq as of 120 days after the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-27
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S1258)
action_date: 2008-02-27
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S1226-1234, S1235-1258)
action_date: 2008-02-26
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S1165-1194)
action_date: 2008-02-26
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 70 - 24. Record Vote Number: 33. (consideration: CR S1165-1167; text: CR S1166)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S1144-1145; text: CR S1145)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1144-1145)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 575.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a report setting forth the global strategy of the United States to combat and defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates.

Bill: 110-s-2634
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces abroad
Armed forces reserves
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congress and military policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Diplomacy
International Affairs
Military operations
Military readiness
Military strategy
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Directs the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Homeland Security to jointly submit to Congress a report setting forth U.S. global strategy to defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S1364)
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S1334-1364)
action_date: 2008-02-27
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 89 - 3. Record Vote Number: 34. (consideration: CR S1258-1264; text: CR S1258)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S1145; text: CR S1145)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1145)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 576.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act

Bill: 110-s-2635
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agriculture and Food
Animals
Aquaculture
Boundaries
California
Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Department of Commerce
Ecological research
Ecosystem management
Energy
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Environmental monitoring
Fines (Penalties)
Fisheries
Fishing boats
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Land transfers
Law
Maps
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine parks and reserves
Marine pollution
Marine resources conservation
Marine safety
Mining engineering
Mining leases
Non-native species
Oil and gas leases
Pests
Petroleum engineering
Pipelines
Planning
Saline waters
Science, Technology, Communications
Shellfish
Ships
Transportation and Public Works
Waste disposal in the ocean
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Water use

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: 
Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act - Declares it is U.S. policy to protect and preserve living and other resources of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (Farallones NMS) and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (Cordell Bank NMS) marine environments.
 
Makes certain adjustments to expand the boundaries of the Farallones NMS and the Cordell NMS. 
 
Prohibits within the Farallones NMS and the Cordell Bank NMS: (1) the leasing, exploration, development, production, or transporting by pipeline of minerals or hydrocarbons; (2) the conduct of aquaculture (with exceptions); and (3) subject to limitation, the discharge of materials, substances, or introduced species or a harmful change in the salinity. Prohibits the conduct of aquaculture within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
 
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to complete: (1) an interim supplemental management plan for each sanctuary that focuses on protective resource management in the areas added by this Act; and (2) a revised comprehensive management plan for each of the sanctuaries.
 
Requires the Secretary to review the operations of the Farallones NMS to determine whether area added to it by this Act shall be designated as a new and separate NMS.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2637
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Bonds
Capital gains tax
Depreciation and amortization
Families
Family farms
Farm lands
Farmers
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Land transfers
Land use
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income 100% of the gain, up to $500,000, from the sale of qualified farm property to a first-time farmer who certifies that such property will be used for farming purposes for 10 years. Allows: (1) a 50% exclusion for the sale of qualified farm property to any other person who certifies that such property will be used for farming purposes for 10 years; and (2) a 25% exclusion for the sale of qualified farm property to any other person for any other use. 

Defines &quot;qualified farm property&quot; as real property located in the United States which is used for farming purposes for a specified three-year period and in which there was material participation by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or family member. Requires the recapture of tax benefits if qualified farm property is sold or ceases operation as a farm before the required 10-year period. 

Increases dollar limitations on bonds issued to finance assistance programs for first-time farmers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Weekend Voting Act

Bill: 110-s-2638
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congress
Congressional elections
Election Day
Presidential elections
Voting

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Weekend Voting Act - Amends the Revised Statutes with respect to the time of election to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every even numbered year, as the days for the election, in each state and territory, of Delegates to, or Members of, Congress.

Amends federal law with respect to presidential elections and vacancies to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every fourth year, as the days for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States.
 
Amends such federal laws to establish the same polling place hours in the United States for both congressional and presidential elections, namely from 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday till 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, with polls allowed to close between the hours of 10:00 p.m. local time on Saturday and 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday as provided by the law of the state in which the polling place is located. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1057-1058)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1056-1057)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act

Bill: 110-s-2639
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Indexing (Economic policy)
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make available to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for programs, functions, and activities of the Veterans Health Administration for FY2008 130 percent of the amount obligated during FY2006. Adjusts the amount provided for fiscal years after FY2008 based on the number of enrolled veterans and the number of other persons eligible but not enrolled who are provided care, multiplied by the per capita baseline amount for FY2006, as increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. 
Prohibits the availability of such funds for: (1) construction, acquisition, or alteration of veterans' medical facilities (other than for repairs provided for before the date of enactment of this Act); or (2) grants for the construction of state home facilities for the furnishing of veterans' domiciliary, nursing home, and hospital care.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Mercury Emissions Control Act

Bill: 110-s-2643
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Air pollution control
Electric power production
Environmental Protection Agency
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Mercury

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Mercury Emissions Control Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to propose regulations to: (1) control the emission of hazardous air pollutants, including mercury pollutants, from electric utility steam generating units; and (2) require a reduction of not less than 90% in such mercury emissions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-1249.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify and improve information for members and former members of the Armed Forces on upgrades of discharge, to prohibit personality disorder discharges in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-2644
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Brain
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Head injuries
Health
Iraq compilation
Law
Legal services
Limitation of actions
Medical screening
Medical tests
Mental health
Military discharges
Military medicine
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Right of privacy
Right to counsel
Veterans' benefits
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Requires: (1) each member of the Armed Forces being considered for any type of military discharge to receive written notice that an upgrade in the characterization of such discharge will not automatically result from review by a discharge review board; (2) such notice to also advise the member of the right to discuss discharge options with military legal counsel prior to electing a characterization or type of discharge; (3) each member to acknowledge receipt of such notice; and (4) each military department Secretary to annually make public information on discharge reviews.
 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that each member receives, at the time of discharge, comprehensive information on the effect of the discharge status of the member on benefits and services available through the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or any other federal department or agency providing benefits to former members.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of a military department from discharging for a personality disorder a member: (1) unless the member has undergone testing by DOD for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and any related mental health disorder or injury prior to a final action with respect to the discharge; or (2) determined by the Secretary to suffer from PTSD, TBI, or a related mental health disorder or injury.
 
Requires the Secretary to waive the 15-year time limit generally applicable to discharge reviews in the case of reviews of discharges for personality disorder of a former member who has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or a related mental health disorder or injury.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate