hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
White House Conference on Food and Nutrition

Bill: 110-s-3108
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Government Operations and Politics
Hunger
Nutrition
White House conferences

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: 
The White House Conference on Food and Nutrition - Directs: (1) the President to call the White House Conference on Food and Nutrition to be convened in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to end hunger and to improve nutrition in the United States; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Treasury to plan and conduct the Conference.
 
Sets forth Conference provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Ruben Mkoian, Asmik Karapetian, and Arthur Mkoyan.

Bill: 110-s-3110
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Provides for the relief of Ruben Mkoian, Asmik Karapetian, and Arthur Mkoyan.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5453)
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5452, S5453-5455)
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Life at Conception Act

Bill: 110-s-3111
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Abortion
Cloning
Constitutional amendments
Health
Humans
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Life at Conception Act - Declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being beginning at the moment of fertilization, cloning, and other moment at which an individual comes into being.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Javits-Wagner-O'Day and Randolph-Sheppard Modernization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3112
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alaska
Blind
Commerce
Depressed areas
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Employment of the disabled
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Housing and Community Development
Indian economic development
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Nonprofit organizations
Small business
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Javits-Wagner-O'Day and Randolph-Sheppard Modernization Act of 2008 - Establishes the Committee for the Advancement of Individuals with Disabilities.
 
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act - Reauthorizes the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act program providing for government procurement of goods and services from qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals who are blind or with significant disabilities.
 
Directs the Committee to designate central nonprofit agencies to: (1) facilitate government procurement of such goods and services; (2) establish permanent Javits-Wagner-O'Day Endowment Funds; and (3) makes grants or enter contracts with nonprofit agencies to carry out demonstration projects for the employment of students with significant disabilities.
 
Randolph-Sheppard Act - Reauthorizes the Randolph-Sheppard Act program providing self-support opportunities to licensed vendors with disabilities through the operation of vending machines in federal facilities. (Currently, only blind individuals are provided such opportunities.)
 
Directs the Committee to: (1) identify new vending facility sites for licensed vendors; and (2) provide for the designation of state licensing agencies to issue licenses to such vendors.
 
Exempts contracts for the operation of full food service dining at Department of Defense (DOD) facilities from Javits-Wagner-O'Day program requirements.
 
Gives equal priority to the award of such contracts to: (1) a state licensing agency bidding for the contract under the Randolph-Sheppard Act program; and (2) a small business concern, a HUBZone entity, an Alaska Native Corporation, and other socially-disadvantaged groups. 
 
Transfers to the Committee specified functions of the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the Department of Education (relating to the Randolph-Sheppard Act program).
 
Repeals former provisions of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act and the Randolph-Sheppard Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5525-5526)
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicle use in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, pending the issuance of a final rule for off-road vehicle use by the National Park Service.

Bill: 110-s-3113
Sponsor: Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
All terrain vehicles
Animals
Consent decrees
Department of the Interior
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
National seashores
North Carolina
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Requires that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, be managed in accordance with the Interim Protected Species Management Strategy/Environmental Assessment issued by the National Park Service (NPS) during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the NPS, issues a special regulation and long-term off-road vehicle management plan for the use of that seashore. 

Invalidates the consent decree filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina regarding off-road vehicle use at that seashore.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-599.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act

Bill: 110-s-3114
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Admission of nonimmigrants
Aliens
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Correctional institutions
Death
Department of Homeland Security
Deportation
Detention of persons
Employee training
Evidence (Law)
Executive reorganization
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Health
Immigrant health
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Language and languages
Law
Legal services
Political persecution
Prison alternatives
Prisoners' rights
Public-private partnerships
Quality of care
Refugees
Right of asylum
Standards
Torture
Translating and interpreting
Victims of crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act - Sets forth provisions regarding procedures and standards applicable to aliens detained in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody and the conditions of such custody, which shall address: (1) fair and humane treatment; (2) solitary confinement limitations; (3) investigation of grievances; (4) access to telephones and legal assistance; (5) detainee transfers; (6) translation capabilities; (7) medical care; (8) vulnerable populations; (9) standards for non-criminal detainees; (10) personnel training; and (11) reporting of detainee deaths.

Establishes in DHS: (1) an Office of Detention Oversight; and (2) a detention alternatives program under which detainees may be released under enhanced supervision.

Provides for: (1) legal orientation for immigration and asylum detainees; (2) construction or use of less restrictive detention facilities, including facilities for families with children; and (3) quality assurance procedures regarding expedited removal interviews.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act)
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Children's Health Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3115
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Discrimination in insurance
Discrimination in medical care
Employee health benefits
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Health insurance
Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Children's Health Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from imposing any preexisting condition exclusion for individuals who have not attained 19 years of age. 
 
Applies such requirement to coverage offered in the individual market. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3116
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accreditation (Medical care)
Ambulatory care
Community health services
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health information systems
Hospital care
Medical fees
Medicare
Mental health services
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2008 - Establishes a moratorium between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2010, on changes in the Medicare outpatient department (OPD) fee schedule amount established for partial hospital (episode and visit) services.
 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) establish an accreditation program for community mental health centers providing partial hospitalization services; (2) require a specified reduction in the OPD fee schedule increase factor for any such center that fails to submit required data on its partial hospitalization services; and (3) establish a minimum number of four units of items and services as a requirement for coverage of such services.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require fiscal intermediaries under the Medicare program to file the cost reports of providers of partial hospitalization services into the Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting Information System (HCRIS) maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to apply an alternative payment amount under the Medicare program for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters.

Bill: 110-s-3117
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Disaster relief
Displaced persons
Education
Emergency Management
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Hospitals
Medical education
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for a cost reporting period beginning on or after July 1, 2005, to provide for payments of direct graduate education costs under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act in accordance with an alternative payment methodology for eligible hospitals in or adjacent to a major disaster area which have established a program to educate residents displaced from a graduate medical education (GME) program impacted by such disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3119
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Alternative energy sources
Authorization
Biomass energy
Bonds
Corporations
Depreciation and amortization
Diesel motor
Dislocated workers
Electric power production
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Energy prices
Environmental Protection
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Geothermal resources
Governmental investigations
Heating
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Incineration
Income tax
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Interstate highway system
Irrigation
Labor and Employment
Mortgages
Municipal solid waste
Refuse as fuel
Restaurants
Single family housing
Solar energy
Standards
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Taxation
Transportation and Public Works
Trucks
Water Resources Development
Wind power
Youth employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: 
Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a tax credit for up to $500 of the cost of replacing wood stoves in residences with stoves that meet certain energy efficiency standards; (2) extend through 2011 the tax credit for producing electricity from certain renewable resources; (3) extend through 2012 the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures; (4) increase and make permanent the expensing allowance for depreciable business property; (5) extend through 2009 the accelerated depreciation of qualified restaurant property; and (6) allow a tax credit for investment in Build America bonds.

Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to increase funding for the weatherization program in FY2009-FY2011. Authorizes appropriations for the Energy Star program.

Authorizes the establishment of the Transportation Finance Corporation to issue Build America bonds and finance transportation infrastructure projects. 

Commercial Truck Fuel Savings Demonstration Act of 2008 - Establishes a two-year program to allow certain heavy trucks to travel on the federal interstate highway system when diesel fuel prices are $3.50 or more per gallon without a reduction of federal highway funds to states.

Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations for FY2009-FY2010 for: (1) youth activities; (2) adult employment and training activities; and (3) dislocated worker employment and training activities. 

Amends the National Housing Act to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to insure any homeownership retention mortgage covering a one- to four-family residence made to pay or prepay outstanding obligations under an existing mortgage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5594-5595)
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the income limitations for qualified performing artists eligible for an above-the-line deduction for performance expenses.

Bill: 110-s-3120
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Entertainers
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Performing arts
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $16,000 to $30,000 the adjusted gross income limitation applicable to qualified performing artists who are eligible to deduct their performance expenses from gross income (above-the-line tax deduction). Provides for an inflation adjustment to such increased income limitation beginning in 2009. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to waive the penalties for failure to disclose reportable transactions, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3121
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2008-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax
Tax administration
Tax evasion
Tax penalties
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify provisions relating to the waiver of penalties for failure to disclose reportable transactions (i.e., transactions which have a potential for tax avoidance or evasion) to grant authority to the Secretary of the Treasury (instead of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue) to rescind or waive all or a portion of such penalties and to allow a waiver if there was reasonable cause for the failure to disclose such transactions and the taxpayer acted in good faith.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Policing United States Oil Commodities Markets Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3122
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commodity exchanges
Energy
Energy prices
Petroleum
Swaps (Finance)

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: 
Policing United States Oil Commodities Markets Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require a covered market or facility to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a designated contract market and be subject to each rule established and regulation promulgated by the CFTC. 
 
Defines &quot;covered market or facility&quot; as a contract market or electronic trading facility: (1) that operates one or more trading terminals within the United States; (2) on which there is transacted or facilitated any agreement, contract, or transaction that serves as a price discovery function for any energy commodity delivered in the United States; and (3) that is regulated by a foreign regulatory agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Closing the Foreign Lobbying Loophole Act

Bill: 110-s-3123
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Foreign agents
International Affairs
Law
Licenses
Lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: 
Closing the Foreign Lobbying Loophole Act - Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to repeal the exemption of agents of foreign principals from mandatory registration with the Attorney General if they are already registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
 
Redefines &quot;agent of a foreign principal&quot; to extend its meaning to agents who through any other person outside the United States represents the interests of a foreign principal before any agency or official of the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Community College Sustainability Act

Bill: 110-s-3124
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2008-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Alternative energy sources
Architecture
Building construction
Chemistry
Commerce
Community colleges
Construction industries
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy conservation
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Federal aid to education
Food service
Green products
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Nanotechnology
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Recycling industry
Recycling of waste products
Science, Technology, Communications
Solar energy
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable development
Vocational and technical education
Waste reduction
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Wind power

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: 
Community College Sustainability Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a sustainablity workforce training and education program by awarding grants to community colleges for workforce training and education in industries and practices, such as: (1) alternative energy; (2) green construction, retrofitting, and design; (3) green chemistry, nanotechnology, or technology; (4) water and energy conservation; (5) recycling and waste reduction; and (6) sustainable agricultural or culinary practices. 
 
Requires at least one-half of the funds provided under this Act to be awarded to schools that have existing sustainability programs leading to certificates or degrees in at least one of the industries or practices listed above.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate