hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health services in languages other than English, as needed, for veterans with limited English proficiency, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-542
Sponsor: Rep. Solis, Hilda L. [D-CA-32]
Introduced: 2007-01-17 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congressional reporting requirements
Counseling
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee training
Families
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Labor and Employment
Language and languages
Mental health services
Minorities
Psychotherapy
Racial discrimination
Recruiting of employees
Social Welfare
Survivors' benefits
Translating and interpreting
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: 
Amends federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in providing counseling and other mental health services to a veteran who has limited proficiency in English, to ensure that such services are available in both English and a language in which that veteran is proficient, if requested by the veteran. 
 
Requires the Secretary to implement a system by which persons with limited English proficiency can access services provided by the Department of Veterans consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the Department's fundamental mission.
 
Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the implementation by the Department's Veterans Health Administration of a specified directive to implement prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of national origin for persons with limited English proficiency in federally-conducted programs and activities and in federal financial-assisted programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-04-26
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in House
Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-543
Sponsor: Rep. Tanner, John S. [D-TN-8]
Introduced: 2007-01-17 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Citizen participation
Congressional districts
Congressional elections
Congressional powers
District courts
Economics and Public Finance
Federal-state relations
Gerrymandering
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Judicial review
Law
Public meetings
State courts
State laws
State legislatures
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: 
Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act of 2007 - Prohibits a state that has been redistricted after an apportionment from being redistricted again until after the next apportionment of Representatives, unless the state is ordered by a court to conduct such a subsequent redistricting in order to: (1) comply with the U.S. Constitution; or (2) enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
 
Requires such redistricting to be conducted through a plan developed by the independent redistricting commission established in the state, or if such plan is not enacted into law, the redistricting plan selected by the state's highest court or developed by a U.S. district court.
 
Prescribes requirements for: (1) establishment of a state independent redistricting commission; (2) development of a redistricting plan; (3) its submission to the state legislature; (4) selection of a plan, under specified conditions, by the state's highest court or the U.S. district court for the district in which the capital of the state is located; (5) special rules for redistricting conducted under a federal court order; and (6) Election Assistance Commission payments to states for carrying out redistricting.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Ibrahim Parlak.

Bill: 110-hr-546
Sponsor: Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6]
Introduced: 2007-01-17 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Provides for the relief of Ibrahim Parlak.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in House
To establish a Congressional Trade Office.

Bill: 110-hr-548
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Balance of payments
Congress
Congressional agencies
Congressional investigations
Congressional publicity
Congressional reorganization
Congressional reporting requirements
Dispute settlement
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Employee rights
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
International agencies
Labor and Employment
Legislation
Nontariff trade barriers
Tariff
Trade agreements
Trade negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Establishes the Congressional Trade Office to advise Congress on trade policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-549
Sponsor: Rep. Camp, Dave [R-MI-4]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Computer software
Computers
Continuing education
Costs
Education
Educational technology
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Higher education
Income tax
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Tax deductions
Teacher education
Teachers
Teaching materials
Textbooks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the allowable tax deduction for the expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers to $400; (2) allow the deduction of professional development expenses; and (3) make such deduction permanent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Securing America's Energy Independence Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-550
Sponsor: Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-21]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air conditioning
Commerce
Depreciation and amortization
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Energy storage
Fuel cells
Heating
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Investment tax credit
Lighting
Minimum tax
Solar energy
Tax credits
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Securing America's Energy Independence Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2016: (1) the energy tax credit for solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property; and (2) the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures. Allows such credits to be applied against alternative minimum tax liability.

Includes advanced energy storage systems as energy property for purposes of the tax credit. Provides for a special credit amount for solar photovoltaic energy property and residential energy efficient property based upon kilowatt capacity. 

Allows accelerated depreciation (three-year recovery period) for solar energy and fuel cell property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Home Ownership for America's Veterans Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-551
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Bonds
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Housing and Community Development
Indexing (Economic policy)
Mortgages
Veterans' loans

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Home Ownership for America's Veterans Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend the eligibility period of veterans for mortgage financing; and (2) require annual inflation adjustments after 2010 to limits on state veteran bond amounts based on the Conventional Mortgage Home Price Index (compiled by Freddie Mac).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E146-147)
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-552
Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular diseases
Lung diseases
Medicare
Respiratory diseases
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of items and services under a cardiac rehabilitation program and a pulmonary rehabilitation program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-01-18
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: 2007-01-18
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: 2007-01-18
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: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act

Bill: 110-hr-553
Sponsor: Rep. Biggert, Judy [R-IL-13]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Animals
Aquatic ecology
Canals
Economics and Public Finance
Exotic animals
Exotic plants
Federal aid to water resources development
Governmental investigations
Great Lakes
Illinois
Mississippi River
Non-native species
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act - Requires the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barrier Project constructed as a demonstration project under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (Barrier I) and the related project authorized under the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005 (Barrier II) to be considered to constitute a single project. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Army, at federal expense, to: (1) upgrade and make permanent Barrier I, construct Barrier II, operate and maintain Barriers I and II as a system, conduct a study of a range of options and technologies for reducing impacts of hazards that may reduce the efficacy of the Barriers, and provide to each state a credit in an amount equal to that of funds contributed by the state toward Barrier II (which the state may apply to any cost-sharing responsibility for an existing or future federal project with the Corps of Engineers); and (2) conduct a feasibility study of the range of options and technologies to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and other aquatic pathways. 
 
Changes the authorization for Barrier II to such sums as may be necessary. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-555
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Competition
Correctional institutions
Correctional personnel
Crime and Law Enforcement
Debit cards
Federal Communications Commission
Federal preemption
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Prisoners
Prisoners' rights
State laws
Telecommunication industry
Telephone
Telephone rates

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Family Telephone Connection Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider the following types of regulation of inmate telephone service: (1) prescribing a maximum uniform per-minute rate (paid to telephone service providers); (2) prescribing a maximum uniform service connection or other per-call rate; (3) prescribing variable maximum rates depending on factors such as carrier costs or the size of the correctional facility; (4) requiring providers of inmate telephone service to offer both collect calling and debit account services; (5) prohibiting the payment of commissions by such providers to administrators of correctional facilities; and (6) requiring such administrators to allow more than one service provider at a facility so that prisoners have a choice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-557
Sponsor: Rep. Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Curricula
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Entrepreneurs
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Small business
Technical education
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a program under which the Administrator shall make grants to, or may enter into cooperative agreements with, state small business development centers to provide, on a statewide basis, technical assistance to secondary schools, or to post-secondary vocational or technical schools, for the development and implementation of curricula designed to promote vocational and technical entrepreneurship. 
 
Provides for the minimum amount of a grant to not be less than $200,000. 
 
Directs the association of small business development centers to act as an information clearinghouse regarding vocational and technical entrepreneurship education programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
African-American Farmers Benefits Relief Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-558
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Artur [D-AL-7]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural credit
Blacks
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Claims
Class actions (Civil procedure)
Commercial arbitration
Consent decrees
Electronic government information
Farmers
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Law
Limitation of actions
Minorities
Public service advertising
Racial discrimination
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
African-American Farmers Benefits Relief Act of 2007 - Provides de novo review for qualifying claims filed under the consolidated class action action lawsuits of 
Pigford v. Veneman and Brewington v. Veneman
.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Freedom to Lend Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-560
Sponsor: Rep. Doolittle, John T. [R-CA-4]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional reporting requirements
Corporate governance
Corporate management
Corporation directors
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Loans
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Small Business Freedom to Lend Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a three-year pilot program to permit an eligible certified development company (CDC) to make loans (for small business development) in any state that is contiguous to its the state of incorporation. Makes eligible CDCs that are designated as either an accredited or premier certified lender under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Removes the requirement that such a CDC maintain, in each state in which it makes or intends to make loans, separate and distinct memberships, officers, boards of directors, and loan committees.
 
Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to allow an officer, director, or manager of one qualified state or local development company to serve as an officer, director, or manager of another qualified state or local development company. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act

Bill: 110-hr-561
Sponsor: Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative fees
Admission of nonimmigrants
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Counterfeiting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic data interchange
Fraud
Identification devices
International Affairs
International cooperation
Law
Passports
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Strategic planning
Technical assistance
Terrorism
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
 Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should expand the visa waiver program to nationals of foreign countries that are allies in the war on terrorism.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a pilot program to expand the visa waiver program for up to five new countries that are are cooperating with the United States on security and counterterrorism matters. 
 
Requires a country, prior to participation, to conclude a counterterrorism and security information sharing agreement with the United States.
 
Authorizes: (1) a country to participate for an initial three-year period, with an additional two-year extension; and (2) the Secretary to terminate a country's participation for program noncompliance.
 
Directs the Secretary to develop and implement procedures to improve the manner of calculating visa overstay rates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-562
Sponsor: Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2007-01-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Cardiovascular diseases
Case management
Case mix (Medical care)
Communicable diseases
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive diseases
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Health insurance
Hospital care
Hospital rates
Hospitals
Kidney diseases
Labor and Employment
Law
Long-term care
Medicaid
Medical records
Medicare
Metabolism
Nervous system diseases
Performance measurement
Physicians
Quality of care
Respiratory diseases
Skin diseases
Social Welfare
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: 
Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prescribe requirements for a long-term care hospital (LTCH) and patient criteria for prospective payment to an LTCH.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) determine the LTCH diagnosis related groups (LTCH-DRGs) associated with a high severity of illness for specified medical conditions; and (2) study and report to Congress on appropriate quality measures for Medicare patients receiving care in LTCHs.

Directs the Secretary to choose three quality measures from the study for LTCHs to report.

Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 to require annual updates of LTCH base rates and wage indices and the reweighting of LTCH-DRGs. 

Prohibits the Secretary from extending application of the 25% (or applicable percentage) patient threshold payment adjustment to freestanding LTCHs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-01-18
text: Introduced in House