hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Iraq Security Agreement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3433
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces abroad
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congress and military policy
Congressional oversight
Constitutional law
Defense budgets
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Law
Middle East and North Africa
Military agreements
Negotiations
President and foreign policy
Treaty-making power
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Iraq Security Agreement Act of 2008 - Directs the President to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees respecting U.S. security commitments to, and arrangements with, other countries.
 
Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to consult with the appropriate congressional committees respecting negotiations pursuant to the Declaration of Principles between the United States and Iraq. 
 
Prohibits any agreement (or the obligation of implementing funds) containing a security commitment to, or security arrangement with, the Republic of Iraq, from entering into force except pursuant to Article II, section 2, clause 2 (relating to treaties) or Article I, section 7, clause 2 (relating to enactment of laws) of the Constitution of the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8040-8041)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8040)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3434
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Consumer goods
Crime prevention
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Identification devices
Injunctions
Labeling
Larceny
Law
Organized crime
Receiving stolen goods
Retail trade
Sentencing guidelines
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definitions of the crimes of transporting and selling or receiving stolen goods to include thefts having an aggregate value of $5,000 or more during any 12-month period; (2) modify the crime of fraud involving access devices to include the Universal Product Code label as an access device; and (3) set forth provisions to prevent sales of illegally obtained goods in a physical or online retail marketplace and to grant enforcement powers to states to obtain injunctive and other relief against persons engaged in organized retail crime.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend federal sentencing guidelines for persons convicted of offenses involving organized retail crime. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8042-8044)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8041-8042)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Critical Feed Use Fairness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3435
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation
Environmental Protection
Feeds
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grazing
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Critical Feed Use Fairness Act of 2008 - Permits an owner or operator of land enrolled in the conservation reserve program who submits an affidavit to the Secretary of Agriculture stating that the owner or operator attempted or intended to enroll in the critical feed use program prior to July 8, 2008, to participate in the critical use feed program (including haying or grazing).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Flood Insurance Refund Adjustment Act

Bill: 110-s-3436
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Disaster insurance
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Finance and Financial Sector
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Insurance premiums
Law
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Flood Insurance Refund Adjustment Act - Instructs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modify certain regulations governing premium refunds so that a standard flood insurance policyholder, whose property has been determined not to be in a special flood hazard area as a result of a specified flood map revision, has one year to submit a policy adjustment claim for a policy cancellation and refund.
 
Declares such adjustment claims inapplicable to flood claims that have been paid or are pending. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring America's Integrity Act

Bill: 110-s-3437
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Central Intelligence Agency
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Detention of persons
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Human rights
International Affairs
Prisoners' rights
Subcontractors
Terrorism
Torture

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Restoring America's Integrity Act - Prohibits any individual in the custody or control of personnel of the intelligence community (IC) or element or instrumentality thereof, regardless of nationality or physical location, from being subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not authorized by the U.S. Army Field Manual on Human Intelligence Collector Operations.
 
Requires the head of an IC element or instrumentality who detains or has control of such an individual to notify the International Committee of the Red Cross and provide access to such individual in a manner consistent with practices of the Armed Forces.
 
Prohibits the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from permitting a CIA contractor or subcontractor to carry out an interrogation (instead requiring a CIA employee to do so).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. (text of measure as introduce: CR S8045)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8044-8045)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the use of funds for the establishment of National Marine Monuments unless certain requirements are met.

Bill: 110-s-3438
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Governmental investigations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine parks and reserves
National monuments
Natural monuments
Territorial waters

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Prohibits the use of any funds made available under any Act making appropriations for FY2008 or FY2009 to establish a national monument or otherwise convey protected status to any area in the marine environment of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a study of the proposed protected area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8045)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Recreational Performance Outerwear Apparel Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3439
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Clothing
Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Fees
Government trust funds
International competitiveness
Outdoor recreation
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Sports and Recreation
Tariff
Textile fabrics
Textile industry

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Recreational Performance Outerwear Apparel Act of 2008 - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain recreational performance outerwear.
 
Establishes the Sustainable Textile and Apparel Research Fund (STAR Fund). 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) impose and collect, with specified exceptions, a fee of 1.5% of the appraised value of imported recreational performance outerwear and to deposit amounts collected into the STAR Fund; and (2) make quarterly distributions from the STAR Fund to one or more appropriate organizations to conduct applied research, development, and education activities to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in clean, eco-friendly apparel, other textile and apparel products, and sewn-product design and manufacturing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8047)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3440
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Airline employees
Airline passenger traffic
Airlines
Aviation safety
Commerce
Commercial aircraft
Conflict of interests
Consumer complaints
Data banks
Department of Transportation
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Maintenance and repair
Science, Technology, Communications
Supervisors
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 - Establishes in the Department of Transportation (DOT) an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office to receive and assess complaints and information relating to possible violations of aviation safety laws and regulations.

Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to modify the FAA customer service initiative, mission and vision, and other policy statements to: (1) remove any reference to air carriers and other entities regulated by the FAA as &quot;customers&quot;; (2) state that in regulating safety the only FAA customers are individuals traveling on aircraft; and (3) state that air carriers and other entities regulated by the FAA do not have the right to select the FAA employees who will inspect their operations.

Prohibits any person holding an air carrier operating certificate from engaging in employment negotiations, knowingly employing, or making a contractual employment arrangement with an FAA employee if, in the preceding two-year period, the individual: (1) served as, or was responsible for oversight of, an FAA flight standards inspector; and (2) had responsibility to inspect, or oversee inspection of, the operations of the certificate holder.

Prohibits any individual serving as a principal supervisory inspector of the FAA from being responsible for overseeing the operations of a single air carrier for a continuous period of more than five years.

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) modify the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program to require inspectors to verify that air carriers implement solutions to correct violations they have voluntarily disclosed and evaluate, before accepting a new report of a previously disclosed violation, whether such air carriers took such corrective actions; (2) establish a process for the review and approval of voluntary self-disclosures received from air carriers; (3) establish a National Review Team to conduct periodic, unannounced audits of air carrier operations and maintenance practices to evaluate FAA air carrier oversight throughout the United States; and (4) establish a process for the monthly review of the FAA air transportation oversight system database by FAA employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Liquefied Natural Gas Import Terminal Authorization Act

Bill: 110-s-3441
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy facilities
Energy storage
Federal preemption
Federal-state relations
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Imports
Liquefied natural gas
Marine terminals
Pipelines
Public meetings
State laws
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation safety

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Liquefied Natural Gas Import Terminal Authorization Act - Amends the Natural Gas Act to prohibit siting, constructing, expanding, or operating a liquefied natural gas import terminal within a state unless: (1) an application to do so is submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to the agency with siting authority in the state in which the liquefied natural gas import terminal is located; and (2) FERC and the state agency issue an order approving the application.
 
Sets forth terms and conditions for application approval.
 
Amends federal transportation law to permit a state to adopt additional or more stringent safety standards for liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities if those standards are compatible with the minimum standards prescribed under federal pipeline safety law.
 
Prohibits a state authority from adopting or continuing in force safety standards for interstate pipeline facilities or transportation, except in the case of liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reauthorize the National Oilheat Reliance Alliance Act of 2000, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3442
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer education
Heating
Petroleum
Petroleum industry
Trade associations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Amends the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2000 to adjust its focus upon oilheat to a focus upon oilheat fuel.

Defines &quot;oilheat fuel&quot; as distillate liquid used as a fuel for nonindustrial commercial or residential space or hot water heating.

Makes technical and conforming amendments.

Revises the membership of the National Oilheat Research Alliance. Provides that, other than the public members of the Alliance, members shall be full-time managerial owners or employees of members of the oilheat fuel industry.

Revises assessment requirements. States that the assessment rate for calendar years 2008 and 2009 shall be equal to two-tenths of 1% per gallon of distillate liquid (currently, No. 1 distillate and No. 2 dyed distillate).

Declares that, beginning with calendar year 2010, the annual assessment rate shall be sufficient to cover the costs of the plans and programs developed by the Alliance.

Sets forth: (1) a maximum assessment rate; and (2) limitations on any assessment increase.

Prohibits any consumer education activity undertaken with funds derived from Alliance assessments from including a direct reference to a competing product.

Repeals the termination date for the Act (thus making it permanent).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Water Affordability Act

Bill: 110-s-3443
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Authorization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Demography
Depressed areas
Drainage
Economic conditions
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental monitoring
Federal aid to water pollution control
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Income
Revolving funds
Sewage disposal
Sewerage
Waste water
Water pollution control
Water quality
Water rates
Water treatment plants

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Clean Water Affordability Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make grants to states for the purpose of providing grants to municipalities for use in planning, designing, and constructing treatment works to intercept, transport, control, or treat municipal combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows and municipalities for such purposes. Requires states or the Administrator to give priority to financially distressed communities.
 
Requires the Administrator, no later than December 31, 2010, (currently, 2003) and periodically thereafter, to report to Congress on recommended funding levels for sewer overflow control grants.

Requires the Administrator to update the guidance entitled &quot;Combined Sewer Overflows -- Guidance for Financial Capability Assessment and Schedule Development&quot; dated February 1997, to ensure that the evaluations by the Administrator of financial capability assessment and schedule development meet specified criteria, including criteria used in assessing financial capability of a community to make investments necessary to make water quality-related improvements and in implementing water quality-related improvements.

Requires such updated guidance to indicate that it is appropriate for the reconsideration and modification of financial capability determinations and implementation schedules to be based on such criteria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to defer the tax on the gain on the sale of certain telecommunications and media businesses, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3446
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Auditing
Capital gains tax
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Minorities
Minorities in mass media
Minority business enterprises
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Tax deferral
Telecommunication industry

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the owner of a telecommunications business to defer for three years the tax on the gain, up to $350 million, from a sale of such business to a business owned by a member or members of a socially or economically disadvantaged group (e.g., Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, or Asian Pacific Americans) or to reduce the basis of property held by such seller by the amount of gain realized from a sale. Defines &quot;telecommunications business&quot; as any business providing communication services by wire, cable, radio, satellite, or other technology if governed by the Communications Act of 1934 or the Telecommunications Act of 1996. 

Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee loans for the purchase of a telecommunications business under this Act. 

Directs the Comptroller General to audit the administration of the tax deferral provisions of this Act, to report on such audit every five years, and to include in such report an assessment of the small business loan guarantee program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reprogram $15,000,000 in savings in the Jackson Barracks military construction to the Department of the Interior for the Historic Preservation Fund of the National Park Service for the purpose of restoring Jackson Barracks to its pre-Hurricane Katrina status as a national historic treasure.

Bill: 110-s-3447
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Army
Commemorations
Defense budgets
Economics and Public Finance
Historic sites
History
Louisiana
Military bases
Military construction operations
Military history
National Guard
Reprogramming of appropriated funds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to transfer specified Army National Guard military construction funds appropriated under the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 to the Department of the Interior for the Historic Preservation Fund of the National Park Service, to be used for restoration, rehabilitation, and historic preservation activities at Jackson Barracks, Louisiana.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8045-8046)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Cane River National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3448
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Boundaries
Commemorations
Cultural property
Historic sites
History
Louisiana

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Cane River National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage Area Act to: (1) revise the boundaries of the Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana; (2) revise the duties of the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission; and (3) terminate such Commission on August 5, 2025 (under current law, on the day occurring 10 years after the first official meeting of the Commission). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8046)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Lower Mississippi River National Historic Site Study Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3449
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Commemorations
Governmental investigations
Historic sites
History
Louisiana
Mississippi River
National parks
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Lower Mississippi River National Historic Site Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), to complete a special resource study that evaluates the national significance of the Lower Mississippi River area in Louisiana and the suitability and feasibility of designating such area as a unit of the National Park System, which shall be known as the &quot;Lower Mississippi River National Park.&quot; 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8046-8047)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate