hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Strategic Communications Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3546
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2008-09-23 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Armed Forces and National Security
Arts, Culture, Religion
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Cultural relations
Education
Educational exchanges
Executive reorganization
Extremist movements in politics
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
International broadcasting
Presidential appointments
Public opinion
Radio broadcasting
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 
Strategic Communications Act of 2008 - Repeals the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 which will, among other things, abolish the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to abolish the position of Under Secretary for Public Policy. Transfers functions to the National Center for Strategic Communications.

Establishes the National Center for Strategic Communication to be headed by a Director of Strategic Communication who shall be the President's principal advisor on, and federal coordinator of, strategic communications.

States that the Center's missions are to: (1) serve as the primary U.S. government organization for conducting strategic communications to influence foreign audiences in support of American ideals and in opposition to violent extremism; (2) develop a national strategic communications strategy; (3) assist private U.S. institutions in developing exchange activities; (4) promote U.S. participation in international events; and (5) direct U.S. government foreign broadcasting and research and analyze global public opinion media trends and intelligence assessments.

Directs the President to appoint: (1) an Assistant Director for the Strategic Communications Corps; (2) an Assistant Director for Information Operations; and (3) an Assistant Director for Global Networks.

Establishes within the Center a Strategic Communications Board.

States that the International Broadcasting Bureau shall continue to carry out all U.S. government-supported nonmilitary international broadcasting activities.

Requires the Director to develop an interagency strategy for strategic communication.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9283-9284)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3547
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2008-09-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Data banks
Department of Justice
Executive reorganization
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Housing and Community Development
Law
Legislation
Licenses
Local laws
Mortgage banks
Mortgages
Prosecution
Real estate appraisal
Science, Technology, Communications
State laws
Telephone

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 
Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator Act of 2008 - Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assign the Chief of its Financial Crimes Section, Criminal Investigative Division, to be the Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Coordinator, who shall oversee all FBI activities related to investigation of mortgage fraud. 
 
Directs the Coordinator to: (1) establish regional task forces, consisting of the voluntary participation of federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, to organize initiatives to address mortgage fraud; (2) train such agencies; (3) collect and disseminate mortgage fraud data; and (4) perform other related functions.
 
Authorizes the Coordinator to: (1) establish a toll-free hotline and other information systems for receiving reports and informing the public about mortgage fraud; and (2) creating a database of mortgage industry license suspensions and revocations.
 
Authorizes the Department of Justice, upon consideration of any recommendations by the Coordinator, to: (1) propose legislation to federal, state, and local legislative bodies to assist in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of mortgage fraud, including measures to address mortgage loan procedures and property appraiser practices; and (2) make recommendations to Congress as to the need for additional resources to combat mortgage fraud.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Introduced in Senate
QI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3549
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2008-09-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Antibiotics
Appropriations
Commerce
Computer matching
Conferences
Drug approvals
Drug industry
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government trust funds
Health information systems
Labor and Employment
Local employees
Local officials
Marketing
Medicaid
Medicare
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
State employees
State officials
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 
QI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, to provide supplemental funding for the qualifying individual (QI) program.
 
Requires a state to have in operation, in mechanized Medicaid claims processing and information retrieval systems, an eligibility determination system which provides for data matching through the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) facilitated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, including matching with medical assistance programs operated by other states.
 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make sponsors of certain antibiotic drugs eligible for a three-year or a five-year market exclusivity if a marketing application is submitted for an antibiotic drug that: (1) was approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services before November 21, 1997; or (2) was the subject of one or more applications received by the Secretary before November 21, 1997, none of which was approved. 
 
Authorizes the use of Medicaid integrity program funds for transportation and travel expenses for attendees at education, training, or consultative activities.
 
Increases FY2014 funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund, and extends the Fund through FY2017 at a higher level.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Introduced in Senate
National Fish Habitat Conservation Act

Bill: 110-s-3552
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Aquatic ecology
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of the Interior
Environmental Protection
Environmental monitoring
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Fishery management
Fishes
Fishing
Government Operations and Politics
Habitat conservation
Sports and Recreation
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
National Fish Habitat Conservation Act - Establishes a National Fish Habitat Board to promote, oversee, and coordinate the implementation of this Act and the existing National Fish Habitat Action Plan and to review and recommend fish habitat conservation projects.
 
Authorizes the Board to designate Fish Habitat Conservation Partnerships to coordinate Plan implementation at a regional level and develop and carry out fish habitat conservation projects. Sets forth Partnership approval criteria, including that a Partnership: (1) have representatives of a diverse group of public and private partners that are focused on conservation of aquatic habitats to achieve results across jurisdictional boundaries and public and private lands; and (2) is able to address issues and priorities at a nationally significant scale.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to fund, from amounts appropriated under this Act, up to 50% of the cost of approved fish habitat conservation projects.
 
Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to: (1) create the National Fish Habitat Conservation Partnership Office within such Service; and (2) develop the Office's interagency operational plan and its technical and scientific assistance program.
 
 Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with a Partnership for fish habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement projects; and (2) enter into an agreement with a charitable organization to solicit private donations to carry out the this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9417)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Pilot Act

Bill: 110-s-3553
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Aircraft pilots
Airlines
Airports
Aviation safety
Charities
Department of Transportation
Drug abuse
Drug testing
Drugs and employment
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Licenses
Nonprofit organizations
Social Welfare
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Volunteer Pilot Act - Exempts certain small passenger or cargo charitable flights with standard airworthiness certificates, provided certain conditions are met, from: (1) the requirement to obtain an air carrier or commercial operator certificate; and (2) drug and alcohol testing requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable Coverage for Small Employers Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3554
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Advice and consent of the Senate
Commerce
Comprehensive health care
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Employee health benefits
Executive reorganization
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health insurance
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Presidential appointments
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Regionalism
Small business
Standards
State laws
Tax credits
Tax returns
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Affordable Coverage for Small Employers Act of 2008 - Establishes the National Health Coverage Policy Board as an independent agency to oversee a program to provide health insurance coverage to small employers and their employees.

Directs the Policy Board to: (1) determine a comprehensive, quality, and affordable standard benefit package similar to that provided under specified large federal employees health benefits (FEHB) plans; (2) apportion the United States into regions with no less than two states each; (3) establish a Regional Health Coverage Exchange for each region to serve as a central purchasing site for health coverage, to provide information about plans, to facilitate enrollment, and to ensure health plan compliance with requirements; and (4) establish the Regional Health Coverage Exchange Board.

Requires the Regional Board to develop common rating guidelines relating to the health insurance market for small employers. Directs each state to enact laws necessary to regulate its small group insurance market in accordance with such guidelines. Authorizes states to permit sole proprietors and individuals to purchase coverage through the Exchange.

Sets forth requirements for a health insurance issuer to offer health care coverage through an Exchange.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a refundable tax credit for taxpayer premiums for qualified health insurance purchased through an Exchange; (2) allow a refundable tax credit for small employer contributions toward the cost of such employee health insurance; and (3) provide for advance payment of such tax credits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9417-9419)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
National Lighthouse Stewardship Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3555
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Commemorations
Economics and Public Finance
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
History
Lighthouses and lightships

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
National Lighthouse Stewardship Act of 2008 - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service, to establish a three-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouse structures. 

Establishes in the Treasury a National Lighthouse Stewardship Fund consisting of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9420)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to improve the administration of the Minerals Management Service.

Bill: 110-s-3556
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Auditing
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of the Interior
Energy
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government ethics
Government procurement
Governmental investigations
Mining leases
Mining royalties
Oil and gas royalties
Presidential appointments

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish within the Department of the Interior the Minerals Management Service (MMS), to be headed by a Director appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate. (The MMS currently exists, but its Director is appointed by the Secretary.)
 
Requires the Director to ensure that the MMS implements comprehensive financial audits of royalty payments and adjustments.
 
Requires the Director to issue requirements that: (1) MMS employees conducting audits and compliance reviews meet specified auditor qualifications; and (2) MMS-conducted audits reflect the latest revision of the Government Auditing Standards published by the Government Accountability Office.
 
Directs the Inspector General of the Department to audit and report annually to certain congressional committees on MMS activities, including leasing and royalty activities.
 
Requires the Secretary to certify to Congress that all Inspector General recommendations as a result of specified investigations of the royalty-in-kind program have been implemented.
 
Directs the Secretary to certify annually to Congress that the royalty-in-kind program is in full compliance with federal law governing procurement and ethics.

Suspends, for a specified period, the authority of the Secretary to implement each royalty-in-kind program if the Secretary fails to meet the annual certification deadline.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9421-9422)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9420-9421)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
ASPIRE Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3557
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: College costs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education savings accounts
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial planning
Government trust funds
Higher education
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Investments
Labor and Employment
Law
Mutual funds
Personal budgets
Saving and investment
Student aid
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
America Saving for Personal Investment, Retirement, and Education Act of 2008 or the ASPIRE Act of 2008 - Establishes a KIDS Account Fund in the Treasury.
 
Establishes within the Fund a Kids Investment and Development Savings Account (KIDS Account). Makes eligible to contribute to such account, and to receive a matching federal contribution, any U.S. citizen born after December 31, 2007, and under 18 years of age, whose modified adjusted gross income is below the applicable national median adjusted gross income amount.
 
Creates the KIDS Account Fund Board to establish a default investment program under which, in a manner similar to a lifecycle investment program, sums in each KIDS Account are allocated to investment funds in the KIDS Account Fund based on the amount of time before the account holder attains the age of 18.
 
States that, for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code, each KIDS Account shall be treated in the same manner as a Roth IRA. Applies Roth IRA requirements separately to KIDS accounts.
 
Provides for: (1) distributions for higher education expenses; and (2) privately managed KIDS accounts.
 
Subjects the Board to the same composition requirements, duties, and responsibilities as the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
 
Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, to develop programs to promote the financial literacy of account holders of KIDS Accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Gulf of Mexico Restoration and Protection Act

Bill: 110-s-3558
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Environmental Protection Agency
Executive reorganization
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Gulf of Mexico
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Latin America
Marine ecology
Mexico
Restoration ecology
Waste disposal in the ocean
Water Resources Development
Water quality
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Gulf of Mexico Restoration and Protection Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reestablish the Program Office of the Gulf of Mexico Program as an office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to be headed by a Director. Requires the Office to: (1) coordinate the actions of EPA and of other federal agencies and state and local authorities; (2) assist in developing specific action plans to carry out the program; (3) coordinate and implement priority state- and community-led restoration plans and projects and facilitate activities that support the program; (4) implement outreach programs to foster stewardship of the Gulf's resources; (5) develop and make available information about the environmental quality and living resources of the Gulf; (6) serve as the liaison with the Mexican members of the Gulf of Mexico States Accord and Mexican counterparts of the EPA; and (7) focus on activities that will result in measurable improvements to water quality and living resources of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

Authorizes the EPA Administrator to enter into interagency agreements to carry out this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to provide grants for use in: (1) monitoring the water quality and living resources of the Gulf ecosystem; (2) researching the effects of environmental changes on such water quality and resources; (3) developing cooperative strategies that address the water quality and needs of Gulf resources; (4) developing locally-based protection and restoration programs or projects within a watershed that complement those strategies; and (5) eliminating or reducing point sources that discharge pollutants that contaminate the Gulf ecosystem.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Continuing Coverage Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3559
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Health insurance continuation
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Continuing Coverage Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market to ensure that an independent, third-party review is provided through an appropriate entity where the issuer seeks to discontinue the health insurance coverage of an enrollee. Requires the cost of such a review to be paid by the issuer.

Sets forth notice requirements.

Authorizes the insurance commissioner of the state involved to approve or overturn the determination or require an additional independent review.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
HEATR Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3561
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Corporation taxes
Electric utility rates
Energy
Energy prices
Foreign tax credit
Heating
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Natural gas
Oil well drilling
Petroleum industry
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax refunds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Home Energy Affordability Tax Relief Act of 2008 or the HEATR Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers an income-based refundable tax credit for residential energy costs. Limits such credit to the lesser of 33% of such costs or $500.

Eliminates for major integrated oil companies: (1) the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs in taxable years in which the average price of crude oil is greater than $34.71 per barrel and the average price of natural gas is greater that $4.34 per 1,000 cubic feet; and (2) the tax credit for enhanced oil recovery costs in taxable years in which the average price of crude oil is greater than $34.71 per barrel. Denies such oil companies and certain producers or refiners of crude oil a foreign tax credit for payments to certain foreign countries or U.S. possessions from which they receive a specified economic benefit as a dual capacity taxpayer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate