hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Homeowner Opportunity Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5958
Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-11]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federally-assisted loans
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Housing finance
Mortgage banks
Mortgage guaranty insurance
Mortgages
Secondary mortgage market

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Homeowner Opportunity Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act, and the National Housing Act to make permanent certain increases in the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage that may be purchased by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
 
Expresses the sense of the Congress to encourage Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to securitize mortgages acquired under the increased conforming loan limits to the extent that such securitizations do not impose additional costs for mortgages originated, purchased, or securitized under the existing limits, or interfere with the goal of adding liquidity to the market.
 
Amends the National Housing Act to: (1) increase the mortgage loan limit for mortgage insurance in high-cost areas; and (2) direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to publish the median house prices and mortgage principal obligation limits for all areas each year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Medicaid and SCHIP Abuse Prevention Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5961
Sponsor: Rep. Gingrey, Phil [R-GA-11]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Medicaid
Medically uninsured
Poor children
Social Welfare
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Medicaid and SCHIP Abuse Prevention Act of 2008 - Amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to place a ceiling on an invidiual's eligibility for Medicaid and SCHIP benefits at a gross family income that is not more than 250% of the poverty level.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Keep Our Homes Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5962
Sponsor: Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-25]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Counseling
Finance and Financial Sector
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Mortgages
Property tax
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Unemployment insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Keep Our Homes Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a tax deduction through 2012 for mortgage counseling costs; (2) a tax deduction through 2009 for amounts, up to $5,000, of mortgage indebtedness in excess of the assessed value of a principal residence; (3) a one-time tax credit for a percentage of the purchase price of a principal residence; (4) nonitemizing taxpayers a tax deduction in 2008 or 2009 for real property taxes; and (5) an exclusion from gross income for unemployment compensation received in 2008 or 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5963
Sponsor: Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Housing subsidies
Landlord and tenant
Leases
Public housing
Rent
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2008 - States that any immediate successor in interest to residential property in foreclosure assumes such interest subject to: (1) giving the existing bona fide tenant at least 90-day notice to vacate; and (2) specified rights of such tenant to occupy the premises until the end of the remaining term of the lease.
 
Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require a housing assistance payment contract to provide that in the case of an owner who is an immediate successor in interest pursuant to foreclosure: (1) during the initial term of the lease vacating the property prior to sale shall not constitute other good cause for termination of the lease; but (2) in subsequent lease terms, vacating the property prior to sale may constitute good cause if the property is unmarketable while occupied, or if such owner will occupy the unit as a primary residence.
 
Authorizes a housing assistance payment contract entered into by the public housing agency and the owner of a dwelling unit to provide that the immediate successor in interest to property in foreclosure in which a housing assistance recipient resides, assumes such interest subject to the lease between the prior owner and the tenant, and subject to the housing assistance payments contract between the prior owner and the public housing agency for the occupied unit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Clean Air Act to extend the compliance period for persons subject to the renewable fuel mandate in the years 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Bill: 110-hr-5964
Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural wastes
Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Cellulose
Commerce
Emissions trading
Energy crops
Motor vehicle pollution control
Oils and fats
Petroleum industry
Petroleum refineries
Reformulated gasoline
Refuse as fuel
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Amends the Clean Air Act to allow any person that is unable to generate or purchase sufficient credits to meet renewable fuel requirements to carry forward a renewable fuel deficit in calendar year 2008, 2009, or 2010 for three years in lieu of the one calendar year currently allowed. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Employers Financial Literacy Act

Bill: 110-hr-5965
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Employee benefit plans
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial planning
Financial services
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Personal budgets
Small business
Subsidies
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Employers Financial Literacy Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow small business taxpayers a tax credit for up to 35% of the costs of providing continuing financial education to their employees. Grants a preference to such small businesses in the awarding of federal contracts or assistance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, 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: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, 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: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, 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: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
To target housing counseling funding based upon levels of residential mortgage foreclosures and delinquencies.

Bill: 110-hr-5966
Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Counseling
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to housing
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Housing finance
Mortgages
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Declares that funds appropriated in 2008 for housing counseling related to loss mitigation should be targeted to states and communities based on their levels of foreclosures and delinquencies in 2007 and in 2008.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Affordable Housing Expansion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5967
Sponsor: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Affordable housing
Bonds
Economics and Public Finance
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government securities
Housing and Community Development
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
State finance

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Affordable Housing Expansion Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate among the states in 2008 and subsequent years unused amounts of authorized private activity bonds for prior calendar years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Adoption Information Act

Bill: 110-hr-5968
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Family planning and birth control
Government Operations and Politics
Government publications
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Adoption Information Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require family planning service projects or programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants or contracts, to assure the Secretary of Health and Human Services that they will provide each person who inquires about their services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in their state.

Directs the Secretary to prepare, annually update, and distribute such pamphlets to such projects or programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5969
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2008-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Disabled
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Small business
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: 
Disabled Veteran Small Business Eligibility Expansion Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act to make small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans eligible for the award by the Small Business Administration (SBA) of small business development grants in the same manner as small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5970
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Belarus
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Democracy
Dissenters
Economic assistance
Education
Ethnic relations
Europe
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Human rights
International broadcasting
Internet
Minorities
Political persecution
Radio broadcasting
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
Students

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: 
Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to authorize assistance to promote democracy and civil society in Belarus.
 
Includes Internet broadcasting within the scope of increased support and funding for U.S. government and surrogate broadcasting to Belarus. Specifies that funding may be used for broadcasting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, and European Radio for Belarus and Belsat.
 
Includes cessation of repression against student activists and ethnic minorities among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions under such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
American Elections Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5971
Sponsor: Rep. Heller, Dean [R-NV-2]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alaska
Ballots
Congress
Congressional elections
English language
Indigenous peoples
Language and languages
Minorities
Native Americans
Presidential elections

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: 
American Elections Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require, except as provided for under this Act, that all ballots and balloting material used in federal elections be only in the English language.
 
Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the requirement that certain jurisdictions provide ballots and other voting materials in languages other than English. Restricts such requirement to certain political subdivisions with populations of American Indians or Alaska Natives. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a Federal income tax credit for certain home purchases.

Bill: 110-hr-5974
Sponsor: Rep. Terry, Lee [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Tax credits
Tax refunds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a one-time refundable tax credit for up to 10% of the purchase price of a principal residence purchased in the United States within the 12-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Limits the dollar amount of such credit to $10,000. Terminates such credit after 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E830)
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
TRUCC Act

Bill: 110-hr-5977
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Business records
Commerce
Energy
Energy prices
Fraud
Freight forwarders
Fuel
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Transportation rates
Truck drivers
Trucking

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: 
Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act, or the TRUCC Act - Amends federal transportation law to require certain fuel costs disclosures and fuel costs reimbursements by a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder providing or arranging transportation or service using fuel for which it does not bear the cost.
 
Requires such a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder to: (1) reimburse persons (truckers) that do bear fuel costs for any such costs they have paid; and (2) give such persons a written list that identifies any freight charge, brokerage fee or commission, fuel surcharge or adjustment, and any other charges. 
 
Prohibits any person from causing a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder to present false or misleading information on a document or in an oral representation about the actual rate, charge, or allowance to any party to the transaction or transportation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the "1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office".

Bill: 110-hr-5978
Sponsor: Rep. Hall, John J. [D-NY-19]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Army
Congressional tributes
Government Operations and Politics
Names
New York State
Officer personnel
Postal facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the "1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5979
Sponsor: Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-3]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Childbirth
Death
Department of Health and Human Services
Directories
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to research
Fetus
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Health education
Health information systems
Law
Medical records
Medical research
Science, Technology, Communications
State laws
Women
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: 
Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) more states should enact legislation that allows the issuance of a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth; and (2) the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) should increase the allocation of funds and other resources for stillbirth research.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to establish and maintain a scientific registry of stillbirths in the United States, which shall include for each stillbirth information on the stillborn fetus and the mother's health and pregnancy as collected and submitted by states on the U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death. 

Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for the development of a standard definition of stillbirth and a standard protocol for stillbirth data collection and surveillance; and (2) carry out a national campaign to increase public and state awareness of such definition and protocol and public awareness and knowledge of stillbirths.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
Commission on Securing the United States in the 21st Century Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5980
Sponsor: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-29]
Introduced: 2008-05-06 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Strategic planning

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: 
Commission on Securing the United States in the 21st Century Act of 2008 - Establishes the Commission on Securing the United States in the 21st Century which shall review the next 20 years' global security environment to identify U.S. strategic interests and develop an appropriate national security strategy.
 
Terminates the Commission 60 days after submission of a final report required under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-05-06
text: Introduced in House