hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act

Bill: 110-hr-4041
Sponsor: Rep. Blunt, Roy [R-MO-7]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consent decrees
Evidence (Law)
Government Operations and Politics
Injunctions
Local officials
State officials

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act - Amends the federal judicial code to authorize any state or local government or related official (or successor) to file a motion to modify or terminate a federal consent decree upon the earlier of: (1) four years after the consent decree is originally entered; or (2) in the case of a civil action in which a state or state official, or a local government or local government official, is a party, the expiration of the term of office of the highest state or local government official who was a party to the consent decree; or (3) the date otherwise provided by law.
 
Places the burden of proof with respect to such motions on the party originally filing the action to demonstrate that the denial of the motion to modify or terminate a consent decree (or any part of it) is necessary to prevent the violation of a federal requirement that: (1) was actionable by such party; and (2) was addressed in the original consent decree.
 
 
Requires a court, within 30 days after the filing of a motion, to enter a scheduling order that: (1) limits the time of the parties to file motions and complete discovery; and (2) sets the date or dates of any necessary hearings.
 
Authorizes a court to stay the injunctive or prospective relief set forth in the consent decree if a party opposing the motion to modify or terminate it seeks any continuance or delay that prevents the court from entering a final ruling on the motion within 180 days of its filing.
 
Requires the Attorney General to report annually to Congress on all consent decrees in which the United States is a party that were entered four or more years before the date of the report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Family Farm, Small Business, and Home Tax Relief Act

Bill: 110-hr-4042
Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-11]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Estate tax
Families
Family enterprises
Family farms
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Indexing (Economic policy)
Inheritance tax
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Family Farm, Small Business, and Home Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) accelerate from 2009 to 2008 the $3.5 million unified estate tax credit and adjust such credit amount for inflation in calendar years after 2008; (2) reduce the maximum estate tax rate from 49 to 43% in 2008; (3) restore and increase to $8 million the estate tax deduction for family-owned business interests and adjust such deduction amount for inflation after 2008; (4) accelerate from 2010 to 2008 the repeal of the tax on generation-skipping transfers; and (5) allow an exclusion, in calculating the gross estate for estate tax purposes, of the adjusted value of a decedent's principal residence, up to $2 million.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Improving Teacher Diversity Act

Bill: 110-hr-4045
Sponsor: Rep. Altmire, Jason [D-PA-4]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Alaska
Black colleges
College costs
Economics and Public Finance
Educational innovations
Educational technology
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Hawaiians
Higher education
Hispanic Americans
Indian education
Indigenous peoples
Information services
Mentoring
Minorities
Minority education
Native Americans
Scholarships
School administration
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Teacher education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Improving Teacher Diversity Act - Amends title II (Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to certain minority-serving institutions of higher education (IHEs), or partnerships between such IHEs and other IHEs, to establish centers of excellence for teacher education.
 
Requires the use of such grants to ensure that current and future teachers are highly qualified by: (1) reforming teacher preparation programs so that teachers are able to understand scientifically-based research and use advanced technology effectively in the classroom; (2) providing preservice clinical experience and mentoring to prospective teachers, and increased interaction between IHE faculty and new and experienced elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators; (3) implementing initiatives to promote the retention of highly qualified teachers and principals; (4) awarding need-based scholarships for students in teacher preparation programs; (5) disseminating information on effective teacher preparation practices; and (6) conducting certain other activities authorized under title II.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-01-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Student Disability Fairness Act

Bill: 110-hr-4046
Sponsor: Rep. Altmire, Jason [D-PA-4]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Collection of accounts
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Higher education
Student loan funds
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Student Disability Fairness Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to accept certifications by the Department of Veterans Affairs that student borrowers are permanently and totally disabled as sufficient documentation for the discharge of their loans under part B (Federal Family Education Loan Program) of title IV of the Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-01-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Private Sector Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-4047
Sponsor: Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Damages
Department of Labor
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
Employee rights
Employers' liability
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grievance procedures
Health
Injunctions
Law
Legal fees
Local employees
Mine safety
Occupational health and safety
Punitive damages
State employees
Wage restitution
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Private Sector Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act of 2007 - Sets forth whistleblower protections for private sector, state, and municipal employees who are retaliated or discriminated against by an employer for disclosing threats to public safety or violations of federal law. Authorizes a whistleblower who has been discharged or discriminated against by an employer to seek appropriate relief either by: (1) filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor; or (2) bringing an action at law or equity in the appropriate U.S. district court.
 
Prohibits restrictions on whistleblowing and relief provided under this Act.
 
Establishes the Whistleblower Protection Office within the Employment Standards Administration of the Department of Labor.
 
Makes conforming whistleblower amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-01-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Gulf Coast Civic Works Act

Bill: 110-hr-4048
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Alabama
Apprenticeship
Art
Arts, Culture, Religion
Coastal zone
Commerce
Construction costs
Construction industries
Construction workers
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government corporations
Grants-in-aid
Gulf of Mexico
Hurricanes
Job creation
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minimum wages
Mississippi
Recruiting of employees
Regional economic development
Texas
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Gulf Coast Civic Works Act - Establishes the Gulf Coast Recovery Authority (Corporation). 
 
Requires the Corporation to: (1) administer a Gulf Coast Civic Works Project that employs a minimum of 100,000 Gulf Coast region residents and evacuees for public works projects to rebuild, sustain, and develop the Gulf Coast region; (2) establish job training programs and apprenticeships to recruit and train qualified workers, including from the Gulf Coast region, for specific vacancies in recovery, rebuilding, and development projects; and (3) ensure that all workers are paid wages at not less than the prevailing locality rate (Davis-Bacon Act).
 
Authorizes the Corporation to provide grants to Gulf Coast region residents that possess certain skills for: (1) artistic and cultural projects which reflect the history and culture of the Gulf Coast region; and (2) projects that chronicle the story of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-01-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-01-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2008-01-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-4051
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Affordable housing
Auditing
Blacks
Charities
Community development
Community facilities
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction costs
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to housing
Finance and Financial Sector
Hispanic Americans
Infrastructure
Low-income housing
Minorities
Moderate income housing
Nonprofit organizations
Rural housing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make a grant to the National Urban League to provide technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial populations of African American income-disadvantaged households.
 
Authorizes the Secretary also to make a grant to the Raza Development Fund to provide technical and financial assistance to local nonprofit organizations to undertake similar projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations in neighborhoods with substantial populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the Housing Partnership Network to create, sustain, and improve access to affordable housing and community facilities benefiting very low-, low-, and moderate-income households and communities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the National Community Renaissance Program to undertake affordable housing projects benefitting very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-08
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-11-08
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-11-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Atomic Veterans Relief Act

Bill: 110-hr-4052
Sponsor: Rep. Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disabled
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Ionizing radiation
Law
Nuclear weapons
Radiation victims
Radioactive pollution
Veterans' disability compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Atomic Veterans Relief Act - Includes within the definition of a &quot;radiation-risk activity&quot; for purposes of eligibility criteria for veterans' disability compensation the exposure to ionizing radiation due to residual contamination resulting from participation in a nuclear detonation.
 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in regulations pertaining to the service-connection of veterans' disabilities additional provisions to ensure, in the case of a claim by a radiation-exposed veteran for service-connection of a nonpresumptive disability, that the procedures for establishment of whether the disability is service-connected do not require imputation to the veteran, through a process known as dose reconstruction, of any particular level of exposure to ionizing radiation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-4053
Sponsor: Rep. Berkley, Shelley [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulatory care
Clinics
Commemorations
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Congressional tributes
Drug abuse
Drug abuse treatment
Drug therapy
Education
Families
Family services
Health
Health counseling
Higher education
Indian medical care
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Medical education
Medical research
Mental health services
Middle East and North Africa
Military dependents
Military operations
Minorities
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Science, Technology, Communications
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure the provision of specified substance use disorder treatment services at each Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center and community-based outpatient clinic. Requires the Secretary to ensure that treatment for a substance use disorder and a comorbid mental health disorder is provided concurrently by a team of experienced clinicians.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) carry out a program of enhanced care and treatment for veterans with substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and (2) establish at least six national centers of excellence on PTSD and substance use disorders.
 
Requires a report on residential mental health care facilities of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
 
Pays tribute to Justin Bailey.
 
Requires a: (1) pilot program on peer outreach and support services, readjustment counseling services, and other mental health services for veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; (2) program of research into comorbid PTSD and substance use disorder; and (3) pilot program on the provision of readjustment and transition assistance to veterans and their families in cooperation with Vet Centers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Prevention Through Affordable Access Act

Bill: 110-hr-4054
Sponsor: Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Clinics
Commerce
Drug industry
Drugs
Education
Family planning and birth control
Higher education
Medicaid
Prescription pricing
Rebates
Social Welfare
Students

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Prevention Through Affordable Access Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for the best price component of the formula for determination of the Medicaid rebate for a covered single source outpatient drug or a covered innovator multiple source outpatient drug. (Under current law, best prices shall not take into account prices that are merely nominal in amount.)
 
Revises the list of entities to which sales by a manufacturer of covered outpatient drugs at nominal prices shall be considered to be sales at a nominal price, or merely nominal in amount (and thus excluded from computation of the best price for such drugs).
 
Adds to such list any entity that is: (1) operated by a health center of an institution of higher education, primarily for its students (university-based clinic); or (2) a public or private nonprofit entity that provides family planning services under the Public Health Service Act (safety-net clinic).
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Cervical Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-4055
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cervical cancer
Medical fees
Medical screening
Medical tests
Medicare
Social Welfare
Virus diseases
Women
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Medicare Cervical Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of screening tests for human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with a higher risk of cervical cancer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-11-01
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: 2007-11-01
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: 2007-11-01
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: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Teacher Tax Deduction Enhancement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-4057
Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Computer software
Computers
Costs
Education
Educational technology
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Income tax
Paraprofessional school personnel
Preschool education
School personnel
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Tax deductions
Teachers
Teaching materials
Textbooks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Teacher Tax Deduction Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend until 2015 the tax deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school educators (i.e., teachers, instructors, counselors, principals, or aides); (2) increase to $500 the allowable amount of such deduction for full-time educators (working at least 900 hours during the school year); and (3) allow such tax deduction for educators in preschool programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Maximizing the Use of Federal Funds for Job Creation Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-4058
Sponsor: Rep. Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI-2]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Highway finance
Infrastructure
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Labor statistics
Road construction
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Maximizing the Use of Federal Funds for Job Creation Act of 2007 - Authorizes a state with an unemployment rate equal to or greater than 125% of the national unemployment rate to transfer, without limitation, any Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) amounts apportioned to the state to any state apportionments for certain named federal-aid highway programs (except, amounts for highway safety improvement programs).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in House