hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to provide for the waiver of requirements relating to recertification kits for the conversion of vehicles into vehicles powered by natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas.

Bill: 110-s-3562
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Energy
Liquefied petroleum gas
Motor vehicle pollution control
Natural gas vehicles
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive requirements for recertification of kits for the conversion of vehicles into vehicles that are powered by natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas in any case in which: (1) the kit has been previously certified for the model of vehicle to be converted; and (2) neither the kit nor the design and specifications of the model of vehicle to be converted have substantially changed. Requires the Administrator to waive emission certification system requirements for a vehicle that is more than 10 years old or has more than 120,000 miles and that is powered by natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas.


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
A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Labor from issuing, administering, or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget entitled "Requirements for DOL Agencies' Assessment of Occupational Health Risks" (RIN: 1290-AA23).

Bill: 110-s-3566
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Labor
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Law
Occupational health and safety
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary of Labor from issuing, administering, or enforcing any rule, regulation, or requirement derived from the proposal submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) entitled Requirements for DOL Agencies' Assessment of Occupational Health Risks.


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
A bill to establish a Commission on the conflict between Russia and Georgia, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3567
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Armed Forces and National Security
Central Asia
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Collective security
Ethnic relations
Federal advisory bodies
Genocide
Georgia (Republic)
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
Military training
NATO countries
Peacekeeping forces
Russia
Summit diplomacy

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Establishes the Commission on the Conflict between Russia and Georgia, which shall: (1) examine the causes of the conflict between Russia and Georgia that began in August 2008; and (2) make U.S. policy recommendations with respect to Russia, Georgia, and other countries in the region.

Terminates the Commission 60 days after submission of a final report required under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to address the use of intrathecal pumps.

Bill: 110-s-3568
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Medical supplies

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to revise the definition of &quot;dispense&quot; to include the delivery of a controlled substance through the use of an intrathecal pump by a practitioner acting in the usual course of professional practice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Health Coordinating Council Act

Bill: 110-s-3570
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Communication in medicine
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Environmental health
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Public health administration

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Public Health Coordinating Council Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a National Public Health Coordinating Council to: (1) facilitate and strengthen sustained communication and coordination across federal agencies and offices regarding public health; and (2) review and make recommendations concerning socioeconomic and environmental policies to reduce health disparities and improve the public's health.

Requires the Secretary to determine the duties of the Council, which shall include: (1) reviewing existing federal health programs and policies for the availability of equitable public health services across communities; (2) making recommendations for the modification of such federal programs and policies to improve public health; and (3) seeking to strengthen the impact of federal public health efforts by improving interagency collaboration and promoting a dialogue on broad public health issues.


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: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9423)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
HIA Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3571
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Citizen participation
Community development
Community health services
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Environmental Protection
Environmental health
Federal aid to education
Health surveys
Higher education
Infrastructure
Land use
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Risk
Urban affairs
Urban planning

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Health Impact Assessments Act of 2008 or the HIA Act of 2008 - Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study to determine the best practices, standardized tools, and models for using health impact assessments as a method to promote health and reduce health disparities through social policy, land use, the built environment, and other public policies and projects.

Requires the Comptroller General to review: (1) the positive and negative health consequences of federal policies and programs; and (2) how to consider health impact assessments for any federal, state, local project that involves federal funding or work performed by the federal government.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award a grant to an institution of higher education to: (1) provide for expertise on health impact assessment to states, local health departments, metropolitan planning organizations, and local planning departments; (2) collect and disseminate best practices and provide technical assistance and training about the scope and uses of health impact assessments related to community planning and policy making; (3) develop necessary data and evidence to inform health impact assessments and land use and community design and other broad policy decisions; and (4) carry out a demonstration project to establish and implement effective processes and models for designing and administering health impact assessments.

Requires the Director to expand CDC's capacity to promote the health impact assessment processes, including by developing guidance for assessing the public participation and potential health effects of social policy decisions.


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: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9423)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Ratepayer Recovery Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3572
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Disaster relief
Electric power distribution
Electric power production
Emergency Management

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Ratepayer Recovery Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to cite conditions under which the President is authorized to make disaster assistance contributions for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of private or investor-owned power transmission and distribution facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster.
 
Cites conditions for large in-lieu contributions to a private or investor-owned power facility if the owner determines that the public welfare would not best be served by repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing the facility.
 
Restricts the use of such funds to the area affected as a result of the major disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act

Bill: 110-s-3573
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Apprenticeship
Career education
Congress
Curricula
Dropouts
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational accountability
Educational counseling
Educational innovations
Educational research
Elementary and secondary education
Employment of the disadvantaged
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Higher education
Labor supply
Mentoring
Performance measurement
Planning
Presidential appointments
School administration
Secondary education
Skilled labor
Student aid
Teacher education
Teaching materials
Technical education
Vocational and technical education
Vocational guidance
Youth employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act - Authorizes the Director of the National Academic and Career Innovation Center to award certain planning, implementation, transitional, and supplemental grants to eligible state partnerships to carry out activities that will create and enhance the educational and career pathways for high school students to postsecondary schools (including registered apprenticeship programs) and to 21st century careers, particularly in high skill, high demand industries.
 
Establishes the National Academic and Career Innovation Center.
 
Authorizes the Director to evaluate and conduct research to determine the effectiveness of the career pathway initiatives under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act

Bill: 110-s-3574
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Alaska
Black colleges
Colleges
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational statistics
Emergency Management
Equipment and supplies
Evidence (Law)
Federal aid to education
Fire prevention
Fraternal organizations
Hawaii
Hawaiians
Higher education
Hispanic Americans
Housing and Community Development
Indian education
Indigenous peoples
Law
Minorities
Minority education
Social Welfare
Student housing
Students

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), fraternities, and sororities for up to half the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities.
 
Gives grant priority to applicants that demonstrate the greatest financial need. 
Reserves the following portions of grant funds made available for each fiscal year: (1) at least 10% for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and IHEs that are eligible for Institutional Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (2) at least 10% for social fraternities and sororities. 
Provides that any application for assistance under this Act, any negative determination on the part of the Secretary with respect to such application, or any statement of reasons for the determination, shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity (except a proceeding to enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary and a grantee under this Act).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
LEAN Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3575
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Consumer education
Department of Health and Human Services
Diet
Food service
Government Operations and Politics
Labeling
Law
Nutrition
Restaurants

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Labeling Education and Nutrition Act of 2008 or the LEAN Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize a food service establishment to provide nutrition information for a food item by: (1) providing calories and nutrient information required for food intended for human consumption; (2) disclosing such information in written form; and (3) making such disclosure available upon request prior to purchase.

Requires the labeling of a standard food item served or offered for sale in a food service establishment that is part of a chain that operates 20 or more establishments under the same trade name to disclose, in a clear and conspicuous manner, prior to the point of purchase: (1) the number of calories on a menu board, on a sign meeting certain requirements, in the menu, or as part of or supplement to the menu; (2) specified nutrient information, in writing and upon request; (3) a statement directing the consumer to the availability of additional nutrient information; and (4) a statement providing suggested daily caloric intake, on a menu or menu board that does not list calories.

Declares a person to have knowingly or willfully violated the requirements of this Act if the person: (1) purposefully fails to make a disclosure required by this Act; or (2) makes a disclosure with the intent to deceive.

Provides that a reasonable basis determination of nutrition information shall be required only once per standard food item if certain requirements are met.

Preempts state laws not identical to this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Georges Bank Preservation Act

Bill: 110-s-3576
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Fishery management
Gas in submerged lands
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine parks and reserves
Massachusetts
National monuments
Oil and gas leases
Petroleum in submerged lands
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Georges Bank Preservation Act - Prohibits the issuance of any lease or other authorization by the federal government for exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in: (1) any marine national monument or national marine sanctuary; or (2) the fishing grounds known as Georges Bank in the waters of the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a commission to assess the nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Bill: 110-s-3578
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Civil-military relations
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Energy
International control of nuclear power
Iran
Middle East and North Africa
Nuclear nonproliferation
Nuclear power

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Establishes the Commission To Assess the Nuclear Activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran which shall assess the status of, the relationship between, and the intentions behind the military and the civilian nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 
 
Terminates the Commission 60 days after submission of the report required under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9496-9497)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
National Silver Alert Act

Bill: 110-s-3579
Sponsor: Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal justice information
Data banks
Department of Justice
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal officials
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Information networks
Law
Missing persons
Nonprofit organizations
Old age assistance
Police communication systems
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
National Silver Alert Act - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a national Silver Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors; (2) assign a DOJ officer to serve as the Silver Alert Coordinator to coordinate the network with states; and (3) award grants to states for support of Silver Alert plans and the network. Defines &quot;missing senior&quot; as any individual who is reported as missing to or by a law enforcement agency and who meets state requirements for designation as a missing senior. 

Directs the Coordinator to: (1) establish minimum standards for the issuance and dissemination of alerts issued through the network; and (2) make available to states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other concerned entities network training and information.

Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to states and local governments to provide voluntary electronic monitoring services to elderly individuals (Sammy Kirk Voluntary Electronic Monitoring Program).

Kristen's Act Reauthorization of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to make competitive grants to public agencies and/or nonprofit private organizations to: (1) maintain a national resource center and database for tracking missing adults; and (2) provide assistance and to law enforcement agencies, families, and victim advocates in locating and recovering missing adults.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Safe Facilities and Equipment for American Troops Overseas Act

Bill: 110-s-3580
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Armed forces abroad
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Defense contracts
Department of Defense
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Labor and Employment
Law
Military and naval supplies
Occupational health and safety
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Ensuring Safe Facilities and Equipment for American Troops Overseas Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense, in order to assure the safe utilization by the Armed Forces of expeditionary facilities, infrastructure, and equipment supporting U.S. military operations overseas, to certify to the congressional defense committees that: (1) generally accepted industry safety standards are incorporated into military regulations establishing requirements for such facilities, infrastructure, and equipment; (2) each contract or task or delivery order for the construction, installation, repair, maintenance, or operation of overseas expeditionary facilities incorporates such industry standards; and (3) such standards apply in all current and future U.S. military operations overseas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Mortgage Origination Commission Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3581
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank examination
Bank holding companies
Commerce
Consumer credit
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Housing and Community Development
Law
Licenses
Mortgage banks
Mortgages
Savings and loan associations
Standards
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Mortgage Origination Commission Act of 2008 - Establishes the Mortgage Origination Commission to develop criteria and a numerical rating system to evaluate, and periodically report to the public on, the effectiveness of: (1) state licensing, supervision, and enforcement systems regarding mortgage loan originators and mortgage companies; and (2) mechanisms to collect, evaluate, and respond to complaints against state-licensed mortgage loan originators and mortgage companies.
 
Amends the Truth in Lending Act to declare that its consumer credit protections shall be enforced by: (1) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to bank holding companies; and (2) the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision with respect to savings and loan holding companies.
 
Authorizes state agencies to enforce compliance with respect to requirements for extensions of credit secured by a consumer's dwelling (including residential mortgage transactions) against state-regulated or -licensed mortgage companies and mortgage loan originators.
 
Amends the Bank Holding Company Act to grant the Board examination authority over bank holding companies and their mortgage company subsidiaries.

Amends the Home Owners Loan Act to grant the Director examination authority over savings and loan holding companies and their mortgage company subsidiaries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9497-9498)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8969-8971)