hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Preventing Manipulation in Commodity Markets Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6976
Sponsor: Rep. Tauscher, Ellen O. [D-CA-10]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Business records
Commodities markets
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Congressional oversight
Energy prices
Financial services and investments
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Securities
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Preventing Manipulation in Commodity Markets Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to define &quot;energy commodity.&quot;
 
Prohibits the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from permitting a foreign board of trade to provide its U.S-located members with access to the CFTC electronic trading system and order matching system for energy or agricultural commodities unless such board meets requirements similar to those imposed upon U.S. exchanges.
 
Subjects swap transactions, transactions for agricultural and energy commodities, and large traders in over-the-counter contracts to reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
 
Directs the Commission to: (1) set position limits for any one person with respect to designated contract markets, derivative transaction execution facilities, and electronic trading facilities; (2) convene a Position Limit Agricultural Advisory Group and a Position Limit Energy Group; (3) appoint at least 100 new full-time employees; (4) review prior actions to ensure compliance with this Act; and (5) review over-the-counter markets. 
 
Revises the core principles applicable to position limits for contracts in agricultural and energy commodities to require position limits for speculators.
 
Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study of: (1) the international regime for regulating the trading of energy commodity futures and derivatives; and (2) speculators' effects on agriculture and energy futures markets and prices.
 
Directs the Commission to: (1) require regular reporting of fungible over-the-counter agricultural and energy transactions; and (2) determine if such transactions have the potential to disrupt market liquidity or cause market or price disturbances, and if so, to use its discretion to impose position limits.
 
Authorizes the Commission to use expedited procedures to carry out this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1851)
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Loan Shark Prevention Act

Bill: 110-hr-6977
Sponsor: Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Interest, dividends, interest rates
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Loan Shark Prevention Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to limit: (1) the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to any extension of credit to a maximum of 8 percentage points above the interest rate on tax underpayments established under the Internal Revenue Code; and (2) the amount of any fee or charge that a creditor may impose, under the terms of a credit transaction, to $15.
 
Declares that, in the case of any credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan, no fee (including any annual fee, late payment fee, or over-the-limit fee) may be imposed on such account until 30 days after the obligor receives a specific notice of the imposition of such fee.
 
Requires such a notice to explain how, when, and why a fee will be imposed and what options the obligor may have for addressing the fee or any reason for it, including the prevention of any future imposition of such fee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Credit Card Safety Star Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6978
Sponsor: Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Federal Reserve System

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Credit Card Safety Star Act of 2008 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to promulgate rules to implement a Safety Star System, with one to five stars, to allow consumers to compare quickly and easily the terms, conditions, and levels of safety associated with various open end credit plan agreements.
 
Specifies a point structure for rating credit cards.
 
Assigns an automatic one-star rating (the lowest level of safety) to any open end credit plan: (1) that allows the card issuer to modify the terms of the agreement with a cardholder at any time or periodically for unspecified or unstated reasons; or (2) under which other accounts, or changes by a third party in the cardholder's credit rating, are used as a basis for adverse changes in the agreement (including universal default).
 
Establishes the Credit Card Safety Star Advisory Commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Gloria Ayala Cuyuch.

Bill: 110-hr-6979
Sponsor: Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Provides for the relief of Gloria Ayala Cuyuch.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension provided under that title by up to $1,000.

Bill: 110-hr-6980
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Henry E., Jr. [R-SC-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congressional Medal of Honor
Labor and Employment
Veterans' pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Amends federal veterans law to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the availability of appropriations, to increase by up to $1,000 a month the rate of the Medal of Honor special pension.

action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Amends federal veterans law to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, subject to the availability of appropriations, to increase by up to $1,000 a month the rate of the Medal of Honor special pension.
 
Terminates such authority at the end of FY2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9405)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9405)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6980.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9405-9406)
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
To make technical corrections to section 4406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

Bill: 110-hr-6981
Sponsor: Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Food relief
Grants-in-aid
Nonprofit organizations
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to replace &quot;Food and Nutrition Act of 2008&quot; with &quot;Food Stamp Act of 1977&quot; in a provision reauthorizing grant funds to assist eligible private nonprofit entities to establish and carry out community food projects. 
 
Makes such grant funds for FY2008 available until September 30, 2009, to fund proposals solicited in FY2008.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 South Ellsworth Avenue in San Mateo, California, as the "Leo J. Ryan Post Office Building".

Bill: 110-hr-6982
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-12]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: California
Congressional tributes
Ex-Members of Congress
Government Operations and Politics
House of Representatives
Names
Postal facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 South Ellsworth Avenue in San Mateo, California, as the "Leo J. Ryan Post Office Building."
action_date: 2008-10-21
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 South Ellsworth Avenue in San Mateo, California, as the "Leo J. Ryan Post Office Building." 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-21
text: Became Public Law No: 110-447.
action_date: 2008-10-21
text: Became Public Law No: 110-447.
action_date: 2008-10-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-10-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-10-10
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-10-10
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-10-03
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10422)
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S10422)
action_date: 2008-09-29
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H10208)
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H10208)
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H10208)
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.
action_date: 2008-09-27
text: Mr. Clay asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 110-447
Military Air Travel Fairness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6985
Sponsor: Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Military personnel and dependents
Motor carriers
Travel and tourism
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Military Air Travel Fairness Act of 2008 - Requires an air carrier to waive baggage fees for up to three baggage items (except those oversize or overweight) checked by a member of the uniformed services traveling under orders on a passenger air flight.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
Individual Depositor and Community Bank Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6986
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Individual Depositor and Community Bank Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to increase from $100,000 to $200,000 the standard maximum deposit insurance amount for bank deposits. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1861)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
Taxpayer Bailout Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6987
Sponsor: Rep. Feeney, Tom [R-FL-24]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Business investment and capital
Corporate finance and management
Government lending and loan guarantees
Securities
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Taxpayer Bailout Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to require an officer of an issuer of registered securities to pay to the Department of the Treasury any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation received from the issuer during a year in which the issuer is subject to a taxpayer bailout and the two prior years.
 
Defines &quot;taxpayer bailout&quot; as: (1) placement of the issuer under conservatorship, receivership, or other assumption of the management, governance, and control of the issuer by the Treasury or by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve; or (2) an emergency loan of public funds made to the issuer by the Treasury or the Board, if the Board Chairman determines that such a loan is necessary to prevent the issuer's imminent failure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
Wildlife Penning Prohibition Act

Bill: 110-hr-6988
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Mammals
Retail and wholesale trades
Trade restrictions
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Wildlife Penning Prohibition Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to add wildlife, other than birds, used or intended to be used in dog training activities (i.e., activities in which coyotes, foxes, or other wildlife species are pursued, harassed, or killed within an enclosure) to the definition of &quot;prohibited wildlife species&quot; for purposes of the prohibition against the sale or purchase of such species in interstate or foreign commerce. 

Makes it unlawful for a person to sell or purchase a live animal of any prohibited wildlife species in interstate or foreign commerce (i.e., for pet trade purposes). Sets forth: (1) exceptions to such prohibition; and (2) civil and criminal penalties for violations of the requirements of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the burial in a national cemetery of a parent of a deceased veteran when there is no eligible spouse or dependent of the veteran.

Bill: 110-hr-6989
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Family relationships

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Authorizes the burial in a national cemetery of a parent of a deceased veteran or qualified reserve member if there is no eligible spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of such veteran or member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
Independent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Investigative Commission Act

Bill: 110-hr-6990
Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Advisory bodies
Bankruptcy
Corporate finance and management
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Securities
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Independent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Investigative Commission Act - Establishes the Independent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Investigative Commission to investigate and issue a final report on the period following the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s to the present.
 
Requires the Commission to investigate: (1) the policies, practices, and board decisions of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) from the 1990s through the present that led to their financial instability and subsequent federal conservatorship; (2) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's involvement, if any, in the creation and proliferation of the securitized mortgage instrument, and how such instrument affected their solvency; (3) the role of their boards of directors in developing their accounting and financial risk policies; (4) the actions of each board member or members, executive officer or officers, or the board member or members and executive officer or officers responsible for making the financial decisions to grow the enterprises' portfolios of subprime mortgage loans; and (5) the board member or members, executive officer or officers, or the board member or members and executive officer or officers responsible for making the decisions that may have encouraged the proliferation of the subprime mortgage industry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9411)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H8547-8550)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
To establish an Energy Policy Council to develop a National Energy Plan and monitor the implementation thereof, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6991
Sponsor: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy prices
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
General energy matters
Oil and gas
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Establishes an Energy Policy Council within the Executive Office of the President to develop a National Energy Plan and a plan for comprehensive federal departmental reform to eliminate wasteful spending and overlapping programs, including by establishing a consolidated entity to be known as the Department of Energy Policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
Reclamation Title Transfer Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6992
Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Land transfers
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Reclamation Title Transfer Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to: (1) identify and analyze the potential for public benefits from the transfer out of federal ownership of eligible reclamation projects or facilities; and (2) facilitate such transfer to promote more efficient management of water and water-related facilities.

Authorizes the Secretary to convey title in any such facility to a qualifying entity (including an agency of a state or local government or Indian tribe, a municipal corporation, or another entity such as a water district), provided that: (1) the Secretary retains any associated mineral interests; (2) water interests are conveyed by written agreement; and (3) interests in eligible facilities are conveyed by an agreement developed in consultation with the facility's existing power customers.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) complete all actions required under all applicable laws (including environmental and historic preservation laws) before conveying land and facilities; and (2) establish criteria for determining whether facilities are eligible for title transfer, including requirements that a qualifying entity agrees to accept title to the property and that the proposed title transfer will not have an unmitigated significant effect on the environment.

Shields the United States from liability for any act, omission, or occurrence based on its prior ownership or operation of the conveyed property. Requires a recipient entity to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in its operation of conveyed property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
Hurricane Satellite Modernization Act

Bill: 110-hr-6993
Sponsor: Rep. Melancon, Charlie [D-LA-3]
Introduced: 2008-09-22 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Public contracts and procurement
Spacecraft and satellites

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Hurricane Satellite Modernization Act - Authorizes the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to procure and launch the next-generation Extended Ocean Vector Winds Mission, or XOVWM, constellation of satellites. 

Requires the Administrator to coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to ensure that the capabilities of the XOVWM constellation of satellites will meet the operational data needs of NOAA. 

Requires development of a plan and schedule for the procurement and launch of the XOVWM constellation of satellites. 

Authorizes the Administrator of NOAA to operate the constellation of satellites procured and developed under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Introduced in House