hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Meat and Poultry Products Traceability and Safety Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1292
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural estimating and reporting
Animals
Business records
Cattle
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Food industry
Food safety
Fraud
Goats
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Horses
Identification devices
Livestock
Meat inspection
Meat packing industry
Poultry
Produce trade
Sheep
Swine

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Meat and Poultry Products Traceability and Safety Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to direct that amenable species presented for slaughter for human consumption, and the carcasses or parts of carcasses and the meat and food products of those animals, shipped in interstate commerce be identified in a manner that enables the Secretary of Agriculture to trace: (1) each animal or group of animals to any location at which the animal was held at any time before slaughter; and (2) each carcass or part of a carcass and food and food product forward from slaughter through processing and distribution to the ultimate consumer.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) prohibit or restrict entry to a slaughtering establishment of an animal not so identified; and (2) require that each person, firm, or corporation required to identify livestock maintain accurate records.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a traceability system for all stages of production, processing, and distribution of meat and meat food products and poultry and poultry food products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Education and Vocational Benefits Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1293
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Education
Families
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Military dependents
Military operations
Survivors' benefits
Veterans' education
Veterans' employment
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Veterans' Education and Vocational Benefits Improvement Act of 2007 - Authorizes the accelerated payment of veterans' educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill for individuals who, during the period beginning October 1, 2008, and ending September 30, 2012, first enroll in an approved program of education not exceeding two years and not leading to an associate, bachelors, masters, or equivalent degree (in effect, for vocational school). Provides the same benefit for: (1) participants under the survivors' and dependents' educational assistance program; (2) members of the Selected Reserve; and (3) reserve personnel supporting contingency and other combat-related operations. Authorizes, for the latter personnel, the payment of 80% of the total educational assistance allowance for those serving an aggregate of three years or more in support of such contingency or related operations. Authorizes such personnel to make pay contributions for an increased amount of educational assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S5586-5588)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5585-5586)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
African Development Foundation Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1295
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
African Development Foundation
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Names

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
African Development Foundation Act of 2007 - Amends the African Development Foundation Act to rename the African Development Foundation as the United States African Development Foundation. 

Increases individual project funding limits.

Authorizes the Foundation to make awards to qualifying small- or medium-sized entities that are not wholly owned or controlled African entities.

Authorizes (current law requires) the Foundation's Board of Directors to establish an advisory council.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Violence Against Children Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1296
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abandonment of family
Assault
Child abuse
Child safety
Child welfare
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction costs
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Curricula
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Employee training
Families
Federal aid to law enforcement
Gangs
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Guardian and ward
Health
Hospital care
Indian children
Indian law enforcement
Infants
Informers
Medical records
Minorities
Murder
Prosecution
School buildings
School security
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
State laws
Victims of crimes
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Violence Against Children Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to provide for enhanced penalties for violent crimes against children (i.e., persons under 18 years of age).

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) provide assistance to state, local, and Indian tribal governments in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any felony crime of violence against children; and (2) award grants to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution of crimes against children and to provide education, prevention, intervention, and victims' assistance services for such crimes.

Requires states receiving grants under this Act or other federal assistance to: (1) use the National Incident-Based Reporting System; (2) enact a statute to allow a parent to leave a newborn baby at a hospital anonymously without penalties; and (3) report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the well-being of children under their care. 

Requires the Secretary to develop model training and caseload standards for child guardians in child abuse and neglect cases. 

Mynisha's Law - Authorizes any local or tribal government to apply to the Attorney General for designation as a high intensity interstate gang area. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish criteria for reviewing such applications; and (2) establish an Interagency Gang Prevention Task Force to coordinate federal assistance to such high intensity interstate gang areas.

Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow the use of school security grants for: (1) the placement of surveillance equipment in schools; (2) the establishment of hotlines or tiplines for reporting potentially dangerous students and situations; and (3) capital improvements to make school facilities more secure. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Businesses, Healthy Workers Reinsurance Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1298
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Catastrophic health insurance
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Executive reorganization
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Labor and Employment
Reinsurance

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Healthy Businesses, Healthy Workers Reinsurance Act of 2007 - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII (Federal Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs).

Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services an Office of Federal Reinsurance, which shall in turn establish a Federal Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs to make reinsurance payments to eligible health plans experiencing catastrophic health care costs during a year with respect to a covered individual.

Establishes in the Treasury the Federal Reinsurance for Catastrophic Health Care Costs Trust Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S5594-5595)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5593-5594)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Borrower's Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1299
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer credit
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Finance and Financial Sector
Interest rates
Law
Liability (Law)
Mortgage guaranty insurance
Mortgages
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Borrower's Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to deem a mortgage broker, in the case of a home mortgage loan, to have a fiduciary relationship with the consumer. Subjects each such mortgage broker to all federal and state requirements for fiduciaries.
 
Requires each mortgage originator, in addition to the duties imposed by federal and state requirements, to act with respect to each home mortgage loan: (1) with reasonable skill, care, and diligence; and (2) in good faith and with fair dealing in any transaction, practice, or with associated course of business.
 
Requires a mortgage originator, before entering into or otherwise facilitating a home mortgage loan, to verify the borrower's reasonable ability to pay the principal and interest, real estate taxes, and homeowners insurance fees and premiums. Prescribes a formula for determining ability to pay variable mortgage rates.
 
Makes the lender liable for acts, omissions, and representations of a mortgage broker in connection with any rate spread mortgage loan the broker sells or delivers to the lender.
 
Prohibits a mortgage originator from steering a consumer to home mortgage loan rates, charges, principal amount, or prepayment terms not reasonably advantageous to the consumer.
 
Prescribes mortgage originator duties to consumers.
 
Prohibits specified mortgage originator conduct, especially entering into a home mortgage loan when the originator has reason to believe that the appraiser of the property securing the loan failed to act in good faith and fair dealing in its appraisal.
 
Prohibits a mortgage originator from: (1) seeking to influence an appraiser or otherwise to encourage a targeted value; or (2) selecting an appraiser on the expectation that the appraiser would provide a targeted value.
 
Requires the mortgage originator to provide a copy of the appraisal report to a home mortgage loan applicant, whether credit is granted, denied, or the application was withdrawn.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
National Right-to-Work Act

Bill: 110-s-1301
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Commerce
Construction industries
Construction workers
Employee rights
Labor unions
Payroll deductions
Railroad employees
Railroads
Transportation and Public Works
Unfair labor practices
Union dues
Union security

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
National Right-to-Work Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to repeal those provisions that permit employers, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that is a union security agreement, to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment (including provisions permitting railroad carriers to require, pursuant to such an agreement, payroll deduction of union dues or fees as a condition of employment). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-04
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 132.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Keeping PACE Act

Bill: 110-s-1302
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Adult education
Building construction
Community and school
Community centers
Community organization
Dropouts
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Families
Family services
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Homeless
Housing and Community Development
Illiteracy
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Minority education
Parent-school relationships
Rating of employees
Rural education
School administration
School buildings
School personnel
Secondary education
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Keeping Parents and Communities Engaged Act or the Keeping Pace Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award grants to states for competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive school improvement funds under part A of title I of the Act to enable such LEAs to assist public elementary and secondary schools hire and maintain Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators responsible for improving family and community involvement in such schools. 
 
Gives subgrant priority to LEAs targeting schools with the highest proportions of needy students or students failing to meet state academic performance standards. Requires each assisted school to appoint a committee of school officials, parents, and community members to screen Coordinator applicants and evaluate Coordinator performance.
 
Directs state grantees to award competitive subgrants to partnerships between community-based organizations and public schools to connect integrated services and comprehensive supports to students and families to enhance student performance. Gives priority to applicants targeting schools with the highest proportions of needy students or students failing to meet state academic performance standards. 
 
Requires state grantees to award competitive matching subgrants to consortiums composed of a school, LEA, mayor, and at least one other community partner to redesign schools as centers of communities that encourage family and community participation in students' education and provide community education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5596-5599)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1303
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Employee training
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Explosives
Federal aid to water pollution control
Freedom of information
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Nonprofit organizations
Planning
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Sewerage
Social Welfare
Storm drains
Technology assessment
Terrorism
Waste water treatment
Water Resources Development
Water supply
Water treatment plants

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants for: (1) vulnerability assessments of publicly owned treatment works; (2) implementation of security enhancements; (3) the development, expansion, or upgrading of emergency response plans and site security plans; and (4) the voluntary creation of mutual aid and emergency network preparedness agreements developed in accordance with the National Incident Management System.

Prescribes disclosure limits and protections for vulnerability assessments.

Limits the federal cost share of an activity funded by grant under this Act to 50%.

Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) provide technical guidance to small publicly owned treatment works (serving fewer than 10,000 individuals) for conducting vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, or site security plans and for implementing security enhancements; and (2) make grants to nonprofit organizations to improve assessment methodologies and tools for publicly owned treatment works; and (3) make grants to nonprofit organizations to implement a comprehensive training program for treatment works or privately owned utilities that principally treat municipal wastewater.

Requires the Administrator to research and review: (1) means of providing alternative processes to convey, treat, and dispose of wastewater if a disruption of service event occurs; (2) how a collection system of a treatment works could be used to convey hazardous substances and how it could be secured in response to an intentional harmful act; and (3) methods for monitoring a collection system for hazardous substances and unauthorized entry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Arizona National Scenic Trail Act

Bill: 110-s-1304
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Sports and Recreation
Trails
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Arizona National Scenic Trail Act - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the Arizona Trail, extending approximately 807 miles across Arizona from the border between Arizona and Utah to the international border with Mexico, as the &quot;Arizona National Scenic Trail.&quot;

action_date: 2008-04-10
text: 
Arizona National Scenic Trail Act - Amends the National Trails System Act to provide for the designation of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, extending approximately 807 miles across Arizona from the U.S.-Mexico international border to the Arizona-Utah border. 

Requires the Arizona National Scenic Trail to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and appropriate state, tribal, and local governmental agencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 642.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-290.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-290.
action_date: 2008-01-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-213.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5599)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Lead Free Toys Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1306
Sponsor: Sen. Obama, Barack [D-IL]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Child safety
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer protection
Electronics
Environmental Protection
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Lead
Product safety
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Toys

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Lead Free Toys Act of 2007 - Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to prescribe regulations classifying any children's product containing lead to be a banned hazardous substance within the meaning of the Hazardous Substances Act.
 
Requires the Commission, if it determines that it is not feasible for certain electronic devices to comply with such regulations as of the effective date, to: (1) issue standards to reduce the exposure of and accessibility to lead in such electronic devices; and (2) establish a schedule by which such electronic devices must be in full compliance with the regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Provider Accountability Act

Bill: 110-s-1307
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Collection of accounts
Hospital care
Law
Medicare
Social Welfare
Tax administration
Tax liens
Tax refunds
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Medicare Provider Accountability Act - Directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to: (1) take all necessary steps to participate in the Federal Payment Levy Program as soon as possible; and (2) ensure that at least 50% of all payments under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act are processed through such program within one year of enactment of this Act, and all remaining payments within two years.
 
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to offset Medicare provider payments by the amount of the provider's delinquent federal debt.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make notice and opportunity for hearing before levy requirements inapplicable if the Secretary of the Treasury has approved a levy on specified (Medicare provider) payments. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S5601)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5600-5601)
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from allowing the importation of certain cattle and beef from Canada until the implementation of country of origin labeling requirements.

Bill: 110-s-1308
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2007-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agriculture in foreign trade
Animals
Canada
Cattle
Commerce
Department of Agriculture
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Import restrictions
Labeling
Law
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from permitting the import of live Canadian cattle (or beef from such cattle) over 30 months of age until certain country of origin labeling requirements become effective.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate