hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act

Bill: 110-s-923
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Sports and Recreation
Trails

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the New England National Scenic Trail as a National Scenic Trail. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to use the Trail Management Blueprint as the framework for management and administration of the Trail.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with Massachusetts (and its political subdivisions), Connecticut, (and its political subdivisions), the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and other regional, local, and private organizations deemed necessary and desirable to accomplish cooperative trail administrative, management, and protection objectives consistent with the Blueprint. 
 
Encourages the Secretary to work with New Hampshire and appropriate local and private organizations to include that part of the Metacomet-Monadock Trail in New Hampshire (which lies between Royalston, Massachusetts and Jaffrey, New Hampshire) as a component of the Trail.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-514.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for funding assistance under section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172) to a State or local government for the acquisition of real property for the purpose of the replacement of certain public facilities based on reasonable reliance of cost estimates provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Bill: 110-s-925
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alabama
Construction costs
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Hurricanes
Infrastructure
Louisiana
Mississippi

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funds under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to a state or local government to replace a public facility that was damaged as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita if: (1) the extent of the damage would require the replacement of that facility based on a cost estimate provided by FEMA; (2) that government acquired real property for such replacement based on reasonable reliance on that estimate; and (3) such funds would otherwise be available to that government for that facility in accordance with such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-06
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Policyholder Disaster Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-926
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts
Casualty insurance
Commerce
Disaster insurance
Earthquakes
Emergency Management
Finance and Financial Sector
Floods
Income tax
Insurance companies
Law
Losses
Property insurance
Reinsurance
Storms
Tax deductions
Trusts and trustees
Tsunamis
Volcanoes
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Policyholder Disaster Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) to make tax deductible contributions to a tax-exempt policyholder disaster protection fund established by this Act for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from certain catastrophic events, such as windstorms, earthquakes, fires, or floods.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3363-3364)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3360-3362)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Catastrophe Savings Accounts Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-927
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts
Coinsurance
Disasters
Emergency Management
Finance and Financial Sector
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Law
Property insurance
Saving and investment
Tax exclusion
Tax penalties
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Catastrophe Savings Accounts Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to create tax-exempt catastrophe savings accounts (CSAs). Allows tax-free distributions from CSAs to pay expenses resulting from a presidentially declared major disaster. Limits CSA balances to: (1) $2,000 (for individuals with homeowner insurance deductibles of not more than $1,000); and (2) the lesser of $15,000 or twice a homeowner's insurance deductible (for individuals with deductibles of more than $1,000). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3363-3364)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3360-3362)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Homeowners Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-928
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Building construction
Building laws
Building materials
Casualty insurance
Coinsurance
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of the Treasury
Disaster insurance
Earthquakes
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Federal advisory bodies
Fires
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Governmental investigations
Housing and Community Development
Hurricanes
Indexing (Economic policy)
Insurance companies
Insurance premiums
Law
Losses
Property insurance
Reinsurance
Risk
State laws
Storms
Tornadoes
Tsunamis
Volcanoes

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Homeowners Protection Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise the Secretary regarding: (1) estimated loss costs associated with the contracts for reinsurance coverage; and (2) development of prevention, mitigation, recovery, and rebuilding standards that better prepare and protect the United States from catastrophes. 
 
Instructs the Secretary to implement a program designed to make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance.
 
Prescribes guidelines governing: (1) qualified lines of coverage; (2) covered perils; (3) contracts for reinsurance coverage for eligible state programs; and (4) minimum level of retained losses and maximum federal liability.
 
Establishes the Consumer HELP Fund for: (1) payments to covered purchasers under contracts for reinsurance coverage; and (2) operating and administrative costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3364-3368)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3360-3362)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-930
Sponsor: Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Commerce
Construction costs
Emergency Management
Flood control
Home repair and improvement
Housing and Community Development
Hurricanes
Income tax
Office buildings
Tax credits
Tornadoes

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual and business taxpayers a tax credit for 25% of their qualified hurricane and tornado mitigation property expenditures up to $5,000 for any taxable year. Defines such expenditures as expenditures in a dwelling unit to improve the strength of a roof deck attachment, create a secondary water barrier, improve the durability of a roof covering, brace gable-end walls, reinforce the connections between a roof and supporting wall, protect against windborne debris, or protect exterior doors and garages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-931
Sponsor: Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Building construction
Building laws
Climate
Coastal zone
Computers
Conferences
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Emergency communication systems
Engineering
Evacuation of civilians
Federal aid to research
Flood damage prevention
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Hurricanes
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Meteorological research
Oceanographic research
Policy sciences
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Storms
Technological innovations
Urban affairs
Urban planning
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2007 - Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a National Hurricane Research Initiative and to cooperate with other specified federal agencies to carry it out. 
 
Requires such Initiative to set research objectives (based on a National Science Board report on the need for such Initiative) to: (1) make recommendations to the Board; (2) assemble the expertise of U.S. science and engineering capabilities through a multi-agency effort focused on infrastructure, the natural environment, and improving understanding of hurricane prediction, intensity, and mitigation on coastal populations; and (3) make grants for hurricane research, including regarding hurricane dynamics, modification, and observation, air-sea interaction, relationships between hurricanes and climate, predicting flooding and storm surge, coastal infrastructure, building construction, emergency communication networks, information utilization by public officials, and sharing computational capability.
 
Directs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, through the National Science and Technology Council, to coordinate U.S. activities related to the Initiative as a formal program with a well-defined organizational structure and execution plan. 
 
Directs the Under Secretary and the Director to: (1) establish a National Infrastructure Database to catalog infrastructure, provide information to improve information public policy related to hurricanes, and provide data to improve researchers' abilities to measure hurricane impacts in order to improve building codes and urban planning; and (2) develop a National Hurricane Research Model to conduct integrative research and facilitate the transfer of research knowledge to operational applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-932
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Medicare
Physical therapy
Physicians
Social Welfare
Speech disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize qualified physical therapists to provide services for Medicare beneficiaries without the requirement of a physician referral. 

Provides for treatment of outpatient speech-language pathology services separately from outpatient physical therapy services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Joseph Gabra and Sharon Kamel.

Bill: 110-s-933
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Provides for the relief of Joseph Gabra and Sharon Kamel.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3369)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3368-3369)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Florida National Forest Land Management Act of 2003 to authorize the conveyance of an additional tract of National Forest System land under that Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-934
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Florida
Forest management
Land transfers
National forests

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Amends the Florida National Forest Land Management Act of 2003 to: (1) authorize the conveyance of an additional tract of federal land pursuant to the Act; and (2) provide for the disposition of the net proceeds derived from sales or exchanges under the Act to be available for expenditure by the Secretary of Agriculture for the acquisition, construction, or maintenance of administrative improvements for units of the National Forest System in Florida. 
 
Permits: (1) proceeds from the sale or exchange of such additional tract to be used exclusively for the purchase of inholdings in the Apalachicola National Forest; and (2) proceeds from any sale or exchange of land under this Act to be used for administrative improvements, as authorized above, only if the land generating the proceeds was improved with infrastructure. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-493.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3371)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3371)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-935
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Annuities
Collection of accounts
Families
Labor and Employment
Military dependents
Military pensions
Survivors' benefits
Veterans' pensions
Widowers
Widows
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Repeals certain provisions which require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military retired pay or would be entitled to such pay except for being under 60 years of age.
 
Prohibits recoupment by the Secretary of Defense of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund.
 
Repeals the optional authority of (and instead requires) the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay an annuity to a member's dependent children when there is no eligible surviving spouse. Directs the Secretary concerned to restore annuity eligibility to a surviving spouse who earlier agreed to transfer such eligibility to a surviving child or children of a member.
 
Changes to October 1, 2007 (previously October 1, 2008) the effective date for paid-up coverage provisions under the SBP and the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3372)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3371-3372)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-937
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Autism
Child health
Community health services
Congress
Congressional investigations
Cost effectiveness
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Families
Family services
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Health education
Health planning
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Long-term care
Medical education
Medical research
Nonprofit organizations
Rural health
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) convene, on behalf of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a Treatments, Interventions, and Services Evaluation Task Force to evaluate evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services for individuals with autism; (2) establish a multi-year demonstration grant program for states to provide evidence-based autism treatments, interventions, and services. (3) establish planning and demonstration grant programs for adults with autism; (4) award grants to states for access to autism services following diagnosis; (5) award grants to University Centers of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities to provide services and address the unmet needs of individuals with autism and their families; (6) make grants to protection and advocacy systems to address the needs of individuals with autism and other emerging populations of individuals with disabilities; and (7) award a grant to a national nonprofit organization for the establishment and maintenance of a national technical assistance center for autism services and information dissemination.

Directs the Comptroller General to issue a report on the financing of autism services and treatments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Accessing College through Comprehensive Early Outreach and State Partnerships Act

Bill: 110-s-938
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Charities
Colleges
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Mentoring
Scholarships
Social Welfare
Student aid

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: 
Accessing College through Comprehensive Early Outreach and State Partnerships Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace the current special leveraging educational assistance partnership program with a program of allotments to enable states to: (1) expand and enhance partnerships with institutions of higher education, early information and intervention, mentoring, or outreach programs, private corporations, philanthropic organizations, and other interested parties to carry out specified activities and provide coordination and cohesion among federal, state, and local governmental and private efforts providing financial assistance to help low-income students attend college; (2) provide need-based grants for college access and increased college persistence to eligible low-income students; (3) provide early notification to low-income students of their eligibility for financial aid; and (4) encourage increased participation in early information and intervention, mentoring, or outreach programs.
 
Requires partnerships for the award of grants between a state agency and: (1) at least one public and one private degree granting institution of higher education located in the state; (2) new or existing early information and intervention, mentoring, or outreach programs also located in the state; and (3) at least one philanthropic organization located in, or providing funding in, the state, or one private corporation located in, or doing business in, the state. 
 
Requires different federal shares of program costs and different amounts of grants awarded in partnerships with institutions of higher learning: (1) serving less than a majority of students in the state; and (2) serving the majority of students in the state.
 
Requires annual early notification of low-income students of their potential eligibility for student financial assistance. Prescribes minimum eligibility requirements for such students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3384-3386)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3383-3384)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the subpart F exemption for active financing income.

Bill: 110-s-940
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2007-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: American investments
Bank holding companies
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial services
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign banks and banking
Foreign corporations
Holding companies
Income tax
Insurance
Insurance companies
Stockholders
Tax deferral
Tax exclusion
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to taxation of U.S. shareholders of controlled foreign corporations, to permanently extend the subpart F exemption (which excludes such income from the shareholder's foreign personal holding company income) for active financing (insurance, banking, financing, or similar businesses) income earned on business operations overseas.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3391)
action_date: 2007-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate