hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Government Neutrality in Contracting Act

Bill: 110-s-1597
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2007-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Collective bargaining
Commerce
Competitive bidding
Construction industries
Construction workers
Government contractors
Industrial relations
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Law
Subcontractors

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: 
Government Neutrality in Contracting Act - Directs the head of any federal agency that awards or obligates funds for any construction contract, or that awards grants, provides financial assistance, or enters into cooperative agreements for construction projects, to ensure that bid specifications, project agreements, or other controlling documents do not: (1) require or prohibit a bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor from entering into, or adhering to, agreements with a labor organization, with respect to that construction project or another related construction project; or (2) otherwise discriminate against such a party because it did or did not become a signatory or otherwise adhere to such an agreement. 
 
Allows exemptions to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve national security. Allows additional exemptions for certain projects. 
Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act with respect to the applicable federal contracts.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7557-7558)
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7557)
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Labor Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1598
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2007-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Child labor
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Death
Disabled
Employers' liability
Families
Fines (Penalties)
Health
Hours of labor
Law
Minimum wages
Occupational health and safety
Paralysis

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: 
Child Labor Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase civil penalties for violations of: (1) child labor requirements and prohibitions; and (2) minimum wage and maximum hours requirements.
 
Increases from $10,000 to $11,000 the maximum employer penalty for each employee who was the subject of a child labor violation.
 
Establishes a $50,000 civil penalty for each such violation that causes the death or serious injury of any employee under age 18. Allows the doubling of such a penalty where the violation is a repeated or willful violation.
 
Defines &quot;serious injury&quot; as permanent: (1) loss or substantial impairment of one of the senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, tactile sensation); (2) loss or substantial impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, including the loss of all or part of an arm, leg, foot, hand or other body part; or (3) paralysis or substantial impairment that causes loss of movement or mobility of an arm, leg, foot, hand or other body part.
 
Increases from $1,000 to $1,100 the civil penalty for any repeated or willful violation of specified minimum wage or maximum hours requirements of such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to provide for energy-related regulatory reform, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-1599
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2007-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Electric power production
Energy consumption
Energy facilities
Energy security
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental assessment
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Law
Legislation
Licenses
Nuclear power plants
Petroleum refineries
Regulatory impact statements

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: 
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a schedule for all federal energy authorizations to: (1) ensure expeditious completion of proceedings relating to federal energy authorizations; and (2) accommodate applicable related schedules established by federal law (including regulations).

Instructs the Chairperson of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to collaborate with the Administrator to establish a schedule for certain environmental authorizations.
 
Directs the Administrator to maintain a complete consolidated record of all decisions made and all actions carried out by the Administrator or a federal or state administrative agency or officer regarding any federal energy authorization.
 
Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to require the head of each applicable agency to establish an advisory committee to review all energy rules promulgated by the agency during the 10-calendar-year period ending on the date on which the advisory committee is established.

Requires: (1) the committee to develop and submit for agency review a list describing energy rules promulgated by the agency during the preceding ten-year period; and (2) the agency to publish such list in the Federal Register and submit it to Congress.

Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to report to Congress on federal rulemaking procedures and their impact upon the public and the regulatory process.

Amends the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to declare that: (1) it is the policy of the United States to ensure that each proposed federal action should be analyzed with respect to its impact upon national energy security; and (2) such analysis should be taken into consideration in developing federal plans, rules, programs, and actions. 

Requires federal agencies to include in every recommendation or report on legislation a detailed statement on the impact on domestic energy security regarding the effects upon energy production, distribution, and consumption.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish an energy technologies innovation network, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-1600
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2007-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Communication in science
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Energy efficiency
Energy research
Energy security
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Research and development
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Surveys
Technological innovations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a survey every five years to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of: (1) maximizing U.S. energy security; (2) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency within the United States; and (3) minimizing damage to the domestic economy and the environment.
 
Instructs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress the survey results, including a list of the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems based on survey responses; and (2) ensure that, during the five year period beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all energy-related research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) are implemented for the purpose of resolving the problems listed.

Establishes the Energy Technologies Innovation Network to provide a forum through which interested parties (including scientists and entrepreneurs) can present, discuss, and collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to energy technologies.

Requires each research facility that receives federal funding to provide to the Network the results of the research conducted using that funding, regardless of whether the research relates to energy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Infrastructure Tax Reform and Incentives Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1601
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2007-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air pollution control
Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Bonds
Cellulose
Coal
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Electric power production
Electric power transmission
Electric utilities
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy storage
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Investment tax credit
Lighting
Partnerships
Pipelines
Pollution control
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Science, Technology, Communications
Solar energy
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: 
Energy Infrastructure Tax Reform and Incentives Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat income and gains from certain electric transmission property as qualifying income of a publicly traded partnership; (2) allow accelerated depreciation of qualified energy management devices, cellulosic biomass ethanol plant property, coal-to-liquid plant property, and dedicated ethanol pipelines; (3) allow a tax credit for pollution abatement equipment; (4) modify certain rules and definitions relating to clean renewable energy bonds; (5) extend through 2013 the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources; and (6) allow an energy tax credit for investment in thermal storage systems or daylight dimming technologies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize Congress to award a gold medal to Jerry Lewis, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Nation.

Bill: 110-s-1603
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Charities
Congress
Congressional gold medals
Entertainers
Health
Muscular diseases
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
Authorizes the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to comedian Jerry Lewis in recognition of his outstanding service to the Nation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Nursing Education and Quality of Health Care Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1604
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Broadband
Career education
College teachers
Community health services
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational counseling
Elementary and secondary education
Federal aid to education
Health surveys
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Internet
Mathematics
Medical economics
Medical statistics
Nurses
Nursing
Nursing education
Quality of care
Rural health
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Student loan funds
Teacher education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
Nursing Education and Quality of Health Care Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to, or enter into contracts with, schools of nursing, health care facilities, or partnerships of such schools and facilities to educate nurses to serve in rural areas and areas of nurse specialty shortage, including by developing distance learning education.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to award grants to such schools, facilities, or partnerships for the establishment of demonstration projects that will expand the number of nurse faculty within schools of nursing, including by developing recruitment programs and offering scholarships.
 
Allows the Secretary, in the case of a nurse faculty shortage, to obligate more than 10% of traineeships for advanced nursing education programs to individuals in doctoral degree programs.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) award grants to, and enter into contracts with, eligible entities to increase the nursing opportunities for individuals who reside in rural communities, including by increasing and expanding pipeline programs and supporting a web-based health care workforce development system; (2) award grants to entities for demonstration projects that advance the education, delivery, or measurement of quality and patient safety in nursing practice; and (3) award grants to collect data and study the potential benefits of basic and advanced nursing education levels or certification status in the efforts to promote quality improvement strategies and enhance patient outcomes and cost saving measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7641)
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1605
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulances
Ambulatory care
Clinics
Communication in medicine
Community health services
Counseling
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Health information systems
Health planning
Home care services
Hospital personnel
Hospital rates
Housing and Community Development
Marriage counseling
Medical fees
Medical laboratories
Medical technology
Medical tests
Medically uninsured
Medicare
Mental health services
Physicians
Psychotherapy
Revolving funds
Rural health
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Telemedicine
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to: (1) the Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment for rural hospitals; (2) revision of the temporary increase in payments to certain rural hospitals (Medicare hold harmless provision); (3) the definition of low-volume hospital for purposes of the Medicare inpatient hospital payment adjustment; (4) Medicare wage index reclassifications for certain hospitals; (5) Medicare reasonable costs payments for certain clinical diagnostic laboratory tests furnished to hospitals in certain rural areas; (6) critical access hospitals; (7) the capital infrastructure revolving loan program; (8) the Medicare incentive payment program for physician scarcity areas; (9) the 1.00 floor on Medicare work geographic adjustment to payments for physician services; (10) Medicare home health care planning; (11) rural health clinics; (12) community health center collaborative access; (13) the temporary Medicare payment increase for home health services furnished in a rural area; (14) increased Medicare payments for rural ground ambulance services; and (15) coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance).
 
Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 to provide for the extension of treatment of certain physician pathology services under Medicare. 

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) conduct pilot projects to provide incentives to home health agencies to utilize remote home monitoring and communications technologies; and (2) facilitate the provision of telehealth services across state lines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7642-7643)
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act

Bill: 110-s-1608
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Land transfers
Military bases
National Guard
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act - Permits Clark County, Nevada, to convey between 35 and 50 acres of land in Clark County to the Nevada Division of State Lands for use by the Nevada National Guard. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-216.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1609
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agricultural research
Agriculture and Food
Aquaculture
Coastal zone
Commerce
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Commerce
Ecosystem management
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Federal-state relations
Feeds
Fines (Penalties)
Fishery management
Fishes
Forfeiture
Government Operations and Politics
Injunctions
Law
Licenses
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Public-private partnerships
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Technological innovations
Territorial waters

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish an operating permit process for the development and operation of offshore aquaculture facilities in areas of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Requires the Secretary to prepare an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 with respect to the process for issuing permits. Authorizes the Secretary to issue such permits.
 
Prohibits considering offshore aquaculture &quot;fishing&quot; under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Prohibits permits for facilities within 12 miles of a coastal state if the state opposes the activities. Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to designate a zone around a facility in which incompatible installations, structures, or uses are prohibited.
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce, for permits for facilities in certain areas subject to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, to obtain the concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior and the consent of lessees, operators, and owners.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) establish and conduct an integrated, multidisciplinary, scientific research and development program to further marine aquaculture technologies that are compatible with the protection of marine ecosystems; and (2) conduct research and development in partnership with permit holders. Directs the Secretary to conduct research to reduce the use of wild fish in aquaculture feeds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7646-7650)
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7645)
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Weighing Intelligence for Smarter Energy Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1613
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Energy
Energy security
Energy supplies
International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
Weighing Intelligence for Smarter Energy Act of 2007 or WISE Act of 2007 - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress on the long-term energy security of the United States, including assessments of: (1) key energy issues that have U.S. national security or foreign policy implications; and (2) the future of world energy supplies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7651)
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7650-7651)
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Labor Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1614
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2007-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Child labor
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Crime and Law Enforcement
Death
Disabled
Employers' liability
Families
Fines (Penalties)
Health
Hours of labor
Law
Minimum wages
Occupational health and safety
Paralysis

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: 
Child Labor Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase civil penalties for violations of: (1) child labor requirements and prohibitions; and (2) minimum wage and maximum hours requirements.
 
Establishes new employer minumum and maximum penalties: (1) for each employee who was the subject of a child labor violation; (2) for each such violation that causes the death or serious injury of any employee under age 18; and (3) where such violation is a repeated or willful violation.
 
Establishes a civil penalty for each such violation that causes the death or serious injury of any employee under age 18. 
 
Defines &quot;serious injury&quot; as permanent: (1) loss or substantial impairment of one of the senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, tactile sensation); (2) loss or substantial impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, including the loss of all or part of an arm, leg, foot, hand or other body part; or (3) paralysis or substantial impairment that causes loss of movement or mobility of an arm, leg, foot, hand or other body part.
 
Increases the civil penalty for any repeated or willful violation of specified minimum wage or maximum hours requirements of such Act.
 
Establishes criminal penalties for child labor violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate