hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States.

Bill: 110-s-1676
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2007-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Aid to dependent children
Aliens
Cash welfare block grants
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Food stamps
Health
Immigration
Marshall Islands
Medicaid
Micronesia
Palau Islands
Supplemental security income program
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: 
Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend to citizens of the Freely Associated States (Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau) who reside in the United States eligibility for non-emergency food stamps and benefits under titles XIX (Medicaid), XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) , and part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1678
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Home care services
Medicare
Midwives
Nurse practitioners
Nurses
Nursing
Physicians' assistants
Social Welfare
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: 
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise conditions of and limitations on payment for home health care services.
 
Allows payment for home health services to Medicare beneficiaries by: (1) a nurse practitioner; (2) a clinical nurse specialist working in collaboration with a physician in accordance with state law; (3) a certified nurse-midwife; or (4) a physician assistant under a physician's supervision.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8237-8239)
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide that the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be known as Emancipation Hall.

Bill: 110-s-1679
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2007-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Commemorations
Names
Tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: 
Designates the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center as Emancipation Hall. 

action_date: 2007-11-15
text: 

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

 
Designates the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center as Emancipation Hall. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-04
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2007-12-04
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2007-11-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-11-15
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S14568)
action_date: 2007-11-15
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S14568)
action_date: 2007-11-15
text: Senate Committee on Rules and Administration discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S14568)
action_date: 2007-11-15
text: Senate Committee on Rules and Administration discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S14568)
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Leave Insurance Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1681
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2007-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Families
Family leave
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Sick leave
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Taxation
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: 
 Family Leave Insurance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, mandatory for certain covered employers.
 
Entitles eligible employees to Program benefits that include specified percentages of their daily earnings for eight workweeks of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 or other authority during any 12-month period.
 
Authorizes any employer, with the Secretary's approval, to establish a voluntary plan meeting specified criteria.
 
Specifies prohibited acts by an employer, and penalties for violations.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a Civil Service Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program with the same Program benefits for certain federal agency employees.
 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a family and medical leave premium on every individual and every employer to finance a Family and Medical Leave Trust Fund in the Treasury for Program benefits. Exempts from such premium: (1) employers or self-employers with voluntary plans approved by the Secretary as equivalent or better than the Program; and (2) small employers who have elected not to participate in it. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8241-8242)
action_date: 2007-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers' Healthcare Benefits and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1682
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-06-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Brain
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Disability evaluation
Disabled
Government Operations and Politics
Head injuries
Health
Hospital care
Informed consent (Medical law)
Iraq compilation
Medical records
Mental health
Military discharges
Military medicine
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Science, Technology, Communications
Trauma care
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: 
Servicemembers' Healthcare Benefits and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) assign a medical care manager and a caseworker to each member of the Armed Forces who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, or is otherwise in a medical hold or holdover status, for an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while on active duty (recovering member); and (2) undertake efforts to improve the speed and efficiency of the Department of Defense (DOD) physical disability evaluation system.
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to the congressional defense and veterans' committees a plan to update the disability ratings schedule of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reflect the effects on the modern workforce of mental health disorders, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) establish a system for the prioritization of processing the separation of members; (2) establish a medical record database to track and record the medical status of all members (and make such system accessible to the VA); (3) assess, both before and after, the mental health of each member who is deployed, or is expected to be deployed, to a combat theater; and (4) report, along with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, on plans to increase the role of private providers in the provision of rehabilitation to members and former members with TBI or PTSD when the VA is unable to provide such services.
 
Requires the: (1) Secretary of the military department concerned to notify the appropriate Members of Congress of the hospitalization of any recovering member evacuated from a theater of combat; and (2) recovering member to consent to such notification.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8303-8304)
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8303-8304)
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Great Lakes Short Sea Shipping Enhancement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1683
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2007-06-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Excise tax
Freight
Great Lakes
Harbors
Marine terminals
St. Lawrence Seaway
Transportation and Public Works
User charges

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: 
Great Lakes Short Sea Shipping Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax commercial cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded or unloaded at U.S. ports in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System. Defines the &quot;Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System&quot; as the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota and Sept. Iles, Quebec, Canada, encompassing the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and the Saint Lawrence River. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Return of Talent Act

Bill: 110-s-1684
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2007-06-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Aliens
Armed Forces and National Security
Citizenship
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disaster relief
Economic assistance
Emergency Management
International Affairs
Military civic action
Military occupation
Naturalization
Peacekeeping forces
Repatriation
War relief

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: 
Return of Talent Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish the Return of Talent Program to permit an eligible immigrant alien (as defined by this Act) and certain family members to return for up to 24 months (with an extension available) to the alien's country of citizenship in order to make a material contribution to that country if the country is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction activities.
 
States that during such absence the alien and family members shall be considered to be physically and continuously present and residing in the United States for naturalization purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8305)
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8304)
action_date: 2007-06-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness in Drug Sentencing Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1685
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2007-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Cocaine
Crack (Drug)
Criminal liability
Drug abuse
Drug traffic
Firearms
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Mandatory sentences
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violence
Weapons

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Fairness in Drug Sentencing Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase (by a factor of five) the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for trafficking in such controlled substance.

Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and role of the defendant in such crime.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-12
text: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8358-8359)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Opportunity for Our National Guard and Reserve Soldiers Act

Bill: 110-s-1688
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2007-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Education
Higher education
Iraq compilation
Military operations
National Guard
Student aid
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Higher Education Opportunity for Our National Guard and Reserve Soldiers Act - Extends by an additional ten years the time limit for the use of educational assistance by members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel supporting contingency and certain other operations.
 
Prohibits such extension with respect to any person discharged or released from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1689
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2007-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Discrimination in employment
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Law
Punitive damages
Tax exclusion
Wage restitution

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an exclusion from gross income for amounts received (either backpay or frontpay or punitive damages) on account of an unlawful discrimination claim; and (2) allow income averaging for backpay and frontpay amounts received from such claims.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Health Insurance Options Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1690
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Health
Health insurance
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Small Business Health Insurance Options Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) establish a four-year pilot program to provide information and educational materials regarding health insurance options, including coverage options within the small group market, to small businesses; and (2) select up to 20 small business development centers (SBDCs) to receive grants under the pilot program.
 
Requires: (1) a specified geographical distribution with respect to grant recipients; and (2) grant funds to be used to create and distribute informational materials and conduct training and educational activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8362-8363)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8361-8362)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Number Online Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1691
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to law enforcement
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government liability
Government publicity
Identity theft
Internet
Law
Local employees
Local officials
Misconduct in office
Public records
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Social security numbers
State employees
State officials
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Social Security Number Online Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit a state, local government, or any officer, employee, or contractor of a state or local government, from displaying to the general public on the Internet all or any portion of any Social Security account number.
 
Establishes a fine of up to $5,000 a day on any state or local government that has a policy or practice of substantial noncompliance with the requirements of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a state, local government, or officer, employee, or contractor of such state or local government for appropriate relief for any violation of this Act.
 
Directs the Attorney General to award grants to states and local governments to come into compliance with such prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Pollinator Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1694
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural extension work
Agricultural research
Animal diseases
Animals
Arizona
Authorization
Bees
Biological research
California
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Agriculture
Ecological research
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Florida
Fungicides
Genetic engineering
Genetic research
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Herbicides
Immunology and vaccination
Insect control
Insects
Laboratories
Maryland
Medical research
New York State
Pesticides
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research centers
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Texas
Toxicology
Utah
Veterinary medicine

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: 
Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Research Service, for: (1) personnel, facilities improvement, and additional research at Department of Agriculture Bee Research Laboratories; (2) research on honey bee physiology, insect pathology, insect chemical ecology, and honey and native bee toxicology at other Department facilities in New York, Florida, California, Utah, and Texas; and (3) research to identify causes and solutions for Colony Collapse Disorder, with specified amounts for research at the Agricultural Research Services in Beltsville, Maryland, and Tucson, Arizona.
 
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary, through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, for research grants to investigate: (1) honey bee immunology, genomics, biology, ecology, and bioinformatics; (2) pollination biology; and (3) the effects of genetically modified crops, insecticides, herbicides, parasites, and fungicides on honey bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Energy Tax Parity Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1697
Sponsor: Sen. Sununu, John E. [R-NH]
Introduced: 2007-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Biomass energy
Energy
Energy efficiency
Heating
Housing and Community Development
Income tax
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: 
Renewable Energy Tax Parity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a 30% credit for qualified biomass fuel property expenditures as part of the tax credit for residential energy efficient property. Defines &quot;qualified biomass fuel property expenditure&quot; as an expenditure for property which uses the burning of biomass fuel (i.e., any renewable plant-derived fuel) to heat a residence and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Human Rights Council Funding Reform Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1698
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2007-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Appropriations
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Economics and Public Finance
Human rights
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: 
Human Rights Council Funding Reform Act of 2007 - Prohibits funds appropriated or otherwise made available by any Act for contributions for international organizations to be made available for the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

action_date: 2007-07-25
text: 
Human Rights Council Funding Reform Act of 2007 - States that: (1) no funds appropriated or otherwise made available by any Act for FY2008 or FY2009 for contributions to international organizations may be made available for the United Nations Human Rights Council; and (2) such prohibition shall not apply for a fiscal year if the President certifies to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that the provision of such funds is in the U.S. national interest, or the United States is a member of the Human Rights Council.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-07-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.
action_date: 2007-07-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden with an amendment. With written report No. 110-137.
action_date: 2007-07-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden with an amendment. With written report No. 110-137.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act

Bill: 110-s-1699
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2007-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Authorization
Continuing education
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational planning
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Literacy programs
Rating of teachers
Reading
Recruiting of employees
School districts
School libraries
School personnel
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: 
Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act or the SKILLs Act - Amends title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for FY2008-FY2013 for the Improving Literacy through School Libraries grant program.
 
Requires states and local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive school improvement funds to ensure that by the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year there is at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every school that receives such funds. 
 
Requires Improving Literacy through School Libraries funds to be: (1) proportionally distributed to serve students in elementary, middle, and high schools; (2) used for media resources appropriate for all grades; and (3) used for professional development in information literacy instruction that is appropriate for all grades.
 
Expands the program of grants to states and subgrants to LEAs for the recruitment, retention, and professional development of teachers to require that highly qualified school library media specialists be included in the focus of such efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8417-8418)
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8416-8417)
action_date: 2007-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate