hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
English Language Unity Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-997
Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-5]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Citizenship
Civics education
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Congress
Declaration of Independence
Department of Homeland Security
Education
Educational tests
English language
Evidence (Law)
Federal employees
Government paperwork
Government publications
Government regulation
History
Immigrants
Immigration
Labor and Employment
Law
Legislation
Members of Congress
Naturalization
Right of asylum
Standards
States' rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
English Language Unity Act of 2007 - Amends federal to declare English to be the official language of the United States. 
 
Requires: (1) official functions of the United States (meaning in this case the states and the District of Columbia) to be conducted in English; and (2) a uniform English language rule for U.S. naturalization, and all naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in English. Sets forth exceptions to and rules of construction for such requirements. 
 
Declares that English language requirements and workplace policies, whether in the public or private sector, shall be presumptively consistent with the laws of the United States. 
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue for public notice and comment a proposed rule for uniform testing of English language ability of candidates for naturalization, based upon the principles that: (1) all citizens should be able to read and understand generally the English language text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the laws of the United States; and (2) any exceptions to this standard should be limited to extraordinary circumstances, such as asylum.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
To provide for the Secretary of Agriculture to release the reversionary interest of the United States on certain land in the State of Florida if encroachments and trespassing have occurred on that land, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-999
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Florida
Forests, forestry, trees
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Land transfers
Maps
Surveying

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, if the State of Florida notifies the Secretary that encroachments by improvements or occupation have occurred before July 13, 2006, on one or more of the parcels of real property described in this Act, to release to Florida any reversionary interest of the United States in and to any identified parcel without further federal administrative review or analysis. 
 
Bars the United States from receiving any funds as consideration for the release of the reversionary interests specified above. 
 
Requires all net proceeds from the disposition of such real property to be used by the State for the acquisition of other lands adjacent to the exterior boundaries of Blackwater River State Forest and Withlacoochee State Forest. 
 
Requires: (1) any lands so acquired to become a part of the state forest; and (2) that the acquired lands be used for public purposes. 
 
Requires the State to agree to indemnify and hold the United States harmless with regard to any boundary disputes related to any parcel released under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
Edward William Brooke III Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 110-hr-1000
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Blacks
Chief financial officers
Congress
Congressional gold medals
Ex-Members of Congress
Minorities
Minorities in government
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
Edward William Brooke III Congressional Gold Medal Act - Awards a congressional gold medal to Edward William Brooke III, the first African American elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate, in recognition of his unprecedented and enduring service to our Nation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E324-325)
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006 to extend the date for the President to determine if Haiti meets certain requirements, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-1001
Sponsor: Rep. Spratt, John M., Jr. [D-SC-5]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Caribbean area
Haiti
Latin America
Tariff preferences

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as amended by the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act of 2006, to extend the date by which the President must determine whether Haiti is meeting specified political, economic, social, and security requirements in order for Haiti to qualify for preferential trade provisions under such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
To authorize appropriate action if the negotiations with the People's Republic of China regarding China's undervalued currency and currency manipulation are not successful.

Bill: 110-hr-1002
Sponsor: Rep. Spratt, John M., Jr. [D-SC-5]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Balance of payments
China
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Countervailing duties
Currency devaluation
East Asia
Foreign exchange
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
International competitiveness
President and foreign policy
Trade negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
Imposes an additional duty rate of 27.5 % ad valorem on any article imported into the United States that is the growth, product, or manufacture of the People's Republic of China (PRC) unless the President certifies to Congress that: (1) the PRC is no longer manipulating the exchange rate between its currency and the U.S. dollar in order to prevent an effective balance of payments and gain an unfair international trade advantage; and (2) the PRC's currency is valued in accordance with accepted market-based trading policies.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to begin negotiations with the PRC for adoption of a market-based currency valuation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
Family Abduction Prevention Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1004
Sponsor: Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime prevention
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Custody of children
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Extradition
Families
Federal aid to law enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Kidnapping
Labor and Employment
Police training
Public service advertising
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
Family Abduction Prevention Act of 2007 - Directs the Attorney General to make grants to states for projects involving: (1) the extradition of individuals suspected of committing a family abduction; (2) investigation by law enforcement agencies of family abduction cases; (3) training for law enforcement agencies in responding to family abductions and recovering abducted children; (4) outreach and media campaigns to educate parents on the dangers of family abductions; and (5) notifying law enforcement authorities of the name and address of anyone requesting the school records of an abducted child. Requires that not less than 50 percent of the cost of a project for which a grant is made be provided by non-federal sources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Vicente Beltran Luna.

Bill: 110-hr-1005
Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Provides for the relief of Vicente Beltran Luna.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal for reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations, and to modify the goal of take reduction plans for reducing such takings.

Bill: 110-hr-1007
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Fisheries
Fishery management
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine mammals
Marine resources conservation
Planning
Protection of animals

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal of reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations. Makes reduction of such incidental mortality and serious injury (but not to any specified percentage) the long-term goal.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E334)
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Safeguarding America's Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1008
Sponsor: Rep. Bean, Melissa L. [D-IL-8]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Child safety
Child sexual abuse
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Computer crimes
Computer security measures
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic commerce
Executive reorganization
Families
Federal Trade Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Identity theft
Independent regulatory commissions
Internet
Performance measurement
Pornography
Right of privacy
Safety measures

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Safeguarding America's Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007 or the SAFER NET Act - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish an Office of Internet Safety and Public Awareness to be headed by a Director. 
 
Requires the FTC, acting through the Office, to carry out a nationwide program to increase public awareness and education regarding Internet safety, that utilizes existing resources and efforts of all levels of government and other appropriate entities and that includes: (1) evaluating and improving the efficiency of Internet safety efforts provided by such entities; (2) identifying and promoting best practices; (3) establishing and carrying out a national outreach and education campaign; (4) serving as the primary contact in the federal government and as a national clearinghouse for Internet safety information; (5) facilitating access to, and the exchange of, such information; (6) providing expert advice to the FTC; and (7) providing technical, financial, and other appropriate assistance to such entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1009
Sponsor: Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Drug abuse
Government Operations and Politics
Marijuana
Plant fibers
Public Lands and Natural Resources
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of &quot;marihuana.&quot; Defines &quot;industrial hemp&quot; to mean the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant with a delta-nine tetrahydrocannabinol concentration that does not exceed .3 percent on a dry weight basis. Grants a state regulating the growing and processing of industrial hemp exclusive authority, in any criminal or civil action or administrative proceeding, to determine whether any such plant meets that concentration limit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-04-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E339)
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Student Aid Reward Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1010
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: College administration
Cost control
Cost effectiveness
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Graduate education
Higher education
Scholarships
Social Welfare
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Student Aid Reward Act of 2007 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a Student Aid Reward (SAR) Program of payments to encourage institutions of higher education (IHEs) to participate in the student loan program under title IV that is most cost-effective for taxpayers.
 
Requires that a SAR payment to an IHE equal at least 50% of the savings to the federal government generated by the IHE's participation in the most cost-effective student loan program, rather than one not cost-effective for taxpayers.
 
Requires IHEs receiving SAR payments to: (1) provide student loans under that most cost-effective program for five years after the payment date; and (2) use payment funds, where appropriate, to supplement student Pell Grants. Allows such funds to be used also to award need-based grants to lower and middle income graduate students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E339-340)
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to prohibit the approval or continuation of section 1115 waivers insofar as they provide coverage of nonpregnant adults under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Bill: 110-hr-1013
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Caregivers
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Finance and Financial Sector
Health insurance
Medically uninsured
Poor children
Welfare waivers

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to revise the prohibition against approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of any waiver, experimental, pilot, or demonstration project that allows funds made available under SCHIP to be used to provide child health assistance or other health benefits coverage to a nonpregnant childless adult.
 
Repeals the limitation of such prohibition with respect to childless nonpregnant adults, and the exclusion of caretaker relatives from consideration as childless adults denied such assistance or other health benefits coverage. (Thus extends such prohibition to the use of such funds for assistance to or coverage of all nonpregnant adults, regardless of whether they do or do not have children, or whether they are caretaker relatives.)
 
Terminates all such coverage under current waivers as of December 31, 2007.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7474-7475)
action_date: 2007-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5596-5601)
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1941)
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
To require automobile dealers to disclose to consumers the presence of event data recorders, or "black boxes", on new automobiles, and to require manufacturers to provide the consumer with the option to enable and disable such devices on future automobiles.

Bill: 110-hr-1015
Sponsor: Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Automobile industry
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Consumer protection
Data banks
Electronics
Evidence (Law)
Federal Trade Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Law
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Traffic accidents and safety
Transportation research

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Considers the event data recorder (EDR) and any data recorded to be the property of the vehicle owner. Makes EDR data retrieval by anyone other than the vehicle owner unlawful, except : (1) with the owner's consent; (2) in response to a court order; (3) by a vehicle dealer or an automotive technician for servicing the vehicle; or (4) for improving vehicle safety, provided the identity of the registered owner or driver is not disclosed.
 
Makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, or import new automobiles for sale in the United States after 2009 (bearing a model year of 2010 or later) that are equipped with EDRs, unless those EDRs can be disabled by the consumer. 
 
Treats a violation of EDR requirements of this Act as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with any of the management partners of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-1016
Sponsor: Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10]
Introduced: 2007-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Building construction
Commerce
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Harbors
Islands
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Massachusetts
National recreation areas
Public-private partnerships
Tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: 
Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 relating to the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area to permit the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) consult with and enter into cooperative agreements concerning the Recreation Area under the Act with any member of the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership; and (2) through such cooperative agreements between the Secretary and any Partnership member, acquire from and provide to such eligible entities goods and services for the construction of recreation area facilities or for any other purpose that is consistent with the purposes of the Recreation Area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-13
text: Introduced in House