hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to reduce the amount of financial assistance provided to the Government of Mexico in response to the illegal border crossings from Mexico into the United States, which serve to dissipate the political discontent with the higher unemployment rate within Mexico.

Bill: 110-s-3235
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Economic assistance
Illegal aliens
Immigration
Latin America
Mexico
Military assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: 
 Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) annually estimate the number of illegal border crossings along the southern U.S. land border; and (2) reduce financial assistance to the government of Mexico by a total of $1,000 for each illegal border crossing from Mexico to the United States during the previous fiscal year.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to not reduce appropriations for the government of Mexico from the International Military Education and Training Fund, the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund, and the fund to carry out nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining, and related programs and activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare and Medicaid Extension Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3236
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2008-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Accreditation (Medical care)
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Cancer
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Diabetes
Drug therapy
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Health education
Hospitals
Medicaid
Medical fees
Medical laboratories
Medical supplies
Medical tests
Medically uninsured
Medicare
Ombudsman
Physicians
Prosthesis
Quality of care
Radiotherapy
Sexual abstinence
Social Welfare
Subcontractors

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: 
Medicare and Medicaid Extension Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend: (1) the physician payment update; (2) the floor on the work geographic adjustment under the Medicare physician fee schedule; (3) the treatment of certain physician pathology services; (4) the exceptions process for therapy caps; (5) the payment rule for brachytherapy and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals; and (6) the accommodation of physicians ordered to active duty in the Armed Services.
 
Delays generally until after 2011 full implementation of the Medicare competitive acquisition program for the purchase of durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).

Revises such program, dividing its implementation into two rounds, and specifying covered item updates for 2009-2014.

Prescribes requirements for application of accreditation in implementing quality standards.

Requires suppliers to disclose subcontractors.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a competitive acquisition ombudsman within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to respond to complaints and inquiries by suppliers and individuals.

Specifies topics for the Comptroller General's required study and report to Congress on the impact of competitive acquisition of DME on suppliers, manufacturers, and patients.
 
Sets forth a special rule for the competitive acquisition program for diabetic testing strips.
 
Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to extend the qualifying individual (QI), transitional medical assistance (TMA), abstinence education, and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-11
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 874.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6506-6509)
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3237
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Diesel motor
Energy
Energy prices
Fire departments
Gasoline
Social Welfare
Subsidies
Transportation and Public Works
Volunteer workers

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to determine the average annual price per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel for each of the five Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts for 2007. Requires: (1) the average annual price per gallon to be based solely on data reported by the Energy Information Administration; and (2) that price to serve as the baseline fuel cost for each District.

Requires the Secretary to reimburse a qualified volunteer fire department for 75% of the difference between: (1) the actual expenditures of the department for gasoline and diesel fuel for a year; and (2) the amount that such expenditures would have been using the baseline fuel costs. 

Directs each qualified volunteer fire department seeking reimbursement to submit to the Secretary at the end of each year: (1) all of its receipts and bills of sales documenting the amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel purchased during that year; and (2) a sum total of the aggregate number of gallons and the costs of gasoline and diesel fuel purchased.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6561-6562)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6561)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3238
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agriculture in foreign trade
Animal diseases
Animals
Argentina
Cattle
Congress
Congressional oversight
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Health
Import restrictions
Latin America
Livestock
Meat
Swine

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit the importation into the United States of any ruminant or swine, or any fresh (including chilled or frozen) meat or product of any ruminant or swine, that is born, raised, or slaughtered in Argentina until the Secretary certifies to Congress that every region of Argentina is free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6563)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6562)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act

Bill: 110-s-3239
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Continental shelf
Department of the Interior
Energy development
Fines (Penalties)
Gas in submerged lands
Gas industry
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas leases
Oil well drilling
Petroleum in submerged lands
Petroleum industry
Prospecting
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing any new lease for exploration or production of oil or natural gas unless the lessee: (1) certifies for each existing lease that the lessee has diligently developed the lands in order to produce oil or natural gas, or is producing oil or natural gas from such lands; or (2) has relinquished all federal oil and gas leases that are not being diligently developed.
 
Instructs the Secretary to promulgate diligent development regulations that: (1) include benchmarks for oil and gas development to ensure that leaseholders produce oil and gas from each lease within the original term of the lease; and (2) require each leaseholder to submit a diligent development plan showing how the lessee will meet the benchmarks.
 
Establishes a civil penalty for noncompliance with this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6564-6565)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
BEST Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3240
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air pollution control
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Energy prices
Energy security
Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Better Energy Strategy for Tomorrow Act of 2008, or the BEST Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Energy each year to: (1) analyze all federal policies that encourage, or have the potential to encourage, energy production in the United States; and (2) report to specified congressional committees recommendations for the adjustment of such policies to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy, air pollutants in the environment, greenhouse gas emissions, and the cost of energy.
 
Requires the President to develop every four years and report to Congress on an energy security strategy that proposes comprehensive and long-range energy policies to reduce such dependence, air pollutants, emissions, and cost.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Digital Television Transition Consumer Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3242
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Science, Technology, Communications
Tariff
Television

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on digital-to-analog converter boxes, and for other purposes.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow expenses relating to all home schools to be qualified education expenses for purposes of a Coverdell education savings account.

Bill: 110-s-3243
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Education
Education savings accounts
Elementary and secondary education
Home schooling
Income tax
Tax exemption

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the Coverdell education savings accounts to allow home school education expenses, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3244
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education savings accounts
Elementary and secondary education
Home schooling
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Tax exemption

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts; and (2) an annual inflation adjustment after 2008 to the contribution limit amount for such accounts.

Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to Coverdell education savings accounts, including an increase in the contribution limit amount for such accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice Integrity Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3245
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal statistics
Discrimination in criminal justice administration
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Legislation
Minorities
Public prosecutors
Racial discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Justice Integrity Act of 2008 - Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish a pilot program in 10 U.S. districts to promote fairness and the perception of fairness in the federal criminal justice system and to determine whether legislation is required; and (2) designate a U.S. attorney in each of the districts to implement a plan for carrying out such pilot program.

Requires each U.S. attorney designated to implement a pilot program to appoint an advisory group consisting of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other individuals and entities who play an important role in the criminal justice system. Requires each advisory group to: (1) collect and analyze data on the race and ethnicity of defendants at each stage of a criminal proceeding; (2) seek to determine causes of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice process; and (3) submit to the U.S. attorney a report and proposed plan for addressing such disparities. Requires each U.S. attorney to annually evaluate the efficacy of a plan submitted by an advisory group. 

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) prepare a comprehensive report on all advisory group plans and submit such report and plans to Congress; and (2) exercise continuing oversight of the criminal justice system to reduce unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities and improve such system. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6566-6567)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6565-6566)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Deal for Volunteers Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3246
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Automobiles
Charitable contributions
Department of the Treasury
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Law
Tax deductions
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Fair Deal for Volunteers Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the standard mileage rate for the tax deduction for use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes (currently prescribed as 14 cents per mile) shall be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6567)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6567)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
River Raisin National Battlefield Act

Bill: 110-s-3247
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Europe
Governmental investigations
History
Land transfers
Michigan
Military parks
National parks
United Kingdom
War

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
River Raisin National Battlefield Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, if Monroe County or Wayne County, Michigan, or other willing landowners in either county offers to donate land relating to the Battles of the River Raisin (during the War of 1812) on January 18 and 22, 1813, and the aftermath of such battles, to accept the donated land. 

Instructs the Secretary, upon acquisition of such land that is of sufficient acreage to permit efficient administration, to designate the acquired land as a unit of the National Park System, to be known as the &quot;River Raisin National Battlefield Park.&quot; 

Requires the Secretary to submit a report describing the progress made with respect to: (1) acquiring real property under this Act; and (2) designating the park. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-599.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Commodity Speculation Reform Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3248
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Commodity exchanges
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Derivative securities
Federal employees
Futures trading
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Metals
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Commodity Speculation Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from issuing a no action letter to any foreign board of trade that lists a contract whose price settles on the price of a contract traded on an exchange regulated by the CFTC, unless the foreign board provides the CFTC with information and data accessibility comparable to those provided the CFTC by entities under its jurisdiction.
 
Directs the CFTC to: (1) promulgate regulations to establish and enforce speculative position limits for qualifying commodities, a methodology for aggregating specified positions, and information reporting rules to facilitate monitoring and enforcement of speculative position limits and over-the-counter commodity derivatives; and (2) appoint at least 100 additional full-time employees to assist in carrying out such requirements.
 
Prohibits a person from holding or controlling a position, separately or in combination, net long or net short, for the purchase or sale of a commodity for future delivery or, on a futures-equivalent basis, any option, or an over-the-counter commodity derivative that exceeds CFTC speculative position limits.
 
Instructs the CFTC to study and report to certain congressional committees regarding: (1) trends in speculative activity relating to metals; and (2) possible extension of CFTC authority to cover trading of metals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6568-6569)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6567-6568, S6569-6570)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3249
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Excise tax
Government Operations and Politics
Local taxation
Science, Technology, Communications
State taxation
Tax rates
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2008 - Prohibits states or local governments from imposing any new discriminatory tax on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property for five years after the enactment of this Act. Defines &quot;new discriminatory tax&quot; as a tax imposed on mobile services, providers, or property that is not generally imposed on other types of services or property, or that is generally imposed at a lower rate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6571-6572)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6571)
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Putting the Brakes on Human Smuggling Act

Bill: 110-s-3250
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Driver licenses
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Illegal aliens
Immigration
Science, Technology, Communications
Smuggling
Truck drivers
Trucks

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Putting the Brakes on Human Smuggling Act - Disqualifies from operating a commercial motor vehicle any individual who uses a commercial motor vehicle to assist in the entry of illegal aliens into the United States. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to impose a lifetime disqualification from operating such a vehicle on any individual convicted under federal criminal law of assisting in such entry or in the harboring of illegal aliens.
 
Revises content requirements of the commercial driver's license information system to include whether a commercial motor vehicle operator has been temporarily or permanently disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for violation of this Act.
 
Requires a state to notify the Secretary of Transportation or the operator of the information system of disqualifications, revocations, suspensions, or cancellations of licenses to operate a commercial motor vehicle because of such a violation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize advance payments under the supplemental revenue assistance program.

Bill: 110-s-3251
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agricultural subsidies
Department of Agriculture
Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Government Operations and Politics
Law

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act and the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make advance supplemental revenue assistance payments of not less than 50% of a farm's projected revenue losses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate