hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3582
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Hospital personnel
Hospitals
Labor and Employment
Medicare
Social Welfare
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the case of discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008, to continue to apply budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the urban hospital wage floor for discharges occurring during FY2008 under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (through a uniform, national adjustment to the area wage index).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Political Independence of the Civil Service Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3583
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Disciplining of employees
Federal employees
Personnel management
Political parties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Political Independence of the Civil Service Act of 2008 - Makes civil service protection for federal employees inapplicable to any individual whose appointment was a prohibited personnel practice because it was made on the basis of political affiliation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Obesity Prevention, Treatment, and Research Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3584
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Block grants
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Diet
Eating disorders
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Federal aid to health facilities
Fruit
Government Operations and Politics
Health education
Health insurance
Health surveys
Higher education
Labeling
Lifestyle
Maternal health services
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical research
Medical screening
Medical statistics
Medically uninsured
Medicare
Mental health
Nutrition
Obesity
Physical education and training
Physical fitness
Physicians
Poor children
Preventive medicine
Reprogramming of appropriated funds
School health programs
School lunch program
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Sports and Recreation
Vegetables
Weight loss
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Obesity Prevention, Treatment, and Research Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to convene a United States Council on Overweight-Obesity Prevention with duties to include developing strategies to comprehensively prevent, treat, and reduce overweight and obesity.

 Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to establish a grant demonstration and pilot program to address overweight and obesity issues, including through promoting increased physical activity and healthier lifestyles.

Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of CDC, to award grants to promote health behaviors for women and children in target populations.

Provides for the collection and analysis of data on fitness levels, health, and nutrition. 

Includes community education programs designed to address and prevent overweight, obesity, and eating disorders as activities states may carry out under preventive health services and health services block grants.

Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to update and reform federal oversight of food and beverage labeling.

Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide for additional funding for a program to make free fresh fruits and vegetables available in elementary schools.

Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant titles of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of certain services related to overweight and obesity, including diet and exercise counseling, medical nutrition therapy services, and weight and body mass index (BMI) measurement and monitoring.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9499-9502)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9498-9499)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Defense Support to Catastrophic Incident Response Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3585
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Defense budgets
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Military civic action
Military strategy
National Guard

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Ensuring Defense Support to Catastrophic Incident Response Act of 2008 - Directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to undertake civil support operations in response to catastrophic incidents in the United States.

Requires: (1) the Secretary of Defense to develop comprehensive plans for such operations, including strategies for the use of the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserve) and civilian personnel and contractors of DOD; (2) the annual DOD budget to include a separate funding request for carrying out such operations; and (3) the first national security strategy and national defense strategy prepared after the enactment of this Act to include, among other things, DOD roles and responsibilities in responding to catastrophic incidents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Green Hospitals, Healthy Hospitals Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3586
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Building construction
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Hospitals
Law
Medical wastes
Quality of care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Green Hospitals, Healthy Hospitals Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting in conjunction with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to provide nonprofit hospitals and health care institutions with 30-year no interest loans to enable such institutions to comply with the guidelines of the Green Guide for Health Care or successor regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on green building technologies.

Directs the Secretary to enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine for a report on the use of green building technologies, waste management techniques, and other environmentally sustainable practices to improve employee performance, reduce health care costs, and improve patient outcomes. Requires the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to include in its annual report on health care quality a summary of the most recent research on green health care and the ways in which environmentally sustainable practices can improve employee performance, reduce health care costs, and improve patient outcomes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Greening the Healthcare Workforce Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3587
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air pollution control
Building construction
Chemicals
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Energy
Energy efficiency
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Hazardous wastes
Health
Indoor air pollution
Labor and Employment
Medical supplies
Mercury
Waste water
Water Resources Development
Water conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Greening the Healthcare Workforce Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to nonprofit hospitals or health care institutions to promote environmentally sustainable practices in building and maintenance operations, including: (1) the training of employees in environmentally sound waste management and chemical management practices; (2) the reduction in use of mercury-containing medical supplies; and (3) the conduct of minor improvements to grounds and facilities to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality and to reduce water waste. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Food for Healthy Lives Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3588
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Economics and Public Finance
Farm produce
Grants-in-aid
Health
Hospital care
Hospitals
Nursing homes
Nutrition
Social Welfare
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Healthy Food for Healthy Lives Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide demonstration grants to eligible entities to purchase eligible local or regional products from participating vendors to improve the availability of nutritious meals for: (1) patients and employees of, and visitors to, eligible hospitals, including Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical and nursing facilities; and (2) clients of eligible social service organizations that provide nutrition services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial.

Bill: 110-s-3589
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
History
Missouri
Museums
National monuments
World War I

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Designates the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Bus Utility and Safety in School Transportation Opportunity and Purchasing Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3590
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Housing and Community Development
Rural education
School buses
Secondary education
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Bus Utility and Safety in School Transportation Opportunity and Purchasing Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to rural local educational agencies (LEAs) to pay the federal share (75%) of costs of purchasing new school buses.
 
Requires the Secretary, in providing such grants, to give priority to rural LEAs that: (1) are transporting students in a bus manufactured before 1977; (2) have a strained fleet of school buses; or (3) serve a school required by law to provide transportation to students to enable them to transfer to another public school served by the rural LEA.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to use up to 5% of formula grants for non-urbanized areas to carry out this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9503)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9502-9503)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Motor Fuel Supply and Distribution Improvement Act

Bill: 110-s-3591
Sponsor: Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Energy
Energy supplies
Federal-state relations
Gasoline
Government Operations and Politics
Motor vehicle pollution control

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Motor Fuel Supply and Distribution Improvement Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) update provisions limiting the number of gasoline or diesel fuels allowed in a state implementation plan; and (2) allow a limited, temporary waiver of a control or prohibition of a fuel or fuel additive in circumstances that prevent the distribution of an adequate supply of such fuel or fuel additive to consumers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
New York/New Jersey High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Expansion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3592
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
New Jersey
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
New York/New Jersey High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Expansion Act of 2008 - Designates the counties of Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence in the state of New York as high-intensity drug trafficking areas and incorporates such counties into the New York/New Jersey high-intensity drug trafficking area program administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Citizens and Residents from Unlawful Raids and Detention Act

Bill: 110-s-3594
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Alien labor
Arrest
Caregivers
Case management
Child abuse
Child welfare
Citizenship
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Correctional institutions
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Disabled
Due process of law
Evidence (Law)
Families
Family violence
Federal advisory bodies
Federal law enforcement officers
Fugitives from justice
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Human rights
Illegal aliens
Immigrant health
Immigrants
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Language and languages
Law
Legal aid
Medical screening
Ombudsman
Pregnant women
Prison alternatives
Prisoners' rights
Prosecution
Right of asylum
Right to counsel
Science, Technology, Communications
Searches and seizures
Self-incrimination
Smuggling
Social Welfare
Social work
Spanish language
Suspects' rights
Telephone
Torture
Warrants (Law)
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Protect Citizens and Residents from Unlawful Raids and Detention Act - Sets forth protections against unlawful detentions of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents regarding: (1) notifications; (2) access to counsel; (3) notice and charges; (4) issuance of detainers; (5) access to telephones; (6) protection of community institutions; (7) transfer of detainees; and (8) immigration enforcement-related training of personnel.
 
Sets forth requirements that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must follow in immigration enforcement operations: (1) that are expected to target more that 50 individuals; and (2) respecting coordination with the Department of Labor and other relevant agencies.
 
Sets forth protections for specified vulnerable populations.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) ensure that U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other individuals are not unlawfully detained by establishing secure alternative custody programs; and (2) establish a detention advisory committee.
 
Establishes within DHS a position of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Ombudsman.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Southern Nevada Higher Education Land Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3595
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Air force
Armed Forces and National Security
Colleges
Education
Higher education
Land transfers
Military bases
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Southern Nevada Higher Education Land Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey three parcels of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to: (1) the Nevada System of Higher Education for the Great Basin College and the College of Southern Nevada; and (2) the System for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Specifies that the Nevada System of Higher Education may use the conveyed federal land for any purpose relating to the establishment, operation, growth, and maintenance of the System and for any uses related to such purposes, including residential and commercial development that would generally be associated with an institution of higher education. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9504-9505)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9503-9504)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Lending Market Stabilization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3596
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Interest rates
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Small Business Lending Market Stabilization Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), to the extent that the cost is offset by appropriations, to collect no fees currently charged by: (1) the SBA to borrowers and lenders under the SBA's 7(a) loan program (SBA-guaranteed general business loans to small businesses); and (2) development companies under SBA's 504 loan program (local business development loans). Directs the Administrator to reimburse development companies for waived fees.
 
Increases maximum limits on SBA loans made to small businesses under the Small Business Act and on loans made to development companies under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.
 
Authorizes a small business whose SBA loan includes the acquisition of a facility or construction of a new facility to lease up to 50% of the space in such facility.
 
Permits certain borrowers to refinance a limited amount of their preexisting debt through a new 504 loan.
 
Directs the SBA to establish an optional business size standard for certain small business loan applicants.
 
Allows the SBA to use weighted average rates when pooling loans for sale on the secondary market.
 
Directs the SBA to provide lenders at least one alternative loan interest rate to the prime rate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9505)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to add crimes committed in Indian country or exclusive Federal jurisdiction as racketeering predicates.

Bill: 110-s-3599
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Indian law enforcement
Minorities
Organized crime
Prosecution

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Amends the federal criminal code to amend the definition of &quot;racketeering activity&quot; to include crimes committed in Indian country or in any other area of exclusive federal jurisdiction as predicates for racketeering prosecutions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9505)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate