hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Clean Energy Investment Bank Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2730
Sponsor: Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]
Introduced: 2008-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air pollution control
Alternative energy sources
Capital
Carbon cycle
Carbon dioxide
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Commerce
Commercialization
Economics and Public Finance
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Executive reorganization
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Government lending
Government trust funds
Investments
Science, Technology, Communications
Securities
Technological innovations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-06
text: 
Clean Energy Investment Bank Act of 2008 - Establishes the Clean Energy Investment Bank of the United States, which shall be a U.S. agency and a government corporation.

Requires the bank to assist in the financing, and facilitate the commercial use, of clean energy and energy efficient technologies within the United States. Authorizes the Bank to make investments: (1) in projects in the United States related to the production or use of energy that use a commercial technology that avoids, reduces, or sequesters one or more air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases more effectively than other technology options available to the project developer; or (2) under provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 concerning incentives for innovative technologies. 

Authorizes the Bank to establish an equity finance program under which it may purchase, invest in, or otherwise acquire equity or quasi-equity securities of firms or entities for the purpose of providing capital for any project that is consistent with this Act.

Establishes in the Treasury the Clean Energy Investment Bank Fund that shall be available for discharge of Bank liabilities.

Transfers to the Bank's Board of Directors specified functions and authority of the Secretary of Energy concerning guarantees, loans, and credit assistance, including programs and authorities under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 concerning incentives for innovative technologies. Revises provisions of such Act concerning the terms and conditions of loan guarantees for such incentives.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2008-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1708-1711)
action_date: 2008-03-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1707-1708)
action_date: 2008-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Veteran Financial Aid Fairness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2732
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2008-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Government lending
Higher education
National Guard
Scholarships
Student aid
Student loan funds
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: 
Student Veteran Financial Aid Fairness Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to treat current active National Guard and Reserve personnel who have completed their initial military training as independent students in analyses of their need for assistance under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Act.
 
Prohibits educational assistance provided under specified benefit programs for veterans and members of the Selected Reserve from being considered in such need analyses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Housing Council Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2735
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2008-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Low-income housing
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: 
Healthy Housing Council Act of 2008 - Establishes in the executive branch an independent Interagency Council on Healthy Housing.
 
Requires the Council to: (1) review federal programs and services that provide housing, health, energy, or environmental services to families and individuals; (2) monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements in existing programs and services administered, funded, or financed by federal, state, and local agencies; (3) recommend ways to reduce duplication among federal programs and services; and (4) ensure collaboration among and within agencies in the provision and availability of such programs and services.
 
 

 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1744-1746)
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1744)
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Rating Schedule Review Act

Bill: 110-s-2737
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-03-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appellate courts
Courts of special jurisdiction
Disability evaluation
Disabled
Judicial review
Law
Veterans' disability compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: 
Veterans' Rating Schedule Review Act - Authorizes the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to review whether, and the extent to which, the schedule of ratings for veterans' disabilities complies with statutory requirements applicable to entitlement to veterans' disability compensation for service-connected disability or death.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1820)
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1819-1820)
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2738
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2008-03-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal aliens
Deportation
Detention of persons
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to law enforcement
Illegal aliens
Prisoners

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: 
Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2008 - Directs the the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a Criminal Alien Program to: (1) identify incarcerated criminal aliens (as defined by this Act); (2) ensure that such aliens are not released into the community; and (3) remove such aliens from the United States upon release.
 
Makes a state that does not cooperate with the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out the Program ineligible for Department of Justice law enforcement grant programs (including the criminal alien incarceration program under the Immigration and Nationality Act). 
 
Authorizes appropriate state officials to: (1) hold an illegal alien for up to 14 days after completion of the term of incarceration in order to effectuate transfer to federal custody if the alien is removable or not lawfully present in the United States; and (2) issue a detainer permitting an alien who completes a term of incarceration to be held until U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement takes the alien into custody.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out the Program as follows: (1) by December 31, 2010, identify each criminal alien incarcerated in a federal facility who will be deportable or removable upon release; and (2) by December 31, 2012, identify each criminal alien serving a term of three or more years in a state or local facility who will be deportable or removable upon release. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 615.
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2008-03-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the project area for the project for navigation, Atchafalaya River, Bayous Chene, Bouef, and Black, Louisiana.

Bill: 110-s-2740
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to water resources development
Louisiana
Navigation
Rivers
Soil erosion
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: 
Authorizes the Chief of Engineers to: (1) include in the project area for the project for navigation, Atchafalaya River and Bayous Chene, Boeuf, and Black, Louisiana, the portion of the Lower Atchafalaya River known as the Crewboat Cut; and (2) carry out projects for bank stabilization on the eastern shore of Crewboat Cut to prevent erosion from wave action and scouring.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Disability Savings Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2741
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2008-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Blind
Cemeteries and funerals
Clothing
Disabled
Education
Education savings accounts
Elementary and secondary education
Employment of the disabled
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Higher education
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Medicaid
Medical savings accounts
Nutrition
Preschool education
Respite care
Saving and investment
Self-help devices for the disabled
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax exclusion
Tax exemption
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and the disabled
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: 
Disability Savings Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax exemption for disability savings accounts that have a value of $250,000 or less and are established for beneficiaries under the age of 65 who are blind or disabled.

Allows tax-free distributions from such accounts for certain services provided to account beneficiaries, including education services, respite care, clothing, therapy, nutritional management, and funeral and burial expenses.

Allows tax credits for contributions of up to $2,000 made to a disability savings account and for certain entities that maintain disability savings accounts.

Permits disability savings accounts to be disregarded in determining eligibility for Medicaid benefits and certain other means-tested federal programs.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program for marketing, outreach, and education related to disability savings accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1879-1882)
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1878-1879)
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
National Diabetes Coordinator Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2742
Sponsor: Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS]
Introduced: 2008-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Department of Health and Human Services
Diabetes
Diet
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Food relief
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Health education
Medical research
Medical tests
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Quality of life
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: 
National Diabetes Coordinator Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the position of National Diabetes Coordinator, whose duties shall be to: (1) serve as the Secretary's principal advisor on reducing the rates of diabetes and its complications; (2) develop a measurement for the incidence of diabetes; (3) develop and coordinate implementation of a national strategy to reduce the incidence, progression, and impact of diabetes and its complications; (4) provide leadership and coordination to ensure that diabetes-related programs and policies of HHS are coordinated internally and with those of relevant federal, state, and local agencies with a goal of avoiding duplication of effort, maximizing impact, and marshaling all government resources; and (5) coordinate public and private resources to develop and lead a public awareness campaign regarding the prevention and control of diabetes and its complications.

Requires reports to the President: (1) from the HHS Secretary on a national strategy to reduce the incidence, progression, and impact of diabetes and its complications; (2) from the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on negotiations with health plans to include appropriate standards and activities to reduce risk factors for diabetes and encourage prevention and early treatment; and (3) from the Secretary of Agriculture on ways in which food programs and nutritional support can be better targeted at concerns specific to those at risk for diabetes or those already diagnosed whose complications could be reduced by more effective diet.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2743
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Disabled
Education
Education savings accounts
Employment of the disabled
Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Higher education
Household moving
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Medicaid
Medical savings accounts
Saving and investment
Self-help devices for the disabled
Social Welfare
Tax exclusion
Tax exemption
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and the disabled
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: 
Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2008- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish tax-exempt financial security accounts for individuals with disabilities to pay certain expenses of such individuals, including expenses for education, medical care, and employment training.

Allows individual taxpayers a tax deduction, up to $2,000 per year, for cash contributions to such an account.

Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to permit the disregard of financial security accounts for disabled individuals in determining eligibility for Medicaid benefits. Permits the disregard of amounts in such accounts for purposes of determining eligibility for certain means-tested federal programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2744
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2008-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Community development
Economics and Public Finance
Grants-in-aid
Infrastructure
Regional economic development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: 
Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development Act of 2008 - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide for: (1) preparation and approval of state Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) plans for carrying out certain workforce development activities; (2) the integration of workforce development programs and community and economic development programs included as part of an approved plan; and (3) the award of supplementary grants to entities to implement approved WIRED plans and to states to carry out WIRED activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
OPEN FOIA Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2746
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2008-03-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Freedom of information
Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: 
OPEN FOIA Act of 2008 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act to require statutory exemptions to its disclosure requirements to specifically cite its provision that authorizes such exemptions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2001)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2001)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated.

Bill: 110-s-2747
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2008-03-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alaska
Armed Forces and National Security
Commerce
Federal incorporation
Hawaiians
Indigenous peoples
Minorities
Native Americans
Veterans' organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: 
Grants a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Incorporated (a nonprofit corporation organized in the United States). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2748
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2008-03-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Health and Human Services
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Law
Physical fitness
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: 
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish a report that contains physical activity information and guidelines for the general public that are based on the preponderance of current scientific and medical knowledge. Requires any federal agency that proposes to issue any physical activity guidance for the general population or identified subgroups to submit the text of such guidance to the Secretary for review. Prescribes review procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2001)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Save Lives First Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2749
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2008-03-12 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Child health
Drugs
Economic assistance
Families
Health
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Infants
Medical tests
Preventive medicine
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: 
Save Lives First Act of 2008 - Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 to allocate FY2009-FY2013 HIV/AIDS assistance as follows: (1) at least 55% for therapeutic medical care of individuals infected with HIV; and (2) at least 5% percent to expand the use of rapid HIV/AIDS testing, of which at least 25% shall be expended for assistance to countries that have adopted a national policy of universal rapid HIV/AIDS diagnosis of all patients of publicly funded facilities, including pregnant women and newborns.
 
Requires the President to ensure that, by the end of FY2013, specified HIV/AIDS treatment, testing, and intervention goals have been met.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2750
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-03-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative fees
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government trust funds
Law
Mine wastes
Mining claims
Mining royalties
Reclamation of land
Tunnels
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: 
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2008 - Applies this Act to any mining claim, millsite claim, or tunnel site claim: (1) located under the general mining laws; or (2) used for beneficiation or mineral processing activities, regardless of whether legal and beneficial title to the mineral is held by the United States.
 
Subjects production of locatable minerals from any mining claim, including mineral concentrates or products derived from such minerals, to a royalty of 8% of the gross income from mining.
 
Imposes a 4% royalty upon federal lands subject to an existing operations permit and producing valuable locatable minerals in commercial quantities.
 

 

 
Establishes a civil penalty for failure to comply with royalty requirements, including underreporting.
 

 
 Requires a hardrock mining claim maintenance fee and a location fee for each unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site on federally owned lands, whether located before, on, or after enactment of this Act.
 
Establishes a fee for transfer of ownership of an unpatented mining claim, mill, or tunnel site.
 
Requires each operator of a hardrock minerals mining operation to pay a reclamation fee of 0.3 % of the gross income of the hardrock minerals mining operation for each calendar year.
 
Establishes the Abandoned Mine Cleanup Fund for reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past mineral activities on certain federal lands. Requires deposit in the Fund of all royalties, fees, and civil penalties.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2002-2006)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2001-2002)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Introduced in Senate
State Foreign Investment Improvement Act

Bill: 110-s-2751
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2008-03-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative remedies
Aliens
Economics and Public Finance
Entrepreneurs
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign investments
Investors
Law
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: 
State Foreign Investment Improvement Act - Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 to: (1) make the alien investor (EB-5) regional center program permanent; and (2) establish a $2,500 regional center designation fee.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) establish a $2,000 EB-5 premium processing fee; (2) permit concurrent filing for EB-5 petitions and status adjustment applications; and (3) establish in the Treasury the Immigrant Entrepreneur Regional Account Center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2007)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2006-2007)
action_date: 2008-03-12
text: Introduced in Senate