hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2921
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Brain
Caregivers
Curricula
Disabled
Education
Employee training
Families
Graduate education
Head injuries
Health
Higher education
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Managed care
Mental health services
Military dependents
Military medicine
Occupational therapy
Paramedical personnel
Physical therapy
Respite care
Social Welfare
Social work
Trauma care
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out up to three pilot programs to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing training and certification for family caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Requires each pilot program to be carried out in a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
 
Requires the Secretary to develop curricula for the training of such caregivers as personal care attendants. Makes a family caregiver who receives certification as a personal care attendant eligible for compensation from the VA for the care provided.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing respite care to members and veterans who have been diagnosed with TBI through students enrolled in graduate programs in mental health or rehabilitation-related fields. Requires such students to provide: (1) relief to the family caregivers; and (2) socialization and cognitive skill development to the members and veterans. Allows such students to receive coursework credit for such participation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to repeal certain oil and gas incentives established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-2922
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Continental shelf
Department of the Interior
Gas in submerged lands
Government Operations and Politics
Gulf of Mexico
Law
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas royalties
Oil well drilling
Petroleum in submerged lands

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal: (1) royalty incentives for natural gas production from ultra-deep and deep wells in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) royalty relief for deep water production in the Western and Central Planning Area of the Gulf of Mexico.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3444)
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3444)
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Senior Oversight Committee Extension Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2923
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Health
Military medicine
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
Senior Oversight Committee Extension Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly: (1) take whatever actions are appropriate, including the allocation of appropriate personnel, funding, and other resources, to continue until September 30, 2011, the operations of the Senior Oversight Committee jointly established by those secretaries to address concerns related to the treatment of wounded, ill, and injured members of the Armed Forces and veterans; and (2) report to Congress on the advisability of continuing the committee after that date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3445)
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3445)
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Original Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra-High Relief Bullion Coin Act

Bill: 110-s-2924
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Artists
Arts, Culture, Religion
Coins and coinage
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Counterfeiting
Crime and Law Enforcement
Gold
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sculpture

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
Original Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Ultra-High Relief Bullion Coin Act - Permits the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a $20 coin that bears, on the obverse and reverse, the designs of the famous 27-millimeter version of the 1907 Augustus Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ultra-high relief gold piece.

Authorizes the Secretary to commence minting and issuing such coins for sale, beginning January 1, 2009.

Prohibits the coins, regardless of the composition, from being made available as so-called &quot;fractional&quot; coins.

States that no more than 25,000 shall be available for sale in a special &quot;Golden Age of American Coinage&quot; set.

Requires the Secretary to take specified protective and anti-counterfeiting measures.

Instructs the Treasury Inspector General to report to certain congressional committees on the extent of counterfeiting of rare, collectible, or numismatic coins for sale in the United States, regardless of the country where the original of such coin was produced or of the country in which the counterfeiting takes place, or sales overseas if such counterfeit coins are unauthorized copies of coins originally produced by the United States Mint.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
National Energy Efficiency Development Act

Bill: 110-s-2925
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Alternative energy sources
Automobile tires
Biomass energy
Coal
Cogeneration of electric power and heat
Commerce
Commercialization
Computer software
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Energy
Electric power transmission
Electronics
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Energy industries
Energy research
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Fuel cells
Fuel consumption
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Hydrogen
Imports
Legislation
Marketing
Methane
Petroleum
Presidential appointments
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Superconductivity
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
National Energy Efficiency Development Act - Establishes the National Energy Efficiency Development Administration, headed by an Administrator who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate, to increase the efficiency of the production and use of energy in all sectors of the economy and reduce U.S. imports of oil by 50% by 2020.
 
Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Policy Advisory Committee; (2) an Office of Administration (to include an Energy Efficiency Economics Division, an Education Division, and the position of General Counsel); (3) an Office of Policy, Research, and Development; and (4) an Office of Market Transformation.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to solicit the development of energy-efficient technologies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2926
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Corporation directors
Education
Employee training
Health
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Medical education
Medical research
Nonprofit organizations
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Veterans' hospitals

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends federal provisions concerning the establishment at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities of nonprofit research and education corporations (NRECs) to allow an NREC to facilitate the conduct of research or education, or both, at more than one VA medical center. States that such an NREC shall be known as a multi-medical center research corporation (MCRC).
 
Allows an NREC to act as a MCRC if: (1) the NREC board of directors approve a resolution permitting that NREC to act as a MCRC; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves the resolution.
 
Requires each NREC and MCRC to be established in accordance with the nonprofit laws of the state in which the VA medical center which it supports is located. States that either such corporation shall not be considered to be owned by, or an agent or instrumentality of, the United States.
 
Expands the authorized areas of experience or expertise with respect to non-VA members of boards of directors of NRECs and MCRCs.
 
Increases authorized corporate powers of NRECs and MCRCs to include entering into contracts and setting fees for education and training facilitated through such corporation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3445-3446)
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Government Oil Acquisition Financial Accountability and Consumer Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2927
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2008-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Diesel motor
Energy prices
Gasoline
Petroleum reserves
Strategic materials

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: 
Government Oil Acquisition Financial Accountability and Consumer Relief Act of 2008 - Instructs the Secretary of Energy to suspend petroleum acquisition for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
 
Authorizes the Secretary to resume petroleum acquisition for the SPR not earlier than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary notifies Congress that for the most recent consecutive four-week period: (1) the weighted average price of retail, regular, all formulations gasoline in the United States is $2.50 or less per gallon; or (2) the weighted average price of retail, No. 2 diesel in the United States is $2.75 or less per gallon.
 
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require that acquisitions made for the SPR reflect a steady monthly dollar value of oil.

Instructs the Secretary to include at least 10% heavy crude oil in making any crude oil acquisitions for the SPR.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
BPA-Free Kids Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2928
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Child health
Consumer protection
Environmental Protection
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Health
Medical research
Pregnant women
Science, Technology, Communications
State laws
Women
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
BPA-Free Kids Act of 2008 - Treats as a banned hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act any consumer product that contains a detectable amount of bisphenol A (commonly known as BPA) and that is designed for or intended for use by, or care of, a child seven years of age or younger. Permits state laws that provide equal or greater protection.
 
Requires a study on the health effects of BPA exposure in all age groups and in pregnant women.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Reserve Component Residence Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2930
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Families
Housing and Community Development
Housing subsidies
Military dependents
Military housing
Military operations
Military pay
Military training
National Guard
Retired military personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Reserve Component Residence Protection Act of 2008 - Requires a second basic allowance for housing to be provided to: (1) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces with or without dependents who is called or ordered to active duty to attend accession training, in support of a contingency operation, or for a period of more than 30 days; or (2) a retired Armed Forces member with or without dependents who is ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation or for a period of more than 30 days. (Under current law, the allowance is authorized but not required and is not payable to a member with dependents.)

Makes payment retroactive for a member of a reserve component or a retired member with dependents who is on active duty as of the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Access to Complex Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2931
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cerebral palsy
Competitive bidding
Disabled
Government Operations and Politics
Medical supplies
Medical technology
Medicare
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular diseases
Nervous system diseases
Parkinson's disease
Rehabilitation of the disabled
Science, Technology, Communications
Self-help devices for the disabled
Social Welfare
Spinal cord injuries

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Medicare Access to Complex Rehabilitative and Assistive Technology Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exempt complex rehabilitation products and assistive technology products from the Medicare competititve acquisition program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3510)
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Incentives for Older Workers Act

Bill: 110-s-2933
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil service retirement
Defined benefit pension plans
Economics and Public Finance
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Income tax
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Older workers
Part-time employment
Retirement age
Social Welfare
Social security beneficiaries
Tax credits
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Incentives for Older Workers Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to prohibit a reduction in benefits for an employee under a defined benefit pension plan who has begun a phased retirement and was employed on a substantially full-time basis during the previous 12-month period before phased retirement.
 
Defines &quot;phased retirement&quot; as the period when an employee is employed on substantially less than a full-time basis or with substantially reduced responsibilities after reaching age 50 or completing 30 years of creditable service under the plan.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to raise from 70 to 72 the age up to which inidividuals are allowed to earn delayed retirement credits for purposes of the calculation of increased old-age insurance benefit payments.
 
Revises federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits requirements to eliminate the 50% reduction in such benefits due to an individual who claims benefits before reaching 66 years old and who continues to work. (Retains the 33 1/3% offset.)
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to award a grant to establish a National Resource Center on Aging and the Workforce to act as a national information clearinghouse on workforce issues, challenges, and solutions for older workers.
 
Revises Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuity computation requirements for retiring CSRS employees whose employment service includes part-time service.
 
Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) to revise the composition of state and local workforce investment boards to include representatives of older individuals. Sets aside 5% of WIA funds allocated to local areas for certain adult employment and training activities for activities for older workers.
 
Amends the IRC to expand eligibility for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to qualified older workers (age 55 or older whose income does not exceed 125% of the poverty line).
 
Allows certain defined benefit pension plans to define normal retirement age as the earlier of the attainment of: (1) a specified allowed age; or (2) at least 30 years of service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3511-3512)
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3510-3511)
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a plot allowance for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in State cemeteries.

Bill: 110-s-2934
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Families
Married people
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a $300 plot allowance to a state for spouses and children of certain veterans who are buried in state cemeteries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
PROTECT Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2935
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information
Ex-offenders
Firearms
Firearms control
Government Operations and Politics
Identification of criminals
Law
Licenses

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Preserving Records of Terrorist & Criminal Transactions Act of 2008 or the PROTECT Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to require: (1) the retention for a minimum of 10 years of criminal background check records for known or suspected members of terrorist organizations who attempt to purchase firearms or apply for a state permit to possess, acquire, or carry firearms; and (2) the retention for at least 180 days of other criminal background check records relating to firearms purchases. 

Repeals certain provisions that require the destruction within 24 hours of identifying information for individuals who legally purchase or possess firearms.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3512-3513)
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Responsible Expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2936
Sponsor: Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Citizenship
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federal aid to child health services
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health insurance
Immigration
Income tax
Investment advisers
Labor and Employment
Medicaid
Medical statistics
Medically uninsured
Partnerships
Poor children
Social Welfare
Standards
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Responsible Expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program Act of 2008 - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to revise, reauthorize, and extend the SCHIP program through FY2013.
 
Requires the state SCHIP plan to specify how it will achieve coverage for 85% of eligible targeted low-income children in the state.
 
Prohibits payment for child health assistance for a targeted low-income child in a family whose income exceeds 300% of the poverty line. Sets forth special rules for children with family income between 200% and 300% of the applicable poverty line.
 
Applies Medicaid citizenship documentation requirements to SCHIP.
 
Terminates SCHIP coverage for nonpregnant adults.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the best practices by states in addressing the substitution of SCHIP coverage for private coverage (SCHIP crowd-out). 
 
Directs the Secretary to arrange with the Institute of Medicine to report to Congress on: (1) the most accurate, reliable, and timely way to measure the rate of public and private health benefits coverage among low-income children; and (2) SCHIP crowd-out.
 
Directs the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register and post on the Department of Health and Human Services public website: (1) recommendations regarding best practices for states to address SCHIP crowd-out; and (2) uniform standards for related data collection.
 
Requires each state with a SCHIP plan to submit to the Secretary a plan amendment describing how the state will address such SCHIP crowd-out and incorporate recommended best practices. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide that any compensation deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan of a nonqualified entity shall be taken into account for purposes of income taxation when there is no substantial risk of forfeiture of the rights to such compensation; and (2) add special rules for partners providing investment management services to partnership.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate