hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Elimination of Double Subsidies for the Hardrock Mining Industry Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2287
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Depletion allowances
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Environmental Protection
Government trust funds
Income tax
Land subsidence
Mine wastes
Mines and mineral resources
Mining claims
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Reclamation of land
Revegetation
Sedimentation
Soil erosion
Strip mining
Tax deductions
Water pollution control

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Elimination of Double Subsidies for the Hardrock Mining Industry Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow the percentage depletion allowance for hardrock mines located on land currently subject to the general mining laws, or on land patented under such laws.

 Establishes in the Treasury the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund. Appropriates to such Fund amounts equal to 25% of the additional revenues received due to the disallowance of the depletion allowance for hardrock mines proposed by this Act. Prescribes guidelines under which such Fund shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior for reclamation and restoration of lands and water resources adversely affected by mineral and mineral material mining (excluding coal and fluid minerals). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13688-13689)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13687-13688)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Lending Oversight and Program Performance Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2288
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional investigations
Contracts
Economics and Public Finance
Executive compensation
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Loan defaults
Performance measurement
Right of privacy
Securities
Small business
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Small Business Lending Oversight and Program Performance Improvement Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and publish portfolio quality evaluation standards to evaluate the loan portfolios of lenders participating in the section 7(a) (SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses) and 504 (financing to small businesses funded by SBA-guaranteed debentures) programs of the Small Business Act. Requires the standards to measure the rates of loan liquidation, currency, recovery, and delinquency, and to be used by the Administrator to determine lender portfolio quality and to conduct lender oversight. Requires quarterly lender evaluations, and allows for onsite reviews of covered lenders.
 
Directs the Administrator to: (1) calculate loan default rates; (2) inform lenders of their portfolio quality ranking; (3) develop and publish loan recipient economic performance evaluation measurements; and (4) ensure the privacy of collected information.
 
Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require a state or local development company (lender) participating in an SBA loan program to execute a written contract with each executive or highly paid company employee which includes the amount of compensation, benefits, and transfer of anything of value to that executive or employee. Requires such contract to be approved by that company's board of directors.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the 7(a) loan program relating to lender oversight and portfolio examination and review fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13689-13691)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13689)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act

Bill: 110-s-2289
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consent decrees
Evidence (Law)
Government Operations and Politics
Injunctions
Local officials
State officials

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Federal Consent Decree Fairness Act - Amends the federal judicial code to authorize any state or local government or related official (or successor) to file a motion to modify or terminate a federal consent decree upon the earlier of: (1) four years after the consent decree is originally entered; or (2) in the case of a civil action in which a state or state official, or a local government or local government official, is a party, the expiration of the term of office of the highest state or local government official who was a party to the consent decree; or (3) the date otherwise provided by law.
 
Places the burden of proof with respect to such motions on the party originally filing the action to demonstrate that the denial of the motion to modify or terminate a consent decree (or any part of it) is necessary to prevent the violation of a federal requirement that: (1) was actionable by such party; and (2) was addressed in the original consent decree.
 
 
Requires a court, within 30 days after the filing of a motion, to enter a scheduling order that: (1) limits the time of the parties to file motions and complete discovery; and (2) sets the date or dates of any necessary hearings.
 
Authorizes a court to stay the injunctive or prospective relief set forth in the consent decree if a party opposing the motion to modify or terminate it seeks any continuance or delay that prevents the court from entering a final ruling on the motion within 180 days of its filing.
 
Requires the Attorney General to report annually to Congress on all consent decrees in which the United States is a party that were entered four or more years before the date of the report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16731 Santa Ana Avenue in Fontana, California, as the "Beatrice E. Watson Post Office Building".

Bill: 110-s-2290
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: California
Congressional tributes
Government Operations and Politics
Local officials
Names
Postal facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16731 Santa Ana Avenue in Fontana, California, as the "Beatrice E. Watson Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-12-04
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2007-12-04
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2007-11-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2007-11-16
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S14656-14657; text as passed Senate: CR S14656)
action_date: 2007-11-16
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S14656-14657; text as passed Senate: CR S14656)
action_date: 2007-11-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 494.
action_date: 2007-11-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-11-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-11-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13691)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Individual Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2293
Sponsor: Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax
Minimum tax
Tax exemption
Tax penalties
Tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Individual Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the alternative minimum tax (AMT) for individuals after 2006; and (2) exempt taxpayers with no AMT liability prior to 2006 from current AMT estimated tax penalties.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 464.
action_date: 2007-11-01
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 S13694)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2294
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Alien labor
Border patrols
Canada
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal aliens
Deportation
Detention of persons
Federal law enforcement officers
Fingerprints
Fraud
Gangs
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Identification devices
Illegal aliens
Immigrants
Labor and Employment
Passports
Searches and seizures
Smuggling
Social Welfare
Social security numbers
Tax returns
Taxation
Terrorism
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Act of 2007 - Sets forth border control provisions, including provisions respecting: (1) assets, personnel, and infrastructure; (2) ports of entry; (3) border security initiatives; (4) seizure of conveyances; (5) United States-Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology system (US-VISIT); (6) human smuggling: and (7) detention space.
 
Northern Border Prosecution Initiative Reimbursement Act - Establishes the Northern Border Prosecution Initiative to reimburse eligible northern border entities for costs incurred in handling criminal case dispositions that are federally initiated but federally declined-referred.
 
Sets forth interior enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting: (1) personnel; (2) detention and removal; (3) gang members; (4) alien smuggling; (5) illegal entry; (6) unlawful presence and illegal reentry; (7) passport, visa, and immigration fraud; (8) voluntary departure; (9) background checks; (10) state criminal alien assistance program; (11) state and local law immigration enforcement and federal transfer authority; (12) terrorists; (13) alien criminals; and (14) alien reporting requirements.
 
Sets forth worksite enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting: (1) unlawful employment of aliens; (2) disclosure of taxpayer information; (3) social security cards and identity documents; and (4) establishment of a voluntary advanced verification program to allow employers to verify an employee's fingerprints in order to determine identity and work status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2295
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Ballots
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights enforcement
Computer software
Conflict of interests
Congress
Congressional elections
Disabled
Election Assistance Commission
Election administration
English language
Grants-in-aid
Illiteracy
Laboratories
Presidential elections
Research and development
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Test facilities
Voting
Voting machines
Voting of the disabled
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) with respect to: (1) ballot verification and mandatory paper record audit capacity; and (2) accessibility and ballot verification of results for individuals with disabilities.

Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of ballot verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy.

Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software.

Outlines additional voting system requirements and prohibitions.

Provides for grants for research on development of election-dedicated voting system software.
 
Provides for complaints to the Attorney General by persons aggrieved by violations of HAVA.
 

 
Directs each state to administer, without advance notice to the precincts selected, audits of the results of elections for federal office held in the state consisting of random hand counts of the voter-verified paper paper ballots required to be produced and preserved for each such election held in the state. Requires the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make payments to states to cover the costs incurred in carrying out such mandatory manual audits.
 
 
Repeals the exemption of the EAC from certain government contracting requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13695-13701)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13694-13695)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Mortgage Disclosure Enhancement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2296
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commerce
Consumer education
Economics and Public Finance
Fees
Housing and Community Development
Income
Mortgage interest rates
Mortgages
Real estate appraisal
Variable rate mortgage loans

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Mortgage Disclosure Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Truth In Lending Act to require additional mortgage loan disclosures by a creditor to a consumer, including: (1) ) the percentage of the loan, as compared to the appraised value of the property; (2) the term of the loan; (3) the monthly income of the borrower, as relied upon in making the loan; (4) the annual percentage rate of interest for loans that are fixed, and for loans that are variable; (5) prepayment fees; and (6) balloon payments.
 
Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to conform with this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the FCC to conduct an economic study on the impact that low-power FM stations will have on full-power commercial FM stations.

Bill: 110-s-2297
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Governmental investigations
Radio stations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
 Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct an economic study on the impact that low-power FM stations will have on full-power commercial FM stations and report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13701)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit an applicant from obtaining a low-power FM license if an applicant has engaged in any manner in the unlicensed operation of any station in violation of section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934.

Bill: 110-s-2298
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Licenses
Radio stations

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modify its rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM stations to prohibit any applicant from obtaining a low-power license if the applicant has engaged in any manner in the unlicensed operation of any station.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13701-13702)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
National Aquatic Animal Health Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2299
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural subsidies
Animal diseases
Animals
Aquaculture
Compensation (Law)
Economics and Public Finance
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Health
Health planning
Indemnity
Law
Livestock
Preventive medicine
Veterinary medicine

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
National Aquatic Animal Health Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish the General Advisory Committee for Oversight of National Aquatic Animal Health which shall make recommendations regarding the national aquatic animal health plan (developed by the National Aquatic Animal Health Task Force); and (2) establish an indemnification fund to compensate aquatic farmers for livestock or agricultural products lost in disease control measures or for related equipment disinfecting costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13702)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2300
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Business education
Congress
Congressional investigations
Depressed areas
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Labor and Employment
Military base closures
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Small business
Standards
Subcontractors
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: 
Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to provide federal review and oversight of the practice of contract bundling (the consolidation of two or more procurement contracts into a solicitation for a single prime contract that is unlikely, because of its size or complexity, to be suitable for award to a small business).
 
Revises or adds federal provisions or requirements concerning: (1) increased small business participation in federal procurement subcontracts, including a pilot program to provide contractual incentives to prime contractors that exceed their small business subcontracting goals; (2) Small Business Administration (SBA) certification of small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; (3) historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones) affected by military base closures; (4) the BusinessLINC program (business-to-business and mentor-protege relationships between large and small businesses); (5) information on contracts involving small businesses that were displaced by bundled or consolidated actions; (6) the reservation of certain prime contract awards to small businesses; (7) a Comptroller General study on federal procurement contracting reporting systems; (8) micropurchase guidelines; (9) reporting on overseas contracts; (10) federal agency accountability with respect to small business procurement contracting and subcontracting goals; (11) certification as a small business for purposes of eligibility for the award of federal contracts and subcontracts (including authority to protest a business as a small business for such purposes); (12) training for federal contracting and contract enforcement personnel; (13) revised size standards for qualification as a small business; and (14) small business size and status for purposes of multiple award contracts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-07
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13703-13710)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13702-13703)
action_date: 2007-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Malachy McAllister, Nicola McAllister, and Sean Ryan McAllister.

Bill: 110-s-2301
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2007-11-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Provides for the relief of Malachy McAllister, Nicola McAllister, and Sean Ryan McAllister.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend section 435(o) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding the definition of economic hardship.

Bill: 110-s-2303
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2007-11-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Collection of accounts
Earnings
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Minimum wages
Poverty
Social Welfare
Student loan funds
Working poor

Summary:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to the meaning of economic hardship under the Federal Family Education Loan or Perkins Loan and related loan insurance programs.
 
Considers borrowers under such programs to be suffering economic hardship if they are working full-time, have a federal educational debt burden equal to at least 20% of their adjusted gross income, and the difference between their adjusted gross income minus such debt burden is less than 220% of the greater of: (1) the annual earnings of an minimum wage earner; or (2) 150% of the poverty line applicable to their family size.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Introduced in Senate