hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for the suspension of each provision of the Act during periods of drought with respect to Federal and State agencies that manage Federal river basins that are located in each region affected by the drought.

Bill: 110-s-2165
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2007-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Droughts
Emergency Management
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Water Resources Development
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: 
Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for the suspension of each provision of the Act with respect to a federal or state agency that manages a federal river basin if the Secretary of the Army (acting through the Chief of Engineers) or the governor of the relevant state determines that: (1) a drought is in effect in the region in which the basin is located; and (2) such drought presents a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the region's population. Terminates such a suspension on the date the Secretary or governor determines the drought is no longer in effect.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Farm Savings Account Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2167
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2007-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural subsidies
Agriculture and Food
Crop insurance
Farm income
Farmers
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Law
Saving and investment
Tax deductions
Tax exemption
Tax penalties
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: 
Farm Savings Account Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt farm savings accounts to allow taxpayers engaged in the business of farming or ranching to use distributions from such accounts to offset operational losses in lieu of receiving, after a specified transitional period, federal subsidies to purchase crop insurance; (2) allow a tax deduction for cash contributions to such accounts; (3) specify minimum levels of contributions to, and maximum levels of distributions from, such accounts; (4) require the Secretary of Agriculture to make matching contributions to such accounts; and (5) set forth tax rules relating to account distributions, excess contributions, and prohibited transactions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Refinancing Opportunities for Mortgages Impacted by the Subprime Emergency Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2169
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Consent decrees
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Law
Mortgages
Secondary mortgage market

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: 
Promoting Refinancing Opportunities for Mortgages Impacted by the Subprime Emergency Act of 2007, or the PROMISE Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to terminate, suspend, modify, or otherwise lift: (1) the limitation on growth provision set forth in the Fannie Mae Consent Decree (the OFHEO order dated May 23, 2006, in the matter of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)); and (2) the voluntary temporary growth limitation described in the Freddie Mac Letter (dated July 31, 2006, from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to the OFHEO Director).
 
Requires: (1) the Director to increase the mortgage portfolio limitations of both enterprises by at least 10%; and (2) the use of 85% of such increase for refinancing subprime mortgages at risk of foreclosure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the treatment of qualified restaurant property as 15-year property for purposes of the depreciation deduction.

Bill: 110-s-2170
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2007-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Depreciation and amortization
Income tax
Restaurants
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the 15-year recovery period for purposes of the tax deduction for depreciation of qualified restaurant property. Revises the term &quot;qualified restaurant property&quot; to include existing buildings as well as improvements to buildings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Uniform Wireless Consumer Protection Act

Bill: 110-s-2171
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2007-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Federal preemption
Government Operations and Politics
Local laws
State laws
Telecommunication rates
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: 
Uniform Wireless Consumer Protection Act - Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law (under current law, notwithstanding specified provisions), a state or local government from regulating or adjudicating the entry of or the rates charged by any provider of commercial mobile service or private mobile service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12940-12941)
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2172
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2007-10-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alien property
American investments
Burma
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Democracy
Dissenters
East Asia
Economics and Public Finance
Ethnic groups
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign banks and banking
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Human rights
Import restrictions
Internet
Jewelry trade
Military assistance
Minorities
Nongovernmental organizations
Political persecution
Political prisoners
President and foreign policy
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
Timber sales
Wood

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: 
Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007 - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) support the democratic aspirations of Burma's people; (2) condemn the repression carried out by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); and (3) hold accountable individuals responsible for the repression of peaceful political activity in Burma.
 
Directs the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of: (1) SPDC officials who play or have played a substantial role in political repression in Burma or in the commission of human rights abuses; and (2) other Burmese SPDC supporters.
 
Subjects persons so identified to U.S. entry prohibition and financial sanctions (blocked property, financial transaction prohibitions, and banking sanctions). Terminates such prohibitions upon a presidential certification to the committees that the SPDC has: (1) released all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy; (2) entered into a dialogue with democratic forces led by the National League for Democracy and the ethnic minorities of Burma on transitioning to democratic government; and (3) allowed humanitarian access to populations affected by armed conflict in all regions of Burma. 
 
Amends the the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to prohibit the importation into the United States of Burmese gems, teak, or other hardwood timber.
 
Prohibits any U.S. person (as defined by this Act) from investing in Burma.
 
Authorizes: (1) the Secretary of State to award grants to nongovernmental organizations, universities, and other organizations to establish an Internet database of SPDC human rights abuses; and (2) the President to assist nonviolent democracy activists in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate committees respecting countries that provide military aid to Burma. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12941)
action_date: 2007-10-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act

Bill: 110-s-2173
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Agriculture and Food
Child health
Child nutrition
Class size
Community and school
Continuing education
Day care
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Educational counseling
Educational planning
Educational research
Educational statistics
Educational tests
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Health
Health education
Higher education
Information services
Lifestyle
Obesity
Parent-school relationships
Performance measurement
Physical education and training
Physical fitness
Preschool education
School administration
School health programs
Secondary education
Sports and Recreation
Standards
Teacher education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act or the FIT Kids Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require annual state and local educational agency report cards to include specified information on school health and physical education programs.
 
Includes the promotion of healthy, active lifestyles by students within ESEA grant programs that support school counseling, smaller learning communities, community learning centers, and parental involvement in their childrens' education.
 
Revises the professional development program for teachers and principals to include training for physical and health education teachers, and training on improving students' health habits and participation in physical activities.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund a study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that: (1) assesses the affect health and physical education have on students' ability to learn; and (2) makes recommendations for improving, and measuring improvements to, their health and physical education in schools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12990-12991)
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Asthma Act

Bill: 110-s-2175
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Allergies
Asthma
Child health
Commerce
Communication in medicine
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Diesel motor
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Environmental Protection
Environmental health
Families
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health education
Health surveys
Higher education
Medical education
Medical records
Medical research
Medical statistics
Mortality
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ozone
Preventive medicine
Public-private partnerships
Research centers
Research grants
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Smog
Telemedicine

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Family Asthma Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to award grants to eligible entities to conduct pilot projects to prevent and control asthma symptoms and to reduce asthma attacks and improve self-management for individuals and families. Requires the Secretary to give: (1) priority to entities that serve a medically underserved population; and (2) consideration to an adequate rural-urban distribution, so as to gain better information about asthma at the national level.
 
Authorizes additional appropriations to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to develop a National Asthma Action Plan and to fund a report to Congress by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) collaborate with state and local health departments to conduct activities to inform and educate the public regarding asthma; (2) conduct asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence and severity of asthma, the effectiveness of public heath asthma intervention, and the quality of asthma management; and (3) compile and annually publish asthma data.
 
Requires the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to establish Dr. Irving J. Selikoff individual and institutional training grants for education and training of health care providers on the role of environmental factors in the development and prevention of asthma and recurrent asthma attacks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12991-12992)
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Small Business Development Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2176
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Alaska
Business education
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Entrepreneurs
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Hawaiians
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Indian economic development
Indian education
Indigenous peoples
Minorities
Minority business enterprises
Small Business Administration
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Native American Small Business Development Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) the Office of Native American Affairs, headed by an Assistant Administrator, to implement SBA programs for the development of business enterprises by Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians). Requires the Office to assist Native American entrepreneurs to: (1) start, operate, and grow small businesses; (2) develop management and technical skills; (3) seek federal procurement opportunities; (4) increase Native American employment opportunities; and (5) increase Native American access to capital markets. 
 
Requires the Administrator of the SBA to provide financial assistance to tribal governments, tribal colleges, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Alaska Native corporations to create Native American business centers. Requires each business center to conduct five-year projects for culturally tailored business education aid to such entities. Requires each assistance applicant to submit a five-year plan on proposed assistance and training activities.
 
Establishes a four-year pilot program under which the SBA Administrator is authorized to award Native American development grants to provide culturally-tailored business development training and related services to Native Americans and Native American small businesses.
 
Establishes a four-year pilot program under which the SBA Administrator shall award at least three American Indian Tribal Assistance Center grants to establish joint projects to provide culturally-tailored business development assistance to prospective and current owners of small businesses on or near tribal lands.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Get in Line Act

Bill: 110-s-2177
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congress
Congressional committees
Congressional committees (Senate)
Congressional hearings
Congressional information resources
Lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Get in Line Act - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to prohibit any lobbyist or lobbyist-employing organization, either registered or required to register, or any employee listed or required to be listed as a lobbyist by a registrant, from making a payment to an individual to reserve a place in line for a seat for such lobbyist, employee, or organization at a congressional committee hearing or business meeting.
 
Requires the lobbyist, employee, or organization to certify in their semiannual reports on certain contributions that they have read and are familiar with this Act and have not violated it.
 
Requires a Senate committee that is unable to accommodate all persons wishing to sit in the hearing room for a committee hearing or business meeting to: (1) make all reasonable accommodations for such overflow, including opening up an overflow room with a video monitor showing the hearing or meeting if possible; and (2) stream the hearing or meeting on the committee website to the extent practicable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Arts Require Timely Service Act

Bill: 110-s-2178
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Admission of nonimmigrants
Alien labor
Artists
Arts
Arts, Culture, Religion
Athletes
Entertainers
Labor and Employment
Law
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Arts Require Timely Service Act or ARTS Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for expedited adjudication of an employer petition for a nonimmigrant alien with extraordinary ability in the arts (O-visa), or for a nonimmigrant alien who seeks to enter the United States as an artist or entertainer, or athlete (P-visa).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12992)
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
National Forests, Parks, Public Land, and Reclamation Projects Authorization Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2179
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Alaska
Aluminum
American Revolution
Animals
Anniversaries
Armed Forces and National Security
Art
Arts, Culture, Religion
Authorization
Authors and authorship
California
Civil War
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Commemorations
Commerce
Congressional tributes
Connecticut
Dams
Disabled
District of Columbia
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Energy
Energy conservation
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Ex-Members of Congress
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to water resources development
Geology
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Governmental investigations
Groundwater
Habitat conservation
Hispanic Americans
Historic sites
History
House of Representatives
Hydrology
Illinois
Infrastructure
Iron and steel industry
Irrigation
Irrigation districts
Lakes
Land transfers
Lighthouses and lightships
Maryland
Military history
Military parks
Minorities
Missouri
Missouri River development
Monuments and memorials
Museums
Music
Names
National forests
National monuments
National parks
Natural areas
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York State
Non-native species
North Carolina
Oregon
Restoration ecology
Saline waters
Science, Technology, Communications
Sports and Recreation
Steel
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Trails
Transportation and Public Works
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington State
Water Resources Development
Water supply
Watersheds
West (U.S.)
Wetlands
Wild rivers
Wilderness areas
Wildlife
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
National Forests, Parks, Public Land, and Reclamation Projects Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes specified programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy concerning, among other things, land conveyances, boundary adjustments, studies, memorials, commissions, and museums, national park natural resource protection, national trails and rivers, national heritage areas, and advanced energy technology transfer centers. 

Makes amendments to various public laws, including the National Trails System Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5530)
action_date: 2007-10-18
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Home Health Care Access Protection Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-2181
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Case mix (Medical care)
Department of Health and Human Services
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Home care services
Law
Medical fees
Medicare
Social Welfare
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Home Health Care Access Protection Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the prospective payment system (PPS) for home health services and adjustments to it for case mix changes.

Prohibits any adjustment in the PPS for payment in 2008. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for any adjustment in a subsequent year, to evaluate changes in case mix using standards developed consistent with specified processes, taking certain criteria into account.

Directs the Secretary to convene a Technical Advisory Group to advise on the development of such standards.

Prohibits the Secretary from taking any action to implement or otherwise carry out provisions in the final rule published on August 29, 2007, that propose to make a case mix adjustment to the standardized payment amounts under the PPS to account for changes in coding that were not related to an underlying change in patient health status. Directs the Secretary to republish any rates specified in such rule to take into account the application of such prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12992-12993)
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate