hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Vessel Discharge Evaluation and Review Act

Bill: 110-s-2645
Sponsor: Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Coast guard
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Homeland Security
Federal preemption
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Law
Licenses
Local laws
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Ships
Standards
State laws
Transportation and Public Works
Water pollution control

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Vessel Discharge Evaluation and Review Act - Directs the Coast Guard's Commandant to conduct an evaluation of vessel discharges, other than aquatic nuisance species, and report to specified congressional committees.
 
Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to suspend, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and notwithstanding any other provision of law, any requirement to obtain a permit for a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel. Requires promulgation of a final rule establishing enforceable uniform national discharge standards modeled on the regulatory program for vessels of the Armed Forces and based upon the best available technology.
 
Preempts related state and local laws regarding a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, subject to exception.
 
Lists certain discharges that are unaffected by or excluded from this Act, including Armed Forces vessels, discharges of vessel sewage, and discharges related to aquatic nuisance species.
 
Makes this Act, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the exclusive statutory authority for federal regulation of vessel discharges to which these provisions apply. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Thomas Stephen Long, Patricia Merryl Long, Stephanie Bianca Long, and Chelsea Ann Long.

Bill: 110-s-2646
Sponsor: Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Provides for the relief of Thomas Stephen Long, Patricia Merryl Long, Stephanie Bianca Long, and Chelsea Ann Long.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on fan assisted, plugin, scented oil dispensing, electrothermic appliances.

Bill: 110-s-2647
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on fan assisted, plugin, scented oil dispensing, electrothermic appliances.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1061)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Training and Employment Potential for Underemployed Populations Act

Bill: 110-s-2648
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Earned income tax credit
Economics and Public Finance
Employment of the disadvantaged
Enterprise zones
Ex-offenders
Families
Grants-in-aid
Income tax
Juvenile delinquency
Poverty
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax deductions
Tax exemption
Taxation
Urban affairs
Youth employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Supporting Training and Employment Potential for Underemployed Populations Act, or the STEP UP Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to revise Youth Opportunity Grant Program requirements to direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to local boards and eligible entities to carry out programs that provide job training and employment activities and related services to youth and young adults (allows up to 25% of funds to be made available for hard-to-serve young adults) as defined in this Act who live in empowerment zones, enterprise communities, or high poverty areas.
 
Earned Income Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to revise requirements with respect to the earned income tax credit, including to increase the maximum earned income tax credit amount for certain taxpayers without qualifying children.
 
Allows the unused portion of an eligible taxpayer's standard deduction and personal exemption deductions that exceeds his or her adjusted gross income to be carried back to the preceding taxable year and carried forward to each of the two taxable years following the unused deduction year.
 
 Allows an employment tax credit and an advanced employment tax credit of $500, respectively, for members of targeted groups as defined under the IRC.
 
Expands the work opportunity credit for employers who hire: (1) a youth opportunity program participant; (2) a qualified Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth activity participant; or (3) a qualified young offender. Allows an additional work opportunity credit of $500 for each retained employee of a targeted group.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1063-1067)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1061-1063)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to allow an income tax exception to limitations on personal casualty losses for losses occurring in tornado disaster areas.

Bill: 110-s-2649
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Emergency Management
Income tax
Losses
Tax deductions
Tornadoes

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Suspends limitations on the tax deduction for personal casualty losses for losses arising on or after January 1, 2007, and before March 1, 2008, in areas declared as major disasters due to tornado damage. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for a 5-year carryback of certain net operating losses and to suspend the 90 percent alternative minimum tax limit on certain net operating losses.

Bill: 110-s-2650
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax
Losses
Minimum tax
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a five-year carryback of net operating losses for taxable years beginning or ending during 2006, 2007, or 2008; and (2) suspend the 90% alternative minimum tax limitation on carrybacks and carryovers of net operating losses in such years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1067)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to make technical corrections to the renewable fuel standard.

Bill: 110-s-2651
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Authorization
Cellulose
Diesel motor
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) extend the duration of credits for renewable fuel and biodiesel to 36 months (currently, 12 months) after the date of generation; (2) extend the temporary exemption for small refineries from renewable fuel program requirements until 2013 (currently, they are exempted until 2011); and (3) apply the authorization of funding for the cost of loan guarantees to carry out commercial demonstration projects to demonstration projects for celluosic biomass ethanol and ethanol (currently, for celluosic biomass ethanol and sucrose-derived ethanol). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1067)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
America's National World War II Museum Expansion Act

Bill: 110-s-2652
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Building construction
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Exhibitions
Federal aid to the arts and humanities
Foundations
History
Louisiana
Military history
Museums
Names
Social Welfare
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
 America's National World War II Museum Expansion Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to make a grant to the National D-Day Museum Foundation for facilities and programs of America's National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1068)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1067-1068)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
ACTION Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2653
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Armed Forces and National Security
Business travel
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Driver licenses
Education
Educational exchanges
Exchange of persons programs
Executive Office of the President
Executive reorganization
Export controls
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign students
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Identification devices
International Affairs
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientists
Security clearances
Social Welfare
Social security numbers
Strategic planning
Technology transfer
Tourism
Transportation and Public Works
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
American Competitiveness Through International Openness Now Act of 2008 or the ACTION Act of 2008 - Directs the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategic plan for increasing U.S. competitiveness for international students, scholars, scientists, and exchange visitors. 
 
Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the International Education Coordinating Council.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) revise the &quot;intent&quot; criterion with respect to foreign students; and (2) permit specified employment-based visas to be renewed in the United States.
 
Extends the security clearance for nonimmigrant scientists. 
 
Provides for: (1) security clearance portability under specified circumstances; (2) periodic review of the technology alert list (as defined by this Act); and (3) expansion of the social security number enumeration-at-entry program to include eligible exchange visitor nonimmigrants (J-visa) at all U.S. ports of entry. 
 
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to temporary driver's licenses and temporary identification cards.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to establish an expedited visa trusted traveler program for international students, researchers, scholars, and individuals engaged in business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1070-1072)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1068-1070)
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Citizen Soldier and Military Veteran Travel Reimbursement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2654
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Counseling
Health
Military training
Social Welfare
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Citizen Soldier and Military Veteran Travel Reimbursement Act of 2008 - Repeals the requirement that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs adjust the amount (similar to a copay or deductible) charged to a member who is reimbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for travel expenses connected with the receipt of vocational rehabilitation, counseling, or required medical care. Requires the Secretary, in determining the amount of the allowance or reimbursement, to use the reimbursement rate for the use of privately-owned vehicles by government employees on official business.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to reimburse a member of the reserves for expenses incurred in connection with round-trip travel in excess of 100 miles to an inactive duty training location, requiring the same reimbursement rate as above.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide relief for veterans with a disability rated as total.

Bill: 110-s-2655
Sponsor: Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL]
Introduced: 2008-02-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Income
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Law
Old age, survivors and disability insurance
Public housing
Social Welfare
Tax exclusion
Taxation
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' pensions
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt veterans with a disability rated as total from the tax on social security benefits. 

Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to amend federal housing regulations to exclude the disability and pension benefits of veterans with a disability rated as total from income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain public housing programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance under authority of the order of the Senate of 02/14/2008.
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the transport of hydrolysate from the Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, to an off-site location.

Bill: 110-s-2656
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2008-02-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Chemical warfare
Colorado
Environmental Protection
Hazardous wastes
Military and naval supplies
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation of hazardous substances

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from transporting hydrolysate (derived from the neutralization of VX nerve gas) from the Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, to an off-site location for treatment, storage, or disposal.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1124-1125)
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services under authority of the order of the Senate of 02/14/2008.
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe regulations to reduce the incidence of vessels colliding with North Atlantic right whales by limiting the speed of vessels, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-2657
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-02-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Commerce
Endangered species
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Protection of animals
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Ships
Transportation and Public Works
Whales

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: 
 Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, to prescribe regulations to reduce the incidence of vessels colliding with North Atlantic right whales by limiting the speed of vessels. Requires those regulations to incorporate the whale protection measures contained in a specified proposed rule and to provide the same or greater level of protection.

action_date: 2008-07-22
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate a final rule to implement speed restrictions to reduce the threat of ships colliding with North Atlantic right whales. Requires that rule to provide the same or greater level of protection as provided by a specified proposed rule.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 893.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-429.
action_date: 2008-07-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-429.
action_date: 2008-04-24
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation under authority of the order of the Senate of 02/14/2008.
action_date: 2008-02-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend from 90 days to one year the period after release of a member from the Armed Forces from active duty during which the member is protected from mortgage foreclosure.

Bill: 110-s-2658
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Housing and Community Development
Iraq compilation
Loan defaults
Military discharges
Mortgages
Veterans' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 1940 to extend from 90 days to one year the period following release from active duty during which a member of the Armed Forces shall be protected from mortgage foreclosure.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1125)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1125)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that all trailers or mobile homes purchased by the Federal Emergency Management Agency meet the safety standards established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for housing used in programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Bill: 110-s-2659
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Building construction
Commerce
Consumer protection
Disaster relief
Emergency housing
Environmental Protection
Formaldehyde
Housing and Community Development
Indoor air pollution
Lead
Mobile homes
Radioactive pollution
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that any trailer or mobile home purchased by FEMA meets safety standards established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under provisions relating to limitations on hazardous materials in housing to be used in Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, including any such standards for formaldehyde, lead, or any other hazardous material, contamination, toxic chemical or gas, or radioactive substance that could affect the health or safety of an occupant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Consumer Protection and Cost Accountability Act

Bill: 110-s-2660
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Auditing
Commerce
Consumer protection
Cost effectiveness
Electric power transmission
Electric utility rates
Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Consumer Protection and Cost Accountability Act - Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider whether a rate or charge made, demanded, or received by a Transmission Organization (TO) would enable the TO to provide or facilitate reliable service to consumers at the lowest reasonable cost.

Instructs FERC, in determining whether a TO filing to establish or change a rate or charge is consistent with specified requirements, to consider whether the rate or charge would: (1) provide consumer benefits that outweigh any anticipated costs to consumers as demonstrated by a cost-benefit analysis submitted by the TO; or (2) have only a de minimis impact upon the total delivered costs to the consumer.

Directs FERC to ensure that each TO is subject to biennial, independent audits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1126)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1125-1126)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
APCPA

Bill: 110-s-2661
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Electronic commerce
Electronic mail systems
Federal preemption
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Identity theft
Intellectual property
Internet
Law
Local laws
Names
Science, Technology, Communications
State laws
Trademarks
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Anti-Phishing Consumer Protection Act of 2008 or the APCPA - Makes it unlawful for a person to fraudulently: (1) solicit identifying information from a protected computer; (2) use a domain name in violation of the Trademark Act of 1946; (3) use a domain name in an electronic mail message, an instant message, or on a Web page; or (4) register a domain name in any domain name registration authority.
 
Makes it unlawful for a domain name authority to replace or materially alter the contents of, or restrict access to, any domain name registrant's name or other identifying information in any domain name registration authority database if the authority has received written notice that the use of such domain name is in violation of any provision of this Act.
 
Authorizes civil actions by state officials (except during the pendency of a federal action), interactive computer services, and trademark owners.
 
Provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and certain other agencies. 
 
Provides for fines and/or imprisonment for violators.
 
Preempts inconsistent state laws, but allows state laws that provide greater protection.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1126-1127)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate