hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Alaska Timber Industry Fairness Act

Bill: 110-s-3696
Sponsor: Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Commerce
Construction industries
Conversion of industries
Economics and Public Finance
Grants-in-aid
Infrastructure
Logging
Lumber trade
Road construction
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Alaska Timber Industry Fairness Act - Establishes a two-year grant program for retooling projects that are designed to facilitate the economic adjustment of specified timber entities by allowing them to: (1) improve or alter their business and practices to become more competitive within the timber industry; or (2) shift to a type of business that is not related to the timber industry. 

Authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development of the Department of Commerce to provide grants under such program to any entity that operated in the timber industry in Alaska on January 1, 2008, that operated in Alaska for not less than 10 years, and that can demonstrate that it has been harmed by federal laws or regulations relating to the timber industry, including the United States Forest Service's policies and land management plans completed pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Sets forth provisions concerning eligible uses of grant funding.

Treats a grant recipient as a small business concern owned or controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as that term is defined in the Small Business Act) for three years after the grant was approved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to require approval by the Congress for certain expenditures for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Bill: 110-s-3697
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank failures
Congress
Congressional oversight
Economic stabilization
Economics and Public Finance
Financial crises
Legislative resolutions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to revise the process for exercising the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to make purchases of troubled assets in any amount in excess of the $350 billion previously obligated.
 
Changes the Joint Resolution of Disapproval, regarding the exercise of such authority, to a Joint Resolution of Approval. Prohibits the Secretary, that is, from exercising any authority to make any such purchases unless within 15 calendar days after Congress receives a report of the Secretary's plan to exercise the authority, a joint resolution approving the plan is enacted into law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Accountability for Economic Rescue Assistance Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3698
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank failures
Business ethics
Business records
Business travel
Campaign funds
Commerce
Conferences
Corporate finance
Corporate governance
Economic stabilization
Economics and Public Finance
Financial crises
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Lobbying
Private aviation
Relocation
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
 Accountability for Economic Rescue Assistance Act of 2008 - Prohibits recipients of emergency economic assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or under the Federal Reserve Act, or any subsidiary, from using such funds for lobbying expenditures or political contributions.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to develop and publish corporate governance principles and ethical guidelines for recipients of such funds, including restrictions governing: (1) the hosting, sponsorship, or payments for conferences and events; (2) the use of corporate aircraft, travel accommodations, and travel expenditures; (3) expenses relating to office or facility renovations or relocations; and (4) expenses relating to entertainment, holiday parties, employee recognition events, or similar ancillary corporate expenses.

Requires recipients of such funds to file quarterly reports and certifications with the Secretary, which shall be made publicly available online, and at no cost.

Subjects violators of this Act to specified civil penalties.

Makes any person who violates this Act ineligible to receive any future emergency economic assistance unless the Secretary determines that reasonable steps have been taken to bring actions into compliance with and to prevent future violations of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10660-10661)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
HUBZone Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3699
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Depressed areas
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Maps
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
HUBZone Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) correct and update the map used by the SBA to identify HUBZones (historically underutilized business zones) and to ensure that it is updated on a more frequent basis; (2) develop and implement guidance for determining whether an applicant is a qualified HUBZone small business; (3) establish a date for elimination of the backlog of applications for recertification as a qualified HUBZone small business; (4) ensure that the SBA eliminates the backlog by such date; (5) establish and implement a time period for completing a recertification; and (6) develop and implement plans to assess the effectiveness of the HUBZone program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10662-10663)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10661-10662)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
High-Speed Rail for America Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3700
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Department of Transportation
Excise tax
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Highspeed ground transportation
Income tax
Railroad engineering
Railroad finance
Railroad passenger traffic
Securities
Tax credits
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
High-Speed Rail for America Act of 2008 - Establishes within the Federal Railroad Administration the Office of High-Speed Passenger Rail (HSPR Office) , headed by the Associate Administrator for High-Speed Rail. 
 
Requires the HSPR Office to: (1) assume responsibility for all high-speed rail activities currently carried out by the Office of Railroad Development; and (2) consult with the Secretary of Transportation to assist eligible entities to finance certain qualified high-speed intercity rail facility projects through the issuance of private activity bonds.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise requirements for income tax-exempt qualified high-speed intercity rail facility bonds. Allows an income tax credit to holders of certain rail bonds that finance qualified super high-speed intercity rail facility projects and qualified rail infrastructure projects.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on the use of excise taxes to fund high-speed rail projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10663)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3701
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disabled
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Employment of the disabled
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Labor and Employment
Mainstreaming in education
Nonprofit organizations
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Special education

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to, or enter into agreements with, Best Buddies (a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities mesh with mainstream society) to promote the expansion of its programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10664)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10663-10664)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3702
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Commerce
Competitive bidding
Congress
Congressional oversight
Construction industries
Disaster relief
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Government publicity

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Natural Disaster Fairness in Contracting Act of 2008 - Requires agencies, in entering into a contract to procure property or services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to use specified competitive procedures.

Allows agencies to enter into a contract to procure property or services in connection with such reconstruction efforts using other than full and open competition only upon the written approval of the President or the President's designee. Requires congressional notification when procedures other than full and open competitive procedures are to be used.

Instructs agencies that enter into a contract for the procurement of property or services in connection with such reconstruction efforts through the use of other than full and open competitive procedures to publish in the Federal Register or Federal Business Opportunities and otherwise make available to the public specified information concerning the contract.

Permits the use of noncompetitive procedures by agencies when: (1) a contract will be performed within a six-month period; and (2) the need for the property or services is of such an unusual and compelling urgency that the government would otherwise be seriously injured.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3703
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Commerce
Disaster relief
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Refuse and refuse disposal
Subcontractors

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2008 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts unless the agreement specifies that: (1) all of the work under the contract will be performed by the prime contractor or one or more subcontractors at one tier under the contract; (2) any work performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors, except to the extent that local subcontractors are not available to perform any such work; (3) the prime contractor will act as the project manager or construction manager for the contract; and (4) the prime contractor has primary responsibility for managing all work under the contract and is to be paid a certain percentage of the overall value of the contract as sole compensation for assuming the risk associated with such responsibility. 

Requires the agency head, in entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to give preference in the source selection process to each offeror who certifies that any work that is to be performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
FBI Priorities Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3704
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Authorization
Bank failures
Bank fraud
Criminal investigation
Department of Justice
Economics and Public Finance
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Federal law enforcement officers
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Insider trading in securities
Recruiting of employees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
FBI Priorities Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 to fund 1,000 additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field agents to investigate financial crimes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10665)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Elimination of the Single Parent Tax Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3706
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Child support
Collection of accounts
Families
Parents

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Elimination of Single Parent Tax Act of 2008 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to prohibit states from charging child support recipients for the collection of child support. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10670)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
National Principal Recruitment Act

Bill: 110-s-3707
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Community and school
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational research
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Families
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Nonprofit organizations
Parent-school relationships
Performance measurement
Recruiting and enlistment
School administration
School personnel
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
National Principal Recruitment Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a National Principal Recruitment program awarding matching grants to up to three partnerships each of which consist of a nonprofit organization working with a research organization and local educational agencies to: (1) recruit new principals for high-need schools and provide them with a year-long preservice residency and ongoing support and professional development; and (2) rigorously research, evaluate, and report on such activities so that successful practices can be replicated and each grantee's success in improving student academic performance can be measured.
 
Increases a grant by 50% after the third full school year of its implementation if: (1) such research and evaluation demonstrates that students in high-need schools led, for at least two years, by principals recruited, trained, and supported by the grantee are making greater academic gains than comparable students elsewhere; and (2) the grantee has the capacity to scale up its services.
 
Terminates a grant by the end of the fourth year of its implementation if the students in high-need schools led, for at least two years, by such principals are not making greater academic gains than comparable students elsewhere.
 
Defines &quot;high-need schools&quot; as public elementary or secondary schools where at least 40% of the students receive a free or reduced price lunch under the school lunch program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10670-10671)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act

Bill: 110-s-3708
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Child health
Community health services
Dentistry
Dentists
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to health facilities
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Medical education
Medical personnel
Mental health services
Minorities
Minorities in medicine
Minority health
Psychologists

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: 
Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions related to: (1) addressing workforce shortages for primary care health professions; and (2) assisting underrepresented minorities or disadvantaged students to enter health professions.

Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) make grants for the training of primary care physicians teaching in community-based settings; (2) provide for programs that improve clinical teaching and research in primary care; (3) provide for community health needs assessments; (4) provide for the establishment of Primary Care Training Institutes within academic health centers; and (5) provide for approved professional training programs in the field of general or pediatric dentistry.

Revises provisions governing area health education centers, including to require the Secretary to make awards to improve the effectiveness and capabilities of existing programs.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the development and implementation of interdisciplinary training of psychology graduate students to provide behavioral and mental health services.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; (2) designate regional workforce analysis centers; (3) award grants or contracts to regional centers for research on high-priority workforce questions; (4) provide for monitoring of the supply, need for, and diversity and distribution of health professionals; and (5) establish the Advisory Committee on Health Workforce Information, Evaluation, and Assessment.

Requires the Secretary, acting in conjunction with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award competitive grants to establish Academic Health Departments to provide for collaboration between the academic and practice aspects of public health.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10671-10674)
action_date: 2008-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand the Rural Energy for America Program to include schools in rural areas.

Bill: 110-s-3709
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2008-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Alternative energy sources
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Energy
Energy efficiency
Federal aid to education
Rural education
School buildings

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: 
 Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to expand the rural energy for America program to include schools in rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10745)
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10745)
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Early Access Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3710
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2008-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Early retirement
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Finance and Financial Sector
Government trust funds
Health insurance continuation
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Medically uninsured
Medicare
Retiree health benefits
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: 
Medicare Early Access Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to add a new part E (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals 55 to 65 Years of Age).
 
Provides access to Medicare benefits for individuals 55 to 64 years of age who do not have coverage under a federal health insurance program or under a group plan. 
 
Requires enrollees to pay a premium to receive Medicare coverage. Requires the Secretary to base the premium on the Secretary's estimate of the average, national annual per capita amount of the cost of providing services to the population. 
 
Allows early retirees with access to retiree coverage to enroll under this part while keeping their federal or state COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation coverage. Allows an employer that offers employment-based retiree health coverage to an individual who enrolls under this part to modify such coverage to provide for: (1) employer payment of items and services for which payment may not be made under Medicare; and (2) employer payment of 25% of the monthly premium applicable to the individual after enrollment.
 
Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund to hold the premiums collected under this Act and to support the new program. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow program enrollees to receive a 75% advance, refundable credit to offset Medicare early access premium costs (thus requiring program enrollees in the Medicare early access program to be responsible for 25% of the monthly premiums).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate