hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To require States to withhold assistance to applicants for, and recipients of temporary assistance for needy families with respect to whom there is substantial evidence of recent unlawful drug use.

Bill: 110-hr-3656
Sponsor: Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aid to dependent children
Cash welfare block grants
Drug abuse
Drug testing
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to subject applicants for, and recipients of, TANF to drug testing and the withholding of assistance when there is substantial evidence of recent unlawful drug use. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Energy Efficient Appliance Tax Credit for Air Conditioners Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3657
Sponsor: Rep. Ferguson, Mike [R-NJ-7]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air conditioning
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Income tax
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Energy Efficient Appliance Tax Credit for Air Conditioners Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 25% of the cost (up to $500) of air conditioners which meet requirements for the Energy Star program. Terminates such credit after 2016.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
American Flag Display Protection Act

Bill: 110-hr-3659
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Clothing
Colleges
Commemorations
Economics and Public Finance
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Flags
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Secondary education
Students' rights

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
American Flag Display Protection Act - Prohibits an elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education from receiving federal funds by grant or contract if the school has a policy or practice preventing students from respectfully displaying or wearing a representation of the U.S. flag in a manner at least equal in quality and scope to their right to respectfully display or wear any other representation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Equity for Our Nation's Self-Employed Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3660
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Health insurance
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Medical economics
Self-employed
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Equity for Our Nation's Self Employed Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow self-employed individuals to deduct health insurance costs in computing the tax on self-employment income. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Rural Students College, Career, and Community Readiness Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3661
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Career education
Community and school
Compensatory education
Congressional reporting requirements
Dropouts
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Educational counseling
Educational planning
Educational statistics
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Labor and Employment
Leadership
Nonprofit organizations
Rural education
School districts
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Rural Students College, Career, and Community Readiness Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to up to two nonprofit organizations to conduct higher education and career readiness demonstration projects. 
 
Requires grantees to partner with rural local educational agencies and schools to enroll a cohort of seventh grade students and a cohort of ninth grade students into the demonstration projects, which are to provide such students with approximately 25 hours of informational and educational services in each grade through grade 12 that prepare them for higher education and a successful career.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Forewarn Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3662
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employee rights
Employers' liability
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Law
Layoffs
Plant shutdowns
Wage restitution

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Forewarn Act of 2007 - Amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the Act) to redefine the terms &quot;employer,&quot; &quot;plant closing,&quot; and &quot;mass layoff&quot; for purposes of the Act to, among other things, make the Act applicable to employers of 50 or more employees (under current law, 100 employees).
 
Requires an employer to: (1) give 90-day written notice (under current law, 60-day) to employees and appropriate state and government officials before ordering a plant closing or mass layoff; and (2) give notice of such closing or layoff to the Secretary of Labor (including the number of employees), to U.S. and state Senators and Representatives who represent the area in which the plant is located, and to the Governor of the state in which the plant is located and to the chief elected official of the unit of local government within such closing or layoff is to occur. Revises criteria used in determining whether a plant closing or mass layoff has occurred or will occur. Makes an employer who violates such notice requirements liable to the employee for two days of pay multiplied by the number of days short of the 90-days notice provided before such closing or layoff (under current law, for back pay) for each day of the violation for up to 90 days (under current law, 60 days).
 
Authorizes the Secretary to bring a civil action on behalf of one or more employees for certain relief under the Act.
 
Directs the Secretary to make educational materials concerning employee rights and employer responsibilities available to the general public and employers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1972)
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Protect America's Wildlife Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3663
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aircraft
Animals
Citizen lawsuits
Endangered species
Federal preemption
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Hunting
Law
Predator control
Sports and Recreation
Transportation and Public Works
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife management

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Protect America's Wildlife Act of 2007 - Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to add to airborne hunting offenses a prohibition against any person shooting or attempting to shoot any bird, fish, or other animal before 3:00 a.m. following a day on which the person has traveled by aircraft other than on a regularly scheduled commercial aircraft. Increases the fine for such offenses to not more than $50,000 (currently, $5,000).

Prohibits a state from authorizing or undertaking any action otherwise prohibited under such Act for the purpose of increasing any game population or sport hunting. 

Authorizes a state to shoot predators from an aircraft to prevent a biological emergency, if: (1) the head of the state's fish and wildlife agency determines that such an emergency is imminent and there is no other means available to eliminate the emergency; (2) the shooting is conducted by an officer or employee of such agency or of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); (3) the shooting occurs only in the area where the emergency exists; and (4) the shooting removes only the minimum number of predators necessary to eliminate the emergency.

Allows the Secretary of the Interior to authorize an otherwise prohibited action to prevent the extinction of any endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 if there is no other means available to address the threat of extinction.

Authorizes citizen suits under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Tax Free Tips Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3664
Sponsor: Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax
Labor and Employment
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
Tax exclusion
Tipping
Withholding tax

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Tax Free Tips Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt tips from the income tax, social security and railroad retirement taxes, unemployment taxes, and tax withholding. Defines &quot;tips&quot; as any gratuity provided to a salaried employee by a customer or client of the employer's business. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1979-1980)
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Stop the Sale of Murderabilia to Protect the Dignity of Crime Victims Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3665
Sponsor: Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Damages
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Forfeiture
Government Operations and Politics
Injunctions
Interstate commerce
Law
Postal service
Prisoners

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Stop the Sale of Murderabilia to Protect the Dignity of Crime Victims Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) restrict the items that a federal prisoner may place in the mail or for delivery; and (2) provide for civil and criminal forfeiture of real or personal property used to commit a crime or obtained as a result of such crime.

Provides civil remedies, including injunctions, damages, and attorney fees, for persons aggrieved by federal prisoners using the mail in violation of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H10763)
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Foreclosure Prevention and Homeownership Protection Act

Bill: 110-hr-3666
Sponsor: Rep. Sutton, Betty [D-OH-13]
Introduced: 2007-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Debtor and creditor
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Federal advisory bodies
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Home ownership
Housing finance
Legislation
Mortgage banks
Mortgages
Usury

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: 
Foreclosure Prevention and Homeownership Protection Act - Establishes the Commission to Preserve the American Dream (Commission) to study and report to Congress and the President on: (1) the adequacy of the existing legal and regulatory framework to address the current foreclosure and mortgage lending crisis and to prevent similar crises from happening in the future; (2) the role of the states versus the role of the federal government in ensuring homeowners are protected against unscrupulous lending practices; and (3) the effects of this crisis on the domestic and world economies.
 
Requires the Commission to make recommendations regarding: (1) ways to assist homeowners currently in danger of losing their homes; (2) ways to encourage lenders and borrowers to work together to prevent foreclosure; and (3) legislative and regulatory changes to protect homeowners against unscrupulous lending practices and strengthen accountability for those involved in the mortgage lending market.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-25
text: Introduced in House
South Pacific Tuna Fleet Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3669
Sponsor: Del. Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [D-AS-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Fishery agreements
Fishery management
Fishing boats
International Affairs
Law
Licenses
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oceania
South Pacific area
Territorial waters
Tuna

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: 
South Pacific Tuna Fleet Act of 2007 - Declares that a fishery endorsement is not required for a United States documented purse seine tuna fishing vessel home ported in American Samoa while fishing exclusively for highly migratory species under a license issued under the 1987 Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America in the treaty area or in U.S. exclusive economic zones bordering the treaty area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
Improving Public Diplomacy through International Travel Act

Bill: 110-hr-3670
Sponsor: Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-17]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Canada
Commerce
Diplomacy
East Asia
Economics and Public Finance
Europe
Foreign trade promotion
Germany
Grants-in-aid
Immigration
International Affairs
Japan
Latin America
Marketing
Mexico
Passports
Transportation and Public Works
Travel
United Kingdom
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: 
Improving Public Diplomacy through International Travel Act - Directs the Secretary of State to enhance diplomatic relations with foreign countries and promote domestic business interests abroad by establishing a grant program to promote international travel to the United States.
 
Directs a grant recipient to develop a promotion program to encourage international travel to the United States and to effectively communicate U.S. entry requirements, including required documentation, fees, and processes. 
 
Sets forth the following market phase-ins: (1) year one, Canada; (2) year two, Canada and Mexico; (3) year three, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom; (4) year four, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Japan; and (5) year five, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany.
 
Reserves 20% of grant funds for promotion programs for destinations that lack the resources to market themselves internationally.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
To suspend temporarily the duty on glyoxylic acid.

Bill: 110-hr-3671
Sponsor: Rep. Baker, Richard H. [R-LA-6]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on glyoxylic acid.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
To suspend temporarily the duty on cyclopentanone.

Bill: 110-hr-3672
Sponsor: Rep. Baker, Richard H. [R-LA-6]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on cyclopentanone.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
National Trauma Institute Act

Bill: 110-hr-3673
Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Charles A. [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Burns
Health
Hospitals
Medical research
Medical technology
Military hospitals
Military medicine
Preventive medicine
Quality of life
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Texas
Trauma care
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: 
National Trauma Institute Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a National Trauma Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
 
States that the Institute shall: (1) develop medical technologies to improve injury prevention and diagnosis, survival, and quality of life for victims of trauma and burn injury; and (2) implement a multidisciplinary, multi-center collaborative research effort, including coordination of trauma research carried out at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, University Hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, and Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
Restore Patriotism to University Campuses Act

Bill: 110-hr-3675
Sponsor: Rep. Hunter, Duncan [R-CA-52]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Colleges
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Foreign leaders
Freedom of speech
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
International Affairs
Iran
Middle East and North Africa
New York City
State-sponsored terrorism
Student aid

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: 
Restore Patriotism to University Campuses Act - Forbids the provision of certain federal funds by grant or contract to Columbia University of New York City or any subelement of such school because it allowed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak on its campus.
 
Exempts student financial aid funds from such prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
Family Friendly Flights Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3676
Sponsor: Rep. Shuler, Heath [D-NC-11]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Airline passenger traffic
Airlines
Arts, Culture, Religion
Child welfare
Commerce
Consumer protection
Crime and Law Enforcement
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Motion pictures
Violence

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: 
Family Friendly Flights Act of 2007 - Requires an air carrier that provides publicly viewable entertainment screens on which violent in-flight programming is displayed to provide a child safe viewing area for child passengers who are under the age of 13 and for at least one adult travel companion per child. Requires: (1) all unaccompanied children under the age of 13 to be seated in the child safe viewing area; and (2) an air carrier, ticket agent, or their employees to offer an adult traveling with a child under the age of 13 the opportunity to request seating in the child safe viewing area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to carry out programs to enhance bridge safety monitoring in the United States.

Bill: 110-hr-3677
Sponsor: Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2007-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Bridges
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Infrastructure
Science, Technology, Communications
Traffic accidents and safety

Summary:
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish programs to provide grants to states and units of local government for projects that implement continuous bridge monitoring technology.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-09-26
text: Introduced in House