hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to provide permanent treatment authority for participants in Department of Defense chemical and biological testing conducted by Deseret Test Center and an expanded study of the health impact of Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-2937
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Biological warfare
Chemical warfare
Health
Long-term care
Medical research
Military research
Science, Technology, Communications
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any illness to a veteran who participated in a test conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD) Deseret Test Center as part of a program for chemical and biological warfare testing from 1962 through 1973 (including Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense [SHAD] and related land-based tests), notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the illness is attributable to such testing.
 Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to conduct an expanded study on the health impact of Project SHAD. Requires the study to include, as practicable, all veterans who participated in Project SHAD.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention, and Readjustment Through Education Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2938
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2008-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Families
Federal aid to education
Higher education
Military dependents
Military operations
Officer personnel
Recruiting and enlistment
Retired military personnel
Scholarships
Service academies
Student loan funds
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: 
Enhancement of Recruitment, Retention, and Readjustment Through Education Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan on the coordination of current Department of Defense (DOD) educational assistance programs and the development of additional programs to enable members of the Armed Forces (members) to attain a bachelor's degree while pursuing a military career.
 
Increases rates of educational assistance: (1) under the Montgomery GI Bill; (2) for members of the Selected Reserve; and (3) for Selected Reserve members with extended (more than 12 years) service who provide support for contingency operations and other operations.
 
Provides an annual stipend for individuals receiving basic educational assistance and pursuing a program of education at an approved institution of higher education.
 
Allows a member who has completed six years of service (current law allows only members who have completed six years of service and have a military skill designated as critical) to transfer to one or more dependents any unused portion of the member's educational assistance entitlement. Provides similar authority for members of the Selected Reserve.
 
Authorizes a member on active duty and entitled to basic educational assistance to use all or a portion thereof to repay any outstanding federal student loan.
 
Makes eligible for educational assistance an individual who, after September 30, 2009, receives a commission upon graduation of a service academy or completion of Senior Reserve Officers' Training, and completes at least five years of continuous active duty.
 
Makes eligible for enrollment under the Montgomery GI Bill certain retired personnel originally enrolled in the veterans' educational assistance program.
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a supplemental educational grant program under which a participating institution of higher education provides certain veterans with the non-federal share of a percentage of such veteran's unmet educational financial need.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2939
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Access to health care
Air force
Armed forces reserves
Army
Brain
Community health services
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Defense
Executive reorganization
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Head injuries
Health
Health planning
Iraq compilation
Mental health services
Mental illness
Military dependents
Military medicine
National Guard
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Psychologists
Science, Technology, Communications
Telemedicine
Trauma care
Veterans' medical care
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) provide for the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and reserves and their families required by section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) report to the congressional defense committees on that Program's implementation.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a joint psychological health program to: (1) increase access to and the provision of psychological health care and related services for members of the National Guard following their deployment, and their families; (2) improve coordination among DOD components in the provision of such care during members' transition from active duty to civilian life; and (3) coordinate and oversee DOD efforts to assist members of the National Guard with mental illness and members with traumatic brain injury post-deployment.
 
Requires the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to establish the National Guard Psychological Health Council.
 
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to jointly carry out: (1) one or more pilot programs on the provision of mental health services to members of the National Guard and reserves, both before and after deployment, through telemental health technologies; and (2) an outreach program intended to reduce the stigma, among members of the National Guard and reserves returning from deployment, and their families, associated with seeking and obtaining mental health services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3596)
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Green Energy Production Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2940
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air pollution control
Alternative energy sources
Apprenticeship
Armed Forces and National Security
Carbon cycle
Carbon dioxide
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Commerce
Commercialization
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Energy efficiency
Energy research
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Federal aid to research
Government lending
Government trust funds
Grants-in-aid
High technology
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Manufacturing industries
Military bases
National Guard
Product development
Research and development
Research centers
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Technological innovations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Green Energy Production Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a green technology investment program to develop high-tech green research capabilities, promote green innovation and green energy investment, and increase scientific knowledge that may reveal the basis for new or enhanced products, equipment, or processes in target areas.

Establishes in the Department of Energy the Green Technology Investment Corporation to allocate funds, provide grants, and carry out component programs for all phases of technology commercialization. Requires the Corporation to establish: (1) a green development loan program for green technology investment; (2) a green markets grant program; (3) a green redevelopment, opportunity, and workforce grant program; (4) a green energy manufacturing loan program; (5) a green energy community pilot program; (6) a green energy institution of higher education pilot program; (7) a National Guard base green energy grant pilot program; (8) a green energy technology internship program; and (9) a green energy technology apprenticeship program.

Establishes in the Treasury the Green Technology Investment Fund to provide grants, loans, and assistance under this Act. 

Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency grant program.

Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) a project's eligibility for grants, loans, and assistance; and (2) grant priorities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3596-3597)
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Runway Safety Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2941
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accident prevention
Administrative procedure
Air traffic
Airports
Aviation safety
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Transportation
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to transportation
Fire prevention
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Infrastructure
Law
Lighting
Navigation (Aeronautics)
Private aviation
Rescue work
Standards
Transportation planning

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Runway Safety Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop and submit to Congress: (1) a strategic runway safety plan; as well as (2) a plan and schedule for installation and deployment of systems to alert air traffic controllers and flight crews of potential runway incursions at commercial airports and general aviation airports that are most at risk of such incursions.
 
Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to review and report annually to Congress on the installation of each advanced surface movement system funded by the Administrator.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the purchase and installation of certain runway incursion avoidance systems.
 
Directs the Administrator to: (1) review runway and taxiway lighting (both at daytime and nighttime) and markings at certain airports for compliance with FAA standards; (2) identify runways on which nonstandard lighting and markings may contribute, or may have contributed, to operational errors or incidents; and (3) submit such review to Congress along with a plan for remedying variance in lighting conditions and markings at nonstandard runways.
 
Directs the Administrator to evaluate for Congress the potential for improving safety and accident investigations through the use of systems that monitor and record the status of lighting systems on the movement areas of, or that are critical to the safe operations at, certain airports.
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) initiate a rulemaking to revise federal aircraft rescue and firefighting standards to improve the protection of the public from fires and hazardous materials incidents; (2) collect data on aircraft runway overruns that do not result in fatalities or property damage; and (3) report to Congress on potential safety risks identified by such data, including actions taken by airports and the FAA to reduce those risks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center.

Bill: 110-s-2942
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Continuing education
Education
Educational facilities
Higher education
Law
Legal education
Practice of law
Professional associations
Public prosecutors
South Carolina
Trials

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Authorizes the National District Attorneys Association to use the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, for a training program to improve the professional skills of state and local prosecutors and to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local prosecutors to work together. Authorizes the National Advocacy Center to provide comprehensive legal education in trial practice, provide substantive legal updates, and support staff training. 

action_date: 2008-06-04
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Authorizes the National District Attorneys Association to use the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina, for a national training program to improve the professional skills of state and local prosecutors and to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local prosecutors to work together. Authorizes the National Advocacy Center to provide comprehensive legal education in trial practice, substantive legal updates, and support staff training. 

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 759.
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-05-15
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2943
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Montana
National parks
Northwestern States
Sports and Recreation
Trails
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Act of 2008 - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the trail extending from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana, to the Pacific Ocean coast in Olympic National Park, Washington, as the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. 

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Act of 2008 - Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the trail extending from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana, to the Pacific Ocean coast in Olympic National Park, Washington, as the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. 

Requires the Trail to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Bars the United States from acquiring land or interest in land outside the exterior boundary of any federally-managed area for the Trail without the owner's consent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 990.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2008-06-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-539.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3597-3598)
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3597)
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Welfare Workforce Improvement Act

Bill: 110-s-2944
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption
Aid to dependent children
Child welfare
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Employee training
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Federal aid to education
Foster home care
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Social Welfare
Social work
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Child Welfare Workforce Improvement Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Secretary and Congress on child welfare staff.

Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary to treat as necessary for proper and efficient state administration all state expenditures for training the child welfare workforce.

Allows funds from private nonprofit educational institutions to be considered as the state's share in claiming federal reimbursement for such expenditures, without regard to certain requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3598-3599)
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Pay Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2945
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Age discrimination
Disabled
Discrimination against the disabled
Discrimination in employment
Employment of the disabled
Labor and Employment
Pay equity
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Fair Pay Act of 2008 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to declare that an unlawful employment practice occurs when the aggrieved person knew or should have known that the person was affected by the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice involved. Applies that amendment to claims of compensation discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
 
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to declare that an unlawful practice occurs when the aggrieved person knew or should have known that the person was affected by the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice involved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make a stillborn child an insurable dependent for purposes for the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-2946
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Childbirth
Death
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Government life insurance
Labor and Employment
Survivors' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Makes a stillborn child an insurable dependent under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Program for veterans and their survivors and dependents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Maple Tapping Access Program Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2947
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Farms
Grants-in-aid
Private forests
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sugar
Trees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Maple Tapping Access Program Act of 2008 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a voluntary public access program under which states and tribal governments may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make such land available for public maple-tapping activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Empowerment Act

Bill: 110-s-2948
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Administrative procedure
Chronically ill
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Department of Health and Human Services
Discrimination in medical care
Diseases
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Executive reorganization
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Health insurance
Insurance companies
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Law
Medically uninsured
Presidential appointments
Reinsurance
Self-employed
Small business
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Small Business Empowerment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a national program to make quality, affordable health insurance available to small employers and self-employed individuals in a manner that will spread risk on a national basis, modeled on the federal employees health benefit program.

Requires the Secretary to enter into a contract with an eligible entity for administration of the program. Authorizes such administrator to provide health insurance coverage to employees of participating employers and individuals. Directs such administrator to: (1) establish a pilot program to provide for the offering by carriers of a model health benefits plan; and (2) contract with the Institute of Medicine to assess the impact of the program on health care coverage costs and access.

Sets minimum standards for program health benefits plans. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations providing for employer participation.

Establishes the National Health Coverage Commission. Includes among Commission duties: (1) developing a model that ensures adequate coverage for medically necessary services, promotes disease and chronic disease management, and provides incentives for health provider compliance with best practices protocols; and (2) developing model cost sharing mechanisms that do not discriminate and that accommodate lower income individuals.

Directs the Secretary and the program administrator to implement an educational campaign concerning the program.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a program to provide reinsurance to qualified carriers offering plans under this Act; (2) make specified large claim payments (from the Small Business Health Coverage Trust Fund established by this Act) and annual payments to such carriers; and (3) require the payment of monthly assessments by each issuer offering health insurance coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3599)
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate