hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1715
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Coinsurance
Finance and Financial Sector
Medical economics
Medicare
Mental health services
Psychiatry
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide, by a gradual increase in the percentage of expenses considered incurred expenses, for a gradual reduction (from 50% to the standard 20%) of copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8618)
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Emerald Ash Borer Municipality Assistance Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1717
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Forest health
Government lending
Insect control
Revolving funds
Tree diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
Emerald Ash Borer Municipality Assistance Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Treasury the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use Fund amounts for loans to eligible local government units for purchases of equipment to monitor, dispose of, and replace infested trees on local government land within quarantine areas infested by the emerald ash borer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8619-8620)
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8619)
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
VETS Act

Bill: 110-s-1718
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Collection of accounts
College costs
Debtor and creditor
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Higher education
Interest rates
Iraq compilation
Military personnel
Student loan funds
Students' rights
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
 Veterans Education Tuition Support Act or VETS Act - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to require an institution of higher education, in the case of a servicemember who because of military service discontinues a program of education at an institution that administers a federal financial aid program, to: (1) refund to the servicemember tuition and other fees paid for the portion of the program of education for which the servicemember did not receive academic credit because of such military service; and (2) provide the servicemember an opportunity to reenroll at the institution with the same educational and academic status that the servicemember had when the program was discontinued because of the military service.
 
Requires a provider of a student loan with respect to such a servicemember: (1) if the servicemember reenrolls in the program of education (or a comparable program) within 13 months following the period of military service, to disregard the entire period that the education was discontinued in determining the date on which student loan repayment is to begin; or (2) if the servicemember does not reenroll, to not require loan repayment to begin before the later of the last day of such 13-month period or the date the repayment was otherwise required to begin.
 
Prohibits a court from granting a creditor relief from the 6% limit on interest charged against student loan indebtedness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide additional educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to veterans pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math.

Bill: 110-s-1719
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Education
Engineering
Engineers
Higher education
Infrastructure
Mathematics
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientific education
Student aid
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay to each individual entitled to basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and pursuing a program of education with a focus on science, technology, engineering, or math a lump-sum payment of $2,000 per academic year, or fraction thereof for enrollment lasting less than a year. Makes such amount in addition to any other educational assistance to which the individual is entitled.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Federal Supplemental Loan Program.

Bill: 110-s-1720
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Collection of accounts
College costs
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Graduate education
Higher education
Interest rates
Student aid
Student loan funds

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
Amends title IV (Student Assistance) the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a part I Federal Supplemental Loan program under which the Secretary of Education provides fixed and variable interest rate loans to undergraduates and graduates who attend institutions of higher education (IHEs) on a full-time basis.
 
Requires the rate for fixed loans and the margin for variable loans to be set at a level that results in the lowest rate for a borrower that will result in no net cost to the government.
 
Sets the maximum Supplemental loan amount at a student's cost of attending an IHE minus the financial aid awarded to such student and the amount such student is eligible for but does not receive under the Federal Family Education Loan program.
 
Directs the Secretary to offer Supplemental loan borrowers the same repayment plans offered under the Direct Loan program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1722
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2007-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices
Commerce
Dairy industry
Inventories
Marketing orders
Milk

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: 
Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to base the minimum Class II milk price on the average production cost of producing all milk in the 48 contiguous states. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) announce the minimum price for Class II milk by November 1 of each year, with specified price adjustment dates; (2) use the Class II milk price as the basic formula price for all federal and state milk marketing orders and all unregulated milk production areas; and (3) estimate annual milk production and domestic consumption.
 
States that the price of Class I (fluid) milk price in all federal and state milk marketing orders and all unregulated milk production areas shall be equal to the basic formula price plus the opportunity cost of unpaid labor for producing all milk.
 
Prohibits imposition of producer charges for the cost of hauling milk or the conversion of raw milk to manufactured products.
 
Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) milk inventory management; and (2) milk handler responsibilities.
 
States that in the case of a federal milk order, disapproval of an amendment to the order shall not be considered disapproval of the order or of other terms of the order.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8620-8621)
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Government Accountability Act

Bill: 110-s-1723
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Awards, medals, prizes
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Executive orders
Executive reorganization
Federal officials
Fringe benefits
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Inspectors general
Internet
Misconduct in office
Productivity in government
Removal of officials
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Subpoena
Term limits
Waste in government spending
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Improving Government Accountability Act - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to allow an Inspector General to be removed from office prior to the expiration of his or her term only on the grounds of permanent incapacity, inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony or conduct involving moral turpitude.

Establishes the term of office of each Inspector General as seven years and permits reappointment.

Requires each Inspector General to appoint a Counsel to the Inspector General.

Authorizes an Inspector General to annually transmit an appropriation estimate and request to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to the appropriate congressional committees, in addition to the head of the establishment concerned. Requires the President to include in each annual budget specified Inspector General appropriation information.

Establishes: (1) within the Executive Branch the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency; and (2) an Integrity Committee for the Council to review and refer for investigation allegations made against Inspectors General and certain staff.

Prohibits an Inspector General from receiving any cash award or cash bonus.

Removes specified Inspector General positions from the Level IV of the Executive Schedule and places such positions in Level III.

Requires each Inspector General to be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations.

Requires the head of a federal entity to communicate the reasons not later than 15 days before the removal or transfer of an Inspector General.

Considers each Office of Inspector General to be a separate federal agency for purposes of certain civil service provisions concerning reinstatement, retirement, and the Senior Executive Service.

Sets forth requirements for Inspectors General websites.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8693-8694)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain Bureau of Land Management land in the State of Nevada to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-1724
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Nevada
Parking facilities
Sports and Recreation
Sports facilities
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Provides for the conveyance of certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Nevada to the Nevada Speedway, LLC.
 
Requires: (1) Nevada Speedway, LLC, to pay to the Secretary of the Interior the appraised value of such land; and (2) any costs of the conveyance to be paid by Nevada Speedway, LLC. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Pension Promises to Workers Act

Bill: 110-s-1725
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Annuities
Civil actions and liability
Civil service retirement
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Corporate mergers
Department of Labor
Divorce
Executive compensation
Executive reorganization
Families
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Limitation of actions
Pension funds
Survivors' benefits
Tax exclusion
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Restoring Pension Promises to Workers Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the inclusion in gross income of all income previously deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan if an employer maintaining such a plan fails to meet certain participation, vesting, and minimum benefit requirements. 

Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to: (1) deny ERISA pension plan administrators the right to recover overpayments made to plan participants and beneficiaries in cases of hardship or insignificant amounts; (2) impose a three-year limitation period for bringing any action to recover an overpayment; (3) prohibit the elimination of accrued pension plan benefits during corporate mergers and acquisitions; and (4) establish in the Department of Labor an Office of Pension Participant Advocacy to protect pension plan participants.

Amends federal employee personnel provisions to: (1) entitle former spouses of federal employees who die before establishing a valid claim for an annuity to 55% of such deferred annuity or a lump-sum payment; (2) permit divorced spouses of federal employees to collect court-awarded retirement benefits when such employees are first eligible to retire (currently, only available at the time the employee actually retires); (3) entitle certain former spouses of retired federal employees divorced prior to September 14, 1978, to a survivor annuity; and (4) give priority to a surviving spouse of a federal employee in the distribution of balances in a Thrift Savings account, unless such spouse consents to the designation of another beneficiary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1726
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Interstate commerce
Local taxation
Service industries
State taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2007 - Expands the federal prohibition against state taxation of interstate commerce to: (1) include taxation of out-of-state transactions involving all forms of property, including intangible personal property and services (currently, only sales of tangible personal property are protected); and (2) prohibit state taxation of an out-of-state entity unless such entity has a physical presence in the taxing state. Sets forth criteria for determining that a person has a physical presence in a state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8694-8695)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1727
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Higher education
Income tax
Secondary education
Tax credits
Teacher education
Teachers
Teaching materials
Textbooks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow elementary and secondary school (K-12) teachers a tax credit for 50% of their education expenses (books, supplies, computer equipment, and supplementary materials) and their professional development expenses up to $300 in any taxable year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8696-8697)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Na Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau Advisory Commission Reauthorization Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1728
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Commemorations
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Hawaii
Hawaiians
Historic sites
History
National parks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Noa Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau Advisory Commission Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to reauthorize the Noa Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau Advisory Commission until December 31, 2017. 

action_date: 2007-09-17
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Noa Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau Advisory Commission Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to reauthorize the Noa Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau Advisory Commission until December 31, 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 359.
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. With written report No. 110-161.
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. With written report No. 110-161.
action_date: 2007-07-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-07-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-158.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhanced Financial Recovery and Equitable Retirement Treatment Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1729
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil service retirement
Collection of accounts
Compensation for victims of crime
Economics and Public Finance
Federal employees
Federal law enforcement officers
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Labor and Employment
Law
Public prosecutors

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Enhanced Financial Recovery and Equitable Retirement Treatment Act of 2007 - Imposes surcharges for unpaid criminal monetary penalties and for unpaid balances on money judgments obtained by the United States. 

Increases special assessments on persons convicted of certain criminal offenses against the United States.

Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Justice Enhanced Financial Recovery Fund to support Department of Justice debt collection activities.

Requires assistant U.S. attorneys to be treated in the same manner as federal law enforcement officers for purposes of federal employee retirement benefit provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8698-8700)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8698)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Pathways to Independence Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1730
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aid to dependent children
Cash welfare block grants
Disabled
Employment of the disabled
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Supplemental security income program
Welfare work participation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
Pathways to Independence Act of 2007 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to deem individuals with disabilities complying with a modified employability plan to be meeting work participation requirements.
 
Gives states the option to disregard in determining work participation rates any SSI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSA title XVI) and Social Security disability insurance applicants or recipients.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8701-8702)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8700-8701)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Authorization and Sunset Commission Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1731
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2007-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional reorganization
Executive reorganization
Expedited congressional procedure
Government Operations and Politics
House rules and procedure
Senate rules and procedure
Sunset legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: 
United States Authorization and Sunset Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes the U.S. Authorization and Sunset Commission, to be comprised of four Representatives and four Senators. 

Requires the Commission to submit to Congress, not later than 18 months after this Act's enactment and at least once every 10 years thereafter, a legislative proposal (referred to as the Commission Schedule and Review bill) that includes a schedule of review and abolishment of agencies and programs. Requires such schedule to provide a time line for the Commission's review and proposed abolishment of: (1) at least 25% (as measured in dollars) of unauthorized agencies or programs; and (2) if applicable, at least 25% of the programs identified by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) through its Program Assessment Rating Tool program (or similar review program) as ineffective or results not demonstrated. Requires agencies performing similar or related functions to be reviewed concurrently.

Sets forth review criteria. Requires the Commission to submit to the Congress and the President every two years a report that analyzes and includes (as appropriate) proposals and legislative provisions to reauthorize, reorganize, consolidate, expand, or transfer each agency and program scheduled for review. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of a resulting bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8703-8706)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8703)
action_date: 2007-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate