hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Puget Sound Recovery Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3196
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural pollution
Agriculture and Food
Animals
Canada
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Dredging
Economics and Public Finance
Endangered species
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental monitoring
Environmental research
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to water pollution control
Fisheries
Floodplains
Forestry
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Law
Licenses
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine resources conservation
Nonpoint source pollution
Population
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Restoration ecology
Riparian ecology
Sedimentation
Sewage treatment
Storm drains
Washington State
Waste water
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Water quality
Water treatment plants
Water use
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: 
Puget Sound Recovery Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Puget Sound Program Office, to be located in the state of Washington and headed by a Director who shall assist the management conference convened for Puget Sound in carrying out its goals.

Requires the Director to: (1) assist and support the implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan developed by the conference (&quot;Comprehensive Plan&quot;); (2) coordinate the major functions of the federal government related to the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan; (3) carry out studies and research necessary for strengthened implementation of the Comprehensive Plan; (4) coordinate and manage environmental data related to Puget Sound; (5) coordinate the grant, research, and planning programs authorized under this Act; (6) coordinate activities for the protection of Puget Sound and the Georgia Straits with Canadian authorities and responsibilities, including under species recovery plans, through cooperation with other federal agencies that have jurisdiction in the Puget Sound watershed; and (7) collect and make available to the public information relating to the environmental quality of Puget Sound.

Requires a biennial report to Congress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.

Allows the Administrator to make grants for projects and studies that will help implement the Comprehensive Plan and for projects to address sewage and stormwater discharges into the Puget Sound watershed.

Requires the President, as part of the annual budget, to submit information regarding expenditures and roles of each federal agency involved in Puget Sound protection and restoration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation of submersible or semi-submersible vessels without nationality.

Bill: 110-s-3198
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Crime and Law Enforcement
Drug abuse
Drug law enforcement
Drug traffic
International Affairs
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine transportation
Navigation
Ships
Smuggling
Submarines
Territorial waters
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: 
Amends federal law relating to maritime drug law enforcement to prohibit knowingly or intentionally operating by any means, or embarking in, any semi-submersible vessel or any manned or unmanned submersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into, through, or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain shipping from the harbor maintenance tax.

Bill: 110-s-3199
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Canada
Excise tax
Freight
Great Lakes
Harbors
Maintenance and repair
Marine terminals
Marine transportation
St. Lawrence Seaway
Transportation and Public Works
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the harbor maintenance tax commercial cargo (other than bulk cargo) loaded at: (1) a port in the U.S. mainland and unloaded at another such port after transport solely by coastal route or river or unloaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System; or (2) such a port in Canada and unloaded at a port in the U.S. mainland.

 Defines the &quot;Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System&quot; as the waterway between Duluth, Minnesota, and Sept Iles, Quebec, Canada, encompassing the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and the Saint Lawrence River. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Mentoring for All Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3200
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Employee training
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Labor and Employment
Mentoring
National service
Nonprofit organizations
Public service advertising
Public-private partnerships
Recruiting of employees
Secondary education
Volunteer workers
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Mentoring for All Act of 2008 - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to direct the Corporation for National and Community Service to award competitive, matching, three-year grants to nonpartisan, collaborative, public-private partnerships at the state and local level for efforts to grow and strengthen direct-service youth mentoring programs in all forms and settings in their service areas. 
 
Requires partnership grantees to use at least 80% of their grant for competitive subgrants to mentoring programs: (1) operated by or being created by, nonprofit organizations, schools, or local governments; or (2) operated by local collaboratives that each include at least two experienced youth mentoring organizations and at least one entity that provides volunteer mentors. Allows partnership grantees to give subgrant priority to collaboratives.
 
Requires each partnership grantee to participate in a collaborative national network of mentoring partnerships.
 
Directs the Corporation to award competitive, matching, three-year grants to entities or collaboratives of entities enabling the entities or collaboratives to: (1) build the necessary infrastructure to create a state mentoring partnership; or (2) implement national mentoring projects.
 
Requires the Corporation to evaluate this Act's programs and provide training and technical assistance to grant fund recipients that is based on support from the national network of mentoring partnerships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Reauthorization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3201
Sponsor: Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Animals
Authorization
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to health facilities
Health planning
Insect control
Mosquitoes
Preventive medicine

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include among the reasons preferences shall be given in awarding mosquito control program grants that a political subdivision or consortium of political subdivisions demonstrates to the Secretary of Health and Human Services that its control program is consistent with existing state mosquito plans or policies.

Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for mosquito control programs to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
KC-Tanker Recompete Act

Bill: 110-s-3203
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Commerce
Corporation taxes
Cost accounting
Defense budgets
Defense contracts
Defense industries
Defense procurement
Economics and Public Finance
Export subsidies
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Income tax
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Military aircraft
Public corruption
Tanker aircraft
Taxation
Trade agreements
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
KC-Tanker Recompete Act - Prohibits funds from being used by the Department of Defense (DOD) on the KC-X (aerial refueling) tanker contract. Defines such contract as the contract awarded by the Department of the Air Force on February 29, 2008, for such aircraft.
 
Outlines requirements and conditions as part of the acquisition process for the award of a contract for a replacement for the KC-135 tanker, including: (1) an independent cost estimate; (2) an increase in the proposal cost or price by the amount of any illegal subsidization by a subsidized person; (3) ensuring an evaluation of the cost borne by a supplier and the cost borne by a foreign government; (4) the consideration of national security impacts; (5) defense industrial base considerations; (6) consideration of the loss of U.S. employee and corporate tax revenue when awarding contracts to foreign entities; and (7) the impact of U.S. regulatory burdens.
 
Directs the Secretary of Defense and the contract source selection authority to require any prospective defense contractor or subcontractor not already covered by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to comply with such Act's requirements as a contract award condition. Allows a waiver of such requirement for national security purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3204
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Arrest
Civil actions and liability
Coast guard
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Death
Environmental Protection
Environmental monitoring
Evidence (Law)
Fines (Penalties)
Governmental investigations
Identification of criminals
International Affairs
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Law
Liability (Law)
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Marine safety
Maritime law
Merchant seamen
Missing persons
Negligence
Passenger ships
Personnel records
Rape
Security measures
Shipbuilding
Terrorism
Video tape recording
Waste disposal in the ocean
Women
Wrongful death

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008 - Sets forth cruise vessel security and safety requirements concerning: (1) vessel design and construction; (2) crew access to passenger staterooms; (3) log book entry and reporting of deaths, missing individuals, and alleged crimes; (4) database of crewmembers terminated due to commission of a crime; (5) maintenance of rape kits on board; (6) crime scene investigation training and certification for vessel crewmembers; (7) video surveillance to monitor crime; and (8) posting of certain safety information.
 
Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act.
 
Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to revise the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (Secretary) to dispatch Coast Guard personnel on vessels to deter or respond to terrorism or transportation security incidents. Authorizes use of such personnel to act as: (1) environmental observers to monitor compliance with federal laws regarding the discharge of waste into U.S. waters; and (2) public safety officers to assist vessel passengers and crew with reporting and investigation of crimes, securing of suspects, and collection of crime evidence.
 
Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the security needs of a passenger vessel depending on the number of passengers on the vessel, with recommendations for security improvements.
 
Amends the Death on the High Seas Act to extend from three to 12 miles from the U.S. shore the high seas jurisdiction wherein a death by a wrongful act, neglect, or default of a person or vessel will allow the personal representative of the decedent to bring a civil action in admiralty.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Markets Emergency Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3205
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Energy
Energy demand
Energy prices
Energy supplies
Futures trading
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Petroleum
Swaps (Finance)

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Energy Markets Emergency Act of 2008 - Directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to utilize all its authority, including its emergency powers, to: (1) curb immediately the role of excessive speculation in any contract market within its jurisdiction and control on or through which energy futures or swaps are traded; and (2) eliminate excessive speculation, price distortion, sudden or unreasonable fluctuations or unwarranted changes in prices, or other unlawful activity that is causing major market disturbances that prevent the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand for energy commodities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare, Medicaid, and MCH Tobacco Cessation Promotion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3206
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Block grants
Drug abuse
Drug therapy
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health counseling
Maternal health services
Medicaid
Medicare
Smoking
Social Welfare
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Medicare, Medicaid, and MCH Tobacco Cessation Promotion Act of 2008- Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of: (1) counseling for cessation of tobacco use; and (2) tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy. 

Provides for similar benefits under SSA titles V (Maternal and Child Health Services) and XIX (Medicaid).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6291-6292)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6290-6291)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Respecting States Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3207
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms
Firearms control
Government Operations and Politics
Interstate relations
Law
Licenses
Local laws
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Respecting States Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to provide for reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms in different states by persons who are not prohibited by federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm and who are: (1) carrying a valid state license or permit for carrying a concealed firearm; or (2) otherwise entitled to carry a concealed firearm in their state of residence. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Carbon Reduction Technology Bridge Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3208
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air pollution control
Biomass energy
Bonds
Carbon cycle
Carbon dioxide
Coal
Depreciation and amortization
Electric power production
Energy
Environmental Protection
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax
Investment tax credit
Tax credits
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Carbon Reduction Technology Bridge Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) seven-year amortization of mechanical or electronic systems that are installed on a coal-fired electric generation unit after 2007 and that reduce carbon dioxide emissions; (2) a tax credit for the production of electricity using closed-loop biomass co-fired with coal; (3) a tax credit for investment in qualified clean coal electric generation units; (4) a tax credit for investment in carbon dioxide capture, transport, and storage property which is part of a qualified coal-fired electric generation unit; and (5) a tax credit for investment in clean energy coal bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR  S6292)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Title VII Fairness Act

Bill: 110-s-3209
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Disabled
Discrimination against the disabled
Discrimination in employment
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Labor and Employment
Law
Limitation of actions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Title VII Fairness Act - Amends the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and title VII (Equal Employment Opportunities) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to delay the start of the time period for filing charges of employment discrimination until the aggrieved person has, or should be expected to have, enough information to support a reasonable suspicion of the discrimination, provided the aggrieved person demonstrates that the person did not have, and should not have been expected to have, enough information to support a reasonable suspicion of such discrimination on the date on which the alleged discrimination occurred. Prohibits applying these amendments to alleged discrimination relating to pensions or pension benefits.
 
Applies the above Civil Rights Act of 1964 amendment to discrimination claims brought under: (1) specified provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and (2) provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 relating to employment by the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6287-6290)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Centennial District Authorization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3210
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Architecture
Arts, Culture, Religion
Commemorations
Cultural property
Economics and Public Finance
Grants-in-aid
Historic sites
History
Parks
Pennsylvania
Urban affairs
Urban areas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Centennial District Authorization Act of 2008 - Establishes in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Centennial Historic District (District). 

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, state or local government agencies, nonprofit entities, and any leaseholders to administer the District. Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare a plan for the development of historic, architectural, natural, cultural, recreational, and interpretive resources within the District; and (2) provide financial assistance for capital improvement projects in the District.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, to clarify eligibility for livestock indemnity payments.

Bill: 110-s-3211
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Animals
Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Indemnity
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to redefine &quot;natural disaster declaration&quot; for purposes of the livestock compensation program.
 
States that for purposes of livestock indemnity payments: (1) eligible livestock losses shall include the death of livestock in a disaster county due to a natural disaster regardless of whether the death is related to any natural disaster that is the basis for a natural disaster declaration (for the disaster county); and (2) assistance applications must be filed not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate