hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3212
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Absentee voting
Administrative procedure
Ballots
Computer software
Congress
Congressional elections
Economics and Public Finance
Election administration
Federal Election Commission
Federal advisory bodies
Grants-in-aid
Laboratories
Law
Presidential elections
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Standards
Test facilities
Voter registration
Voting
Voting machines

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require any voting system other than one using paper ballots personally marked by the voter to permit independent verification of cast ballots by various specified means, including paper or electronic.

Requires each state to conduct an audit of every federal election to ensure that each certificate of election is justified by the vote totals. Directs the Federal Election Commission to establish an Audit Guidelines Development Task Force to assist the Commission in developing model audit guidelines.

Prescribes election security requirements for voting systems, including: (1) chain of custody protocols; (2) disclosure of election-dedicated software; and (3) minimum state standards to ensure the integrity of the voting process and education and training of poll workers.

Establishes accreditation requirements for laboratories involved in testing of voting system hardware and software. Directs the Commission to establish the Testing Escrow Account for payments to accredited laboratories for testing of such hardware and software.

Requires the Commission to make grants for: (1) development and testing of new voting systems, technologies, and innovations to meet independent verification requirements under this Act; and (2) pilot programs for such testing.

Directs the Commission to establish a task force to study and develop recommendations regarding the appropriate level of funding for requirements payments.

Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to prohibit state refusal to accept voter registration and absentee ballot applications and federal write-in absentee ballots for failure to meet nonessential requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3214
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Coins and coinage
Commemorations
District of Columbia
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Historic sites
History
National parks
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Silver
Territories (U.S.)
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 - Requires quarter dollars, issued beginning in 2010, to have designs on the reverse emblematic of one national site in each state, the District of Columbia and territory of the United States. 

Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to select in each state a national park or other national site to be honored with a coin. Requires Yellowstone National Park, established on March 1, 1872, as the nation's first national park, to be depicted on the first quarter dollar issued and to be designated to the state of Wyoming. Requires five coin designs in each year of the period of issuance. 

Instructs the Secretary to strike and make available for sale silver bullion coins that are exact duplicates of such quarter dollars.

Authorizes the Director of the National Park Service to purchase for resale or distribution numismatic items issued under this Act. 

Requires the Secretary to take such actions as are necessary to ensure that minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the federal government. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3216
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2008-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Clinics
Community health services
Congress
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Health
Legislation
Performance measurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: 
Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) submit to Congress a plan to introduce pay-for-performance mechanisms into contracts which compensate Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contractors for the provision of veterans' health care services through community-based outpatient clinics (clinics); (2) commence plan implementation within 60 days after submission, unless Congress enacts a law prohibiting or modifying plan implementation; and (3) report semiannually to Congress on the advisability of utilizing such mechanisms in the provision of VA health care services by means in addition to such clinics.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6294)
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3219
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crimes against the elderly
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Investment advisers
Investors
Law
Securities fraud
Securities regulation
Sentencing guidelines
Social Welfare
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: 
Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to increase to a maximum of $50,000 the civil penalty for a violation of the Act primarily directed toward or committed against a senior (age 62 or older).
 
Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that guideline offense levels and enhancements appropriately punish criminal violations of the securities laws against seniors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain acrylic fiber tow.

Bill: 110-s-3220
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2008-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain acrylic fiber tow.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain acrylic fiber tow.

Bill: 110-s-3221
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2008-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain acrylic fiber tow.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Energy Emergency Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3223
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Agricultural credit
Agriculture and Food
Disaster loans
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy prices
Finance and Financial Sector
Government lending
Heating
Petroleum
Propane
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: 
Small Business Energy Emergency Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration to make disaster loans to assist small businesses that have suffered or are likely to suffer substantial economic injury as the result of a significant increase in the price of heating fuel occurring on or after October 1, 2007. Prohibits such loan from being made if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower would exceed $1.5 million, unless the borrower is a major source of employment in its surrounding area.
 
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to farm operations that qualify as a small business and that have or are likely to suffer substantial economic injury on or after October 1, 2007, as the result of a significant increase in energy costs in connection with an energy emergency declared by the President or the Secretary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6329-6330)
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6328-6329)
action_date: 2008-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate
10 Million-Solar Roofs Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3224
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2008-07-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Commerce
Energy efficiency
Housing and Community Development
Rebates
Solar energy

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: 
10 Million-Solar Roofs Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide rebates (for each watt of installed capacity) to eligible individuals or entities for the purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems, over a 10-year period, of at least an additional 10 million solar systems in the United States with a cumulative capacity of at least 30,000 megawatts.

Provides eligibility requirements for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit entities, and state and local governments. Sets minimum Energy Star or equivalent ratings that must be achieved by the buildings for which the photovoltaic system is installed.

Limits the total amount of a rebate to 50 percent of the purchase and installation cost of the system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the importation of certain low-level radioactive waste into the United States.

Bill: 110-s-3225
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2008-07-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Environmental Protection
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Import restrictions
Law
Licenses
Radioactive wastes

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: 
Amends Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from issuing a license authorizing the importation into the United States of: (1) low-level radioactive waste; or (2) specific radioactive waste streams exempted from regulation under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act.
 
Exempts from such prohibition low-level radioactive waste: (1) that is being returned to a U.S. government or military facility authorized to possess it; or (2) resulting from the use in a foreign country of nuclear material obtained by the foreign user from an entity in the United States that is being returned to the United States for management and disposal.
 
Authorizes the President to waive the prohibition and authorize the grant of a specific license only after finding that such importation would meet an important national or international policy goal.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3226
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2008-07-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Commemorations
Ex-presidents
Government Operations and Politics
Historic sites
History
Kentucky
Lincoln Administration
National parks

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: 
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Act of 2008 - Designates the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Kentucky as the &quot;Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.&quot; 

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park Act of 2008 - Designates the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Kentucky as the &quot;Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.&quot; 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1006.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-599.
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6364)
action_date: 2008-07-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit for green roofs.

Bill: 110-s-3228
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2008-07-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air pollution control
Animals
Building materials
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Habitat conservation
Income tax
Minimum tax
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Tax credits
Water Resources Development
Water conservation
Water pollution control

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) an 10% energy tax credit for the installation of a qualified green roof; and (2) a residential energy efficient tax credit for 30% of qualified green roof property expenditures up to $2,000. Defines a &quot;qualified green roof&quot; as any green roof which is at least 40% vegetated. Defines &quot;green roof&quot; as any roof which consists of vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane and its associated components.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6443)
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Air Medical Service Safety Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3229
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-07-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Aircraft pilots
Ambulances
Aviation safety
Department of Transportation
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Helicopters
Law
Navigational aids (Aeronautics)

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: 
Air Medical Service Safety Improvement Act of 2008 - Requires all pilots of a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft providing emergency medical services, if there is a medical crew on board, without regard to whether there are patients on board, to comply with federal safety operating requirements governing commuter and on demand operations as well as persons on board aircraft. Prescribes other requirements for such aircraft when operating under instrument flight rules or carrying out training.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate a rulemaking to: (1) create a standardized checklist of risk evaluation factors which shall be used by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft emergency medical service operators to determine whether a mission should be accepted; (2) require such operators to implement and comply with performance based flight dispatch and flight-following procedures; and (3) develop a method to assess and ensure that such operators comply with the latter requirements.
 
Requires helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft used for emergency medical service operations to have on board a terrain awareness and warning system device that meets FAA guidelines.
 
Requires the Administrator to issue: (1) a report on the availability, survivability, and costs of devices that record voice communications and flight data information on existing and new helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft used for emergency medical service operations; and (2) regulations to require such devices on board such aircraft. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6443)
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Shark Conservation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3231
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-07-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Environmental Protection
Fishery agreements
Fishery management
Fishing boats
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine resources conservation
Protection of animals
Sharks

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: 
Shark Conservation Act of 2008 - Amends the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to list a nation in the biennial report on international compliance if the nation's fishing vessels are or have been engaged in fishing activities that target or incidentally catch sharks and the nation has not adopted a shark conservation program that is comparable, taking into account different conditions, to that of the United States, including measures to prohibit removal any of the fins of a shark (including the tail) and discarding the carcass of the shark at sea.
 
Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to make it a prohibited act to: (1) remove any shark fin (including the tail) at sea; (2) have a fin aboard a fishing vessel unless the fin is naturally attached to the carcass; (3) transfer a fin from one vessel to another or receive a fin unless it is naturally attached; or (4) land a fin that is not naturally attached or a carcass without fins naturally attached. Eliminates a rebuttable presumption that any shark fins landed from or found on a fishing vessel were taken, held, or landed in violation if the total weight of shark fins landed or found exceeds 5% of the total weight of shark carcasses landed or found on board.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas, formerly of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and currently of Colleyville, Texas, for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

Bill: 110-s-3232
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-07-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Commemorations
Military medals, decorations, etc.

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: 
Authorizes and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Introduced in Senate
21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act

Bill: 110-s-3233
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2008-07-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative energy sources
Carbon cycle
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Commerce
Commercialization
Electric power production
Electric power transmission
Energy conservation
Energy consumption
Energy efficiency
Environmental Protection
Environmental technology
Federal advisory bodies
Fuel consumption
Geothermal resources
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Manufacturing industries
Motor vehicles
Raw materials
Science, Technology, Communications
Solar energy
Technological innovations
Transportation and Public Works
Waste reduction
Wind power

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: 
21st Century Energy Technology Deployment Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy, after consultation with the Energy Technology Advisory Council of the 21st Century Energy Deployment Corporation (both established by this Act), to develop and publish near-, medium-, and long-term goals for the deployment of clean energy technologies through the Corporation to establish or promote specified energy generation, transmission, and use and energy technology manufacturing capacities.

Requires the Advisory Council to publish 5- and 10-year performance targets and to establish initial targets until those are published.

Allows the Corporation to purchase, and make commitments to purchase, debt instruments associated with the deployment of clean energy technologies. Describes lending authorities of the Corporation. Allows the Corporation to issue securities for purchase by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Requires annual reports to Congress on the technologies supported and on Corporation performance. Requires the Secretary to oversee Corporation operations and finances.

Allows the Corporation to prepare a strategic plan to issue common stock to enable expansion of its operations and requires the plan to include consideration of Board restructuring alternatives.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6444-6447)
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6443-6444)
action_date: 2008-07-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Fisheries Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3234
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2008-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Diesel motor
Energy
Energy prices
Fishing boats
Gasoline
Income tax
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Tax credits
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: 
Fisheries Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow commercial fishermen a tax credit for excessive fuel costs (the excess amount paid for such fuel over an adjusted base price).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6505-6506)
action_date: 2008-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate