hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Design Piracy Prohibition Act

Bill: 110-s-1957
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Clothing
Copyright
Damages
Eyeglasses
Intellectual property
Law
Liability (Law)
Shoe industry

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Design Piracy Prohibition Act - Extends copyright protection to fashion designs. Excludes from such protection fashion designs that are embodied in a useful article that was made public by the designer or owner more than three months before the registration of copyright application. Gives fashion designs copyright protection for three years.

Declares that is not infringement to make, have made, import, sell, or distribute any article embodying a design which was created without knowledge or reasonable grounds to know that protection for the design is claimed and was copied from such protected design.
 
Extends the definition of infringing article to include any article the design of which has been copied from an image of a protected design without the consent of the owner. Provides that a fashion design shall not be deemed to have been copied from a protected design if it is original and not closely and substantially similar in overall visual appearance to a protected design.
 
Applies the doctrines of secondary infringement and secondary liability to actions related to original designs. Makes any person who is liable under either such doctrine subject to all the remedies, including those attributable to any underlying or resulting infringement.

Requires the Register of Copyrights to determine whether or not the application relates to a design which on its face appears to be within the subject matter protected as original designs and, if so, register the design.

Increases allowable damage awards for infringement of original designs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Patient Safety and Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1958
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disabled
Hospital rates
Hospitals
Long-term care
Medicare
Rehabilitation of the disabled
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Patient Safety and Improvement Act of 2007 - Creates a cross reference to provisions in the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 and the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 for the prospective payment of long-term care hospitals.

Makes the base rate for a long-term care hospital for the rate year 2008 the same as that used for discharges in the previous rate year. 

Defines &quot;long-term care hospital&quot; and establishes new patient criteria for long-term care hospital prospective payment. 

Requires the Secretary to approve distinct part rehabilitation units in certain long-term care hospitals if rehabilitation services are not included within one of the major diagnostic categories.

Requires the Secretary to recommend to Congress and, after rulemaking, implement national long-term care hospital facility and patient criteria.

Directs the Secretary to contract with one or more appropriate utilization and quality control peer review organizations to review the medical necessity of long-term care admissions and continued stays for individuals entitled to benefits under Medicare part A. 

Creates a separate classification for certain long-stay cancer hospitals, including satellites or remote locations if certain requirements are met.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1959
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reorganization
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Extremist movements in politics
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Ideology
International Affairs
Policy sciences
Political violence
Research centers
Right of privacy
Surveys
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to add a new section concerning the prevention of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.
 
Establishes within the legislative branch the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism to: (1) examine and report on facts and causes of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States; (2) survey methodologies implemented by foreign nations to prevent such radicalization and terrorism; and (3) build upon, bring together, and avoid unnecessary duplication of related work done by other entities toward such goal.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish or designate a university-based Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States to assist federal, state, local, and tribal government homeland security officials in preventing violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in the United States. Requires the Secretary to ensure that activities to prevent ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism do not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, and civil liberties of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10805)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Surety Bond Improvement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1960
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Alternative dispute resolution
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Insurance premiums
Law
Mediation
Small Business Administration
Small business
Surety and fidelity

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Surety Bond Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to: (1) authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee any surety against loss from a small business principal's breach of bond on any total work or contract amount that does not exceed $3 million (under current law, $2 million); (2) direct the Administrator to authorize a surety that issues, monitors, or services such bonds to use rates approved by the insurance commissioner in the state in which the contract will be performed; and (3) prohibit the Administrator from refusing to make payment on a surety guarantee based on facts, circumstances, or defects that the Administrator should reasonably have identified during the guarantee process.
 
Requires the Administrator to notify the congressional small business committees regarding a proposed change in fees charged to guarantee surety bonds.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the surety bond guarantee program is not required to be self-funding and, therefore, may at times operate at a loss.
 
Directs the Administrator to establish a third-party alternative dispute resolution procedure for mediating an issue in controversy between a participating surety and the SBA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10805-10806)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to expand the boundaries of the Little River Canyon National Preserve in the State of Alabama.

Bill: 110-s-1961
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Natural areas
Rivers
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Amends the Little River Canyon National Preserve Act of 1992 to modify the boundary of the Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama to include additional land in the Preserve. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 656.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. With written report No. 110-304.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. With written report No. 110-304.
action_date: 2008-01-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-11-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-282.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Regional Ground and Surface Water Enhancement Program Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1962
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agricultural conservation
Agriculture and Food
Environmental Protection
Groundwater
Infrastructure
Irrigation
Water pollution control
Water quality
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Regional Ground and Surface Water Enhancement Program Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) identify areas in which protecting or improving water quality or water quantity, or both, is a priority; (2) establish (within the environmental quality incentives program) a regional water enhancement program to improve agricultural water quality or water quantity; and (3) invite prospective partners to submit competitive grant proposals for regional water enhancement partnerships. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow bonds guaranteed by the Federal home loan banks to be treated as tax exempt bonds.

Bill: 110-s-1963
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bonds
Economics and Public Finance
Federal home loan banks
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Income tax

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow bonds guaranteed by any federal home loan bank to be treated as tax-exempt state or local bonds (thus excluding interest on such bonds from gross income).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10806)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish new separate fee schedule areas for physicians' services in States with multiple fee schedule areas to improve Medicare physician geographic payment accuracy, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-1964
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Medical fees
Medicare
Physicians
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish new separate fee schedule areas for physicians' services in states with multiple fee schedule areas to improve Medicare physician geographic payment accuracy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10806-10807)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10806)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
HIV/AIDS Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1966
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Authorization
Child health
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Health
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Malaria
Orphans
Performance measurement
Preventive medicine
Sexual abstinence
Tuberculosis
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
HIV/AIDS Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 to authorize appropriations for HIV/AIDS assistance.
 
Revises fund allocation provisions, including requiring that at least 50% of funds be made available for the promotion of abstinence, fidelity, and other preventative measures.
 
Extends the minimum 10% funding obligation for orphans and vulnerable children through FY2013.
 
Authorizes the President to increase proportional support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, within the authorized amounts under this Act, if specified performance, accountability, and transparency benchmarks are met.
 
Authorizes appropriations for Fund contributions through FY2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11940-11943)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10809)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10807-10809)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
New Savers Act

Bill: 110-s-1967
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts
College costs
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education savings accounts
Electronic funds transfers
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial services
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Higher education
Income tax
Individual retirement accounts
Labor and Employment
Payroll deductions
Performance measurement
Poverty
Saving and investment
Savings bonds
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Tax credits
Tax preparers
Tax refunds
Tax returns

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
New Savers Act - Requires the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to notify individual taxpayers of their options to: (1) have their income tax refunds electronically deposited to a designated bank account (e.g., savings account); and (2) purchase U.S. savings bonds when they file their federal income tax returns.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) make grants to provide matching funds for clinics to assist low-income taxpayers in preparing and filing their federal income tax returns; (2) increase payments to financial institutions to offset the costs of opening electronic transfer accounts; and (3) provide grants to states to increase participation in qualified tuition programs by moderate and low-income families.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish performance measures to evaluate the extent to which Americans save and use the federal tax filing process to facilitate savings activities; (2) establish a program to support and promote the expansion of access to financial services and development of new financial products and services; (3) convene a federal advisory board to expand access to U.S. savings bonds; and (4) publish an annual report on the use of qualified tuition programs for paying tuition and other higher education costs.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a performance measure for the percentage of state benefit recipients who receive benefits by direct deposit into insured bank accounts.

Establishes as a tax-exempt individual retirement account (IRA) a young savers account, to be treated in the same manner as a Roth IRA.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow tax credits for contributions to qualified tuition programs and Coverdell education savings accounts and for employer contributions to employee payroll savings plans; and (2) impose certain reporting requirements for managers of qualified tuition programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Security Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1968
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Employee training
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Explosives
Federal aid to water pollution control
Freedom of information
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Nonprofit organizations
Planning
Potable water
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Sewerage
Social Welfare
Storm drains
Technology assessment
Terrorism
Waste water treatment
Water Resources Development
Water supply
Water treatment plants

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Water Security Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants for: (1) vulnerability assessments of publicly owned treatment works or community water systems; (2) implementation of security enhancements; (3) the development, expansion, or upgrading of emergency response and site security plans; and (4) the voluntary creation of mutual aid and emergency network preparedness agreements.

Authorizes grants for security enhancements of treatment works and community water systems that meet specified certification requirements. Prescribes disclosure limits and protections for vulnerability assessments. Limits the federal cost share of an activity funded under this Act to 50%.

Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) provide technical guidance to small publicly owned treatment works and small community water systems (serving fewer than 10,000 individuals) for conducting vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, or site security plans and for implementing security enhancements; and (2) make grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations to improve assessment methodologies and tools and to implement a comprehensive training program.

Requires the Administrator to research and review: (1) means of providing alternative processes to convey, treat, and dispose of wastewater and to treat and deliver drinking water if a disruption of service event occurs; (2) means by which a distribution system of a community water system could be compromised to allow the delivery of any hazardous chemical or substance; (3) methods for monitoring a collection system for hazardous substances and unauthorized entry; and (4) strategies for recovery from, and restoration of services after, such an event.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Alexander Hamilton Boyhood Home Study Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1969
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Commemorations
Historic sites
History
National parks
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Alexander Hamilton Boyhood Home Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Governor of the Virgin Islands, to conduct a special resource study of Estate Grange and other sites and resources associated with Alexander Hamilton's life on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
 
Instructs the Secretary to evaluate the national significance of the sites and resources and the suitability and feasibility of designating them as a unit of the National Park System.

action_date: 2008-04-10
text: 
Alexander Hamilton Boyhood Home Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Governor of the Virgin Islands, to conduct a special resource study of Estate Grange and other sites and resources associated with Alexander Hamilton's life on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Instructs the Secretary to evaluate the national significance of the sites and resources and the suitability and feasibility of designating them as a unit of the National Park System. 

Authorizes appropriations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 657.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 110-305.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 110-305.
action_date: 2008-01-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2007-09-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-266.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10809-10810)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Hire a Hero Act

Bill: 110-s-1971
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aerospace industries
Armed forces reserves
Commerce
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction industries
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Employment subsidies
Energy
Energy industries
Grants-in-aid
Iraq compilation
Job hunting
Labor and Employment
Military personnel
National Guard
Nonprofit organizations
Salaries
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Veterans' employment
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Hire a Hero Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should support private sector employment initiatives for military personnel to help ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces have access to gainful employment.
 
Authorizes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist the following individuals in securing employment in the private sector: (1) a member of the National Guard or reserve; (2) a member of the Armed Forces who is nearing separation, discharge, or release; and (3) a former member of the Armed Forces.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Chief, in awarding such grants, should consider organizations that partner with private entities and associations involved in construction, energy, transportation, aerospace, domestic security, and other areas in which the employment of individuals having past military service would be of particular utility.
 
Requires the Chief to establish fiscal control, accountability, and program performance measures for grantees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate