hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3730
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Caregivers
Chronically ill
Department of Health and Human Services
Dislocated workers
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Geriatrics
Gerontology
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Home care services
Labor and Employment
Long-term care
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical personnel
Medical research
Medicare
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Nursing
Paramedical personnel
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: 
Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand training for health professionals in the fields of geriatrics, long-term care, and chronic care management. 

Requires an analysis of the health and long-term care workforce.

Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide for information to adults and dislocated workers about health care and long-term care occupations. Provides for information to veterans about training, internship, and employment opportunities in geriatrics, gerontology, and long-term care.

Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant Secretary for Aging to: (1) develop family caregiver training materials; and (2) provide for the establishment and operation of a National Resource Center on Volunteers, Students, and Seniors to promote partnerships between entities in the aging network and institutions of higher education and secondary schools.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for the development of core training competencies for personal or home care aides and additional training content for nurse aides and home health aides; and (2) establish a panel of long-term care workforce experts.

Provides for the development of information and referral protocols for family caregivers of Medicare beneficiaries.

Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of assessments of family caregiver support needs.

Provides for studies on: (1) the mental health workforce; (2) the aging network's capacity to meet current and future needs; (3) retention and tenure of nurse aides and home health aides; and (4) spending by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on conditions and illnesses that disproportionately impact the health of older individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10882-10883)
action_date: 2008-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Small House Nursing Homes Act

Bill: 110-s-3732
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Law
Medicaid
Nursing homes
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Promoting Small House Nursing Homes Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a small house nursing home loan program under which the Secretary makes grants for the establishment, renovation, and construction of small house nursing homes that meet the requirements of this Act. 

Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) a Small House Advisory Panel to evaluate applications for loans under the program in conjunction with lenders; and (2) an evaluation tool and evaluation criteria with which to prioritize borrowers.

Sets forth eligibility criteria for a loan under this Act, including that that home: (1) is designed to establish substantive culture change; (2) has been approved to operate a skilled nursing facility or a nursing facility; and (3) ensures that at least 30% of the residents of the facility are Medicaid-funded individuals.

Requires the Secretary to develop model small house nursing home guidelines. 

Sets forth requirements for a small house nursing home that obtains proceeds from a direct loan under this Act, including that the home provides specified training to all staff. 

Gives priority in awarding loans to nursing homes that have a certain residential structure, such as private bedrooms, and to homes with a legally binding collective bargaining agreement.

Terminates this program 25 years after the date on which amounts are initially appropriated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10948-10949)
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10947-10948)
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to hold at least 1 public hearing before issuance of a permit affecting public or private land use in a locality.

Bill: 110-s-3733
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power transmission
Energy facilities
Gas companies
Government Operations and Politics
Land use
Law
Licenses
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public meetings

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Amends the Federal Power Act and the Natural Gas Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hold at least one public hearing in each affected county and locality before issuing any authorization for action that may affect public or private land use (other than federal land). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10949)
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Fish Springs Ranch Settlement Act

Bill: 110-s-3734
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Indian claims
Indian water rights
Minorities
Nevada
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Fish Springs Ranch Settlement Act - Ratifies the Fish Springs Ranch Water Rights Settlement Agreement dated May 20, 2007.
 
Sets forth provisions governing the waiver and retention of claims by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Indians and the Secretary of the Interior.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the eligibility of computer technology and equipment development businesses for enterprise zone incentives.

Bill: 110-s-3735
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Computers
Enterprise zones
Income tax
Science, Technology, Communications
Urban affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include a computer technology or equipment development business within the definition of a &quot;qualified business&quot; for purposes of enterprise zone tax incentives.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10951)
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10949-10951)
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, to require air carriers and ticket brokers to notify consumers of taxes, fees, charges, and fuel surcharges in a timely manner, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3736
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Airline passenger traffic
Airlines
Aviation fuels
Commerce
Department of Transportation
Energy
Energy prices
Government Operations and Politics
Law
Restrictive trade practices
Transportation rates

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Makes it an unfair or deceptive practice for: (1) a domestic or foreign air carrier or ticket broker to display (including to an online purchaser) the airline ticket price without simultaneously displaying all applicable ticket taxes, fees, charges, and fuel surcharges; and (2) a domestic or foreign air carrier to fail to provide certain information to an online ticket purchaser, including fees for checked baggage, seating assignments, and optional in-flight goods and services.
 
Makes it an unfair or deceptive practice, as well, for any domestic or foreign air carrier to increase ticket prices through a fuel surcharge that is not correlated to the price of fuel paid or the amount of fuel used by the air carrier.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to: (1) carry out this Act; and (2) establish a procedure to calculate whether a domestic or foreign air carrier's fuel surcharges are sufficiently related to its fuel costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Sell Fuel Efficient Cars Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3737
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Automobile industry
Automobiles
Buy American
Commerce
Economic stabilization
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Fuel consumption
Subsidies

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Sell Fuel Efficient Cars Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the Passenger Automobile Trade-In Program to provide eligible individuals with subsidies to purchase eligible new automobiles in exchange for eligible old automobiles.
 
Defines as eligible individuals those who (among other requirements) do not have more than three passenger automobiles registered under his or her name and whose adjusted gross income was not more than $25,000 ($40,000 in the case of a joint tax return).
 
Defines as eligible new automobiles (among other requirements) those that were manufactured by a U.S. automaker whose failure would have a systemic adverse effect on the overall U.S. economy, were assembled in the United States, and have a fuel economy of not less than 25 miles per gallon (MPG) or more than 4.9 MPG greater than the eligible old automobile.
 
Defines as eligible old automobiles (among other requirements) those that are operable, were first registered by any person not less than ten years before a trade is initiated, and are registered under the eligible individual's name before December 1, 2008.
 
Directs the Secretary to provide $10,000 to the seller (automaker) of each new automobile who trades a new automobile to an eligible individual in exchange for an old automobile. Requires the eligible individual to pay the seller the difference between the purchase price of the new automobile and the $10,000 provided by the Secretary.
 
Requires eligible old automobiles to be destroyed and disposed of.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3738
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Authorization
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Consumer education
Debtor and creditor
Depreciation and amortization
Economics and Public Finance
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Reserve System
Federal aid to housing
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Government paperwork
Housing finance
Law
Loan defaults
Mortgage interest rates
Mortgages
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to establish the right of an eligible deferred-foreclosure consumer, defendable in court, to defer initiation of a foreclosure or related action, including a foreclosure sale, brought by any creditor, servicer, or holder of an eligible deferred-foreclosure mortgage, during a specified deferment period.
 
Declares invalid any foreclosure action or proceeding regarding a deferred-foreclosure mortgage if the creditor or servicer fails to notify the consumer: (1) at least 30 days before instituting the action or proceeding; and (2) at least once during each subsequent 30-day period until the foreclosure becomes final.
 
Prescribes procedures governing: (1) initiating foreclosure deferment; (2) payment notices during the deferment period; and (3) the manner of consumer payment during the deferment period.
 
Amortizes over the life of the mortgage the difference between the amount of monthly payment due under the eligible deferred-foreclosure mortgage and the deferment payment amount.
 
Prohibits a creditor or servicer from imposing any late fee or other fee or charge during the deferment period.
 
Requires the creditor or servicer to provide the consumer with separate, written notification, distinct from all other correspondence, regarding: (1) any interest rate increase with respect to a sub-prime mortgage; (2) any minimum monthly payment increase with respect to a negative amortization mortgage; (3) clear and conspicuous disclosure of the good faith estimate of the monthly payment applicable after the adjustment or reset date; and (4) a list of alternatives available to consumers prior to the date of adjustment or increase.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to implement foreclosure mitigation activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Derivatives and Hedge Fund Regulatory Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3739
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Bank accounts
Bank failures
Bank fraud
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Commodity exchanges
Department of the Treasury
Derivative securities
Federal Reserve System
Futures trading
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Housing and Community Development
Independent regulatory commissions
Information disclosure (Securities law)
Law
Mutual funds
Secondary mortgage market
Securities fraud
Securities regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Derivatives and Hedge Fund Regulatory Improvement Act of 2008 - Directs the appropriate federal banking agencies, with respect to the entities under their respective jurisdictions that engage in transactions involving unregistered hedge funds or over-the-counter derivatives, to initiate a coordinated rulemaking to: (1) extend to unregistered hedge funds the requirements governing the safety and soundness of the financial system applicable to mutual funds; (2) provide for the regulation of over-the-counter derivatives that are not traded on a national securities exchange or by a registered securities association (including credit default swaps, interest rate swaps, currency swaps, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and collateralized debt obligations); and (3) prohibit insured depository institutions from trading derivatives for their own accounts.
 
Requires the appropriate federal banking agencies and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to promulgate rules designed to: (1) avoid systemic risks to the financial markets; (2) ensure safe and sound operation of banks, including mandatory maintenance of sufficient capital levels and limits on aggregate leverage, and restrictions on buying, selling, or entering into derivatives by an insured depository institution for its own account; and (3) provide means to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Digital TV Transition Fairness Act

Bill: 110-s-3740
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Antennas
Commerce
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Economics and Public Finance
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Subsidies
Telephone
Television broadcasting
Television programs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Digital TV Transition Fairness Act - Requires the Department of Commerce to implement and administer a program to obtain coupons that can be applied toward: (1) the cost to install a digital-to-analog converter box; (2) the purchase and installation of an indoor or outdoor antenna, or both if needed, to facilitate the reception and display of signals of channels broadcast in digital television service; and (3) the cost to install, or the cost of any other equipment needed to receive and display, basic broadcast television service.
 
Sets forth consumer and product eligibility criteria.
 
Provides for a website and telephone hotline to provide relevant information to assist consumers that have degraded or lost signals or channels as a result of the full power transition from analog to digital television that is to occur on February 17, 2009.
 
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate rules requiring that each multichannel video programming distributor providing broadcast television for a local market provide to eligible consumers in that local market access to basic broadcast television service.
 
Directs the FCC to carry out an education and outreach campaign to inform and educate consumers on the availability, benefits, and advantages of the programs and requirements established under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit regulation of certain emissions from agricultural production.

Bill: 110-s-3741
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2008-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural pollution
Agriculture and Food
Air pollution control
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrogen oxides

Summary:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: 
Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating under such Act emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, or methane resulting from agricultural production; and (2) exclude such emissions from the definition of &quot;air pollutant.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that an artistic tribute to commemorate the speech given by President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate on June 12, 1987, should be placed within the United States Capitol.

Bill: 110-sconres-1
Sponsor: Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO]
Introduced: 2007-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Art
Arts, Culture, Religion
Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
Cold War
Congress
Congressional tributes
Europe
Ex-presidents
Germany
Government Operations and Politics
History
International Affairs
Presidential messages
Reagan Administration
U.S.S.R.

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that an artistic tribute to commemorate the speech given by President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate on June 12, 1987, should be placed within the U.S. Capitol.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S189-190)
action_date: 2007-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that it is the goal of the United States that, not later than January 1, 2025, the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the United States should provide from renewable resources not less than 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States and continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.

Bill: 110-sconres-3
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2007-01-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Agricultural production
Agricultural wastes
Agriculture and Food
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Cellulose
Energy crops
Energy development
Environmental Protection
Farm lands
Feeds
Fibers
Forests, forestry, trees
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Refuse as fuel
Wood

Summary:
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that it is the goal of the United States that not later than January 1, 2025, U.S. agricultural, forestry, and working land should provide from renewable resources not less than 25% of total U.S. energy consumption and continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S705)
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S706)
action_date: 2007-01-17
text: Introduced in Senate