hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
New IDEA (Illegal Deduction Elimination Act)

Bill: 110-hr-6813
Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-5]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alien labor
Electronic data interchange
Employee benefit plans
Evidence (Law)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Illegal aliens
Immigration
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Law
Science, Technology, Communications
Tax deductions
Tax returns
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
New IDEA (Illegal Deduction Elimination Act) - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for wages and benefits paid to or on behalf of an unauthorized alien.

Directs the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretaries of Homeland Security and the Treasury to jointly establish a program to share information that may lead to the identification of unauthorized aliens. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to provide taxpayer identity information to the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security on employers who paid nondeductible wages to unauthorized aliens and on the aliens to whom such wages were paid.

Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to: (1) make permanent the pilot program for verifying the employment eligibility of alien workers (E-Verify Program); (2) apply such program to current employees in addition to new hires; and (3) establish a rebuttable presumption that employers who participate in the pilot program have not violated the prohibition against continued employment of unauthorized aliens.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To affirm that exports and diversions of water from the Great Lakes may only be approved if such exports and diversions are in the public interest, to provide for enforcement, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6814
Sponsor: Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Great Lakes
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
New York State
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Water use and supply
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to authorize enforcement through a civil suit of the prohibition against the diversion or export of Great Lakes water by a state, federal agency, or private entity for use outside the Great Lakes basin unless such diversion or export is approved by the governor of each of the Great Lakes states.

Allows such a civil suit to be filed by the federal government, a state or local government, or by any person or organization whose property or other legally recognized interest will be adversely affected. Makes the proper venue for such a civil suit the federal judicial district with jurisdiction over any portion of the Great Lakes Basin and from which the diversion or export of water will occur or has occurred.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
MEGA

Bill: 110-hr-6815
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Economic development
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Housing and community development funding
Public-private cooperation
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Metro Economies Green Act or MEGA - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a metro area green zone grant program to make grants to local government units to support and establish green job programs that: (1) target low-income, difficult-to-employ, and formerly incarcerated persons; and (2) involve local business, academia, trade associations, nonprofits, and other stakeholders in energy-efficient economic development and green job training and creation.
 
Authorizes the Secretary also to establish competitive programs to make grants to local government units to support and establish: (1) a similar mini-metro green program that engages smaller communities in green economic and workforce development; and (2) an alternative green academies program that provides green job training, employment opportunities, and other life skills to high school dropouts, formerly incarcerated youth, and individuals unable to attend traditional institutions of higher education.
 
Directs the Secretary to select one unit of general local government or nonprofit organization designated by such a unit to establish and operate a Metro Area Green Institute to serve as a national resource center to support municipally based, green economic and workforce development efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Spurring Our Limitless and Abundant Renewable Energy Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6818
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA-22]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Spurring Our Limitless and Abundant Renewable Energy Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an increased residential energy efficient tax credit for solar electric property placed in service in a principal residence in 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to eliminate certain inappropriate changes in law made to the Medicare Advantage program.

Bill: 110-hr-6819
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA-22]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Amends the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) to repeal provisions relating to: (1) the requirement for certain nonemployer Medicare Advantage (MA) private fee-for-service plans to use contracts with providers; (2) the moratorium on authority to designate other plans as specialized MA plans for special needs individuals; (3) the limitation on out-of-pocket costs for dual eligibles and qualified Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals; (4) access to Medicare reasonable cost reimbursement contract plans, especially the prohibition on extension of such a contract in certain circumstances; and (5) the requirement for a study and report to Congress by the Comptroller General of the reasons (if any) why reasonable cost contracts are unable to become MA plans.
 
Restores the corresponding provisions of the Social Security Act as they were before the amendments made by MIPPA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
WATER Study Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6820
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Prescription drugs
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Water Assessment and Treatment Evaluation Research Study Act of 2008 or the WATER Study Act of 2008 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study and report to Congress on the presence, sources, and effects of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in U.S. drinking water supplies and on ways to properly dispose of such products and improve water treatment. Directs the Administrator to examine wastewater effluent and run-off from agricultural operations in identifying such sources.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Imaging Disclosure Sunshine Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6821
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Imaging systems in medicine
Medicare
Nuclear medicine
Patients' rights
Physicians
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Medicare Imaging Disclosure Sunshine Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) to require physicians referring an individual for imaging and other specified radiology services to inform the individual at the time of referral that such services may be obtained from persons other than the referring physician, a member of the referring physician's group practice, or an individual directly supervised by the referring physician or another physician in the group practice.
 
Requires the referring physician to provide the referred individual a written list of suppliers who furnish such services in the area in which the individual resides.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1692)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Legislative Branch Personnel Appeals Procedural Consolidation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6822
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional agencies
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Office of Special Counsel

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Legislative Branch Personnel Appeals Procedural Consolidation Act of 2008 - Transfers from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Personnel Appeals Board to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) authority to investigate any personnel action taken with respect to a GAO officer or employee, or an officer or employee of a participating federal office, and seek corrective and disciplinary action with respect to such personnel action, in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as if such officer or employee were an executive agency employee and such action were a prohibited practice against them.
 
Authorizes the officer or employee to seek corrective and disciplinary action with respect to such an action from the OSC and the Merit Systems Protection Board in the same manner and subject to the same terms.
 

 
Excludes current appeals by GAO officers and employees from the provisions of this Act. (Thus, allows such appeals to be considered by the GAO Personnel Appeals Board.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1696)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
PRO Energy Security Act

Bill: 110-hr-6823
Sponsor: Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional officers and employees
Energy prices
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Strategic materials and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Promoting Real Opportunities for Energy Security Act or the PRO Energy Security Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to acquire advanced biofuels for the purpose of filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if the average weighted price of oil exceeds $75 per barrel for three consecutive days. Defines &quot;advanced biofuel&quot; to mean renewable fuel, other than ethanol derived from corn starch, that has lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are at least 50% less than baseline lifecycle GHG emissions. Authorizes the following types of fuels to be eligible for consideration as &quot;advanced biofuel&quot;: (1) ethanol derived from cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignin; (2) ethanol derived from sugar or starch (other than corn starch); (3) ethanol derived from waste material; (4) biomass-based diesel; (5) biogas (including landfill gas and sewage waste treatment gas) produced through the conversion of organic matter from renewable biomass; (6) butanol or other alcohols produced through the conversion of organic matter from renewable biomass; and (7) other fuel derived from cellulosic biomass.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to submit to specified congressional committees a report containing: (1) a description of how the Secretary will acquire advanced biofuels for such purpose; and (2) recommendations for criteria and procedures for making advanced biofuels available from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to appropriate federal and nonfederal entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to assess the irrigation infrastructure of the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6825
Sponsor: Rep. Salazar, John T. [D-CO-3]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Colorado
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Farmland
Indian lands and resources rights
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the irrigation infrastructure of the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project, Colorado, and develop a list of improvements to repair, rehabilitate, or reconstruct the Project over a 10-year period.

Requires the Secretary to prioritize improvements based on: (1) recommendations of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; (2) cost-benefit analyses; (3) the ability of the Project's users to irrigate agricultural land using the Project's irrigation infrastructure; (4) the effect on water conservation; (5) the cultural benefits that the improvements would have on the Tribe; and (6) the opportunity to address water supply or environmental conflicts.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the Tribe in order to repair, rehabilitate, reconstruct, or replace the Project's irrigation infrastructure. Prohibits such a grant or agreement from being used for the repair, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of any major impoundment structure or for on-farm improvements.

Requires the Secretary, in carrying out a grant or cooperative agreement, to: (1) consult with the Tribe and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and obtain the Tribe's approval; and (2) coordinate the project with any work being conducted under the BIA's irrigation operations and maintenance program. 

Authorizes the Secretary to require the Tribe to provide nonfederal funds to match not less than 25% of the total amount of a grant or agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6826
Sponsor: Rep. Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA-13]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Home care services
Medicare
Midwives
Nurse practitioners
Nurses
Nursing
Physicians' assistants
Social Welfare
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise conditions of and limitations on payment for home health care services.
 
Allows payment for home health services to Medicare beneficiaries by: (1) a nurse practitioner; (2) a clinical nurse specialist working in collaboration with a physician in accordance with state law; (3) a certified nurse-midwife; or (4) a physician assistant under a physician's supervision.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
Enable Divestment from Sudan and Iran Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6827
Sponsor: Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: American investments
Arms control
Arms sales
Capital gains tax
Charitable contributions
Crime and Law Enforcement
Energy
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign loans
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Income tax
International Affairs
Iran
Middle East and North Africa
Natural gas
Nuclear energy
Petroleum
Petroleum refineries
Pipelines
Securities
Sudan
Tax deferral
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Enable Divestment from Sudan and Iran Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to promote the divestment of investments in Iran or the Sudan by pemitting the deferral of tax on any gain from the sale of securities in any business that is engaged in certain discouraged activities in Iran or the Sudan if the holder of such securities purchases replacement securities from a business not engaged in such discouraged activities. 

Includes as discouraged activities in Iran: (1) the sale of munitions to the Iranian government; (2) loans aggregating more than $20 million to the Iranian government; (3) investments of over $20 million in the Iranian energy sector; or (4) conducting business with or making charitable donations to any Iranian person designated as a terrorist. 

Defines &quot;Sudan discouraged activity&quot; as an investment in any business operation described in the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (e.g., businesses engaged in power production activities, mineral extraction activities, oil-related activities, or the production of military equipment).

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish and update every six months a list of business entities engaging in any Sudan or Iran discouraged activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in House