hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Hurricane Ike Tax Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6958
Sponsor: Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alabama
Books and print media
Business expenses
Business investment and capital
Disaster relief and insurance
Elementary and secondary education
Employee benefits and pensions
Florida
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Louisiana
Low- and moderate-income housing
Mississippi
Motor vehicles
Natural disasters
Securities
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Solid waste and recycling
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Hurricane Ike Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits to individuals affected by Hurricane Ike.

Makes specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently apply only to residents of the Gulf Opportunity Zone and the Hurricane Katrina disaster area, applicable to the Hurricane Ike recovery area, including: (1) tax-exempt bond financing, the low-income housing tax credit, accelerated depreciation and increased expensing of business assets, an increase in the rehabilitation tax credit, extended carryback of net operating losses, and investment in tax credit bonds; (2) expensing of environmental remediation costs and demolition and cleanup costs; (3) tax incentives for employer-provided housing; (4) tax-free withdrawals from retirement accounts and recontributions for home purchases; (5) employer tax credits for retention of employees; and (6) suspension of limitations on tax deductions for charitable contributions and personal casualty losses. 

Extends through 2009 the additional tax exemption for housing displaced individuals in the Hurricane Ike recovery area.

Extends through 2009 the enhanced tax deduction for charitable contributions of food inventories and of book inventories to public schools. 

Requires charitable organizations to provide the Secretary of the Treasury with specified information, on an annual basis, relating to their disaster relief activities.

Makes the standard mileage rate used to determine the tax deduction for the use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes equal to the standard mileage rate used for the tax deduction for medical and moving expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Fair Funding for Upward Bound Act

Bill: 110-hr-6959
Sponsor: Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Compensatory education
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Education
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational counseling
Elementary and secondary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Law
Mentoring
Secondary education
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Fair Funding for Upward Bound Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the procedures for awarding grants and contracts under the TRIO program (which prepares disadvantaged students for postsecondary education and provides them with support services) by: (1) prohibiting an applicant from receiving a lower score for omitting application information or assurances not required in the guidance issued by the Secretary of Education; and (2) requiring the method for weighing an applicant's prior experience to be consistent for each program year.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) notify applicants of any changes in the procedures for awarding TRIO grants and contracts at least 30 days before implementing them, provided such notice was not included in the guidance issued by the Secretary; and (2) annually notify each applicant of its peer review score for prior experience.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
To establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I.

Bill: 110-hr-6960
Sponsor: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Anniversaries
Armed Forces and National Security
Arts, Culture, Religion
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
History
Military history
Missouri
Museums
World War I

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Establishes the World War I Centennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I; (2) encourage private organizations and state and local governments to organize and participate in such activities; (3) facilitate and coordinate such activities throughout the United States; and (4) serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about centennial events and plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Servants Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6961
Sponsor: Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Health insurance
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Local employees
Long-term care insurance
Retiree health benefits
State employees
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Servants Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend eligibility for tax-free distributions from governmental employee benefit plans for health and long-term care insurance to any retired state or local public employee (currently, limited to retired public safety officers); (2) provide for a tax deduction of such distributions rather than an exclusion from gross income; (3) allow nonitemizing taxpayers to claim such tax deduction; and (4) allow an annual inflation adjustment to the $3,000 distribution limit beginning after 2009. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Humanitarian Relief to Cuba Act

Bill: 110-hr-6962
Sponsor: Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area
Cuba
Foreign aid and international relief
Latin America
Natural disasters
Sanctions
Trade restrictions
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Humanitarian Relief to Cuba Act - Prohibits for 180 days from the enactment of this Act: (1) the President from prohibiting or regulating travel to or from Cuba, or certain transactions incident to such travel, by a U.S. citizen or any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction with family residing in Cuba; (2) the President from limiting the size, quantity or frequency, or the carrying or shipping of, personal gift items and relief supplies by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction that are eligible to be so shipped or delivered; and (3) the Secretary of the Treasury from limiting the amount of remittances to Cuba that may be made by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
To extend the authorization of the national flood insurance program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-6965
Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Authorization
Disaster insurance
Economics and Public Finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Floods

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
 Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the authorization of the national flood insurance program from September 30, 2008, through April 30, 2009.
 

action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the authorization of the national flood insurance program from September 30, 2008, through April 30, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8705)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8705)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6965.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8705-8706)
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Mr. Watt moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6966
Sponsor: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Hospital personnel
Hospitals
Labor and Employment
Medicare
Social Welfare
Wages

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Safeguarding Our Hospitals' Futures Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the case of discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008, to continue to apply budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the urban hospital wage floor for discharges occurring during FY2008 under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (through a uniform, national adjustment to the area wage index).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Debt Repayment Instead of Pork Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6967
Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Debt Repayment Instead of Pork Act of 2008 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, motion, or conference report providing new budget authority for earmarks if the enactment of such measure as reported, the adoption and enactment of that amendment, or the enactment of legislation in the form recommended in that conference report would cause the level of total outlays for earmarks for any fiscal year to exceed the amount of the estimated budget surplus for that fiscal year.
 
Makes it out of order for any fiscal year in which there is no budget surplus to consider any such measure that carries an earmark.
 
Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), by March 1 of each calendar year, to prepare, and submit to the congressional budget committees, an estimate of the surplus or deficit for the next fiscal year.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Helping Those Who Serve Act

Bill: 110-hr-6968
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Helping Those Who Serve Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a demonstration project (project) designed to: (1) increase access of members of the Armed Forces (members) returning from deployment abroad, and their families, to accessible, safe, and confidential mental health counseling; (2) reduce the stigma and career repercussions associated with seeking such services; and (3) make high-quality mental health services more user-friendly to such members and their families.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a Special Working Group to develop guidelines and recommendations to ensure the protection of confidentiality for members participating in the project; (2) establish an advisory group to oversee project implementation; (3) submit project reports to the congressional defense committees; and (4) conduct a study of reasons for attrition among military mental health professionals, and make recommendations to increase the recruitment and retention of such individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1975-1976)
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to disallow the deduction for excess non-taxed reinsurance premiums with respect to United States risks paid to affiliates.

Bill: 110-hr-6969
Sponsor: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-2]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Affiliated corporations
Commerce
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign corporations
Income tax
Insurance companies
Insurance premiums
Reinsurance
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for excess reinsurance premiums with respect to U.S. risks paid to affiliated insurance companies that are not subject to U.S. taxation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1847)
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
AmericaView Authorization Act

Bill: 110-hr-6970
Sponsor: Rep. Regula, Ralph [R-OH-16]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Remote sensing
Space activities

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
AmericaView Authorization Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), to: (1) maintain a nationwide AmericaView Program to advance the availability, distribution, and use of remote sensing data (information acquired from above the surface of the Earth by satellite or airplane) and technology in each state; (2) maintain AmericaView (the national nonprofit collaboration of StateView participants cooperating with the EROS Data Center to achieve the purposes of the AmericaView Program) in each state to develop publicly accessible remote sensing data archive and distribution infrastructure and expand remote sensing education, research, and knowledge; (3) award annual grants to sustain and develop StateView programs (the AmericaView programs of an individual states, comprised of educational institutions and state and local governments); and (4) maintain an advisory committee to advise the USGS Director about the AmericaView Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Public Service Scholarship Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6971
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-17]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Collection of accounts
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Higher education
Scholarships

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Public Service Scholarship Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Public Service Scholarship program authorizing the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for scholarships to exceptionally able students who show promise of continued excellence and agree to serve as federal employees for at least five years.
 
Allocates scholarship funds among states on the basis of each state's share of the nation's population of five- through 17-year olds; but sets the minimum allocation at a level allowing grantees to award at least 10 scholarships per year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a standard home office deduction in the case of certain uses of the office.

Bill: 110-hr-6972
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-17]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Home offices
Income tax
Tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $2,000 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. Provides for an inflation adjustment to such deduction amount beginning after 2008. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Rail Collision Prevention Act

Bill: 110-hr-6973
Sponsor: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-29]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accident prevention
Emergency Management
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Hours of labor
Labor and Employment
Law
Railroad commuting traffic
Railroad employees
Railroad equipment
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Transportation planning

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Rail Collision Prevention Act - Requires each rail carrier that is a Class I railroad, that has inadequate safety performance, or that provides intercity passenger or commuter rail passenger transportation to develop and submit for Secretary of Transportation approval by December 31, 2014, a plan to implement a positive train control system that prevents rail collisions.
 
Requires implementation of such systems by December 31, 2012, in areas that have the highest safety risk due to shared track between commuter and freight rail.
 
Increases penalties for violations of rail safety regulations or orders issued by the Secretary, including violations related to rail accident reporting and hours-of-service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6974
Sponsor: Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Highway finance
Idaho
Interstate highway system
Trucks

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2008 - Prohibits any reduction of the apportionment of federal-aid highway funds to Idaho if: (1) it permits a commercial combination vehicle weighing up to 129,000 pounds to operate on specified routes of the Interstate System within the state; (2) such vehicle does not exceed state weight limits for operation on state highways; and (3) the vehicle is limited to travel only on certain portions of Interstate Routes 15, 84, and 86.

(Under current law, the federal-aid highway funds of a state shall be reduced if it permits a commercial combination vehicle with a weight in excess of federal weight limits to operate on Interstate System highways within the state.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
Jihad Prevention Act

Bill: 110-hr-6975
Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2008-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Immigration status and procedures
Judicial procedure and administration
Religion
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Jihad Prevention Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) make an alien who fails to attest that he or she will not advocate installing a Sharia law system in the United States inadmissible for U.S. entry; (2) require the visa revocation of an alien advocating the installation of a Sharia law system in the United States; and (3) make advocating the installation of a Sharia law system in the United States a ground for revocation of naturalization.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Introduced in House