hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare IVIG Access Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2990
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Ambulatory care
Cancer
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Drugs
Health surveys
Home care services
Immune system
Medical fees
Medical supplies
Medicare
Physicians
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: 
Medicare IVIG Access Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, upon collection of data and completion of a review, to provide, if appropriate, to physicians and hospitals furnishing intravenous immune globulins (IVIGs), an additional payment for all items related to the furnishing of IVIG in an appropriate amount.

Provides for coverage of IVIG administered in the home. 

Makes disposable drug delivery systems, including elastomeric infusion pumps, for the treatment of colorectal cancer &#147;durable medical equipment&#148; for Medicare purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3901-3902)
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3900-3901)
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Armed Forces Housing Security Act

Bill: 110-s-2992
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Civil actions and liability
Condominium (Housing)
Counseling
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Federally-guaranteed loans
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Housing and Community Development
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Jurisdiction
Law
Liability (Law)
Loan defaults
Middle East and North Africa
Military dependents
Military operations
Mortgages
Social Welfare
South Asia
Veterans' loans

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: 
Armed Forces Housing Security Act - Increases the maximum loan guaranty amount for certain veterans' housing loans guaranteed through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to review and streamline the process for guaranteeing veterans' home loans for the purchase of condominiums.
 
Repeals the veterans' home loan fee.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide loans to veterans to refinance loans of up to 100% (currently 90%) of the value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan. Allows the VA to guarantee refinanced loans not previously guaranteed by the VA.
 
Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to extend from 90 days to one year after completion of military service the grace period against the sale, foreclosure, or seizure of a defaulted mortgage. Prohibits a member of the Armed Forces from waiving such protection. Specifically applies such protection to members (regular and reserve) serving on active duty as part of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom (covered member), and their dependents.
 
Provides protections against loan owners or insurers for loan servicers who implement qualified loan modifications or workout plans for covered members and their dependents.
 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide financial services counseling relating to a mortgage and mortgage foreclosure to a veteran, covered member, and their dependents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans to Paramedics Transition Act

Bill: 110-s-2993
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2008-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Employee training
Federal aid to health facilities
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Labor and Employment
Medical education
Paramedical personnel
Rural health
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: 
Veterans to Paramedics Transition Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) include among entities eligible for rural emergency medical service training and equipment grants entities that provide training for emergency medical services personnel, including institutions of higher education, technical colleges, community colleges, and other state-certified training entities; and (2) include among grant uses the provision of required coursework and training to enable military veterans to satisfy emergency medical services personnel certification requirements, as determined by the appropriate state regulatory entity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Oil Trading Transparency Act

Bill: 110-s-2995
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commodity exchanges
Derivative securities
Energy
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Futures trading
Petroleum

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: 
Oil Trading Transparency Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to address the kind of case in which the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) grants or considers granting relief to a foreign board of trade from the requirement that it become a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity with respect to an energy commodity physically delivered in the United States.
 
Requires the CFTC, before granting or considering such relief, to determine that the foreign board of trade: (1) applies comparable principles or requirements regarding daily publication of trading information and position limits or accountability levels for speculators as apply to a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity trading energy commodities physically delivered in the United States; and (2) provides information to the CFTC regarding the extent of speculative and nonspeculative trading in the energy commodity that is comparable to the information the CFTC determines necessary to publish a Commitment of Traders report for such a designated contract market, derivatives transaction execution facility, or other registered entity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2998
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2008-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Customer service
Fees
Government Operations and Politics
Injunctions
Law
Parties to actions
Restrictive trade practices
State laws
Telecommunication industry
Telecommunication rates
Telephone
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: 
Prepaid Calling Card Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require every prepaid telephone calling service provider and prepaid telephone calling card distributor to disclose certain information, including: (1) the number of calling units or minutes of domestic interstate calls provided or the dollar value and the domestic interstate rate per minute; (2) the calling unit or per minute rates for all served international preferred destinations; (3) the applicable per minute rates for all served international destinations; (4) all terms and conditions, including regarding fees, policies on refunds, recharges, decrements, and expiration, and time imitations; and (5) a toll-free customer service number and hours.
 
Makes it unlawful to: (1) deduct anything but the per minute rate and disclosed fees; (2) provide fewer minutes or charge a higher per minute rate than promoted or advertised; (3) provide fewer minutes than the number of minutes announced, promoted, or advertised through any voice prompt; (4) have (unless clearly disclosed) an expiration date less than one year after first use (or after additional minutes are purchased); and (5) charge a fee for an unconnected call. Prohibits evading liability by using disclaimers or limitations.
 
Treats violations as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under specified provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
Allows state civil enforcement and state laws offering equal or greater protection to consumers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-1218.
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3977-3979)
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3976-3977)
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2999
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Clinical trials
Collective bargaining
Commerce
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost accounting
Discrimination in insurance
Discrimination in medical care
Employee health benefits
Finance and Financial Sector
Health insurance
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Medical economics
Medical fees
Medical research
Patients' rights
Peer review organizations (Medicine)
Pharmaceutical research
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: 
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from: (1) denying an eligible participant or beneficiary participation in clinical trials related to the treatment of cancer that are federally funded or conducted under an investigational new drug application reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); (2) denying (or limiting or imposing additional conditions on) the coverage of routine patient costs for items and services furnished in connection with such participation; or (3) discriminating against an individual on the basis of such participation. Includes as routine patient costs all items and services provided in the clinical trial that are otherwise generally available to a qualified individual, with certain exceptions. 

Applies such prohibitions to coverage offered in the individual market.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study the impact on group health plans and health insurance issuers of requiring them to cover routine patient care costs for individuals with serious and life threatening diseases other than cancer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Veterans Access Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3000
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Adult day care
Construction costs
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to health facilities
Health
Hospital care
Indian medical care
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Nursing homes
Social Welfare
Veterans' employment
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: 
Native American Veterans Access Act of 2008 - Provides for treatment of a health facility of a tribal organization as a state home for purposes of grant payments to such homes for veterans' domiciliary care, nursing home care, and hospital care. Exempts a health facility of a tribal organization from the prohibition against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs treating a new facility as a state home after September 30, 2009.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to assist tribal organizations in constructing or acquiring facilities for furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans and in expanding, remodeling, or altering existing buildings for furnishing domiciliary care, nursing home care, adult day health care, or hospital care to veterans in homes.

Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to include tribal organizations in veterans employment and training programs and grants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3979)
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3979)
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3005
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Aliens
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
Death
Detention of persons
Health
Immigrant health
Law
Medical screening
Mental health services
Physical examinations
Prisoners' rights

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: 
Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008 - Directs: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for the delivery of medical and mental health care to all immigration detainees in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody; and (2) that such procedures address all detainee health needs, including primary care, emergency care, chronic care, prenatal care, dental care, eye care, mental health care, medical dietary needs, and other medically necessary specialized care.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Budget Enforcement Legislative Tool Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3006
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2008-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits
Budget resolutions
Congress
Congressional budget
Congressional-executive relations
Expedited congressional procedure
Federal budget process
Government Operations and Politics
House rules and procedure
Legislation
Rescission of appropriated funds
Senate rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: 
Budget Enforcement Legislative Tool Act of 2008 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to propose, at any time and in any manner provided in this Act, the rescission of any discretionary budget authority in an appropriation Act.
 
Prohibits funds made available for obligation under this procedure from being proposed for rescission again.
 
Sets forth requirements for: (1) the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding a proposed rescission; and (2) expedited consideration of such proposal.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
World War II War Crimes Accountability Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3007
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2008-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Commemorations
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional tributes
Criminal investigation
Extradition
Genocide
Government Operations and Politics
History
Immigration
International Affairs
International cooperation
Jewish holocaust (1939-1945)
Murder
Nazism
Political persecution
President and foreign policy
Prosecution
Research centers
Torture
Visas
War crimes
World War II

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: 
World War II War Crimes Accountability Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the United States should encourage extradition and prosecution of the remaining Nazi war criminals; (2) the Simon Wiesenthal Center should be commended for its historic work in bringing to light the atrocities of the Holocaust and in advancing justice for Nazi war criminals through Operation: Last Chance; and (3) the Office of Special Investigation of the Department of Justice is advancing U.S. foreign policy by bringing wanted World War II criminals to justice and should be commended for its actions.
 
Directs the Attorney General, in evaluating the effect on U.S. law enforcement and security interests for purposes of a country's eligibility for visa waiver program designation, to consider the extent to which such country is: (1) cooperating in extraditing or prosecuting Nazi war criminals; and (2) admitting into its territory aliens ordered removed from the United States because of participation in Nazi persecution, genocide, torture, or extrajudicial killing.
 
Authorizes the President, after congressional notification, to not terminate a country's designation based upon such evaluation if in the national interest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4030-4031)
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4030)
action_date: 2008-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Reauthorization Act

Bill: 110-s-3010
Sponsor: Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]
Introduced: 2008-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arts, Culture, Religion
Authorization
Commemorations
Cultural property
Economics and Public Finance
Historic sites
History
Roads and highways
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: 
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Reauthorization Act - Authorizes appropriations through FY2019 to carry out the purposes of Public Law 106-45 (relating to the preservation of the cultural resources of the Route 66 Corridor and authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance for the preservation of the Corridor). 

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 

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

Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Reauthorization Act - Authorizes appropriations through FY2019 to carry out the purposes of Public Law 106-45 (relating to the preservation of the cultural resources of the Route 66 Corridor and authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance for the preservation of the Corridor). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 992.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-06-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-539.
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4108)
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4108)
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Boundary Expansion and Redesignation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3011
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Boundaries
Commemorations
Historic sites
History
Land transfers
Military parks
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: 
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Boundary Expansion Act of 2008 - Amends the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 to expand the boundaries of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site to include certain land. 

action_date: 2008-09-16
text: 
 Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Boundary Expansion and Redesignation Act of 2008 - Redesignates the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site (located in Brownsville, Texas, and dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Mexican-American War) as the "Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park." 

Amends the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 to expand the boundaries of the Park to include certain land. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 993.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-599.
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3012
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2008-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Authorization
Clothing
Economics and Public Finance
Equipment and supplies
Federal aid to law enforcement
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: 
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY2012 the grant program for armor vests for law enforcement officers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4109)
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4108-4109)
action_date: 2008-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate