hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5467
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Patrick J. [D-PA-8]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Appropriations
Auditing
Collection of accounts
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial statements
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Law
Office of Management and Budget
Planning-programming-budgeting
Waste in government spending

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2008 - Amends the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 to require the head of each federal agency to: (1) annually review all agency programs and identify those programs and activities that may be susceptible to significant improper payments; and (2) report on agency actions to reduce and recover improper payments. Defines &quot;improper payment&quot; as any payment that should not have been made, that was made in an incorrect or duplicate amount, or that was made to an ineligible recipient. 

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) provide guidance to agencies for reducing improper payments, addressing risks, and establishing appropriate prepayment and postpayment internal controls; and (2) prepare an annual report with an identification of the compliance status of each agency in identifying improper payments and the delinquent programs responsible for the agency's status.

Requires federal agencies with outlays of $1 million or more to conduct a recovery audit of all programs and activities to assist in recouping improper payments.

Requires: (1) each agency's Inspector General to report each fiscal year on agency compliance with the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 and this Act; (2) the head of an agency determined not to be in compliance for two consecutive fiscal years to reprogram available funds to achieve compliance; and (3) an agency determined not to be in compliance for three consecutive fiscal years, with a delinquent program reported for two of those years consecutively, to transfer 5% of the appropriations for each of delinquent program to the Treasury.

Suspends appropriations to agencies that have a program that reports an improper payment rate greater than 15% for three consecutive fiscal years until the agency's Inspector General certifies that sufficient changes have been implemented to warrant resumed authorization of appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
Nino's Act

Bill: 110-hr-5468
Sponsor: Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Clinical trials
Drugs
Families
Medicaid
Medical research
Pharmaceutical research
Prescription pricing
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Nino's Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for mandatory Medicaid coverage of drugs prescribed for certain research study child participants, regardless of Medicaid eligibility otherwise, if the state provides drug coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the carriage of all local television signals by satellite carriers in all local markets.

Bill: 110-hr-5470
Sponsor: Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Commerce
Communication satellites
Subscription television
Telecommunication industry
Television broadcasting
Television relay systems
Television stations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each satellite carrier providing secondary transmissions in the local market of a television broadcast station to carry, on request, the signals of all television broadcast stations located within any local market (currently, located within that local market), subject to existing broadcast signal retransmission consent provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
To require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to prescribe rules requiring distinctive markings on toy and look-alike firearms.

Bill: 110-hr-5471
Sponsor: Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Child safety
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer protection
Families
Federal preemption
Firearms
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Local laws
Product safety
State laws
Toys

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a final consumer product safety rule providing for a distinctive marking or device for any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm to distinguish the look-alike firearm from a firearm.
 
Includes in the term &quot;look-alike firearm&quot; any imitation of any original firearm manufactured, designed, and produced since 1898, including toy guns, water guns, replica nonguns, and air-soft guns firing nonmetallic projectiles. Excludes any nonfiring replica of a firearm developed before 1898, or traditional BB, paint-ball, or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure.
 
Declares that this Act supersedes any state or local law relating to markings, identification, or sale of toy, look-alike, and imitation firearms. Prohibits any state or political subdivision from prohibiting the sale or manufacturer of any look-alike, nonfiring to or collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898 or prohibiting the sale (other than prohibiting the sale to minors) of traditional BB, paint ball, or pellet-firing air guns. Declares that this paragraph does not apply to any provision of state or local law enacted before January 30, 1955, that prohibits the sale of any toy or imitation firearm unless its exterior surface is brightly colored.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5473
Sponsor: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2008-02-14 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional oversight
Energy prices
Oil and gas royalties
Petroleum reserves
Strategic materials

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to suspend, during calendar year 2008, petroleum acquisition for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) through the royalty-in-kind program or any other acquisition method.
 
Authorizes resumption of such acquisition during calendar 2008 not earlier than 30 days after the Secretary notifies Congress that the weighted average price of petroleum in the United States for the most recent 90-day period is $50 or less per barrel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-14
text: Introduced in House
Student Veteran Financial Aid Fairness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5474
Sponsor: Rep. Mitchell, Harry E. [D-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2008-02-19 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Armed forces reserves
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to education
Federally-guaranteed loans
Government lending
Higher education
Scholarships
Student aid
Student loan funds
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: 
Student Veteran Financial Aid Fairness Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit educational assistance provided under specified benefit programs for veterans and members of the Selected Reserve from being considered in analyses of their need for assistance under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E212-213)
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Introduced in House
Sex Offender Mandatory Registration Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5475
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Dennis [D-KS-3]
Introduced: 2008-02-19 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information
Ex-offenders
Government Operations and Politics
Identification of criminals
Sex offenders

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: 
Sex Offender Mandatory Registration Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) apply registration requirements to sex offenders regardless of the date of their offense or the date of their travel in interstate commerce; and (2) make failure to register or update a sex offender registration a continuing offense for as long as such failure exists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-19
text: Introduced in House
To extend the temporary suspension of duty on ethofumesate in bulk or mixtures.

Bill: 110-hr-5476
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Brad [D-NC-13]
Introduced: 2008-02-21 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-21
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on ethofumesate in bulk or mixtures.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2008-02-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-02-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-21
text: Introduced in House
To provide for the continued minting and issuance of certain $1 coins in 2008.

Bill: 110-hr-5478
Sponsor: Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Coins and coinage
Commemorations
Minorities
Native Americans

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Continues in effect until January 1, 2009, certain coins and currency law requiring the minting and issuance of $1 coins which bear any design (including the Sacagawea-design) in effect before the required issuance of coins: (1) emblematic of the Presidents of the United States; or (2) under the Native American $1 Coin Act.

action_date: 2008-02-29
text: 

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

Continues in effect until January 1, 2009, certain coins and currency law requiring the minting and issuance of $1 coins which bear any design (including the Sacagawea-design) in effect before the required issuance of coins: (1) emblematic of the Presidents of the United States; or (2) under the Native American $1 Coin Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Became Public Law No: 110-192.
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Became Public Law No: 110-192.
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1390)
action_date: 2008-02-28
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1390)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1013)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1013)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5478.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1013)
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Ms. Moore (WI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 110-192
Military Pay Improvement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5481
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cost of living adjustments
Military pay

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Military Pay Improvement Act of 2008 - Waives, during FY2009, the basic military pay adjustment tied to increases in the Employment Cost Index.
 
Increases, effective January 1, 2009, such basic pay by 3.9%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
To extend the duty suspension on Allyl isosulfocynate.

Bill: 110-hr-5482
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Henry E., Jr. [R-SC-1]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariff

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the duty suspension on Allyl isosulfocynate.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from income and employment taxes real property tax abatements for seniors and disabled individuals in exchange for services.

Bill: 110-hr-5484
Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disabled
Employment of the disabled
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Labor and Employment
Local taxation
Older workers
Property tax
Social Welfare
Social security taxes
State taxation
Tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals who have attained age 60 or are disabled an exemption from income and employment taxes for real property tax abatements received under a state or local program in which such individuals have provided services in exchange for such abatements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
PEPFAR Accountability and Transparency Act

Bill: 110-hr-5485
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Brad [D-NC-13]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Child health
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost effectiveness
Crime and Law Enforcement
Drug abuse
Drug abuse prevention
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Health
Health counseling
Health education
Health planning
Health surveys
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Labor and Employment
Maternal health services
Medical personnel
Medical research
Occupational health and safety
Performance measurement
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Rape
Science, Technology, Communications
Sex education
Social Welfare
Strategic planning
Women
Women's health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
PEPFAR Accountability and Transparency Act - Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 to direct the Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally to: (1) establish a mechanism to evaluate global HIV/AIDS programs financed by the U.S. government in order to improve accountability, increase transparency, and ensure the delivery of evidence-based services; and (2) develop a five-year strategic plan for program monitoring, operations research, and impact evaluation research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
To expand the boundaries of the Little River Canyon National Preserve in the State of Alabama.

Bill: 110-hr-5486
Sponsor: Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Natural areas
Rivers
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
Amends the Little River Canyon National Preserve Act of 1992 to modify the boundary of the Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama to include additional land in the Preserve. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
Affordable Homeownership Preservation Fund Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5487
Sponsor: Rep. Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-47]
Introduced: 2008-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Affordable housing
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to housing
Foreclosure
Government Operations and Politics
Government corporations
Government lending
Government trust funds
Home ownership
Housing finance
Mortgages
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
Planning
Residential rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: 
 Affordable Homeownership Preservation Fund Act of 2008 - Amends the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to establish in the Treasury an Affordable Homeownership Preservation Fund to allow the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, doing business as Neighborworks America, to provide financial assistance through grants to community development organizations for eligible activities to enhance and improve the availability of affordable housing.
 
Requires such eligible activities to be: (1) carried out in accordance with the comprehensive strategic plan for the organization submitted under this Act; and (2) consistent with existing economic, community, and housing development plans adopted by or applicable to the area or targeted population served by the organization.
 
Allows such activities to include: (1) assisting distressed homeowners with small low-interest or no-interest loans; (2) making mortgage loans to first-time homebuyers; and (3) purchasing, rehabilitating, and selling foreclosed properties for owner-occupancy.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-25
text: Introduced in House
Recovery and Stability of Iraq Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-5488
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2008-02-26 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Displaced persons
Economic assistance
Executive Office of the President
Executive reorganization
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Human rights
Immigration
International relief
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Middle East and North Africa
Nongovernmental organizations
Presidential appointments
Refugees
Repatriation
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-02-26
text: 
Recovery and Stability of Iraq Act of 2008 - Establishes within the Executive Office of the President the position of Iraqi Displacement Coordinator who shall identify programs that address the humanitarian needs of displaced Iraqis and who shall advise and coordinate with the heads of appropriate U.S. departments and agencies, the government of Iraq, countries hosting displaced Iraqis in the region, the United Nations, and other involved nongovernmental and international organizations. 
 
Directs the Coordinator to: (1) design a comprehensive strategy to address the needs of displaced Iraqis; and (2) encourage the government of Iraq to develop a long-term plan for the voluntary and safe return of displaced Iraqis to their homes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-02-26
text: Introduced in House