hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act

Bill: 110-s-718
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2007-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Authorization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Critically ill
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Families
Family services
Federal aid to health facilities
Health information systems
Higher education
Hospital care
Hospital personnel
Housing and Community Development
Medical education
Medical research
Medical supplies
Medical technology
Medicare
Public health personnel
Quality of care
Recruiting of employees
Rural health
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Student loan funds
Technological innovations
Telemedicine

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: 
Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to conduct research to assess: (1) the standardization of critical care protocols, intensive care unit layout, equipment interoperability, and medical informatics; and (2) the impact of differences in staffing, organization, size, and structure of intensive care units on access, quality, and efficiency of care.
 
Requires the Secretary to undertake demonstration projects to: (1) optimize the provision of critical care services to Medicare beneficiaries through innovations in such areas as staffing and utilization of technology; and (2) measure and evaluate outcomes derived from a &quot;family-centered&quot; approach to the provision of inpatient critical care services that includes direct and sustained communication and contact with the beneficiary family members, involvement of family members in the critical care decisionmaking process, and responsiveness of critical care providers to family requests.
 
Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY2008-FY2013 for augmenting the delivery of critical care services in the rural inpatient setting through the use of telecommunications systems that allow for consultation with critical care providers not located in the rural facility regarding the care of such patients. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to give preference in awarding telehealth grant funds to entities to develop plans for, or to establish, such critical care telehealth networks.
 
Requires the Secretary to undertake an initiative to recruit providers of critical care services into the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2370-2371)
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2370)
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Railroads Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-719
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2007-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Jurisdiction
Law
Railroads
Refuse and refuse disposal
Surface Transportation Board

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: 
Clean Railroads Act of 2007 - Excludes solid waste disposal from the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2371-2372)
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2371)
action_date: 2007-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-720
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Flags
Government Operations and Politics
Governors
Military personnel
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 - Amends federal law with regard to the flying of the national flag at half-staff to: (1) allow a governor of a state, territory, or possession of the United States (governor) to proclaim that the national flag be flown at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces from the governor's state, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty; and (2) require, when a governor issues such a proclamation, the national flag flown at any federal installation or facility in that state, territory, or possession to be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. 

action_date: 2007-06-07
text: 

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

 
Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 - Amends federal law with regard to the flying of the national flag at half-staff to: (1) allow a governor of a state, territory, or possession of the United States (governor) to proclaim that the national flag be flown at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces from the governor's state, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty; and (2) require, when a governor issues such a proclamation, the national flag flown at any federal installation or facility in that state, territory, or possession to be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 195.
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2007-06-07
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2490)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-721
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Aliens
Caribbean area
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Cuba
Immigration
Latin America
Right to travel
Travel

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2007 - Prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, and any regulation restricting or prohibiting such travel shall have no effect, relating to: (1) accompanied personal baggage; (2) payment of living expenses and the acquisition of personal-use goods or services; (3) travel arrangements; (4) nonscheduled air, sea, or land voyage transactions, (such provision does not permit the carriage of articles other than accompanied baggage into Cuba or the United States); and (5) normal banking transactions. 
 
States that such provision shall not: (1) apply in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers; and (2) authorize U.S. importation of personal consumption goods acquired in Cuba.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2490)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-723
Sponsor: Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Armed forces reserves
Crime and Law Enforcement
Education
Executive orders
Government Operations and Politics
International Affairs
Iraq compilation
Military pay
Military personnel
National Guard
Payroll deductions
September 11, 2001
Terrorism
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2007 - Exempts members of the Armed Forces and Selected Reserve on active duty between November 16, 2001, and the termination date of Executive Order 13235 from the mandatory payroll deductions ($100 for the first 12 months of active duty pay) under the veterans' basic educational assistance program. Provides for reimbursement of payroll deductions taken prior to the enactment of this Act. Allows such members to withdraw an election not to receive basic educational assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-724
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Federal-Indian relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Indian lands
Land transfers
Minorities
Montana
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians Restoration Act of 2007 - Extends federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana. Makes the Tribe and each member eligible for all services and benefits provided by the United States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the Tribe or the location of the residence of any member on or near an Indian reservation. 
 
Directs the Tribe, as a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits pursuant to this Act, to submit to the Secretary of the Interior a membership roll consisting of the name of each individual enrolled as a member of the Tribe. Requires the Tribe to maintain such membership roll. 
 
Directs the Secretary to acquire, for the benefit of the Tribe, trust title to 200 acres of land within the Tribe's service area to be used for a tribal land base. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-686.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act

Bill: 110-s-726
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Animals
Fines (Penalties)
Fishes
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Import restrictions
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Non-native species
Pest control
Pests
Wild animal trade

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act - Amends the Lacey Act to add specified species of black, bighead, and silver carp to the list of injurious species that are prohibited from being shipped or imported into the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act

Bill: 110-s-727
Sponsor: Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Conferences
Curricula
Distance education
Economics and Public Finance
Educational accountability
Educational innovations
Educational research
Educational technology
Educational tests
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Geographic information systems
Geography and mapping
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
International Affairs
International education
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Teacher education

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a geography education grant program under title II, Teacher Quality Enhancement.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to a national nonprofit educational organization or consortium, with 75% to be used for subgrants to institutions of higher education associated with state geographic alliances, nonprofit educational organizations, or state or local educational agencies. 
 
Requires various grantee and subgrantee activities designed to expand geographic literacy among kindergarten through grade 12 students by improving their teachers' professional development programs offered through institutions of higher education. Includes among such activities state-based conferences to assess geographic literacy and identify improvement strategies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2493-2494)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out restoration projects along the Middle Rio Grande.

Bill: 110-s-728
Sponsor: Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Animals
Economics and Public Finance
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to water resources development
Hydrology
New Mexico
Outdoor recreation
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Restoration ecology
Rivers
Sports and Recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to: (1) carry out restoration projects along the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico, from Cochiti Dam to the headwaters of the Elephant Butte Dam; and (2) consult with certain local environmental groups in carrying out such projects. Requires non-federal interests to pay 25% of total project costs and 100% of operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation costs. Prohibits recreational features of a project from comprising more than 30% of the total project cost. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2494-2495)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2494)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Rocky Flats Special Exposure Cohort Act

Bill: 110-s-729
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Claims
Colorado
Compensation (Law)
Department of Energy
Energy
Environmental Protection
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Health
Labor and Employment
Nuclear weapons
Occupational health and safety
Plutonium
Radiation victims
Subcontractors
Workers' compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Rocky Flats Special Exposure Cohort Act - Amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 to amend the definition of a &quot;member of the Special Exposure Cohort&quot; for purposes of such Program to include persons who were employed by the Department of Energy (DOE) or a DOE contractor or subcontractor for an aggregate of at least 250 work days before January 1, 2006, at the Rocky Flats site in Colorado.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
National Carbon Dioxide Storage Capacity Assessment Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-731
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air pollution control
Carbon dioxide
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Energy
Federal advisory bodies
Geology
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary recovery of gas
Secondary recovery of oil
Storage

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
National Carbon Dioxide Storage Capacity Assessment Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, to develop a methodology for conducting a national assessment of the geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide. Sets forth elements for the Secretary to consider in developing the methodology. Requires the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cooperate with the Secretary to ensure the usefulness and success of the assessment.

 Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide the heads of stakeholder federal agencies, the heads of state land management agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed methodology; (2) convene a committee of subject matter experts to review the methodology for capacity and risk estimation; (3) publish a description of the final methodology and issue a public report that responds to the comments received and the methodology review; (4) complete a national assessment of geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide using the methodology; (5) establish a database on the Internet accessible to the public that provides the results of the assessment and includes the data necessary to rank potential storage sites for capacity and risk; and (6) report to Congress on the findings of the assessment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-04-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 110-83.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2498)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act

Bill: 110-s-732
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Authorization
Capital gains tax
Charitable contributions
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Dismissal of employees
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic mail systems
Employee rights
Federal advisory bodies
Finance and Financial Sector
Fund raising
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Government paperwork
Government publications
Grants-in-aid
Health
Health insurance continuation
Home ownership
Housing and Community Development
Housing finance
Income tax
Internet
Law
Medical screening
Misconduct in office
National service
Nongovernmental organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Peace Corps
Personal budgets
Recruiting of employees
Retiree health benefits
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Volunteer workers
Web sites
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act - Authorizes appropriations for seed funding for Peace Corps volunteers to carry out approved demonstration projects.
 
Authorizes charitable fundraising by Peace Corps volunteers.
 
Requires the Director of the Peace Corps to: (1) award grants to private nonprofit corporations and returned Peace Corps volunteers to enable such volunteers to to develop programs and projects in the United States to promote Peace Corps goals; (2) increase the number of Peace Corps volunteers with at least five years of relevant work experience, and establish FY2008-FY2010 experienced volunteer demonstration programs in at least 20 countries; (3) establish a electronic system for promoting improved communication among Peace Corps volunteers and staff; (4) provide for volunteer input in senior staff and program reviews; (5) review the Peace Corps medical screening process; (6) seek to secure the right of volunteers to suspend enrollment in retiree health plans and to resume such enrollment upon service completion; and (7) provide whistleblower and administrative separation protection.
 
Provides for a Volunteer Advisory Committee for each country in which volunteers serve.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to provide tax deduction guidance for volunteers or volunteer leaders enrolled under the Peace Corps Act.
 
Requires the Peace Corps to publish a financial guide for applicants and volunteers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-07-25
text: Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-551.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2498-2499)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act

Bill: 110-s-733
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Agricultural cooperatives
Agriculture and Food
Commerce
Consumer education
Cooperative societies
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Farmers
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Health education
Health insurance
Insurance companies
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Medical economics
Nonprofit organizations
Quality of care
Self-care
Self-insurance
Small business
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to award grants for the development of health care purchasing cooperatives by two or more self-insured employers. 
 
 
 
Sets forth requirements for cooperatives, including that they: (1) are nonprofit, wholly owned, and democratically governed by its member-employers; (2) exist solely to serve the membership base; (3) assist members in pooling their health care insurance purchasing power; (4) provide data to improve the ability of the members to make data-based decisions regarding their health plans; and (5) conduct activities to enhance quality improvement in the health care community. 
Requires the Secretary to carry out an identical grant program for eligible groups of two or more employers that have 99 employees or less and purchase health insurance for their employees.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2499-2500)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2499)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
AMT Rate Reduction Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-734
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2007-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax
Minimum tax
Tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: 
AMT Rate Reduction Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce to 24% the rate of the tentative alternative minimum tax for noncorporate taxpayers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2501)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2500-2501)
action_date: 2007-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate