hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Mark O. Hatfield Scholarship and Excellence in Tribal Governance Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2949
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Colleges
Education
Executive reorganization
Federal-Indian relations
Foundations
Government Operations and Politics
Government internships
Graduate education
Health
Higher education
Indian education
Indian medical care
Minorities
Oregon
Policy sciences
Public administration
Research centers
Scholarships
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Mark O. Hatfield Scholarship and Excellence in Tribal Governance Act of 2008 - Establishes as an independent executive branch entity the Mark O. Hatfield Scholarship and Excellence in Tribal Governance Foundation, to be located in Portland, Oregon. Requires the Foundation to: (1) develop resources to train Native American and Alaska Native tribal council members in self-government and related fields; (2) foster greater recognition and understanding of the role of tribal self-government in the development of the United States; (3) identify critical issues facing tribal governments; (4) establish a program for tribal governance research at the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University; and (5) provide educational outreach regarding tribal self-government. 

Authorizes the Foundation to award: (1) scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students who intend to pursue careers relating to tribal governance and to Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students intending to pursue careers in tribal public policy; (2) fellowships to outstanding graduate students who intend to pursue advanced degrees in fields relating to tribal governance, to Native American and Alaska Native graduate students intending to pursue advanced degrees in tribal public policy, law, or medicine, and to faculty from a variety of disciplines to bring their expertise to the Foundation; and (3) internships to individuals to work in government agencies or in offices of major tribal governance organizations and to Native American and Alaska Native individuals to work in agencies or in offices of major public health or public policy organizations.

Directs the Foundation to award grants to the Institute to: (1) provide for an annual panel of experts to discuss contemporary tribal governance issues; (2) conduct research in tribal governance policy and on Native American and Alaska Native tribal public policy issues; and (3) invite visiting policymakers to share practical experiences with the Foundation.

Requires the Foundation to assist in the development and implementation of a program for tribal governance research to be located at the Institute.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2950
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Autism
Curricula
Disabled
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Employee training
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to housing
Housing and Community Development
Housing for the disabled
Labor and Employment
Rescue work
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: 
Helping Housing, Awareness, and Navigation Demonstration Services for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders Act of 2008 or the Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Secretary) and the Secretary of Education, to establish a demonstration program to award grants to eligible entities to develop an autism navigator program to create a more efficient, effective, coordinated use of the health, housing, education, and social service systems for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder.
 
Requires: (1) an eligible entity that receives a grant to develop an autism navigator program that will recruit, employ, train, assign, and supervise autism navigators; and (2) the HHS Secretary to provide for evaluations to determine the effects of navigator services.

Directs the HHS Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) develop, demonstrate, and disseminate a standard curriculum for training first responders in assisting individuals with autism and other cognitive behavioral disabilities and their families during emergencies; and (2) award grants to states and local governments to train first responders in providing assistance to such individuals in emergency situations.

Requires the HUD Secretary to convene a task force to establish a housing demonstration grant program to award grants to entities to provide a program aimed at providing individualized housing and services to adults with an autism spectrum disorder.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require reports on the progress of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in addressing causes for variances in compensation payments for veterans for service-connected disabilities.

Bill: 110-s-2951
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disabled
Veterans' disability compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report annually to the congressional veterans affairs committees on the progress in addressing the causes of variances in compensation payments for veterans for service-connected disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe School Lunch Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2952
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Animals
Commerce
Consumer protection
Department of Agriculture
Education
Electronic government information
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Food safety
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Law
Meat
Meat inspection
Parent-school relationships
Poultry
School lunch program
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Safe School Lunch Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to order an immediate halt to the distribution of meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry products upon finding that they may cause a serious, adverse health consequence or be adulterated.
 
Gives persons subject to such an order the opportunity for an informal hearing, within 10 days after the order's issuance, on the actions required by the order and on whether it should be amended to require a recall of the targeted items. Requires the Secretary to order the recall of such items upon affirming that the order should include a recall.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a program providing schools that participate in the school lunch or breakfast programs with training regarding the recall of meat, meat food products, poultry, and poultry products; (2) ensure that information on the Department of Agriculture's website concerning the inspection and recall of such items is current, clear, and accessible by school employees and parents; (3) promulgate regulations ensuring that all of such items inspected by the Secretary can be traced from slaughter to final distribution to schools participating in the school lunch or breakfast programs; and (4) review and evaluate the Department's inspection and recall procedures for such items.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Safety Initiative Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2955
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Community development
Depressed areas
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Ex-offenders
Federal aid to law enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Infrastructure
Minorities
Police-community relations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Community Safety Initiative Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs to make grants in FY2009-FY2014 to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to carry out its Community Safety Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act

Bill: 110-s-2956
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Aliens
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Corporate management
Corporation law
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of the Treasury
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Immigration
Law
Money laundering
Partnerships
Standards
Trusts and trustees

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) establish uniform requirements for states relating to the disclosure of beneficial owners of corporations and limited liability companies formed in such states and the updating of such disclosures; (2) require states to maintain beneficial ownership disclosure information for five years after a corporation or limited liability company is terminated; (3) impose additional identification requirements for the beneficial owners of corporations or limited liability companies who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States; and (4) provide for additional civil and criminal penalties for individuals who provide false beneficial ownership information to a state. Defines &quot;beneficial owner&quot; as an individual who has a level of control over a business entity that enables such individual to control, manage, or direct such entity.

Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish a proposed and final rule to require persons involved in forming a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, or other legal entity to establish anti-money laundering programs.

 

Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on state requirements for the disclosure of beneficial owners of partnerships, trusts, or other legal entities formed in such states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3706-3708)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3704-3706)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2957
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Bank capital
Bank loans
Bank management
Bank mergers
Commerce
Credit unions
Department of the Treasury
Deposit insurance
Disasters
Emergency Management
Executive reorganization
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Reserve System
Government Operations and Politics
Investments
Law
Leases
National Credit Union Administration
Risk
Savings banks
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Credit Union Act to reduce the minimum net worth ratio requirements of credit unions.

 Revises the minimum risk-based net ratio for such capitalizations.

Transfers from the federal banking agencies to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) the authority to adjust the net worth levels of credit unions.

Instructs the National Credit Union Administration Board (Board) to design the risk-based net worth requirement to take account of material risks to insured credit unions that are taken account of by comparable standards applicable to FDIC-insured institutions.

Establishes a temporary waiver of the net worth restoration plan requirement for an undercapitalized credit union which attains its status due to a major natural or man-made disaster.

Revamps requirements for limits and restrictions on member business loans.

Authorizes credit unions to lease to any business enterprise separate and clearly distinct space in credit union office buildings in underserved areas.

Authorizes the Board, in specified circumstances, to encompass within credit union membership any person or organization within an underserved local community, neighborhood, or rural district. 

Permits a credit union to invest in securities for its own account.

Increases the investment and lending limit in credit union service organizations.

Exempts certain voluntary mergers involving multiple common-bond credit unions from the numerical limit for eligibility within the field of membership category of a credit union. 

Directs the Board to prescribe criteria for continued membership of certain member groups in the case of certain credit union conversions to a community charter.

Includes just cause as grounds for expulsion from membership.

Authorizes term limits for board members of federal credit unions.

Revises voting requirements for credit union conversions to mutual savings banks.

Amends the Clayton Act to exempt from its pre-merger notification and waiting period requirements any mergers of one insured credit union activities with another which require agency approval under the Federal Credit Union Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3708-3710)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Election Day Registration Act

Bill: 110-s-2959
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Election Day
State laws
Voter registration
Voting

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Election Day Registration Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state with voter registration requirements relating to federal elections to permit any eligible individual on the day of a federal election to register to vote, and cast a vote, in such election.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3713)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3712-3713)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
National Improvised Explosive Device Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2960
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Bombs
Coast guard
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Divers
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Executive reorganization
Explosives
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Marine safety
Marine terminals
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
National Improvised Explosive Device Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Office for Bombing Prevention, which shall have primary responsibility within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for enhancing the nation's ability, and coordinating its efforts, to deter, detect, prevent, protect against, intercept, and respond to terrorist improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. Transfers to the Office all functions of the current Office for Bombing Prevention of DHS's Office of Infrastructure Protection.

Directs the Secretary of DHS to ensure that a Homeland Security Advisory Council subcommittee, to be known as the Senior Advisory Committee on Improvised Explosive Device Prevention and Response, is established. Requires the Committee to: (1) provide policy guidance and recommendations; (2) develop best practices, training, and basic operational procedures; (3) promote interoperability and information sharing between the federal government and IED first responders; and (4) meet annually to review grant applications under the Bomb Prevention and Response Grant Program (established by this Act) and provide advice on proposed grant allocations.

Requires the Secretary's annual report on progress in achieving compliance with the correction of Coast Guard identified vulnerabilities in port security and compliance with Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans to include: (1) the identification of modifications necessary in funding to ensure the correction of capability gaps identified by the Coast Guard and the dive team component of the national analysis database on the capabilities of IED first responders (required to be maintained by the Office for Bombing Prevention); and (2) an assessment of progress in completing assessments for the dive team component for all applicable ports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3714-3715)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the refinancing of home loans by veterans.

Bill: 110-s-2961
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Housing and Community Development
Mortgages
Veterans' loans

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Increases, for veterans with home loans, the maximum guaranty limit for refinance loans and the percentage of an existing loan that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will refinance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3715)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3715)
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
MediFair Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2962
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Health and Human Services
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Law
Medical fees
Medicare
Physicians
Quality of care
Rural health
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
MediFair Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system for making adjustments to the amount of payment made to entities and individuals for items and services provided under the original Medicare fee-for-service program under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Requires such adjustments in order to make the state average per beneficiary amount equal to the national average per beneficiary amount.
 
Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to develop recommendations on policies and practices that would encourage: (1) healthy outcomes and quality care under the Medicare program in states with respect to which payments are reduced under such system; and (2) the efficient use of payments made under the Medicare program in such states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
OPEC Accountability Act

Bill: 110-s-2964
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Cartels
Commerce
Dispute settlement
East Asia
Ecuador
Energy
Energy prices
Energy supplies
Export controls
Free trade
Indonesia
International Affairs
International agencies
Kuwait
Latin America
Middle East and North Africa
Natural gas
Nigeria
Nontariff trade barriers
OPEC countries
Petroleum
Price fixing
Qatar
Restrictive trade practices
Saudi Arabia
Trade negotiations
United Arab Emirates
Venezuela

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
OPEC Accountability Act - Requires the President to initiate consultations with Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Saudi Arabia to seek their elimination of any action that: (1) limits the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; (2) sets or maintains the price of any such product; or (3) otherwise is an action in restraint of trade with respect to such products when such action constitutes an act, policy, or practice that is unjustifiable and burdens and restricts U.S. commerce.
 
Requires the U.S. Trade Representative to: (1) initiate World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute proceedings if the consultation is not successful with respect to any such country; and (2) take appropriate action regarding the country under U.S. trade remedy laws.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a report on the inclusion of severe and acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among the conditions covered by traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.

Bill: 110-s-2965
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Government life insurance
Health
Iraq compilation
Military dependents
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Trauma care
Veterans' medical care
War casualties

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility and advisability of including severe and acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among the conditions covered by traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of the Army to implement the First Sergeants Barracks Initiative (FSBI) throughout the Army in order to improve the quality of life and living environments for single soldiers.

Bill: 110-s-2966
Sponsor: Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC]
Introduced: 2008-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Army
Housing and Community Development
Military command and control
Military housing
Single people

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to implement the First Sergeants Barracks Initiative (FSBI) throughout the Army. (The FSBI transfers responsibility for daily maintenance operations of barracks from their occupying units to a maintenance team working for the post command.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate