hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3419
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Appellate courts
Claims
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Courts of special jurisdiction
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability evaluation
Disabled
Employee training
Federal advisory bodies
Federal employees
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Health
Information technology
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Law
Medical personnel
Parties to actions
Productivity in government
Recruiting of employees
Science, Technology, Communications
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' disability compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008 - Revises or adds provisions relating to the disability compensation system of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) establish in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) an Office of Survivors Assistance to provide assistance to veterans' survivors and dependents regarding VA benefits and services; (2) require a study on adjusting the schedule for rating veterans' disabilities; (3) establish the Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation; (4) require a study on the employee work credit system of the VBA; (5) require a study on the VBA's work management system; (6) require the certification and training of VBA employees responsible for processing claims; (7) require an annual independent assessment of the VBA's quality assurance program; (8) provide for the expedited VBA treatment of fully developed claims and a checklist for individuals submitting incomplete claims; (9) require a study of the VBA's need to employ additional medical professionals to act as a medical reference for employees handling claims; (10) provide for the assignment of partial disability ratings to certain veterans; (11) require a review and revision of VBA use of information technology; and (12) allow a claim beneficiary to be substituted as a claimant in the case of the death of a veteran claimant while a claim is awaiting adjudication or appeal.
 
Requires the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to report annually to the congressional veterans' committees on the Court's workload.
 
Revises provisions concerning the jurisdiction and finality of decisions of the Court.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Open Wireless Internet Act

Bill: 110-s-3420
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Auctions
Commerce
Congress
Congressional oversight
Families
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Internet
Law
Pornography
Radio spectrum allocation
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Open Wireless Internet Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promote nationwide broadband competition through the use of wireless services by issuing nationwide licenses, for a term of at least 15 years, for two bands of frequencies, each composed of 20 megahertz of unpaired contiguous spectrum, one band under 3 gigahertz and not part of the recovered analog spectrum and the other band between 2155 and 2180 megahertz.
 
Requires the FCC to ensure that licensees of spectrum obtained under these provisions are fully protected from, and fully protect, licensees of adjacent spectrum from harmful interference, including receiver overload and excessive out-of-band emissions.
 
Requires licensees, among other things, to offer to consumers and authorized public safety users, without subscription, airtime, usage, or other charges, a data service that is faster than 200 kilobits per second, allows users to access any lawful content of their choice, and has an option that prevents underage users from accessing obscene or indecent material. Requires congressional approval before modification of any of these requirements takes effect.
 
Requires a separate rule-making or other procedures for licensing through auction additional unpaired contiguous spectrum of 20 megahertz below 3 gigahertz, but states that the auction shall be conducted without the conditions specified in the immediately preceding paragraph unless the FCC finds it is in the public interest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the standard mileage rate for charitable purposes to the standard mileage rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury for business purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3421
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Automobiles
Charitable contributions
Department of the Treasury
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Law
Tax deductions
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the standard mileage rate for the tax deduction for the charitable use of passenger automobiles from 14 cents per mile to the standard mileage rate prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury for business purposes (50.5 cents per mile for January 1 through June 30, 2008, and 58.5 cents per mile for July 1 through December 31, 2008).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Food Tracking Improvement Act

Bill: 110-s-3422
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Business records
Commerce
Data banks
Defective products
Department of Health and Human Services
Federal advisory bodies
Food industry
Food safety
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Packaging
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Food Tracking Improvement Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit failing to comply with any requirement of this Act.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish a traceability system for all stages of manufacturing, processing, packaging, and distribution of food; and (2) convene an advisory committee to assist in implementing the system. Requires the system to identify each article of food shipped in interstate commerce in a manner that enables the Secretary to retrieve the history, use, and location of the article through a recordkeeping and audit system, a secure, online database, or registered identification.

Authorizes the Secretary to direct each person required to identify an article of food to maintain accurate records regarding the purchase, sale, and identification of the article. Requires each such person to allow authorized representatives of the Secretary to examine and copy records. Prohibits any person from: (1) falsifying or misrepresenting information as to the location at which any article of food was held; or (2) altering, detaching, or destroying any records or other means of identification for use in determining such a location.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for equity in the award of military decorations and citations for service in the Armed Forces since March 20, 2003, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-3423
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commemorations
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Military medals, decorations, etc.
Military operations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) ensure that each member and unit of the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserve) that has served since March 20, 2003, is awarded each decoration, medal, citation, commendation, or other military award (award) to which such member or unit is entitled by reason of service since that date; and (2) conduct an audit to determine whether any such award has yet to be awarded.
 
Directs each military department Secretary to establish procedures for the expedited review by general or flag officers of awards for service in combat or under hostile fire.
 
Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on progress made in authorized awards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Homeland Security Partners Preservation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3424
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Economics and Public Finance
Grants-in-aid
Urban affairs
Urban areas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Homeland Security Partners Preservation Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to prohibit the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from requiring the recipient of a grant under the Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative to provide a matching contribution as a condition of the grant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Sunscreen Labeling Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3425
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Cosmetics and personal care
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Labeling
Law
Product safety
Ultraviolet radiation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Sunscreen Labeling Protection Act of 2008 or the SUN Act - Requires the proposed rule issued by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs pertaining to over-the-counter sunscreen drug products to take effect 180 days after enactment of this Act, unless the Commissioner issues a final rule that includes formulation, labeling, and testing requirements for both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation protection before such time.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8037-8039)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign Service Overseas Pay Equity Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3426
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Cost of living adjustments
Families
Foreign service
Labor and Employment
Salaries
Survivors' benefits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Foreign Service Overseas Pay Equity Act of 2008 - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to: (1) extend comparability pay adjustments to Foreign Service members assigned abroad; and (2) amend the death gratuity computation payable to surviving dependents of Foreign Service employees who die from injuries sustained in the performance of duty abroad. 

action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 

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

 
Foreign Service Overseas Pay Equity Act of 2008 - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to: (1) extend comparability pay adjustments to Foreign Service members assigned abroad; and (2) amend the death gratuity computation payable to surviving dependents of Foreign Service employees who die from injuries sustained in the performance of duty abroad. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1047.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Dodd without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Dodd without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Coastal Homeowners Assistance Act

Bill: 110-s-3427
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disaster relief
Emergency Management
Finance and Financial Sector
Home repair and improvement
Housing and Community Development
Hurricanes
Income tax
Insurance premiums
Property insurance
Tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Costal [
sic
] Homeowners Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for: (1) 25% of the qualified hurricane mitigation property expenditures incurred by a homeowner in a federally declared hurricane disaster area or in a county located in a state which borders the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, up to $5,000; and (2) 50% of the increases in homeowner insurance premiums in such disaster areas, up to $5,000. Includes within the definition of &quot;qualified hurricane mitigation property expenditures&quot; expenditures to improve the strength of a roof deck attachment, create a secondary water barrier, improve the durability of a roof covering, or protect exterior doors and garages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3428
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commerce
Income tax
Motor buses
Motor vehicle safety
Tax credits
Transportation and Public Works
Trucking
Trucks

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a general business tax credit for 50% of the cost of placing in service any qualified commercial vehicle advanced safety system. Defines &quot;qualified commercial vehicle advanced safety system&quot; as a manufacturer-certified brake stroke monitoring system, lane departure warning system, collision warning system, or vehicle stability system identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as significantly enhancing the safety or security of commercial drivers, vehicles, or passengers. Terminates such credit after 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3429
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Automobiles
Charitable contributions
Government Operations and Politics
Income tax
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2008 or the GIVE Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the standard mileage rate for use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes to 70% of the current rate for business usage; and (2) exclude from the gross income of charitable volunteers reimbursements paid to them for the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3430
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Authorization
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights enforcement
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Department of Justice
Economics and Public Finance
Executive reorganization
Families
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal law enforcement officers
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Inspectors general
Missing children
Murder
Prosecution

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to designate a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes the Deputy Chief responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of criminal civil rights statutes in which the alleged violation occurred before January 1, 1970 and resulted in death.
 
Directs the Attorney General to designate a Supervisory Special Agent in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the DOJ to investigate violations of criminal civil rights statutes that occurred before January 1, 1970, and resulted in a death.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state or local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of such cases.
 
Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to authorize staff of an Inspector General to assist the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by conducting reviews of inactive case files to develop recommendations for further investigations and engaging in similar activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 944.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Time for Innovation Matters in Education Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3431
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance
Colleges
Community and school
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational accountability
Educational innovations
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Federal aid to education
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Higher education
Nonprofit organizations
School administration
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Year round schools

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Time for Innovation Matters in Education Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive matching grants to states to enable them to award competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships between LEAs and other public or nonprofit entities to plan and implement expanded learning time initiatives at high-need schools that they serve.
 
Requires such initiatives to: (1) increase the total number of school hours each year at participant schools by at least 30%, compared to the school hours per year that are standard for comparable schools in their school district; and (2) expand learning time for all students in all grade levels in such schools, except in high schools where expanded learning time must apply to at least one entire grade level.
 
Directs states to give subgrant priority to LEAs that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families and partnerships that include a community-based organization, institution of higher education, community learning center, or entity carrying out an after-school program.
 
Permits the Secretary to: (1) award planning and implementation grants directly to a partnership that serves more than one area in more than one state; and (2) provide technical assistance to grantees and subgrantees in developing and implementing expanded learning time initiatives.
 
Requires: (1) grantees to establish measures for assessing the success of their expanded learning time initiatives; and (2) the Secretary to contract with an independent organization with expertise in school improvement, program evaluation, and measurement to evaluate this Act's program and provide technical assistance to grantees and subgrantees in collecting data and evaluating their programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3432
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Damages
Employers' liability
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Injunctions
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Law
Legal fees
Mediation
Punitive damages
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: 
Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2008 - Waives a state's sovereign immunity with respect to the enforcement of uniformed services members' employment or reemployment rights or benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
 
Makes unenforceable agreements between an employer and employee requiring arbitration of disputes arising under USERRA. Provides exceptions. Requires the validity and enforceability of such an agreement to be determined by a court (as opposed to the arbitrator).
 
Provides increased liquidated damages, and authorizes punitive damages, against state or private employer violations of USERRA. Provides a right to a jury trial in such cases.
 
Requires (under current law, authorizes) the award of attorney fees in actions to enforce USERRA.
 
Defines &quot;successor in interest&quot; for USERRA purposes.
 
Prohibits: (1) any statute of limitations from applying to USERRA proceedings; and (2) wage discrimination against members covered under USERRA.
 
Requires (under current law, authorizes) a court to use equitable relief, including injunctions and restraining orders when appropriate, for USERRA violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate