hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1926
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2007-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Bonds
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Data banks
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to housing
Federal aid to transportation
Federal aid to water resources development
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government securities
Governmental investigations
Highway finance
Income tax
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Mass rapid transit
Potable water
Public housing
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Tax exemption
Taxation
Waste water treatment
Water Resources Development
Water treatment plants

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: 
National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007 - Establishes an independent National Infrastructure Bank to: (1) designate qualified transit, public housing, water, highway, bridge, or road infrastructure projects for loans, loan guarantees, and other financial assistance; and (2) issue general purpose and project-based infrastructure bonds exempt from state and local taxation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-12
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2008-03-11
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2007-08-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10874-10875)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10773-10774)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10615-10618)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10614-10615, S10618-10619)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Remedies Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1928
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2007-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Damages
Discrimination in employment
Labor and Employment
Law
Punitive damages

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: 
Equal Remedies Act of 2007 - Removes the limits on the dollar amount of damages awardable, in cases of intentional employment discrimination, for pecuniary and nonpecuniary losses and punitive damages.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10621)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1930
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2007-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Export controls
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Import restrictions
Imports
Logging
Plant protection

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: 
Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to redefine the term &quot;plant&quot; to include products of plants and to exclude any common food crop or cultivar that is a species not listed: (1) in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; or (2) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Redefines the term &quot;take&quot; to include harvesting, cutting, logging, or removing a plant.

Makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, possess, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce plants: (1) taken, transported, possessed, or sold in violation of specified foreign or state law; (2) taken, transported, or exported without the payment of royalties, taxes, or stumpage fees required by foreign or state law; or (3) exported or transshipped in violation of any limitation under foreign or state law.

Makes it unlawful to import plants unless the importer files, when clearance is requested, a declaration that contains: (1) the scientific name of any plant contained in the importation; and (2) a description of the value of the importation, the quantity of the plant, and the name of the country from which the plant was taken. Sets forth requirements concerning the contents of a declaration. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to limit the applicability of, or to modify, declaration requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10622-10623)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10621-10622)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Surface Owner Protection Act

Bill: 110-s-1931
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2007-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of the Interior
Energy
Environmental Protection
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Infrastructure
Law
Liability for environmental damages
Methane
Oil and gas leases
Oil well drilling
Prospecting
Reclamation of land
Surety and fidelity
Water Resources Development
Water quality
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: 
Surface Owner Protection Act - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to require an operator producing oil or gas (including coalbed methane) under a federal lease to: (1) replace the water supply of a water user who obtains all or part of it from an underground or surface source affected by contamination, diminution, or interruption proximately resulting from such drilling operations; and (2) comply with federal and state law governing discharge of water produced under the lease.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing exploration and drilling operations on land with respect to which title to oil and gas resources is held by the United States but not the title to the surface estate, unless the operator has filed a document with the Secretary, signed by the operator and surface owners, that a written surface use agreement has been consummated meeting certain criteria. 
 
Cites conditions under which the Secretary may authorize an operator to conduct exploration and drilling operations in the absence of such an agreement.
 
Requires the Secretary to comply with specified surface owner notification requirements.

Sets forth reclamation and bond requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10623)
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Small Business Act to increase SBIR and STTR program expenditures.

Bill: 110-s-1932
Sponsor: Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN]
Introduced: 2007-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Commercialization
Economics and Public Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
Industrial research
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Technological innovations
Technology transfer

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: 
Amends the Small Business Act to increase the percentage amount that federal agencies with research or research and development budgets in excess of $100 million must spend during FY2008 and thereafter with small businesses participating in federal small business innovative research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer (STTR) programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the existing provisions regarding the eligibility for essential air service subsidies through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-1934
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Access to airports
Airline passenger traffic
Airlines
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to transportation
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Subsidies

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Amends the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act to extend the effective period of final orders of the Secretary of Transportation regarding the eligibility of small communities for essential air service subsidies through September 30, 2012.
 
Requires an air carrier that has a contract for the provision of essential air service to an eligible small community that expires on September 30, 2007, to continue the service until at least the earlier of: (1) January 1, 2008; or (2) the date on which the Secretary identifies a new air carrier to provide such service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10792)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a Commission on Congressional Budgetary Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies.

Bill: 110-s-1935
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Congress
Executive reorganization
Expedited congressional procedure
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
Legislation
Performance measurement
Planning-programming-budgeting
Waste in government spending

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Establishes the Commission on Congressional Budgetary Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies. 

Directs the President to: (1) designate two Commission co-chairpersons; (2) establish a systematic method for assessing the effectiveness and accountability of agency programs; (3) divide such programs into four equal budgetary parts; (4) submit to the Commission annual assessments of the programs within each part (one each year) that use such method; and (5) identify common performance measures for programs having similar functions and provide the Commission with data on such measures. 
Requires the Commission to: (1) evaluate executive agencies and their programs identified in each assessment; (2) consider submitted assessments in evaluating programs; and (3) submit to Congress each of the next four years a plan recommending agencies and programs that should be realigned or eliminated and proposing implementing legislation. Provides for expedited consideration of such legislation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1936
Sponsor: Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Election administration
International Affairs
National self-determination
Puerto Rico
Referendum
Statehood (American politics)
Territories (U.S.)

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 - Directs the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission, not later than September 30, 2009, to conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico on the question of its status and relationship with the United States. Requires the ballot to provide for voters to choose: (1) to continue the present status and relationship; (2) independence; (3) nationhood in free association with the United States; or (4) admission as a state. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize additional funds for emergency repairs and reconstruction of the Interstate I-35 bridge located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that collapsed on August 1, 2007, to waive the $100,000,000 limitation on emergency relief funds for those emergency repairs and reconstruction, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-s-1937
Sponsor: Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Bridges
Disaster relief
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Federal aid to transportation
Federal-state relations
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Highway maintenance
Infrastructure
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Interstate highway system
Minnesota
Road construction
Traffic engineering

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a project for the repair and reconstruction of the Interstate I-35 bridge located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that collapsed on August 1, 2007.
 
Makes the federal share of the project cost 100%.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
Waives, for such project, the $100 million per state single-failure (or, single-disaster) highway-related total obligation limitation.
 
Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to authorize the Secretary to use such single-failure (or, single-disaster) highway-related funds to reimburse the Minnesota state department of transportation for actual and necessary costs of maintenance and operation (less the amount of fares earned) for additional public transportation services and traveler information services it provides as a temporary substitute for highway traffic service following the bridge collapse, until highway traffic service is restored on such bridge. Sets the federal share of the cost of reimbursed activities at 100%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
National Flood Mapping Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1938
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disaster insurance
Economics and Public Finance
Executive orders
Federal advisory bodies
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Flood control
Floodplains
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Hydrology
Insurance premiums
Maps
Standards
Water Resources Development
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
National Flood Mapping Act of 2007 - Establishes the Technical Mapping Advisory Council to make certain recommendations to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including: (1) how to improve in a cost-effective manner the accuracy and dissemination of flood insurance rate maps and risk data; (2) mapping standards and guidelines for flood insurance rate maps and data integrity; (3) how to maintain on an ongoing basis flood insurance rate maps and flood risk identification; and (4) procedures for delegating mapping activities to state and local mapping partners.

Instructs the Administrator to: (1) report to certain congressional committees on actions taken to address such recommendations; and (2) establish an ongoing program to review, update, and maintain the National Flood Insurance Program rate maps.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the heads of each federal entity implementing such activities to work together to ensure that flood risk determination data and geospatial data are shared among federal agencies.

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to repeal the limitation placed upon state contributions for updating flood maps.

Directs the Administrator to contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to study and report to Congress on how the FEMA: (1) should improve interagency and intergovernmental coordination on flood mapping; and (2) can establish joint funding mechanisms with federal agencies and governmental entities to share data among all governmental users.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Southern Nevada Limited Transition Area Act

Bill: 110-s-1939
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Claims
Easements
Land transfers
Landscape protection
Law
National forests
New Mexico
Water Resources Development
Wild rivers

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Santa Fe National Forest Title Claim Resolution Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service Regional Forester, Southwestern Region, to convey to Ramona and Boyd Lawson (the claimants) specified National Forest System land in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico (the federal land) in exchange for: (1) the granting by the claimants to the United States of a scenic easement to the federal land that protects the purposes for which such land was designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is determined to be acceptable by the Secretary; and (2) a releasing of the United States by the claimants of their claim and any additional related claims of theirs. Declares that such conveyance of federal land constitutes a full satisfaction of the claim.

action_date: 2008-04-10
text: 
 Santa Fe National Forest Title Claim Resolution Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to convey to Ramona and Boyd Lawson (the claimants) specified National Forest System land in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico (the federal land) in exchange for: (1) the granting by the claimants to the United States of a scenic easement to the federal land that protects the purposes for which such land was designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is determined to be acceptable by the Secretary; and (2) a releasing of the United States by the claimants of their claim and any additional related claims of theirs. Declares that such conveyance of federal land constitutes a full satisfaction of the claim. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 653.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 110-301.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 110-301.
action_date: 2008-01-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-216.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Rio Puerco Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act

Bill: 110-s-1940
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Authorization
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal advisory bodies
Government Operations and Politics
New Mexico
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Rio Puerco Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act - Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to: (1) include representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Rio Puerco Management Committee; and (2) authorize appropriations for the Rio Puerco Watershed Management Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 654.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. With written report No. 110-302.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment. With written report No. 110-302.
action_date: 2008-01-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-09-20
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-216.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10792)
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Wolf House Study Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-1941
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2007-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arkansas
Commemorations
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Courthouses
Governmental investigations
Historic sites
History
Law
National parks

Summary:
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: 
Wolf House Study Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to: (1) study and report to specified congressional committees on the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House located on Highway 5 in Norfolk [
sic
], Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System; and (2) consider management alternatives for the Wolf House. 

action_date: 2008-04-10
text: 
Wolf House Study Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a special resource study of the Wolf House, located on Highway 5 in Norfork, Arkansas, to determine: (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House as a unit of the National Park System; and (2) the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of the Wolf House by the National Park Service, other government entities, and private and nonprofit organizations.

Requires a report to Congress containing study results and recommendations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-11
text: Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5530)
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 110-303.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 110-303.
action_date: 2008-01-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-11-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 110-282.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate