hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7141
Sponsor: Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cytology
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Human embryology
In vitro fertilization
Informed consent (Medical law)
Law
Medical ethics
Medical research
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo. Limits such research to stem cells that meet the following requirements: (1) the stem cells were derived from human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics, were created for the purposes of fertility treatment, and were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment; (2) prior to donation, it was determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded; and (3) the individuals seeking fertility treatment donated the embryos with written informed consent and received no financial or other inducements.

Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to issue guidelines on research involving human embryonic stem cells. Authorizes the Director to issue guidelines on research involving other human stem cells, as scientifically warranted. Provides for updates of guidelines under this Act. Directs the Secretary to take into consideration guidelines on human stem cell research developed by nationally- and internationally- recognized scientific organizations.

Requires NIH research to comply with guidelines under this Act.

Requires the Director to: (1) determine the extent to which the guidelines under this Act apply to research on human embryonic stem cells derived before the effective date of such guidelines; and (2) include in its biennial report to Congress a summary of research activities on human stem cells.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
To provide for a national biological data center, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-7144
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Biological research
Biology
Commerce
Data banks
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Public-private partnerships
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to: (1) establish a National Biological Data Center to collect nonhuman biological data and make such data available for public use; and (2) contract with a small business to manage the Center. Sets forth duties of the Center, including the collection of nonhuman biological data from federal, public, private, and nonprofit entities and the development of partnerships with public and private entities, academic and scientific institutions to allow the Center to develop a digital network for the storage and retrieval of nonhuman biological data.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
People for the Planet Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7145
Sponsor: Rep. English, Phil [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Ecology
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Great Lakes
Income tax deductions
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
People for the Planet Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Treasury the Environmental Protection Trust Fund to promote ecosystem restoration, reforestation, reclamation of timber roads in national forests, watershed protection, preservation of Great Lakes and other bodies of water, and funding of biodiversity partnerships. Allows individual taxpayers (other than nonresident aliens) to designate on their income tax returns a payment of $3 of their income tax liability to such Trust Fund.

Makes permanent the tax deduction for individual and corporate contributions of conservation easements.

Allows a tax deduction for reforestation expenditures. 

Expresses the sense of Congress that the government should encourage biodiversity partnerships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
Carbon Leakage Prevention Act

Bill: 110-hr-7146
Sponsor: Rep. Inslee, Jay [D-WA-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Foreign and international corporations
Industrial facilities
Manufacturing
Metals
Pollution liability

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Carbon Leakage Prevention Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to annually distribute emission allowances to the owners and operators of facilities in eligible industrial sectors that are subject to a national cap and trade program. Requires the Administrator to identify the industrial sectors eligible to receive emission allowances under this Act based on specified criteria that includes: (1) the greenhouse gas intensity of the domestic production; and (2) the potentional for greater foreign sourcing of production or services and the effect of international competition on domestic production.

Sets forth calculations for determining the quantity of emission allowances to be distributed by the Administrator under this Act for a calendar year to an owner or operator based on a direct compliance allowance factor and an indirect carbon allowance factor accounting for emissions intensity and electricity efficiency. Requires the Administrator to differentiate between iron and steel manufacturing facilities using integrated iron and steelmaking technologies and facilities using electric arc furnace technologies.

Requires the Administrator to report to Congress biennially on the carbon leakage of domestic energy-intensive industrial manufacturers and the effectiveness of the emission allowances distributed under this Act.

Directs the Administrator to reduce or terminate the distribution of emission allowances under this Act if the President determines that international governmental activities to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions have substantially mitigated or rendered insignificant: (1) the competitive disadvantage to U.S. manufacturers; and (2) the carbon leakage and related diversion of production to foreign facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit State election officials from accepting a challenge to an individual's eligibility to register to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an election for Federal office in a jurisdiction on the grounds that the individual resides in a household in the jurisdiction which is subject to foreclosure proceedings or that the jurisdiction was adversely affected by a hurricane or other major disaster, and for other purposes.

Bill: 110-hr-7147
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [D-IL-2]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congress
Congressional elections
Disasters
Election administration
Emergency Management
Foreclosure
Housing and Community Development
Hurricanes
Local officials
Presidential elections
State officials
Voter registration
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state or local election official from accepting a challenge to an individual's eligibility to register to vote in an election for federal office in a jurisdition or to vote in an election for federal office in a jurisdiction if the challenge is not based on good cause.
 
Declares that a challenge is not based on good cause if it is based on residence in property subject to foreclosure proceedings or in an area damaged by hurricane or other major disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7148
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Aging
Contracts
Medical savings accounts
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Choose Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) to revise requirements for the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries under which no Medicare claims shall be made. Requires any such contract to be in writing and signed by the Medicare beneficiary.
 
Allows individuals to choose to opt out of the Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance), and makes them eligible for health savings accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
SERV Act

Bill: 110-hr-7149
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Drug abuse
Drug abuse treatment
Drug courts
Drug testing
Economics and Public Finance
Families
Family courts
Federal aid to law enforcement
Health
Juvenile delinquency
Law
Legal education
Mental health services
Parole
Probation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Services, Education, and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act or the SERV Act - Requires the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to delegate to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to administer the veteran's treatment courts program established by this Act.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to states and other entities: (1) to develop, implement, or enhance veteran's treatment courts or to expand operational drug courts to serve veterans; and (2) for programs that involve continuing judicial supervision over nonviolent offenders with substance abuse or mental health problems who have served in the U.S. military. Requires such programs to include mandatory periodic testing for the use of drugs, substance abuse and mental health treatment, opportunities for diversion, probation, or supervised release, and programmatic, offender management, and aftercare services. 
 
Directs the National Drug Court Institute to conduct national training programs for state and local communities to improve the professional skills of drug court practitioners and provide comprehensive technical assistance to adult, juvenile, and family dependency drug courts.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
National Fish Habitat Conservation Act

Bill: 110-hr-7150
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Aquatic ecology
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of the Interior
Environmental Protection
Environmental monitoring
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Fishery management
Fishes
Fishing
Government Operations and Politics
Habitat conservation
Sports and Recreation
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
National Fish Habitat Conservation Act - Establishes a National Fish Habitat Board to promote, oversee, and coordinate the implementation of this Act and the existing National Fish Habitat Action Plan and to review and recommend fish habitat conservation projects.
 
Authorizes the Board to designate Fish Habitat Conservation Partnerships to coordinate Plan implementation at a regional level and develop and carry out fish habitat conservation projects. Sets forth Partnership approval criteria, including that a Partnership: (1) have representatives of a diverse group of public and private partners that are focused on conservation of aquatic habitats to achieve results across jurisdictional boundaries and public and private lands; and (2) is able to address issues and priorities at a nationally significant scale.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to fund, from amounts appropriated under this Act, up to 50% of the cost of approved fish habitat conservation projects.
 
Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to: (1) create the National Fish Habitat Conservation Partnership Office within such Service; and (2) develop the Office's interagency operational plan and its technical and scientific assistance program.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with a Partnership for fish habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement projects; and (2) enter into an agreement with a charitable organization to solicit private donations to carry out the this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
America's Wildlife Heritage Act

Bill: 110-hr-7151
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
General public lands matters
Intergovernmental relations
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
America's Wildlife Heritage Act - Sets forth requirements concerning the maintenance of viable populations of existing native and desired non-native species within each planning area in the National Forest System's or the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) public lands. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to adopt and implement a comprehensive monitoring program for determining the status and trends of wildlife populations on System and BLM lands.

Requires the Secretaries to coordinate the management of species populations in planning areas of the System and the BLM with the management of such populations on lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Park System, and with other federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, tribes, local governments, and non-governmental organizations engaged in species conservation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 110-hr-7152
Sponsor: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
California
Connecticut
Currency
Higher education
Historic sites and heritage areas
Libraries and archives
Missouri
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins emblematic of the life and legacy of Mark Twain.
 
Limits issuance of such coins to calendar year 2010.
 
Requires specified surcharges in the sale of such coins, which shall be promptly paid, in specified percentages, to: (1) the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, to support the continued restoration of the house and grounds, and ensure continuing growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote, and educate on the legacy of Mark Twain; (2) the Mark Twain Project at the Bancroft Library of University of California, Berkeley, California, to support programs to study and promote Mark Twain's legacy; (3) the Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, New York, for the same purposes; and (4) the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, to preserve historical sites related to Mark Twain and help support study and promotion programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-7153
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cancer
Child health
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acting through the Director of the National Cancer Institute, to establish, administer, and coordinate a National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network to: (1) provide grants for research on the causes of and risk factors associated with childhood brain tumors; (2) assemble a panel of experts to provide ongoing guidance and recommendations on research funded by the Network, including on a common study design and standard protocols; and (3) designate a central laboratory to collect, analyze, and aggregate data with respect to research funded by the Network and to make such data and analysis available to researchers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in House