hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1352
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee. Requires the Committee to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding how officials can: (1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases; (2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases; (3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups; (4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints are represented in public heath policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced; and (5) advise relevant federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the appropriate federal officials, to provide for the coordination of all federal programs and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases and the conduct or support of specified activities, including: (1) developing sensitive and accurate diagnostic tools and tests, (2) improving the efficient utilization of diagnostic testing currently available; (3) surveillance and reporting of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases to accurately determine the prevalence of such diseases and to evaluate the feasibility of creating a national uniform reporting system; (4) providing and promoting access to a clearinghouse of information on such diseases; (5) increasing public education related to such diseases; (6) creating a physician education program; (7) establishing epidemiological research objectives to determine the long term course of illness for Lyme disease; and (8) determining the effectiveness of different treatment modalities by establishing treatment outcome objectives


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7076-7077)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Dale Long Emergency Medical Service Providers Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-1353
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Health personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Dale Long Emergency Medical Service Providers Protection Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1986 to make nonprofit and volunteer ground and air ambulance crew members and first responders who engage in rescue activity or in the provision of emergency medical services eligible for public safety officers' death benefits. Makes this Act applicable to injuries sustained on or after January 1, 2009.

action_date: 2009-12-03
text: 
Dale Long Emergency Medical Service Providers Protection Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1986 to include within the definitions of &quot;member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew&quot; and &quot;public safety officer&quot; for purposes of eligibility for public safety officers' benefits an officially recognized or designated employee or volunteer member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew that: (1) is a public agency or a nonprofit entity serving the public that is officially authorized or licensed to engage in rescue activity or to provide emergency medical services and that is officially designated as a prehospital emergency medical response agency; and (2) is engaging in rescue activity or in the provision of emergency medical services. 
 
Cancels $5 million of unobligated balances available under the Department of Justice (DOJ) Assets Forfeiture Fund.
 
Makes this Act applicable to injuries sustained on or after June 1, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 220.
action_date: 2009-12-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-12-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-12-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7077)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7077)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved Financial and Commodity Markets Oversight and Accountability Act

Bill: 111-s-1354
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Congressional oversight
Federal Reserve System
Federal officials
Government studies and investigations
National Credit Union Administration
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Improved Financial and Commodity Markets Oversight and Accountability Act - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to include the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as establishments the Inspector Generals of which shall be appointed by the President.
 
 Applies existing pay requirements under the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 to the Inspectors General of such entities. Permits such Inspectors General to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as necessary and to obtain services of experts or consultants.
 
Authorizes such Inspectors General to subpoena records and testimony necessary in the performance of their assigned functions.
 
Requires the heads of those entities to: (1) take action to address deficiencies identified by their Inspector General; or (2) certify to both houses of Congress that no action is necessary or appropriate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1355
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Medicare
Nutrition and diet
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to rural health clinic reimbursement.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make incentive payments to rural health clinic employees or contractors for satisfactory reporting of data on clinic quality measures.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a community health center to contract with a federally certified rural health clinic for the delivery of primary health care services to individuals who would otherwise be eligible for free or reduced cost care if they were able to obtain it at the community health center.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the diabetes education and medical nutrition therapy counseling services provided by federally qualified health clinics.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration project of grants to states to examine whether health care professionals can be recruited or retained to work in underserved rural areas by providing them with medical malpractice subsidies.
 
States that a rural health clinic qualified under Medicare or Medicaid may be defined and certified by the Secretary as rural even if it fails to satisfy the requirement that it not be located in an urbanized area.
 
Amends SSA title XVIII to establish the minimum Medicare Advantage plan payment rate for services furnished by a rural health clinic.
 
Expresses the sense of the Senate concerning the adequacy of network-based health plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Western States Trail Study Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1356
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Government studies and investigations
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Western States Trail Study Act of 2009 - Amends the National Trails System Act to require the Western States Trail, a trail of approximately 100 miles from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California, along which are conducted the Western States Trail Ride and the Western States Endurance Run, to be studied for designation as a national scenic trail. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7078)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
I Teach Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1357
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax credits
Rural conditions and development
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Incentives to Educate American Children Act of 2009 or the I Teach Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a tax credit of $1,000 for: (1) teachers in public elementary or secondary schools or public kindergartens in rural areas or areas with high poverty; and (2) teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Grants a credit of $2,000 for a teacher meeting both criteria.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7078-7079)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to use funds made available under the Trademark Act of 1946 for patent operations in order to avoid furloughs and reductions-in-force.

Bill: 111-s-1358
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Intellectual property
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Authorizes the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to use funds made available under provisions of the Act commonly known as the Trademark Act of 1946 (relating to fees) to support the processing of patents and other activities, services, and materials relating to patents, notwithstanding provisions restricting the use of such fees to activities relating trademark registrations, if: (1) the Director certifies to Congress that the use of such funds is reasonably necessary to avoid USPTO furloughs or a reduction-in-force, or both; and (2) funds so used are repaid to trademark operations not later than September 30, 2011.
 
 Terminates such authority on June 30, 2010.

action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 

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

 
Authorizes the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to use funds made available under provisions of the Act commonly known as the Trademark Act of 1946 (relating to fees) to support the processing of patents and other activities, services, and materials relating to patents, notwithstanding provisions restricting the use of such fees to activities relating trademark registrations, if: (1) the Director certifies to Congress that the use of such funds is reasonably necessary to avoid USPTO furloughs or a reduction-in-force, or both; and (2) funds so used are repaid to trademark operations not later than September 30, 2011.
 
Terminates such authority on June 30, 2010.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7044-7046; text as passed Senate: CR S7044)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7044-7046; text as passed Senate: CR S7044)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
FACE Act

Bill: 111-s-1359
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Citizenship and naturalization
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Foreign Adopted Children Equality Act or the FACE Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to set forth automatic citizenship criteria for a child adopted outside the United States by a U.S. citizen parent. 
 
Deems such an adopted child to be a U.S. citizen at birth.
 
Deems to be a U.S. citizen at birth, after the approval of an application filed within the United States or with a U.S. Embassy, a person who: (1) is older than 18 years of age; (2) was born outside the United States and was adopted by a U.S. citizen parent before such person reached 18 years of age; and (3) was adopted under 16 years of age and has lived with the adoptive parents for at least two years, was abused, or is an orphan who was under 16 years of age at the time an immediate relative status petition was filed on his or her behalf.
 
Includes within the definition of nonimmigrant an individual brought to the United States as a child to be adopted by a U.S. citizen.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the government of each foreign country from which children are adopted by U.S. citizens should provide the adoptive family with birth history documentation. 
 
 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1360
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Income tax exclusion
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Civil Rights Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) an exclusion from gross income for amounts received (either backpay or frontpay or punitive damages) on account of an unlawful discrimination claim; (2) income averaging for backpay and frontpay amounts received from such claims, and (3) an exemption from the alternative minimum tax (AMT) for any tax benefit resulting from the income averaging of amounts received from an unlawful discrimination claim.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1361
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Defense spending
Department of Defense
Disaster relief and insurance
Intergovernmental relations
Military civil functions
Military command and structure
Military facilities and property
National Guard and reserves
State and local government operations
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2009 - Adds the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (Chief) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
 
Requires the Chief to: (1) identify gaps between federal and state military capabilities to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and (2) make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for military assistance to civil authorities to address such gaps. Requires annual defense budget documents to specify separate amounts for training and equipment and military construction for the National Guard for military assistance to civil authorities and other domestic operations.
 
 Reestablishes the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. 
 
Directs the Secretary to assure that tactical control of the Armed Forces on duty within a state or possession is vested in the governor thereof when such forces are engaged in a domestic operation, including emergency response.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2010 for National Guard: (1) continuity of operations, continuity of government, and consequence management in connection with response to terrorist and other attacks and catastrophes; (2) emergency preparedness and response activities; and (3) staffing of joint operations coordination centers in response to terrorist and other attacks and catastrophes.
 
States that the United States Northern Command and the United States Pacific Command shall be the combatant commands principally responsible for the military support of civil authorities in the United States. Requires the Commander of each Command and the Chief to enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth the operational relationships, and individual roles and responsibilities, during responses to domestic emergencies among such Commands and the National Guard Bureau.
 
Requires the officers serving as Commander of Army North Command and Commander of Air Force North Command to be officers in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, respectively. Expresses the sense of Congress that, in assigning officers to such positions, the President should afford a preference to officers who have served as a state adjutant general.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7079-7081)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7079)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Success in the Middle Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1362
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Language arts
Research administration and funding
Research and development
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Success in the Middle Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to states, based on their proportion of poor children aged 5 to 17, to: (1) implement state middle grades needs analyses and, on the basis of such analyses, improvement plans that describe what students must master to complete successfully the middle grades and succeed in academically rigorous high school coursework; and (2) award competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships of LEAs and institutions of higher education, educational service agencies, or educational nonprofit organizations to implement a comprehensive middle school improvement plan for each eligible school. Favors LEAs, or partnerships that include LEAs, that serve high proportions of poor children and children attending eligible schools.
 
Defines &quot;eligible schools&quot; as those where: (1) a high proportion of middle grade students matriculate to high schools with graduation rates below 65%; (2) more than 25% of the students who finish grade six, or the school's earliest middle grade level, exhibit key risk factors for failure; and (3) a majority of middle grade students are not rated proficient on required state assessments in mathematics, reading, or language arts.
 
Permits states to make subgrants to LEAs and partnerships that did not receive a competitive subgrant to assist them in applying for competitive subgrants and developing comprehensive middle school improvement plans. 
 
Provides the Secretary with funding to: (1) contract for studies that identify promising practices for, and review existing research to identify factors that might lead to, the improvement of middle grades education; (2) create a national clearinghouse in best middle grade educational practices and a national database identifying factors that facilitate or impede middle grade student achievement; (3) require certain educational field research designed to enhance the performance of middle grade schools and students; (4) create a research and development center that addresses topics pertinent to the middle grades; and (5) provide grants to entities that partner with states and LEAs to develop, adapt, or replicate effective models for turning around low-performing middle grades.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7082-7086)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7081-7082)
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1364
Sponsor: Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL]
Introduced: 2009-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Natural disasters
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: 
Hurricane and Tornado Mitigation Investment Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual and business taxpayers a tax credit for 25% of their qualified hurricane and tornado mitigation property expenditures up to $5,000 for any taxable year. Defines such expenditures as expenditures in a dwelling unit to improve the strength of a roof deck attachment, create a secondary water barrier, improve the durability of a roof covering, brace gable-end walls, reinforce the connections between a roof and supporting wall, protect against windborne debris, or protect exterior doors and garages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate