hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Fiscal Integrity Through Transparency and Technology (FITT) Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1648
Sponsor: Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Legislative rules and procedure
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Fiscal Integrity through Transparency and Technology (FITT) Act of 2009 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or in the Senate to consider any budget resolution for any fiscal year if the percentage increase for the projected total outlays compared to the projected total outlays for the preceding fiscal year exceeds the allowable growth percentage, as determined according to a specified formula.
 
Requires a super majority vote in either chamber to waive or suspend such prohibition.
 
Requires federal departments and agencies to report annually to the Comptroller General, and federal intelligence departments and agencies and their intelligence-related divisions to report annually to the House Select Committee on Intelligence, on total department or agency operating costs for the year, with a separate statement detailing waste, fraud, and abuse during such year.
 
Requires each federal department or agency to design and implement a plan to reduce its operational costs from $.36 to $.15 of every $1.00 appropriated to it (or reduce such costs by 41.67%) through the use of new technologies and standard management practices.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to include, on each federal tax return, a statement of the aggregate dollar amount of waste, fraud, and abuse by all federal departments and agencies for the most recent year accounted for.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Rules
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Budget
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, and Ways and Means, 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: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
High-Quality Education Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1649
Sponsor: Rep. Meek, Kendrick B. [D-FL-17]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
High-Quality Education Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to states, or local educational agencies (LEAs) in states that do not receive such grants, to reduce the size of core curriculum classes in public elementary and secondary schools.
 
Requires such grants to be provided only to states or LEAs serving schools whose average core curriculum class size is greater than 18 students in kindergarten through grade 3, 22 students in grades 4 through 8, and 25 students in grades 9 through 12.
 
Requires grant funds to be used for: (1) constructing new classroom space; (2) hiring additional teachers; and (3) purchasing portable structures to replace administrative offices that are converted into classrooms.
 
Permits the Secretary to give grant priority to states or LEAs serving schools: (1) where over 17% of the students between age 4 and 18 are from impoverished families; or (2) whose average core curriculum class size is higher than the average core curriculum class size of schools served by other applicants.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Troubled Asset Relief Program Enhancement Act

Bill: 111-hr-1650
Sponsor: Rep. Meek, Kendrick B. [D-FL-17]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Financial crises and stabilization
Government information and archives
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Troubled Asset Relief Program Enhancement Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to require the Comptroller General to oversee the performance of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in meeting EESA purposes involving public accountability for the exercise of its authority.
 
Grants the Comptroller General access, upon request, to any information, data, schedules, books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, electronic communications, or other papers, things, or property belonging to or in use by the TARP, any entity established by the Secretary under EESA, or any entity participating in a program established under EESA, and to any of their officers, employees, directors, independent public accountants, financial advisors and any and all other agents and representatives.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians.
 
Prohibits the Comptroller General from disclosing publicly any proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Access to Justice Act

Bill: 111-hr-1651
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Justice
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Access to Justice Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize an alien to file a motion to reopen a case in removal proceedings on the grounds that counsel or a certified representative provided deficient performance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E724-725)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
To require institutions receiving certain assistance from the Troubled Asset Relief Program or the Federal Reserve to have employee bonus payment plans approved in advance of the payments being made.

Bill: 111-hr-1652
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT-5]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Financial crises and stabilization
Financial services and investments
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to require financial institutions that have received assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) or under the Federal Reserve Act to obtain the approval of their employee bonus payment plans by either the Secretary or the Chairman, as appropriate, before paying any employee bonuses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1653
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Alternative and renewable resources
Arms control and nonproliferation
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Ecology
Education programs funding
Housing and community development funding
Infrastructure development
Military operations and strategy
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear weapons

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009 - Requires the U.S. Government to: (1) disable and dismantle all its nuclear weapons and refrain from replacing them at any time with weapons of mass destruction; (2) undertake vigorous good faith efforts to eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military operations; (3) actively promote policies to induce all other countries to join in these commitments for world peace and security; and (4) redirect resources that are currently being used for nuclear weapons programs to constructive, ecologically beneficial peacetime activities and to address human and infrastructure needs such as housing, health care, education, agriculture, and environmental restoration. 
Makes this Act effective when the President certifies to Congress that all foreign countries possessing nuclear weapons have established legal requirements comparable to those set forth in this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Foreign Affairs
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Armed Services
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E723-724)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Cures Can Be Found Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1654
Sponsor: Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cell biology and embryology
Income tax credits
Medical ethics
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Cures Can Be Found Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for: (1) donations to stem cell research or storage facilities; and (2) donations of umbilical cord blood. Allows credits only for donations to facilities that do not engage in research on stem cells derived from human embryos.
 
Allows a business tax credit for stem cell research and storage expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E720)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Putting Our Resources Towards Security (PORTS) Act

Bill: 111-hr-1655
Sponsor: Rep. Reyes, Silvestre [D-TX-16]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
General Services Administration
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Homeland security
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Putting Our Resources Towards Security (PORTS) Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, between FY2010-FY2014, to increase the number of full-time Customs and Border Protection officers, agriculture specialists, and border security support personnel for U.S. ports of entry by not fewer than 5,000, 1,200, and 350, respectively, above the number of such personnel for which funds were made available during FY2009.
 
Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) for each of FY2010-FY2014 to make improvements to existing U.S. ports of entry to improve border security. Directs the Administrator to give priority to ports determined to be in most need of repair in accordance with required infrastructure assessment studies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Homeland Security
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Assisted Institution Bonus Repayment Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1656
Sponsor: Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-46]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Corporate finance and management
Financial crises and stabilization
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Assisted Institution Bonus Repayment Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to require a financial institution, as a condition of receiving assistance under such Act, to certify to the Secretary of the Treasury that the 10 most highly paid executives or employees of such institution have repaid any bonuses received during the previous five fiscal years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Secretary of Defense to notify members of the Armed Forces and State military departments of exposure to potentially harmful materials and contaminants.

Bill: 111-hr-1657
Sponsor: Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Requires the Secretary of Defense: (1) in the case of a member of the Armed Forces who is exposed to a potentially harmful material or contaminant, to notify the member of such exposure and any associated health risks; and (2) in the case of a member of a reserve component, to also notify the state military department of that member.
 
Directs the Secretary, if such a determination is made while a member is deployed, to notify the member while the member is so deployed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1658
Sponsor: Rep. Tiahrt, Todd [R-KS-4]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Health care costs and insurance
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Veterans Healthcare Commitment Act of 2009 - Prohibits anything in current law provisions authorizing the recovery by the United States of the cost of certain medical care and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to veterans for non-service-connected disabilities from allowing the United States to recover or collect any charges from any third party for care or services furnished to a veteran for a service-connected disability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Fixing the Federal Voting Assistance Program Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1659
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-14]
Introduced: 2009-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal officials
Government studies and investigations
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: 
Fixing the Federal Voting Assistance Program Act of 2009 - Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require the presidential designee responsible for carrying out federal functions under the Act to have experience in election administration and be approved by the Senate.
 
Establishes the Overseas Voting Advisory Board to conduct studies and issue reports with respect to various issues, including the ability of U.S. citizens who reside outside of the United States to register to vote and vote in elections for public office.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to House Rules
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to House Administration
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E736)
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Introduced in House
Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act

Bill: 111-hr-1660
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2009-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Foreign labor
Housing industry and standards
Immigration status and procedures
Labor standards
Livestock
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: 
Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the H-2A nonimmigrant visa category (temporary agricultural workers) an alien coming temporarily to the United States to work as a sheepherder or dairy worker. Provides for a three-year initial period of admission with additional three-year extensions.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue housing regulations for workers engaged in the range production of livestock.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-03-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E804-805)
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Introduced in House
Travel Trailer Residents' Health Registry Act

Bill: 111-hr-1661
Sponsor: Rep. Barrow, John [D-GA-12]
Introduced: 2009-03-23 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: 
Travel Trailer Residents' Health Registry Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS Secretary) to: (1) establish and maintain a health registry for individuals exposed to formaldehyde in temporary housing units provided by the government when displaced by a major disaster that occurred between August 29, 2005, and December 31, 2009; (2) include in the registry information the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) determines is necessary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of such exposure; (3) develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the registry; and (4) periodically notify such individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with exposure.
 
Directs the DHS Secretary to contract with the HHS Secretary to provide health examinations, consultations, and mental health counseling free of charge to each eligible individual.

Requires the HHS Secretary to contract with an independent scientific organization to report to Congress on: (1) the effectiveness of actions taken to collect and maintain information on the health consequences of such exposure; (2) recommendations to improve such collection and maintenance; and (3) the most effective and prudent means of addressing medical needs of eligible individuals.

Requires: (1) such health consultation and mental health counseling to provide to each eligible individual information on examination results and on developments; and (2) the Secretary to commence an epidemiological study of the immediate and long-term effects of such exposure sufficient to further understand the medical needs of eligible individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Introduced in House