hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Law Enforcement Officers Flag Memorial Act

Bill: 111-hr-248
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Law enforcement officers
Monuments and memorials
National symbols
U.S. Capitol

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Law Enforcement Officers Flag Memorial Act - Allows the family of a deceased law enforcement officer to request, and the Attorney General to provide, a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol in honor of the officer, to be supplied by the Architect of the Capitol. Directs that the family pay the cost of such flag, including shipping. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Logan's Law

Bill: 111-hr-249
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Accidents
Child safety and welfare
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Logan's Law - Requires the head of a federal agency that is carrying out a project involving the construction or modification of a culvert or other enclosed flood or drainage system to ensure that: (1) the system intake is protected by a covering sufficient to ensure that a child may not be swept into the system; (2) a sign warning of the hazard for a child is clearly posted at such intake; and (3) the system has a hinged opening, or other type of opening and closing mechanism, to permit emergency services personnel access.

Requires a federal agency providing financial assistance to a state or local government or other entity for a project carried out with federal funds to require compliance with this Act as a condition for the award of such assistance or any letter of intent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Neighborhood Rail Accountability Act

Bill: 111-hr-250
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Transportation
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Public participation and lobbying
Railroads
Surface Transportation Board

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Neighborhood Rail Accountability Act - Requires the Surface Transportation Board, in determining whether to issue a certificate authorizing the construction of an additional railroad line or of an extension to any railroad line, to: (1) give greater weight to local official statements and public comments in opposition to the proposed construction (especially construction in a residential area) if there is an unusually high level of public opposition; and (2) identify any disproportionate negative impacts on any socioeconomic population, including a discussion of alternatives that were considered that would have avoided such impacts.
 
Prescribes procedural requirements for dealing with any false or incorrect information provided by an applicant for a certificate for construction.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Life Insurance Employee Notification Act

Bill: 111-hr-251
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Insurance industry and regulation
Life, casualty, property insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Life Insurance Employee Notification Act - Requires an employer to notify an employee in writing upon the purchase of an employer-owned insurance policy on the life of such employee for a beneficiary other than the individual who is the subject of the policy.
Declares that violation of this Act constitutes an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
LIHEAP Equity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-252
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Appropriations
Energy assistance for the poor and aged

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
LIHEAP Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 governing state allotments under the low-income energy assistance program (LIHEAP) to limit to 50% the earmark for home heating purposes of amounts appropriated for program implementation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Critical Election Infrastructure Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-253
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-23]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Critical Election Infrastructure Act of 2009 - Directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make grants to eligible states to carry out election administration improvement plans to promote efficiency and fairness in the operation of polling places in federal elections (including early voting sites), which may include: (1) acquisition of additional voting systems and equipment; (2) improved training of election administration officials; and (3) allocation of additional election administration officials to polling places serving greater numbers of voters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E34)
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Weekend Voting Act

Bill: 111-hr-254
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Weekend Voting Act - Amends the Revised Statutes with respect to the time of election to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every even numbered year, as the days for the election, in each state and territory, of Delegates to, or Members of, Congress.
 
Amends federal law with respect to presidential elections and vacancies to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every fourth year, as the days for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States.
 
Amends such federal laws to establish the same polling place hours in the United States for both congressional and presidential elections, namely from 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday till 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, with polls allowed to close between the hours of 10:00 p.m. local time on Saturday and 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday as provided by the law of the state in which the polling place is located. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 111-hr-255
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
District of Columbia
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Higher education
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Science and engineering education
Smithsonian Institution
Space flight and exploration
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to mint and issue $50 gold and $1 silver coins emblematic of the 50 years of exemplary and unparalleled achievements of NASA. 
 
Requires all such coin sales to include a surcharge of: (1) $50 per $50 coin; (2) $10 per $1 coin; and (3) $1 per coin for any bronze duplicate.
 
Requires distribution of the first $4 million to the NASA Family Assistance Fund for financial assistance to the families of NASA personnel who lose their lives as a result of injuries suffered in the performance of their official duties.
 
Requires distribution of: (1) one-half of the next $1 million of the remaining amounts to each of the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational (D.R.E.M.E.) Science Literacy Foundation and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education; and (2) the remainder to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the preservation, maintenance, and display of space artifacts at the National Air and Space Museum (including the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center).
 
Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the $50 gold coins. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-256
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Department of the Treasury
Firearms and explosives
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Hate crimes
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 or David's Law - Amends the federal criminal code to impose penalties for willfully causing bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, attempting to cause such injury, whether or not acting under color of law, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. 

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes and, if appropriate, to amend the federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for such an offense.

Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to state and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles.

Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Treasury and to DOJ for FY2009-FY2011 to increase the number of personnel to protect against criminal interference with federally-protected activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-257
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Accidents
Child safety and welfare
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Elementary and secondary education
Firearms and explosives
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Product safety and quality
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2009 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to: (1) raise the age of handgun eligibility to 21 (currently, 18); and (2) prohibit persons under age 21 from possessing semiautomatic assault weapons or large capacity ammunition feeding devices, with exceptions. 
 
Increases penalties for: (1) a second or subsequent violation by a juvenile of Brady Act provisions or for a first violation committed after an adjudication of delinquency or after a state or federal conviction for an act that, if committed by an adult, would be a serious violent felony; and (2) transferring a handgun, ammunition, semiautomatic assault weapon, or large capacity ammunition feeding device to a person who is under age 21, knowing or having reasonable cause to know that such person intended to use it in the commission of a crime of violence. 
Prohibits any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer from transferring a firearm to any person (other than a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer) unless the transferee is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device. Authorizes the Attorney General to suspend or revoke any firearms license, or to subject the licensee to a civil penalty of up to $10,000, if the licensee has knowingly violated this prohibition.
Prohibits keeping a loaded firearm or an unloaded firearm and ammunition within any premises knowing or recklessly disregarding the risk that a child: (1) is capable of gaining access to it; and (2) will use the firearm to cause death or serious bodily injury.
Requires the parent or legal guardian of a child to ensure that a child attending a gun show is accompanied by an adult.
Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to enable local law enforcement agencies to develop and sponsor gun safety classes for parents and children.
Expresses the sense of Congress that each school district should provide or participate in a firearms safety program for students.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Congressional Lawmaking Authority Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-258
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional-executive branch relations
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Executive agency funding and structure
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Congressional Lawmaking Authority Protection Act of 2009 - Prohibits the use of funds made available to the Executive Office of the President, or to any executive agency, to produce, publish, or disseminate any presidential statement made contemporaneously with the signing of any legislation by him (signing statement).
 
Applies this prohibition only to signing statements that contradict, or are inconsistent with, the intent of Congress in enacting a measure or that otherwise encroach upon the congressional prerogative to make laws.
 
Prohibits a governmental entity from taking into consideration any presidential signing statement for purposes of construing or applying any Act of Congress.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Michael Jon Newkirk Transportation Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-259
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Michael Jon Newkirk Transportation Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to withhold a graduated percentage of federal-aid highway funds of states for FY2012 and thereafter that do not enact or enforce a law that requires the annual inspection of registered motor vehicles so that they meet or exceed state motor vehicle standards (including the operability of vehicle seatbelts and speedometers).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
21st Century Energy Independence Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-260
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Industrial facilities
Oil and gas
Solid waste and recycling
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
21st Century Energy Independence Act of 2009 - Instructs the Secretary of Energy to seek to ensure: (1) the availability of 200% of the volume of renewable fuels required to be available in the United States by 2013 under the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and (2) the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the production and use of renewable fuels by 25%.

Directs the Secretary to establish a loan guarantee program for up to 80% of the cost of a project for: (1) the harvesting, storing, and delivery of agriculture residues for use in cellulosic or traditional ethanol production plants; (2) cellulosic ethanol production technologies that will reduce the initial capital cost to $2.50 per annual gallon, and operation and maintenance costs to 125% of those at traditional corn ethanol plants; (3) advanced biomass gasifiers that can provide specified thermal input requirements for traditional ethanol plants to produce syngas; and (4) scaled catalytic conversion projects to convert syngas to liquid fuels.

Permits such loan guarantees for: (1) a traditional ethanol plant only if the agriculture residue products are used as feedstock to replace thermal input requirements otherwise provided by fossil fuels; and (2) an existing ethanol plant only if the applicant demonstrates the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to ethanol production by at least 75%.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants for up to 50% of the capital costs of the initial commercialization for certain cellulosic ethanol production technologies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Science and Technology
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science and Technology, 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: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
Chemical Facility Security Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-261
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Homeland security
Industrial facilities
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Chemical Facility Security Improvement Act of 2009 - Prohibits federal funds from being used by the Secretary of Homeland Security to approve a site security plan for a chemical facility unless the facility meets or exceeds security standards and requirements to protect it against terrorist acts established by the state or local government for the area where it is located.
 
Amends the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 to: (1) repeal a provision prohibiting the Secretary from disapproving a site security plan based on the presence or absence of a particular security measure; (2) require vulnerability assessments and site security plans to be treated as sensitive security information; and (3) repeal a provision limiting to the Secretary any right of action against a chemical facility owner or operator to enforce security measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Homeland Security
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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: 2009-01-07
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in House