hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To support State and tribal government efforts to promote research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, market promotion of maple products, and greater access to lands containing maple trees for maple sugaring activities, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-hr-5196
Sponsor: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2010-04-29 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural research
Food industry and services

Summary:
action_date: 2010-04-29
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to make grants to states and tribal governments to support the domestic maple syrup industry through the promotion of related research, education, natural resource sustainability, and marketing, as well as the expansion of maple-sugaring activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research.
action_date: 2010-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2010-04-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2010-04-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-04-29
text: Introduced in House
Defense Sexual Trauma Response Oversight and Good Governance Act

Bill: 111-hr-5197
Sponsor: Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-5]
Introduced: 2010-05-03 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Lawyers and legal services
Military education and training
Military personnel and dependents
Performance measurement
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-03
text: 
Defense Sexual Trauma Response Oversight and Good Governance Act (Defense STRONG Act) - Establishes within the Department of Defense (DOD) a Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to serve as the single point of authority, accountability, and oversight for DOD policy regarding prevention of and response to sexual assault, and to provide oversight to ensure that the sexual assault programs of the military departments comply with DOD policy.
 
Requires the assignment within each military department of at least one full-time Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and one full-time Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, allowing the Secretary of the military department concerned to assign additional coordinators and/or advocates based on the demographics or needs of the unit. Allows only members of the Armed Forces (members) or DOD civilian personnel to be assigned as coordinators or advocates. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a professional training and certification program for such coordinators and advocates, and requires performance evaluations of all coordinators and advocates.
 
Entitles any member, or dependent of a member, who is the victim of a sexual assault to legal assistance provided by a military legal assistance counsel and Victim Advocate service, regardless of whether the member or dependent elects unrestricted or restricted (confidential) reporting of the assault. Makes privileged any communications between a member or dependent and a Victim Advocate.
 
Directs the Secretary to provide for the inclusion of a sexual assault prevention and response training module at each level of professional military education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2010-05-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-05-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-03
text: Introduced in House
To express the sense of Congress that the Federal Pell Grant program should be a high funding priority.

Bill: 111-hr-5198
Sponsor: Rep. Paulsen, Erik [R-MN-3]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal Pell Grant program: (1) is the largest federally-funded source of postsecondary grant aid and this country's largest single source of need-based grant aid; (2) plays a unique role in promoting economic and social mobility; and (3) should be a high funding priority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
Electronic Check Parity Act of 2010

Bill: 111-hr-5199
Sponsor: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer credit
Federal Reserve System
Financial services and investments
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
Electronic Check Parity Act of 2010 - Finds electronic debit transactions serve as a functional replacement for check transactions. Grants the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System authority to promulgate rules regarding any interchange transaction fee charged with respect to an electronic debit transaction. Permits the Board to exempt from such rules any financial institutions, including those regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), that, together with affiliates, have assets of less than $1 billion.
 
Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a credit card network from inhibiting the ability of any person to: (1) set a minimum or maximum dollar value for such person's acceptance of any form of payment; or (2) offer a discount, benefit, or anything else of value to customers in order to create an incentive for them to pay such person using a form of payment that carries lower transaction fees or costs (limitation on credit card network restrictions).
 
Defines &quot;credit card network&quot;' as an entity that directly, or through licensed members, processors, or agents, provides the proprietary services, infrastructure, and software that route information and data to facilitate transaction authorization, clearance, and settlement that a person must access in order to accept a specific brand of general-purpose credit card as payment for goods or services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
FEHBP Dependent Coverage Extension Act

Bill: 111-hr-5200
Sponsor: Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Child health
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Marriage and family status

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
FEHBP Dependent Coverage Extension Act - Extends eligibility for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to a federal employee's, annuitant's, or former spouse's dependent child (currently, unmarried dependent child) who is under age 26 (currently, under age 22) or incapable of self-support because of mental or physical disability which existed before age 26 (currently, before age 22).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
Outdoor Lighting Efficiency Act

Bill: 111-hr-5201
Sponsor: Rep. Harman, Jane [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Department of Energy
Energy efficiency and conservation
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
Outdoor Lighting Efficiency Act - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to set forth provisions concerning establishing energy efficiency standards for: (1) pole-mounted outdoor luminaires manufactured on or after three years after this Act's enactment; and (2) high light output double-ended quartz halogen lamps manufactured on or after January 1, 2016. 
 
Sets forth control requirements for luminaires, including requiring luminaires to be sold with: (1) integral controls that have the capacity of operating the luminaire at specified power levels; and (2) internal electronics and connective wiring or hardware that enable the area luminaire to operate at specified power levels. Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) determine whether the standards for such luminaires should be amended; and (2) publish rules containing the amendments to such standards, if any, by specified deadlines. 
 
Sets forth provisions concerning establishing test procedures for efficiency standards with respect to such luminaires.
 
Requires the National Electrical Manufacturers Association to develop and publish on a publicly available website a table including standard lamp types by wattage, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) code, initial lamp lumen value, lamp orientation, and lamp finish. Sets forth provisions concerning the adoption of the table by the Secretary.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish labeling rules for such luminaires.
 
 
Prohibits the manufacture of general purpose mercury vapor lamps on or after January 1, 2016. 
 
Provides that state energy conservation standards that are adopted by January 1, 2015, pursuant to statutory requirements to adopt efficiency standards for reducing outdoor lighting energy use enacted prior to January 31, 2008, will not be preempted by federal standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E744-745)
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
National School Lunch Protection Act of 2010

Bill: 111-hr-5202
Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-32]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Education
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Government studies and investigations
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
National School Lunch Protection Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue guidance to school food authorities participating in the school lunch and breakfast programs covering program rules pertaining to the costs that may be charged to the nonprofit school food service accounts of such authorities, including indirect and direct costs.
 
Requires the Secretary to assess the extent to which school food authorities pay such indirect and direct costs, and then issue additional guidance relating to the types of costs that are reasonable and necessary.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, after the completion of such assessment, to promulgate regulations addressing: (1) any identified deficiencies in the allocation of such indirect and direct costs to school food authorities; and (2) the authority of school food authorities to reimburse only those costs identified by the Secretary as reasonable and necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
action_date: 2010-05-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR  H3250)
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to House Budget
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
Tinnitus Research for Military Health Improvement Act

Bill: 111-hr-5203
Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
Tinnitus Research for Military Health Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish one or more centers of excellence for the study of tinnitus. Requires such centers to be established at military installations where members of the Armed Forces perform activities involving high rates of sound, including artillery instruction. Outlines center activities, including researching and enhancing treatments for members with tinnitus.
 
Requires the inclusion, within a current medical tracking system for members deployed overseas, of an aural screening which shall include an assessment of tinnitus.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program to assist eligible institutions in conducting research on recurrent, chronic, or severe tinnitus and peripheral neurological conditions. Makes eligible for such grants: (1) a hospital with an approved teaching program as defined under the Social Security Act; or (2) an educational institution with demonstrated expertise in tinnitus research.
 
Requires the Secretary to designate a senior DOD official to act as the executive agent for tinnitus.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
21st Century Full Employment and Training Act

Bill: 111-hr-5204
Sponsor: Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Financial services and investments
Government trust funds
Sales and excise taxes
Unemployment
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
21st Century Full Employment and Training Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a Full Employment National Trust Fund.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on certain covered securities transactions, payable by trading facilities that deal in such transactions. 
 
Requires amounts collected to be deposited into the Fund for: (1) Employment Opportunity Grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes for job creating activities in communities where the rate of unemployment is higher than a specified graduated percentage for a number years; and (2) the Secretary to fund Workforce Investment programs.
 
Directs the Secretary to convene a national employment conference to bring together leaders of small and larger business, labor, government, and other parties to discuss employment, with particular attention to structural unemployment and the plight of disadvantaged youth.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2010-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 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: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act

Bill: 111-hr-5205
Sponsor: Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Idaho
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Water use and supply
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act - Designates specified parcels of federal land in central Idaho as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). 
 
Repeals existing law requiring review of portions of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) for possible inclusion in the NWPS. 
 
Provides for the use of an appropriate site in the vicinity of the Smiley Creek community in Blaine County in central Idaho for construction and use of a fire station for the Smiley Creek Rural Fire Protection District. Authorizes: (1) the use of such site through a special use permit or conveyance to the District; and (2) the issuance of a special use permit to the District for development of a well for fire protection and other public purposes. 
 
Requires the conveyance of specified parcels of federal land to Blaine and Custer Counties and the cities of Challis and Clayton in central Idaho. 
 
Sets forth requirements regarding travel management in Germania Creek Trail, Forest Service Trails 109 and 671, and Frog Lake Loop Trail. 
 
Authorizes such improvements as may be necessary for maintainance of the first mile of the Murdock Creek Trail as a primitive, nonpaved, and wheel-chair accessible trail.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program.

Bill: 111-hr-5206
Sponsor: Rep. Teague, Harry [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2010-05-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: 
Increases to 26 the maximum age for certain children eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-04
text: Introduced in House
Employee Stock Ownership Plan Promotion and Improvement Act of 2010

Bill: 111-hr-5207
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-7]
Introduced: 2010-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government lending and loan guarantees
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Securities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: 
Employee Stock Ownership Plan Promotion and Improvement Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exempt certain distributions, including dividends, by S corporations to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) from the penalty tax for premature employee benefit plan withdrawals; (2) exempt deductions for ESOP dividends from corporate alternative minimum tax adjustments based on adjusted earnings and profits; (3) allow deferral of the recognition of gain for certain sales to ESOPs sponsored by any domestic corporation, including S corporations; (4) allow reinvestment of ESOP stock proceeds eligible for nonrecognition of gain in certain mutual funds; and (5) modify certain ESOP stock ownership rules. 
 
Amends the Small Business Act to allow a majority-owned ESOP business concern to continue to qualify for loans, preferences, and other programs under such Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Referred to House Small Business
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, 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: 2010-05-05
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Student Visa Security Improvement Act

Bill: 111-hr-5208
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2010-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Area studies and international education
Cultural exchanges and relations
Government information and archives
International exchange and broadcasting
Terrorism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: 
Student Visa Security Improvement Act - Amends the the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) require DHS employees to conduct in-person interviews and conduct on-site reviews of applications and supporting documentation with respect to student and exchange program visa applicants prior to final visa adjudication, with emphasis on determining whether an applicant is inadmissible for terrorist-related activities; (2) require an institution or exchange visitor program participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor is an active program participant, is observed, and is reported to DHS if he or she transfers institutions or academic majors; (3) provide Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) access to appropriate employees of a SEVIS program sponsor under specified circumstances; and (4) require a SEVIS upgrade to add data fields that include verification that students are meeting minimum academic standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E751)
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Introduced in House