hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Financial Crisis Investigation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-400
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Commodities markets
Congressional oversight
Credit and credit markets
Financial crises and stabilization
Financial services and investments
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Housing finance and home ownership
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: 
Financial Crisis Investigation Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to direct the Oversight Panel of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to: (1) investigate all causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis in the United States, including the collapse of major financial and commercial firms and the deterioration of the credit and housing markets; (2) investigate the role in the financial and economic crisis, if any, of specified governmental and private sector entities; (3) review the nation's existing financial regulatory structure from top to bottom, and its contribution to the stability or instability of financial markets; (4) review all aspects of financial regulation; and (5) refer to federal and state law enforcement officials any person that the Oversight Panel finds may have violated federal law in relation to such crisis.
 
Requires the Oversight Panel to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the President and Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-401
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Contracts and agency
Department of Labor
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: 
Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit an administrator of an individual account plan that includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement from contracting for services to the plan unless the administrator has received in advance a written statement that describes the services to be provided, identifies any other entity performing such services, provides the expected total annual service charges allocated among specified components, and discloses financial relationships with, or free or discounted services provided by, other parties. Limits applicability of such requirements to contracts for services with a total cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 per plan year or .01% of the value of plan assets at the end of the preceding plan year.
 
Requires an individual account plan administrator that permits a participant or beneficiary to exercise control over account assets to provide to the participant or beneficiary a notice containing specified information on investment options 15 days prior to the participant's initial investment and the effective date of any material change in such options.

Requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model statement and a model notice.

Requires the Secretary to make available to small employers: (1) educational and compliance materials concerning service providers; and (2) services to assist in finding and understanding affordable investment options. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) survey and publish annually any data on plan investment options; (2) notify the applicable regulatory authority about any service provider engaged in a pattern or practice that precludes compliance; (3) annually audit a representative sampling of individual account plans; and (4) recommend ways to simplify employee pension plan reporting and disclosure requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Keeping Our Promise to America's Military Veterans Act

Bill: 111-s-402
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care quality
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 
Keeping Our Promise to America's Military Veterans Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that, in order to express the gratitude of the American people for the sacrifices of America's veterans and their families, legislation should be enacted that: (1) assures timely and adequate funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), especially for medical care activities; (2) improves the ability of the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration to provide timely and accurate decisions on claims for veterans benefits; (3) assures that the VA provides timely access to high-quality treatment for mental health conditions; and (4) facilitates a seamless transition from military to civilian life for members separating from the Armed Forces and their families.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2080)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Ibrahim Parlak.

Bill: 111-s-403
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Provides for the relief of Ibrahim Parlak.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-404
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government liability
Health care costs and insurance
Health facilities and institutions
Medicaid
Medicare
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 
Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009 - Revises provisions concerning the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse a veteran for the cost of emergency care provided in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility to provide that, if the veteran has contractual or legal recourse against a third party that would, in part, extinguish the veteran's liability to the provider of the emergency treatment and payment for the treatment may be made by both the VA and the third party, the amount payable by the VA shall be that which exceeds the cost payable by the third party.
 
Includes as third parties: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act; and (2) a state Medicaid agency with respect to payments under title XIX of such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2081)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2080-2081)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Artist-Museum Partnership Act

Bill: 111-s-405
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Income tax deductions
Literature
Music
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 
 
Artist-Museum Partnership Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers who create literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly compositions or similar property a fair market value (determined at the time of contribution) tax deduction for contributions of such properties, the copyrights thereon, or both, to certain tax-exempt organizations, if such properties are properly appraised and are donated no sooner than 18 months after their creation. Limits the amount of such deduction based upon the donor's artistic adjusted gross income, as defined by this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2082)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2081-2082)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Nino's Act

Bill: 111-s-406
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Medicaid
Medical research
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 
Nino's Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for mandatory Medicaid coverage of drugs prescribed for certain research study child participants, regardless of Medicaid eligibility otherwise, if the state provides drug coverage.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2082-2083)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Wakefield Act

Bill: 111-s-408
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Medical education

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 
Wakefield Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) extend by one year the length of time for which a grant may be awarded under the emergency medical services for children grant program, which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states or schools of medicine to support projects to expand and improve emergency medical services for children who need treatment for trauma or critical care; and (2) authorize appropriations for such grant program for FY2010-FY2014.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2084)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2084)
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Resource Family Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-410
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Family relationships
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: 
Resource Family Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the requirement that state foster care and adoption assistance plans require development of standards to ensure that children in foster care placements in public or private agencies receive quality services that protect their safety and health.
 
Requires such standards to require each public and private placement agency, subject to renewal of its license or other state approval, to certify annually to the state that it provides foster parents with specified services and information.
 
Numbers among such services and information: (1) notifications of scheduled meetings to allow foster parents the opportunity to participate actively in the case planning and decision-making regarding placement of a child in their home; (2) support services to assist with care of the child; (3) information about the child's medical history, educational history, general behaviors, life experiences, the placement circumstances of the child, and the relationship between the child and his or her parents; (4) timely and complete information about all permanency options available to the child; and (5) assistance with the coordination of services for dealing with family loss and separation when a child leaves the foster home.
 
Amends SSA title IV part B (Child and Family Services) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible states for innovative programs to empower, provide leadership for, and improve the recruitment, support, training, and retention of foster care, kinship care, and adoptive parents.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to release restrictions on the use of certain property conveyed to the City of St. George, Utah for airport purposes.

Bill: 111-s-411
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, subject to certain conditions, to release restrictions on the use of certain property conveyed to the city of St. George, Utah, for airport purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2148)
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
FEMA Act

Bill: 111-s-412
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: 
Federal Emergency Management Advancement Act of 2009 or the FEMA Act - Reestablishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Requires FEMA to be headed by a Director appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Designates the Director as the principal advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Homeland Security for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States. Directs the President to designate the Director to serve as a Cabinet member in the event of specified disasters.
 
Establishes as FEMA's primary mission to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards, including natural and man-made disasters, through a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Prescribes the Director's responsibilities. Provides for 10 regional offices. Requires each Regional Administrator to: (1) establish a Regional Advisory Council; and (2) oversee multi-agency strike teams. Establishes a National Operations Center. 

Requires the Director to: (1) establish Area Offices in appropriate Regional Offices; (2) defer to substantiating documentation submitted by states in determining the duration of a major disaster and in establishing the eligibility period for assistance; (3) establish and implement the voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program; (4) ensure that the National Response Plan provides for a clear chain of command to lead and coordinate the federal response to disasters; and (5) enter into a memorandum of understanding with specified individuals to collaborate on developing standards for deployment capabilities. 

Transfers specified functions and personnel to FEMA. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to make necessary determinations regarding such functions and incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, and property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2148-2149)
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Graduate for a Better Future Act

Bill: 111-s-413
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Language arts
Minority education
Science and engineering education
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: 
Graduate for a Better Future Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states, educational nonprofit organizations, or partnerships of such entities for their use in providing competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that have a high school graduation rate of no more than 60% in the aggregate or among at least two subgroups consisting of the poor or major racial or ethnic groups.
 
Requires each LEA subgrantee to use the funds to implement: (1) a college-preparatory curriculum aligned with rigorous secondary school studies; (2) accelerated remedial programs that allow underperforming students to become proficient in mathematics, reading and language arts, and science and thereby graduate in a timely manner; (3) systems to measure student progress in the core subjects and quickly identify students who are dropout risks; (4) a comprehensive college guidance program; (5) a program offering students opportunities for work-based and experiential learning; (6) a program providing students with access to courses in which they may earn college credit; (7) a program providing each student with an academic teacher advisor with whom the student regularly meets; and (8) a program of teacher professional development and institutional leadership that includes diagnostic and formative assessments.
 
Requires nonfederal matching contributions equal to the grant amount.
 
Directs the Secretary to provide for an independent evaluation of, and report to Congress on, the impact this program has on high school graduation rates, college attendance rates, and academic achievement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Maha Dakar.

Bill: 111-s-415
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Provides for the relief of Maha Dakar.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-416
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Military operations and strategy

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: 
Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2009 - Places specified restrictions on the use of cluster munitions.
 
Directs the President, within 90 days after the use of such munitions, to submit to the congressional defense, appropriations, and foreign relations committees a plan for cleaning up any such munitions or submunitions which fail to explode and continue to pose a hazard to civilians.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2154)
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2153-2154)
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Secondary Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-418
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2009-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Civil actions and liability
Crimes against property
Government information and archives
Metals
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: 
Secondary Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress that government agencies should work with representatives of the secondary metal recycling industry to combat the theft and sale of stolen secondary metal. Defines &quot;secondary metal&quot; as: (1) wire or cable commonly used by communications and electrical utilities; and (2) copper, aluminum, or other metal (including when combined with other materials) that is valuable for recycling or reuse as raw metal.

Makes it unlawful to sell certain secondary metal unless the seller documents ownership and maintains written or electronic records of each secondary metal purchase. Includes within the prohibition: (1) secondary metal that is marked with the name, logo, or initials of a railroad, a utility company, or a state or local government; (2) highway or street poles, fixtures, rails, or signs; (3) unused or undamaged building construction or utility material; (4) historical markers or grave markers; and (5) large bulk containers for beer. Prohibits cash purchases of secondary metal in excess of $75 or small multiple cash purchases within a 48-hour period. Requires purchasers of secondary metal in excess of $75 to pay by check.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce this Act. Imposes a civil penalty for violations. 

Declares that this Act does not preempt any state or local law regulating the sale or purchase of secondary metal. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Luay Lufti Hadad.

Bill: 111-s-419
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Provides for the relief of Luay Lufti Hadad.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Josephina Valera Lopez.

Bill: 111-s-420
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Provides for the relief of Josephina Valera Lopez.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Hospice Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-421
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Health personnel
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: 
Hospice Protection Act - Establishes a temporary moratorium on the phase out of the Medicare hospice Budget Neutrality Adjustment Factor (BNAF).
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, between enactment of this Act and December 31, 2009, to recompute and apply the final Medicare hospice wage index for FY2009 as if the BNAF had remained in place with no reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2230)
action_date: 2009-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate