hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To amend the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to require that, in order to determine that a democratically elected government in Cuba exists, the government extradite to the United States convicted felon William Morales and all other individuals who are living in Cuba in order to escape prosecution or confinement for criminal offenses committed in the United States.

Bill: 111-hr-2005
Sponsor: Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-3]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area
Cuba
Foreign aid and international relief
Latin America
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Amends the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to require, in making a determination whether a democratically elected Cuban government exists, that Cuba cease providing a safe harbor to individuals who have been legally indicted or convicted of serious criminal offenses, including convicted felon William Morales, and all other individuals who have fled from the United States to Cuba to avoid U.S. prosecution or confinement. (Requires that such a determination be made before economic assistance may be provided for Cuba.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
American Credit Card Reform Act

Bill: 111-hr-2007
Sponsor: Rep. Massa, Eric J. J. [D-NY-29]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Contracts and agency
Educational facilities and institutions
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Marketing and advertising
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
American Credit Card Reform Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to any extension of credit on an open end consumer credit account from exceeding 14%.
 
Prohibits a credit card issuer from imposing any fee or penalty in connection with a transaction initiated by a consumer in which credit extended under such credit plan is applied to reduce an outstanding balance on another credit card account of the consumer.
 
Prohibits a credit card issuer from: (1) advertising any credit card account on the grounds of an institution of higher education through the distribution of written applications or solicitations; or (2) amending or changing the terms of a credit card contract so long as the consumer remains in full compliance with the contract's existing terms.
 
Prohibits the due date for any periodic payment on an outstanding credit card balance from being less than 30 days after: (1) the date of the postmark on the envelope in which the periodic statement was sent to the consumer; or if no postmark appears on the envelope, (2) the date that is three days after the closing date of such periodic statement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to permit immediate repayment of direct capital investments received under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Bill: 111-hr-2009
Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Financial crises and stabilization

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to grant any financial institution that has received or receives a direct capital investment under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) the right to repay it immediately. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to accept such a payment unconditionally.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4553)
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act

Bill: 111-hr-2010
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Federal preemption
Intergovernmental relations
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act - Waives federal pre-emption to allow states to regulate tow truck operations performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the towed motor vehicle.
 
(Currently, states are allowed to regulate only the price of for-hire motor vehicle transportation by a tow truck, if such transportation is performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the motor vehicle.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E916)
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
Substitute Teaching Improvement Act

Bill: 111-hr-2011
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Substitute Teaching Improvement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive demonstration grants to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships between such LEAs and institutions of higher education or nonprofit education organizations for the establishment of comprehensive training programs to increase the effectiveness of substitute teaching.
 
Requires LEAs to use such grants to: (1) train substitute teachers; (2) train principals and permanent teachers in effectively integrating substitute teachers into school operations; (3) develop a resource kit for substitute teachers; and (4) collect data on substitute teachers and practices for managing substitute teachers in participating districts.
 
Directs the Secretary to commission an independent evaluation of the prevalence of substitute teaching and current state and local efforts to improve its effectiveness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To promote youth financial education.

Bill: 111-hr-2012
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Financial literacy
Higher education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
 Amends title VI (Flexibility and Accountability) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to create a new Part D: Promoting Youth Financial Literacy. 
 
Allows the Secretary of Education to provide grants to states to: (1) assist local educational agencies and public schools provide financial education programs to students in kindergarten through grade 12; and (2) implement financial education professional development programs for teachers and administrators. Requires the competitive award of a specified amount of the grant funds each fiscal year, with the remainder provided to each state on the basis of its share of students in kindergarten through grade 12.
 
Directs the Secretary to make a grant to or contract with an institution of higher education or nonprofit organization that has substantial financial education experience to establish and operate a national clearinghouse of instructional materials and information on model financial education programs and best practices.
 
Amends title V of the ESEA to direct the Secretary to set aside 2% of the funds appropriated for the Fund for the Improvement of Education program each fiscal year for financial literacy activities under such program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Thurgood Marshall.

Bill: 111-hr-2013
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Department of Justice
Federal appellate courts
Federal officials
Judges
Lawyers and legal services
Racial and ethnic relations
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal to the family of Thurgood Marshall (the first African-American Justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court) in recognition of Marshall's contributions to the nation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").

Bill: 111-hr-2014
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Military history
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the award of a single gold medal in honor of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) collectively, in honor of their pioneering military service and exemplary record, which forged revolutionary reform in the U.S. Armed Forces.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution shall make the medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations associated with the WASP.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to House Administration
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to House Financial Services
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To instruct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a study on the use of thorium-fueled nuclear reactors.

Bill: 111-hr-2015
Sponsor: Rep. Sestak, Joe [D-PA-7]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Nuclear power

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
 Instructs the Secretary of Energy to study and report to Congress on the use of thorium-fueled nuclear reactors for national energy needs. Requires such report to include a response to the International Atomic Energy Agency study entitled &quot;Thorium fuel cycle--Potential benefits and challenges&quot; (IAEA-TECDOC-1450).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that qualified energy efficiency property is eligible for the energy credit.

Bill: 111-hr-2016
Sponsor: Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-13]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy tax credit for qualified energy efficiency property. Defines &quot;qualified energy efficiency property&quot; as property which: (1) is residential rental property or nonresidential real property; (2) is a qualified building (i.e., a building that is not more than 250,000 square feet and that meets certain federal wage and construction requirements); and (3) achieves a specified energy savings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-hr-2017
Sponsor: Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Federally chartered organizations
Military personnel and dependents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Grants a federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America (a nonprofit corporation and incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia). 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E900)
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill: 111-hr-2018
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: 
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act - Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to permit the Native residents of each of the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, to organize as Urban Corporations and to receive certain settlement lands and other compensation pursuant to this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Charmaine Bieda.

Bill: 111-hr-2019
Sponsor: Rep. Kanjorski, Paul E. [D-PA-11]
Introduced: 2009-04-21 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Provides for the relief of Charmaine Bieda.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-21
text: Introduced in House
Savings Recovery Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2021
Sponsor: Rep. Boehner, John A. [R-OH-8]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Capital gains tax
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment taxes
Financial services and investments
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Marriage and family status
Social security and elderly assistance
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Savings Recovery Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase the monthly exempt amount for individuals who have employment income and who have not reached full retirement age between 2008 and 2010. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude from the gross income of noncorporate taxpayers in 2009 and 2010 dividend income and gain from the sale or exchange of capital assets; (2) increase the limit on the tax deduction for losses from the sale or exchange of capital assets; (3) allow a tax credit for contributions to a qualified tuition program; (4) eliminate the marriage penalty in income limitations for individual retirement account (IRA) contributions; (5) increase the dollar limitation on contributions, including catch-up contributions, to IRAs; and (6) extend through 2012 the suspension of of minimum withdrawal requirements from pension plans.
 
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide special rules in 2009 and 2010 for valuation of assets in defined benefit pension plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
K-IRA Act

Bill: 111-hr-2022
Sponsor: Rep. Murtha, John P. [D-PA-12]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Kids IRA Act of 2009 or the K-IRA Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a tax-exempt individual retirement account for taxpayers under age 26, to be known as a young savers account. Treats such accounts as Roth individual retirement accounts for income tax purposes. Allows an income-based tax deduction for contributions to such accounts, up to $5,000 in any taxable year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2023
Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: State and local taxation
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2009 - Repeals provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to the estate and gift tax.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an estate tax exclusion of $2 million adjusted for inflation in calendar years after 2010; (2) revise the estate tax rates for larger estates; (3) restore the estate tax credit for state estate, inheritance, legacy, or succession taxes; (4) restore the unified credit against the gift tax; and (5) allow a surviving spouse an increase in the unified estate tax credit by the amount of any unused credit of a deceased spouse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2024
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-1]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a general business tax credit for 50% of the cost of placing in service any qualified commercial vehicle advanced safety system. Defines &quot;qualified commercial vehicle advanced safety system&quot; as a manufacturer-certified brake stroke monitoring system, lane departure warning system, collision warning system, or vehicle stability system identified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as significantly enhancing the safety or security of commercial drivers, vehicles, or passengers. Terminates such credit after 2014.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

Bill: 111-hr-2025
Sponsor: Rep. Minnick, Walter [D-ID-1]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits the Secretaries of the Interior or Agriculture from taking any action that would permanently close, restrict, or render or declare unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on land under their jurisdiction unless: (1) the action has been approved by the head of the aviation department of the state in which the landing strip is located; (2) the Secretary publishes notice of the proposed action and provides for a 90-day public comment thereafter; and (3) the Secretary and appropriate state aviation department head have taken into consideration any comments received. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to: (1) establish a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues relating to the management of federal land under the jurisdiction of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture; and (2) require officials with jurisdiction over such land to adhere to such policy. 
 
Requires private and publicly-owned aircraft landing strips acquired by the government to be made available to the public for unrestricted use. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to House Natural Resources
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on 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: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in House