hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
U.S. ICE Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-921
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2009-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computer security and identity theft
Department of Commerce
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-28
text: 
United States Information and Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 or the U.S. ICE Act of 2009 - Replaces two subchapters of federal law on information security with provisions to establish in the Executive Office of the President the National Office for Cyberspace (Office) to serve as the principal office for coordinating an assured, reliable, secure, and survivable global information and communications infrastructure and related capabilities. 
 
Requires the Office's director to develop and implement a comprehensive national cyberspace strategy. 
 
Authorizes the Office, not withstanding any provision of law or policy, to direct the sponsorship of security clearances for federal officers and employees whose responsibilities involve critical national security infrastructure.
 
Requires the Office to: (1) oversee the implementation of policies, standards, and guidelines on information security; and (2) require agencies to identify and provide appropriate information security protections.
 
Makes the head of each agency responsible for providing appropriate information security protections.
 
Requires each agency to have an annual independent information security effectiveness evaluation.
 
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe guidelines and compulsory standards for information systems, including national security systems. Allows the President to disapprove or change the guidelines and standards. Allows the Office and the head of an agency to use more stringent standards.
 
Requires each agency to coordinate with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). Allows US-CERT's director, notwithstanding any law or policy, to direct the sponsorship of the security clearances for federal officers and employees whose responsibilities involve critical national security infrastructure.
 
Requires the components of each executive branch department or agency (except the Department of Defense or any such component performing any national security function) to establish an automated reporting mechanism allowing its chief information security officer and security operations center at the agency level to implement and monitor the component's security policies, procedures, and controls.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4824-4828)
action_date: 2009-04-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4818)
action_date: 2009-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the term "5-year property".

Bill: 111-s-922
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax deductions
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify equipment that produces electricity from marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy as five-year property for depreciation purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Marine Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-923
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy research
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Government trust funds
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Marine Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2009 - Requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a marine renewable energy research and development program, separate from any DOE wind and hydropower program, focused on: (1) developing new marine renewable energy technologies; (2) reducing the manufacturing and operation costs of such technologies; (3) increasing the reliability and survivability of marine renewable energy facilities; (4) integrating marine renewable energy into the national electric grid; (5) identifying opportunities for cross pollination and development of economies of scale between offshore wind and marine renewable energy sources; (6) identifying the environmental impacts of marine renewable energy and ways to address negative impacts; (7) applying advanced systems engineering and system integration methods to identify critical interfaces and develop open standards for marine renewable energy; (8) transferring the resulting intellectual property to industry stakeholders as public information through published interface definitions, standards, and demonstration projects; and (9) developing incentives for industry to comply with such standards.
 
 
Requires DOE to establish a marine-based energy device verification program to provide a bridge from the wave, tidal, current, or thermal energy capture device design and development efforts underway across the industry to commercial deployment of marine renewable energy devices. Sets forth as purpose of the Program to fund, facilitate the development and installation of, and evaluate marine renewable energy projects, in partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Marine Sciences Laboratory, and the Sandia National Laboratories in order to: (1) increase marine renewable energy experience; and (2) build and operate enough candidate devices to obtain statistically significant operating and maintenance data. 
 
Establishes an Adaptive Management and Environmental Fund to provide grants for complying with requirements through assessment and demonstration of the environmental effects of marine renewable energy projects. 
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4892-4893)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Correction of Long-Standing Errors in Agencies' Unsustainable Procurements Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-924
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Correction of Long-Standing Errors in Agencies' Unsustainable Procurements Act of 2009 or the CLEAN-UP Act - Requires executive agencies to ensure that: (1) inherently governmental functions, functions closely related to such functions, and mission-essential functions are performed by federal employees; (2) other functions are performed by the more efficient form of personnel, whether federal employees, contractors, or military personnel; and (3) consideration is given to using federal employees to perform new functions on a regular basis. 
 
Requires each agency head to submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): (1) an annual report on service contracts for new work; (2) a Functions At Risk Report that describes those functions required to be performed by federal employees that are actually performed by contractors (requires agencies to reduce the total number of contractor employees described in that Report by 70% within six years); and (3) a strategic human capital plan to ensure the capability of the agency's federal employee workforce to perform agency functions. Prohibits an agency from conducting a public-private competition for any function that such plan identifies as experiencing a gap in its federal employee workforce.
 
 
Requires agencies subject to the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (other than the Department of Defense [DOD]) to: (1) submit an annual inventory of activities performed pursuant to contracts for services; (2) review those contracts and identify activities that should be considered for conversion to performance by civilian employees; and (3) develop a plan for such conversion by June 30 of the following year. 
 
Authorizes agency heads to expedite the hiring of certain professionals in shortage category positions. 
 
Requires the Director to: (1) develop guidelines for the establishment of business process re-engineering projects; and (2) conduct annual performance reviews of such projects that are ongoing. 
 
Sets forth revisions, requirements, and restrictions applicable to studies and public-private competitions for the conversion of agency functions to contractor performance pursuant to OMB Circular A-76.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Baby Products Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-925
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Marketing and advertising
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Safe Baby Products Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA), to conduct and complete product testing of a full range of cosmetics, personal care products (including baby shampoo, baby bath, lipstick, nail polish, lotion, cream, sunscreen, liquid soap, and baby wipes) and other products that: (1) are marketed to or used by children aged 7 years and younger; and (2) are likely contaminated with impurities or contaminants. Requires a report on the results of the product testing to be submitted to Congress and made public.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, to establish good manufacturing practices for the cosmetics industry for each impurity or contaminant for which contaminants or impurities may be reduced or eliminated by switching to alternate ingredients or for which manufacturing processes or practices may reduce or eliminate impurities from raw materials. Deems a cosmetic to be adulterated if the manufacture of such cosmetic is not in compliance with good manufacturing practices regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4910-4911)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Authorization and Sunset Commission Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-926
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
United States Authorization and Sunset Commission Act of 2009 - Establishes the United States Authorization and Sunset Commission, to be comprised of four Representatives and four Senators. 
 
Requires the Commission to submit to Congress, not later than 18 months after this Act's enactment and at least once every 10 years thereafter, a legislative proposal (referred to as the Commission Schedule and Review bill) that includes a schedule of review and abolishment of agencies and programs. Requires such schedule to provide a time line for the Commission's review and proposed abolishment of: (1) at least 25% (as measured in dollars) of unauthorized agencies or programs; and (2) if applicable, at least 25% of the programs identified by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) through its Program Assessment Rating Tool program (or similar review program) as ineffective or results not demonstrated. Requires agencies performing similar or related functions to be reviewed concurrently.

Sets forth review criteria. Requires the Commission to submit to the Congress and the President every two years a report that analyzes and includes (as appropriate) proposals and legislative provisions to reauthorize, reorganize, consolidate, expand, or transfer each agency and program scheduled for review. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of a resulting bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4894-4897)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4893-4894)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Rating Agency Responsibility Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-927
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Credit and credit markets
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Credit Rating Agency Responsibility Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to audit annually each nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) to assure that the NRSRO is sufficiently disclosing its rating procedures and methodologies, they are sound, and it is adhering to them.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
TARP Accountability Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-928
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Consumer credit
Credit and credit markets
Financial crises and stabilization
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Housing finance and home ownership

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
TARP Accountability Act of 2009 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to require that the Secretary of the Treasury's 30-day Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) reports to Congress include information on the use of capital investments by each financial institution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a Federal income tax credit for the purchase of certain nonroad equipment powered by alternative power sources.

Bill: 111-s-929
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Environmental technology
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 25%, up to $1,000, of the cost of certain nonroad equipment (e.g., lawn, garden, or forestry power equipment) powered by alternative power sources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4897)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4897)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Ferry Systems Investment Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-930
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Department of Transportation
Education programs funding
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Higher education
Marine and inland water transportation
Motor fuels
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
United States Ferry Systems Investment Act of 2009 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation for FY2010-FY2015 for construction of ferry vessels and ferry terminal facilities. Revises general requirements and the formula for the allocation of such funds to ferry systems and public entities responsible for developing ferries.
 
Includes ferries within the federal clean fuels program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish within the Department of Transportation a Ferry Joint Program Office to: (1) coordinate federal programs affecting ferry vessel and ferry facility construction, maintenance, operations, and security; and (2) promote ferry service as a component of the U.S. transportation system.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) ensure that the national ferry database is consistent with the national transit database maintained by the Federal Transit Administration; and (2) award a grant to a college to establish a National Ferry Transportation Institute for research, development, and training programs relating to U.S. ferry transportation systems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-931
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Consumer affairs
Contracts and agency
Labor-management relations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: 
Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, or franchise, or civil rights dispute.
 
Declares, further, that the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement.
 
Exempts from this Act arbitration provisions in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations. Denies to any such arbitration provision, however, the effect of waiving the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the Constitution of the United States, a state constitution, or a federal or state statute, or public policy arising therefrom.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4898-4899)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4897-4898)
action_date: 2009-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Simplified, Manageable, And Responsible Tax Act

Bill: 111-s-932
Sponsor: Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL]
Introduced: 2009-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Legislative rules and procedure
Tax reform and tax simplification
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: Simplified, Manageable, And Responsible Tax Act or the SMART Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the marginal income tax rates with a single rate of 17% on individual taxable income. 
Redefines "taxable income" to mean the amount by which wages, retirement distributions, and unemployment compensation exceed the standard deduction. Increases the basic standard deduction and includes an additional standard deduction for dependents. Includes in taxable income the taxable income of each dependent child under the age of 14. 
Replaces the current tax on corporations with a tax on every person engaged in a business activity equal to 17% of the business taxable income of such person. Makes the person engaged in the business activity liable for the tax, whether or not such person is an individual, a partnership, or a corporation. 
Imposes a tax of 17% on the value of excludable compensation provided during the year by an employer for the benefit of employees. Makes the employer liable for the tax. 
Repeals pension plan rules relating to : (1) non-discrimination; (2) contribution limits; and (3) restrictions on distributions. Revises rules relating to transfers of excess pension assets. 
 
Repeals: (1) the alternative minimum tax; (2) all income tax credits; (3) estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes; and (4) income tax provisions, except certain provisions relating to retirement distributions and tax-exempt organizations. 
 
 Declares it not in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate, unless waived or suspended by a three-fifths vote, to consider any legislation that increases or adds an income tax rate, reduces the standard deduction, or provides any exclusion, deduction, credit, or other benefit that reduces federal revenues.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate