hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Arizona National Scenic Trail Act

Bill: 111-s-153
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Arizona National Scenic Trail Act - Amends the National Trails System Act to provide for the designation of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, extending approximately 807 miles across Arizona from the U.S.-Mexico international border to the Arizona-Utah border. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S138)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to use dynamic economic modeling in addition to static economic modeling in the preparation of budgetary estimates of proposed changes in Federal revenue law.

Bill: 111-s-154
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Congressional agencies
Economic performance and conditions
Joint Committee on Taxation
Monetary policy
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that it is necessary to ensure that Congress is presented with reliable information from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation as to the dynamic macroeconomic feedback effects to changes in federal law and the probable behavioral responses of taxpayers, businesses, and other parties to such changes. 
 
Requires the Joint Committee and CBO, using among other methods dynamic estimating techniques, to prepare fiscal estimates of each proposed change in federal revenue law on the basis of assumptions that estimate the probable behavioral responses of personal and business taxpayers and other relevant entities to such change and its dynamic macroeconomic feedback effects. Applies such requirement only to proposed changes that, pursuant to static fiscal estimates, have a fiscal impact exceeding $250 million in any fiscal year.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Unemployment Benefit Tax Suspension Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-155
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Unemployment Benefit Tax Suspension Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007, and before January 1, 2010, the taxation of unemployment compensation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S138)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S138)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Stimulus Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-156
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Small Business Stimulus Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2010 the increased expensing allowance for depreciable business assets; and (2) extend from two to five years the carryback period for net operating losses incurred in 2008 or 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S139)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S138-139)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Retirement Account Distribution Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-157
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Retirement Account Distribution Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend in 2008, 2009, and 2010 requirements for minimum distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans. Permits taxpayers who have already received a minimum distribution in 2008 or before July 1, 2009, to recontribute such distribution to their retirement plans by July 1, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S139-140)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S139)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the availability of industrial development bonds to facilities manufacturing intangible property.

Bill: 111-s-158
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Industrial facilities
Manufacturing
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) qualify manufacturing facilities that create intangible property for tax-exempt bond financing; and (2) revise the definition of &quot;manufacturing facility&quot; for purposes of certain limitations on tax-exempt bond financing to include facilities which are functionally related and subordinate to a manufacturing facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S141)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S140-141)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act

Bill: 111-s-159
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
New Jersey
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Sports and recreation facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act - Establishes the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in New Jersey as a unit of the National Park System. 

Sets forth conditions concerning the establishment of the Park.

 Sets forth provisions regarding the administration of the Park.

 Requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete a management plan for the Park. 

 Establishes the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Advisory Commission to advise the Secretary in the development of the management plan. 

 Directs the Secretary to complete a study regarding the preservation and interpretation of Hinchliffe Stadium as listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which shall include an assessment of the potential for listing it as a National Historic Landmark as well as options for maintaining its historic integrity. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-161
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: California
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Fishes
Floods and storm protection
Government studies and investigations
Land transfers
Public contracts and procurement
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary), in cooperation with the state of California, to implement the Stipulation of Settlement dated September 13, 2006, in 
Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al.
, United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into agreements with California to facilitate or expedite Settlement implementation; and (2) identify impacts of facilities construction or operation decisions and measures to mitigate such impacts on adjacent and downstream water users and landowners before implementing such decisions. Provides that Settlement implementation and the reintroduction of Chinook salmon shall not result in the involuntary reduction in contract water allocations to Central Valley Project long-term contractors other than Friant Division contractors.

Requires the Secretary to prepare an environmental analysis prior to releasing Interim Flows. Authorizes the Secretary to release such flows to the extent that they would not impede or delay completion of specified measures in the Settlement or exceed existing downstream channel capacities.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) purchase property needed to implement the Settlement; and (2) dispose of such property and deposit proceeds into the San Joaquin River Restoration Fund established in the Treasury.

Declares that the Settlement satisfies and discharges the Secretary's obligations under the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992. Provides for the reintroduction of California Central Valley Spring Run Chinook salmon into the San Joaquin River. 

Directs the Secretary, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to provide direct financial assistance to the California Water Institute to study coordination and integration of sub-regional integrated regional water management plans into a unified plan. 

Directs the Secretary to conduct feasibility studies on: (1) restoration of the capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal and Madera Canal; and (2) reverse flow pump-back facilities on the Friant-Kern Canal.

 Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to local agencies within the Central Valley Project for facilities to bank water underground or to recharge groundwater and to recover such water.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Fiscal Discipline, Earmark Reform, and Accountability Act

Bill: 111-s-162
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Legislative rules and procedure
Public participation and lobbying
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Fiscal Discipline, Earmark Reform, and Accountability Act - Amends Rule XVI (Appropriations and Amendments to General Appropriations Bills) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to revise procedures for consideration of points of order on appropriations bills.
 
Makes it out of order to consider in the Senate: (1) new or general legislation or any unauthorized appropriation included in an appropriation bill; (2) any amendment to an appropriation bill with the effect of adding an unauthorized appropriation to it; or (3) any unauthorized appropriation included in any amendment between the chambers, or any amendment to such an amendment, in relation to a general appropriation bill.
 
Amends Rule XLIV (Congressionally Directed Spending and Related Items), which makes it out of order to vote on the adoption of a conference report in the Senate unless it is available on a publicly accessible congressional website at least 48 hours before such vote. Specifies that such website availability must be in a searchable format.
 
Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require a recipient of federal funds to disclose any registered lobbyist to whom the recipient paid money to lobby on behalf of such funding, including the amount of such funds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S145-146)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S144-145)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Protection Improvements Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-163
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child care and development
Child safety and welfare
Criminal justice information and records
Personnel records
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Child Protection Improvements Act of 2009 - Amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to direct the Attorney General to establish a program for national criminal history background checks for child-serving organizations. 

Amends the PROTECT Act to terminate the Child Safety Pilot Program on the date the program established under this Act is operating and able to enroll any organization using that Program.

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish an applicant processing center to streamline the process of obtaining nationwide background checks; (2) enter into an agreement with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to establish a criminal history resource center to provide child-serving organizations with reliable and accurate information for interpreting criminal histories; and (3) assess annually the compliance of state criminal background check programs with requirements of this Act.

Sets forth the duties of applicant processing centers, procedures for requesting a nationwide criminal background check, and fee schedules for background checks. Grants individuals who are the subject of a background check the right to request full criminal history reports and to challenge the accuracy and completeness of such reports.

Grants limited immunity to child-serving organizations and NCMEC for acts and omissions in obtaining or using criminal history background information. 

Prohibits unauthorized disclosure or use of criminal history records.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Passenger Vehicle Loss Disclosure Act

Bill: 111-s-164
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Insurance industry and regulation
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Passenger Vehicle Loss Disclosure Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to require all insurers and self-insurers of passenger motor vehicles to disclose to the public, in a commercially reasonable, electronically accessible manner, for each passenger motor vehicle declared or determined to be a total loss: (1) the vehicle identification number and odometer reading; (2) the date of and primary reason for the total loss determination; and (3) whether the airbags deployed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Credit Card Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-165
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer credit
Federal Reserve System
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Student Credit Card Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to limit by a specified formula the total credit which may be extended by a creditor during any full calendar year to a full time, traditional-aged college student under a college student credit card account, unless a parent, legal guardian, or spouse of the student assumes joint liability for debts incurred.

Prohibits increasing the credit limit on an account for which a parent, guardian, or spouse has assumed joint liability without that person's written approval.

States that a creditor must require adequate proof of income, income history, and credit history, before any such college student credit card account may be opened.

Prohibits a creditor from opening a credit card account for, or issue any credit card to, any college student who: (1) has no verifiable annual gross income; and (2) already maintains a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan with the same creditor or any affiliate.

 Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to promulgate implementing regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S174-175)
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Title VII Fairness Act

Bill: 111-s-166
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2009-01-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: 
Title VII Fairness Act - Amends the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and title VII (Equal Employment Opportunities) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to delay the start of the time period for filing charges of employment discrimination until the aggrieved person has, or should be expected to have, enough information to support a reasonable suspicion of the discrimination, provided the aggrieved person demonstrates that the person did not have, and should not have been expected to have, enough information to support a reasonable suspicion of such discrimination on the date on which the alleged discrimination occurred. Prohibits applying these amendments to alleged discrimination relating to pensions or pension benefits.
 
Applies the above Civil Rights Act of 1964 amendment to discrimination claims brought under: (1) specified provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and (2) provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 relating to employment by the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-07
text: Introduced in Senate
COPS Improvements Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-167
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime prevention
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Elementary and secondary education
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Military facilities and property
School administration
Terrorism
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: 
COPS Improvements Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the authority of the Attorney General to make grants for public safety and community policing programs (COPS ON THE BEAT grant program). 

Authorizes grants to: (1) hire school resource officers and establish local partnerships to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and other problems in elementary and secondary schools; (2) establish and implement programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug activities, including the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine; and (3) meet emerging law enforcement needs, as warranted. 

Authorizes the use of COPS ON THE BEAT grants to hire former members of the Armed Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers.

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants for: (1) assigning prosecutors to handle cases from specific geographic areas and to address counter-terrorism problems and violent crime in local communities; and (2) developing new technologies to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in crime prevention and training.

Grants the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services exclusive authority to perform functions and activities under COPS ON THE BEAT grant program.

Authorizes the Attorney General to extend grant periods and to renew grants if the grant recipient can demonstrate significant progress in achieving the objectives of the initial grant application.

Increases and extends the authorization of appropriations for the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program for FY2009-FY2014.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S213-214)
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S212-213)
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate
SCAAP Reimbursement Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-168
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Foreign labor
Law enforcement administration and funding
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: SCAAP Reimbursement Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to compensate states for incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S215)
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S215)
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act

Bill: 111-s-169
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2009-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: 
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require: (1) biennial (currently, annual) budget resolutions; (2) biennial appropriations Acts; and (3) biennial government strategic and performance plans.
 
Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on such period; and (2) report the findings to the House and Senate Budget Committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2009-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate