hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1507
Sponsor: Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8]
Introduced: 2009-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals
Merit Systems Protection Board
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: 
Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends federal personnel law relating to whistleblower protections to expand the concept of protected disclosure to include lawful disclosures without restriction to time, place, form, motive, context, forum, or prior disclosure, including a disclosure made in the ordinary course of an employee's duties. Defines evidentiary standards applicable to whistleblower disclosures. Includes as a prohibited personnel practice against whistleblowers the implementation or enforcement of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement, a suspension or revocation of a security clearance, and an investigation of a whistleblower.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of security clearance revocations of federal employees at a select sample of executive branch agencies and report to Congress on such study.
 
Provides for expedited review of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decisions interpreting whistleblower protections in U.S. district court. Grants authority to MSPB to determine whether whistleblower security clearances were properly suspended or revoked. 
 
Expands whistleblower protection to employees or former employees of a national security agency. Prohibits reprisals against such employees, including revocations of their security clearances, for making disclosures.
 

 
Extends whistleblower protections to contractors, employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and individuals who disclose censorship related to federal research or technical information. 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Referred to House Homeland Security
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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: 2009-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1508
Sponsor: Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19]
Introduced: 2009-03-12 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Evidence and witnesses
Freedom of information
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: 
Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2009 - Amends the federal judicial code to prohibit a court from entering an order restricting the disclosure of information obtained through discovery, approving a settlement disagreement that would restrict such disclosure, or restricting access to court records in a civil case, unless the court has found that: (1) such order would not restrict the disclosure of information which is relevant to the protection of public health or safety; or (2) the public interest in the disclosure of potential health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information, and the requested protective order is no broader than necessary to protect the privacy interest. Prohibits any party from requesting, as a condition for the production of discovery, that another party stipulate to an order that would violate this Act. 
 
Prohibits a court from: (1) approving or enforcing an order prohibited under this Act, or any provision of an agreement between parties to a civil action, that restricts a party from disclosing information to any federal or state agency with authority to enforce laws regulating an activity relating to such information; or (2) enforcing any provision of a settlement agreement that prohibits a party from disclosing that a settlement was reached or the terms of the settlement, other than the amount paid, or from discussing a case or evidence that involves matters related to public health or safety, except where the court finds that the public interest in disclosure of potential health and safety hazards is outweighed by a confidentiality interest.
 
Creates a rebuttable presumption that the interest in protecting personally identifiable information relating to an individual's financial, health, or other similar information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit, require, or authorize the disclosure of classified information, as defined under the Classified Information Procedures Act.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-12
text: Introduced in House
Home Office Deduction Simplification Act

Bill: 111-hr-1509
Sponsor: Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Home Office Deduction Simplification Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E686-687)
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
To amend the lead prohibition provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 to provide an exemption for certain all-terrain vehicles, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-hr-1510
Sponsor: Rep. Rehberg, Denny [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Motor vehicles
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Amends the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to exempt certain all-terrain vehicles from children's product lead limits if it finds that compliance is not technologically feasible due to certain parts that are required for safety or functionality.
 
Allows the CPSC to exempt a specific product or material from the limits if it finds that lead in the product or material will not result in the absorption of lead (under current law, of any lead) into the human body, taking into account normal and reasonably foreseeable use and abuse of the product by a child.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program Reauthorization Act of 2010

Bill: 111-hr-1514
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY2014 the authorization of appropriations for the juvenile accountability block grant program.

action_date: 2010-05-19
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY2014 the authorization of appropriations for the juvenile accountability block grant program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-05-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2010-05-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-05-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 45 (Roll no. 276). (text: CR 5/18/2010 H3495)
action_date: 2010-05-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 45 (Roll no. 276).(text: CR 5/18/2010 H3495)
action_date: 2010-05-19
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3593-3594)
action_date: 2010-05-18
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2010-05-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1514.
action_date: 2010-05-18
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3495-3496)
action_date: 2010-05-18
text: Mr. Scott (VA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2009-08-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
To assist courts in the States and territories with improving the administration of justice.

Bill: 111-hr-1515
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: District of Columbia
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement administration and funding
Puerto Rico
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to national nonprofit organizations to improve the administration of justice in state courts, including courts in U.S. territories and possessions, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Bailout Bonus Tax Bracket Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1518
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Financial crises and stabilization
Income tax rates
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Bailout Bonus Tax Bracket Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional income tax on bonuses paid to employees of entities that received financial assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1519
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Employee benefits and pensions
Government trust funds
Income tax rates
Railroads
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the 85 percent maximum tax rate on Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits enacted by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. Appropriates, from the general fund, to the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund amounts equal to the reduction in revenues resulting from this repeal.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1520
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a multipurpose cadastre of federal real property (an inventory of real property of the federal government) to assist with federal land management, resource conservation, environmental protection, and use of real property. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cost-sharing agreements with states to include any non-federal lands in a state in such cadastre. Limits the federal share of any such agreement to 50% of the total cost to a state for the development of the cadastre of the non-federal lands in the state. 

Requires the Secretary to submit a report on: (1) existing real property inventories or any components of any cadastre; (2) consolidation of inventories and components; (3) the use of existing inventories and components of any cadastre; (4) the cost savings that will be achieved; and (4) recommendations for legislation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1521
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2009 - Prohibits states or local governments from imposing any new discriminatory tax on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property for five years after the enactment of this Act. Defines &quot;new discriminatory tax&quot; as a tax imposed on mobile services, providers, or property that is not generally imposed on other types of services or property, or that is generally imposed at a lower rate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-15
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act

Bill: 111-hr-1522
Sponsor: Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health personnel
Military medicine
Nursing
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act - Deems service of a person as a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 15, 1945 (qualified service), to be active military service for purposes of all laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Requires: (1) the Secretary of Defense to issue an honorable discharge to each person whose qualified service warrants one; and (2) the discharge to be issued before the end of the one-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act.
Prohibits benefits from being paid to persons as a result of such enactment for any period before the enactment date.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-22
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to House Armed Services
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1523
Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health promotion and preventive care
Product safety and quality
Sex and reproductive health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009 - Treats any food container that is composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A or that can release bisphenol A into food as a container that is composed of a poisonous or deleterious substance for purposes of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Bans the use of such containers. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to grant a waiver of such ban for one year (renewable for an additional year) under specified circumstances. Requires any product for which the Secretary grants a waiver to display a prominent warning on its label of the potential health effects associated with bisphenol A. 
 
Directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to periodically review substances listed in federal regulations and generally recognized as safe. Requires any such substances that are shown by new scientific evidence to cause reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans or animals to be banned or otherwise restricted. 
 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require (currently, permits) a manufacturer or supplier of a food contact substance to notify the Secretary of the identity, intended use, and safety of any such substance and of determinations as to the health effects of such substance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Public Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1524
Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency planning and evacuation
Floods and storm protection
Land use and conservation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Public Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to allow flood insurance coverage for structures used to provide a public safety or first responder service, including police and firefighting services, even though such structures have been declared in violation of state laws intended to discourage or restrict land development or occupancy in flood-prone areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
To amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider reconstruction and improvement of flood protection systems when establishing flood insurance rates.

Bill: 111-hr-1525
Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Floods and storm protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to: (1) make communities that reconstruct and improve flood protection systems (in addition to constructing them) eligible for premium flood insurance rates under such Act; and (2) allow entities that own, operate, maintain, or repair flood protection systems (instead of a federal agency) to determine whether a flood protection system is restorable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Prescribe A Book Act

Bill: 111-hr-1526
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2009-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Books and print media
Child health
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Health personnel
Language arts
Preschool education
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 
Prescribe A Book Act - Creates a Pediatric Early Literacy program under which the Secretary of Education awards matching grants to nonprofit organizations for the implementation of three-part models through which: (1) health care providers encourage parents to read aloud to their children and offer them recommendations and strategies for doing so; (2) health care providers give each visiting child between the ages of six months and five-years a new, developmentally appropriate children's book to take home and keep; and (3) volunteers reading to children in health care facility waiting areas show parents the techniques and pleasures of reading aloud to children.
 
Requires that the books provided to children under the program be obtained at a discount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Introduced in House