hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Clean Energy for Homes and Buildings Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1574
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-08-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Department of Energy
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Oil and gas
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: 
Clean Energy for Homes and Buildings Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to develop and publish for review and comment near-, medium-, and long-term goals for: (1) a minimum number of homes and other buildings to be retrofitted through energy efficiency measures or to have on-site renewable energy systems added; (2) the number of on-site solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal heat pump systems to be installed; (3) the quantities by which use of grid-supplied electricity, natural gas, home heating oil, and other fuels, total fossil fuel dependence in the buildings sector, and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced; (4) the number of jobs that will be created; and (5) the estimated total energy cost savings for building owners.
 
Establishes in the Department of Energy (DOE) the Clean Energy for Homes and Buildings Program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish eligibility criteria for applicants for financial assistance (including credit enhancements, debt instruments, or other financial products); and (2) select a portfolio of investments that reaches a diversity of building owners. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to promote the widespread deployment of, and mobilize private sector support of credit and investment institutions for, energy efficiency measures and on-site renewable energy generation systems in buildings.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8769-8771)
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that excess oil and gas lease revenues are distributed in accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-1575
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2009-08-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Colorado
Energy revenues and royalties
Land use and conservation
Mining
Oil and gas
State and local finance
Water use and supply
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: 
Amends federal law governing the treatment of oil shale receipts from oil exploration and development on certain public domain lands in Colorado.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer certain moneys deposited in the Treasury to the state of Colorado for: (1) conservation, restoration, and protection of land, water, and wildlife resources affected by oil or gas development activities in Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties; (2) repair, maintenance, and construction of state and county roads in each of those counties; and (3) capital improvement projects, including construction and maintenance of sewer and water treatment plants, to address the impacts of oil and gas development activities in each of those counties.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8771)
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8771)
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Forest Carbon Incentives Program Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1576
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2009-08-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: 
Forest Carbon Incentives Program Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a carbon incentives program to achieve supplemental greenhouse gas emission reductions on private forest land of the United States. Directs the Secretary (subject to specified requirements) to provide to owners of eligible land financial incentive payments for: (1) eligible practices that measurably increase carbon sequestration and storage over a designated period, as specified through a climate mitigation contract; and (2) permanent avoided deforestation agreements (i.e., permanent conservation easements that cover eligible land that will not be converted for development). 
 

 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) specify requirements to address intentional or unintentional reversal of carbon sequestration during the contract period; (2) issue regulations that specify eligible practices and related compensation rates, standards, and guidelines; (3) establish and implement protocols that provide monitoring and verification of compliance with such contracts; (4) report on progress toward reaching specified levels of carbon sequestration and storage through such contracts; and (5) adjust (at least every two years) eligible practices and compensation rates for future contracts based on the results.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8772-8773)
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8771-8772)
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Asthma Act

Bill: 111-s-1577
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Poverty and welfare assistance
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
Asthma Act - Authorizes additional appropriations to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to expand the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Requires the Program's coordinating committee to report to Congress on: (1) the scope of the asthma problem in the United States; (2) federal programs that carry out asthma-related activities; and (3) recommendations for strengthening and better coordinating such activities. Includes the Secretary of Education or a designee in the committee's membership.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to: (1) collaborate with states to expand the scope of asthma-related activities to determine the incidence and prevalence of asthma and prevent related health consequences; (2) conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management; and (3) compile and annually publish data on the prevalence of asthma in children.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for: (1) information and education on asthma; and (2) referrals to health programs that provide asthma-related services. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out a program to encourage the states to implement plans for activities to assist children with respect to asthma in accordance with the Institute's guidelines; and (2) make a grant to states under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP) for such activities.
 
Authorizes grants to local educational agencies to carry out asthma-related activities at elementary and secondary schools in communities with a significant number of low-income or underserved individuals.
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, (commonly referred to as the Federal Torts Claim Act) to extend medical malpractice coverage to free clinics and the officers, governing board members, employees, and contractors of free clinics in the same manner and extent as certain Federal officers and employees.

Bill: 111-s-1578
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Government liability
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
Amends the Federal Torts Claim Act to extend medical malpractice coverage, treating the United States as liable, to free clinics and the officers, governing board members, employees, and contractors of free clinics in the same manner and extent as certain federal officers and employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8867)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8866)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting America's Workers Act

Bill: 111-s-1580
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
Protecting America's Workers Act - Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) to expand its coverage to federal, state, and local government employees. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, under specified conditions, to cede OSHA jurisdiction to another federal agency with respect to certain occupational standards or regulations for such agency's employees. Declares OSHA inapplicable to working conditions covered by the Federal Mine Safety and Heath Act of 1977.
 
Sets forth increased protections for whistle blowers under OSHA. 
 
Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) the posting of employee rights; (2) a prohibition against the adoption or implementation of policies or practices by employers that discourage the reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses or that discriminate or provide for adverse action against any employee for reporting such injury or illness; (3) a prohibition against the loss of wages or employee benefits as a result of an employee participating in or aiding workplace inspections; (4) investigations of incidents in a place of employment resulting in a death or the hospitalization of two or more employees; (5) a prohibition against designating a citation for an occupational health and safety standard violation as an unclassified citation; (6) the rights of an employee who has sustained a work-related injury or illness that is the subject of an investigation; (7) an employer's right to contest citations and penalties; (8) the Secretary's assertion of an employer's failure to correct a serious hazard during an employer's contest to a citation; and (9) employee objections to modifications of citations. 
 
Increases civil and criminal penalties for certain OSHA violators. 
 
Requires a state that has an approved plan for the development and enforcement of occupational safety and health standards to amend its plan to conform to the requirements of this Act within 12 months after enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8867)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhancing Flexibility for Effective Schools Act

Bill: 111-s-1581
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Department of Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Intergovernmental relations
Language arts
School administration
Special education
State and local government operations
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
Enhancing Flexibility for Effective Schools Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to alter requirements for adequate yearly progress (AYP) assessments of student groups by: (1) lowering, from 95% to 90%, the minimum percentage of students in each group in a school that must take such assessments; (2) allowing the fractional counting of students who are in more than one group, for each such group; (3) allowing states to treat as proficient or advanced specified scores on alternate assessments for disabled students and those not proficient in English; and (4) allowing states to use alternative methods of defining AYP.
 
Revises criteria for local educational agency (LEA) identification of schools needing improvement. Declares that only those meet such criteria that fail AYP standards, for two consecutive school years (as under current law), in the same subject for the same group of students. 
 
Revises eligibility criteria for school transfers after a school is identified as needing improvement. Declares that only failing students in the failing group, instead of all students in such a school, may transfer. Allows such schools to provide students with supplemental services rather than transfers during that school year. 
 
Requires states to develop procedures allowing LEAs to register complaints concerning approved supplemental service providers or those seeking the state's approval.
 
Considers new middle or secondary school special education teachers to be highly qualified if, in addition to having a bachelor degree and high competence in their subject area, they have obtained a state special education certificate qualifying them to teach in the state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Tax Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1582
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
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 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1583
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Economic development
Financial services and investments
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend the new markets tax credit through 2014; (2) provide for an inflation adjustment to the limitation amount for such credit after 2009; and (3) allow an offset against the alternative minimum tax (AMT) for such credit. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1584
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government liability
Marriage and family status
Military personnel and dependents
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims.
 
Prohibits related retaliation. 
 
Makes this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; and (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces. Declares that this Act does not repeal or modify any federal, state, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran.
 
 
Provides for the construction of this Act regarding: (1) enforcement by employers of rules and policies; (2) sexual harassment; (3) certain shared facilities such as showers or dressing facilities; (4) construction of new or additional facilities; (5) dress and grooming standards; and (6) provision of employee benefits to married vs. unmarried couples. Declares that, in this Act, &quot;married&quot; refers to a legal union between one man and one woman.
 
Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from collecting statistics from covered entities on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or compelling the collection by covered entities of such statistics.
 
Provides for enforcement, including giving the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress, the Attorney General, and U.S. courts the same enforcement powers as they have under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and other specified laws.
 
Allows actions and proceedings, subject to exception, against the United States and the states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-11-05
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-1134.
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8868-8870)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8867-8868)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in "Lugar counties", and for on-call and standby costs for such services.

Bill: 111-s-1585
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Medicare
Nursing
Rural conditions and development
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: 
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, as amended by the Family Support Act of 1988 and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, to treat a critical access hospital as rural, notwithstanding the reclassification of its location county as an urban county (&quot;Lugar county&quot;) under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, in order to permit pass-through payment for the reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) services.
 
Counts on-call and standby costs for such services as reasonable CRNA costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8871)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8871)
action_date: 2009-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Safety for Our Schoolchildren Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1586
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2009-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Crimes against children
Criminal justice information and records
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
School administration
Sex offenses
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: 
Safety for Our Schoolchildren Act of 2009 - Requires states and local educational agencies (LEAs) to: (1) obtain an FBI background check on individuals prior to offering them employment as school employees; and (2) if the check identifies them as sexual predators, report their application to local law enforcement.
 
Prohibits states or LEAs from hiring individuals as: (1) school employees if they have been convicted of a crime of violence or other felony; or (2) school bus drivers if they have been convicted of, or pled guilty to, drunk driving or a serious moving violation.
 
Withholds funds available to states for planning and administration and to LEAs as subgrants under part A of title II (Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, if they violate such prohibitions or fail to take such actions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Sainey H. Fatty.

Bill: 111-s-1587
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2009-08-06 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Provides for the relief of Sainey H. Fatty.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
STOP Act

Bill: 111-s-1588
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Commodities markets
Congressional oversight
Income tax rates
Oil and gas
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: 
Stop Tax-breaks for Oil Profiteering Act or the STOP Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat gain or loss from the sale or exchange of oil or natural gas and related commodities as ordinary income or loss (thus taxed at regular income tax rates); and (2) require certain tax-exempt entities to pay unrelated business tax on gain or loss from the sale or exchange of oil or natural gas and related commodities. Makes such tax treatment applicable to commodities acquired after August 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2014.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on the tax treatment of certain commodities and contracts under section 1256 of the Internal Revenue Code.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8998-8999)
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8997-8998)
action_date: 2009-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate