hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to modify the computation for part-time service under the Civil Service Retirement System.

Bill: 111-s-469
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Temporary and part-time employment

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Requires part-time service performed by a federal employee before April 7, 1986, to be credited as full-time service for purposes of annuity computation under the Civil Service Retirement System (currently, the annuity benefit for such part-time service is prorated).

action_date: 2010-04-12
text: 

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

Requires part-time service performed by a federal employee before April 7, 1986, to be credited as full-time service for purposes of annuity computation under the Civil Service Retirement System (currently, the annuity benefit for such part-time service is prorated).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-04-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 341.
action_date: 2010-04-12
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2010-04-12
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2009-05-20
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2474-2475)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-470
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Crimes against property
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Organized crime
Product safety and quality
Retail and wholesale trades
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2009- Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) expand the definitions of the crimes of transporting and selling or receiving stolen goods to include thefts having an aggregate value of $5,000 or more during any 12-month period; (2) modify the crime of fraud involving access devices to include the Universal Product Code label or similar product code label as an access device; and (3) set forth provisions to prevent sales of illegally obtained goods in a physical (e.g., flea market, open air market) or online retail marketplace and to grant enforcement powers to states to obtain injunctive and other relief against persons engaged in organized retail crime.
 
Requires the Attorney General to establish a suspected illegal sales activity form and a suspicious activity report form for the reporting of suspected sales of illegally-obtained items in a physical or online retail marketplace.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend federal sentencing guidelines for persons convicted of offenses involving organized retail crime. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2476-2479)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2475-2476)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
High School Sports Information Collection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-471
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Athletes
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
School administration

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
High School Sports Information Collection Act of 2009 - Amends the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to require the Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics to collect the following information annually from each coeducational secondary school that receives federal financial assistance and that has an athletic program: (1) the number, gender, race, and ethnicity of students that attended the school; and (2) for each team that competed in athletic competition, the number, gender, race, and ethnicity of participants, the total expenditures, the number, gender, employment status, and qualifications of trainers, medical personnel, and coaches, and the number of competitions and practices scheduled.
 
Requires such schools to: (1) make such information available to students and potential students, upon request, and to the public by October 15 of each school year; (2) ensure that all students at the school are informed of their right to request such information; and (3) annually provide such information to the Commissioner.
 
Directs the Commissioner to: (1) ensure that such information is posted on the Department of Education's website; (2) notify all secondary schools regarding the availability of the information; and (3) issue guidance on how to collect and report the information required under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2479)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
National Monuments Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-472
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Monuments and memorials
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
National Monuments Act of 2009 - Requires the President to obtain congressional approval of proposed national monuments situated upon land owned or controlled by the federal government and certify compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 prior to declaring national monuments. 
 
Bars the Secretary of the Interior from implementing any restrictions on the public use of a national monument until the expiration of an appropriate review period providing for public input and congressional approval. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-473
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Cultural exchanges and relations
Education programs funding
Executive agency funding and structure
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Higher education
International exchange and broadcasting

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2009 - Establishes in the executive branch the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation.
 
Requires the Foundation to award grants, increasingly for study in nontraditional study abroad destinations, to: (1) U.S. students; (2) nongovernmental institutions that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for U.S. students, in consortium with institutions of higher education (IHEs); and (3) IHEs, individually or in consortium. Declares the sense of Congress on the distribution of such grants among individuals and institutions.
 
Directs the the Comptroller General to review the operations of the Foundation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2009-03-02
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-03-02
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2480-2483)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2479-2480)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-474
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Library of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to apply whistleblower rights and protections to legislative branch employees, including those of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Library of Congress.
 
Prescribes for violation of this Act the same remedy as would be appropriate if awarded with respect to a prohibited federal personnel practice in the executive branch.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2483)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Care Affordability for Military Families Act

Bill: 111-s-476
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Care Affordability for Military Families Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse a covered beneficiary under TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed care program) for travel expenses when such beneficiary is referred by a primary care physician to a specialty care provider located more than 50 (under current law, more than 100) miles from the primary care location.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Fishermen's Collective Marketing Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-477
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marketing and advertising

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Fishermen's Collective Marketing Act of 2009 - Authorizes persons engaged in the fishery industry as charter boat or recreational fishing services providers to act together in associations in collectively undertaking and marketing such activities and services, including implementing a vessel capacity reduction program, improving the operational and economic efficiency of a fishery, undertaking research, and improving the conservation and management of a fishery resource.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-478
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice for: (1) an employer to recognize or bargain collectively with a labor organization that has not been selected by a majority of the employees in a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board; and (2) a labor organization to cause or attempt to cause an employer to recognize or bargain collectively with a representative that has not been selected in such manner.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 24.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act

Bill: 111-s-479
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Chesapeake Bay
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act - Amends the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to make permanent the authorization of appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. 

action_date: 2010-03-22
text: 

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

 
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act - Amends the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to make permanent the authorization of appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 326.
action_date: 2010-03-22
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 111-164.
action_date: 2010-03-22
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 111-164.
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Regional Economic Recovery Coordination Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-480
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Department of Commerce
Economic development
Economic performance and conditions
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Regional Economic Recovery Coordination Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Commerce the Office of Regional Economic Adjustment, headed by a Director, to: (1) lead, support, and coordinate a program to address economic dislocation in eligible regions (regions undergoing sudden and severe economic dislocation); (2) assist in making a specified central information clearinghouse available to states and eligible regions; (3) coordinate the federal response and provide comprehensive technical assistance to eligible regions; and (4) establish an interagency regional economic adjustment working group.
 
Requires the Director, after notification of certain plant closings or mass employee layoffs, to certify that region as an eligible region for purposes of benefits under this Act.
 
Authorizes a region to establish a Regional Economic and Workforce Development Coordinating Committee to, among other things: (1) ascertain the severity of the region's economic dislocation; and (2) assess the region's capacity to respond to the economic dislocation and its needs as it undertakes economic adjustment.
 
Requires the Director to assign a federal economic recovery coordinator to each eligible region.
 
Amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to require the employer involved to notify the Secretaries of Labor and Commerce of a plant closing or layoff and the number of employees affected.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
FBI Priorities Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-481
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Financial crises and stabilization
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
FBI Priorities Act of 2009 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014 to fund 1,000 additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field agents to investigate financial crimes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2484)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act

Bill: 111-s-482
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require Senate candidates to file election-related designations, statements, and reports in electronic form.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Senate to forward a copy of any electronically filed designation, statement, or report to the Federal Election Commission within one working day (instead of the current two working days) after receiving it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 25.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2484-2485)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 111-s-483
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
California
Connecticut
Currency
Higher education
Historic sites and heritage areas
Libraries and archives
Missouri
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins emblematic of the life and legacy of Mark Twain. 
 
Limits issuance of such coins to calendar year 2013. 
 
Requires specified surcharges in the sale of such coins, which shall be promptly paid, in specified percentages, to: (1) the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, to support the continued restoration of the house and grounds, and ensure continuing growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote, and educate on the legacy of Mark Twain; (2) the Mark Twain Project at the Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley, California, to support programs to study and promote Mark Twain's legacy; (3) the Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, New York, for the same purposes; and (4) the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, to preserve historical sites related to Mark Twain and help support study and promotion programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2485-2486)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2485)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Fairness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-484
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: 
Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) government pension offset requirements applicable to husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and mother's and father's insurance benefits with respect to OASDI payments; and (2) windfall elimination requirements with respect to computation of an individual's primary insurance amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2487)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2486-2487)
action_date: 2009-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-485
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health programs administration and funding
Research and development
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 to reauthorize appropriations for the Select Agent Program, which lists and controls biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Requires appropriate training of individuals handling or using such agents and toxins.
 
Includes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) among the federal agencies limited in the disclosure of information related to listed agents or toxins.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review and make recommendations for improving the Select Agent Program.

Sets forth additional factors that the Secretary must consider in determining whether to list an agent or toxin, including whether the agent or toxin is endemic to the United States.

Requires the Secretary to issue guidance on inventorying and monitoring listed biological agents.

Directs the Attorney General to issue guidance regarding the scope of the statutory definition of &quot;variola virus.&quot; 

Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for how laboratories and laboratory personnel that do not regularly test for listed agents and toxins may be rapidly accessed and utilized during emergencies; and (2) evaluate national needs of, and oversight of, high containment biological laboratories.

Provides for the development of minimum standards for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training for relevant personnel of high containment biological laboratories.

Requires the Secretary to establish a Biological Laboratory Incident Reporting System.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2559-2561)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate