hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1608
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-12]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%.
 
Sets forth criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Empowers state Attorneys General to enforce this Act.
 
Revises requirements for a periodic statement for each billing cycle with respect to where the total finance charge exceeds 50 cents for a monthly or longer billing cycle, or the pro rata part of 50 cents for a billing cycle shorter than monthly. Requires inclusion of the fee and interest rate, displayed as &quot;FAIR,&quot; instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Administrator of the Internal Revenue Service to verify income for purposes of determining the eligibility of persons for certain Department of Agriculture payments and benefits, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-hr-1609
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Business records
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to deny certain agricultural commodity payments for not less than five years, or permanently, to a person or legal entity that has knowingly engaged in, or aided in the creation of a fraudulent document, or failed to disclose material information relevant to the administration of such benefits. (Current law authorizes payment denial for up to five crop years.) 
 
Requires that a person or legal entity that received benefits while ineligible due to excess income repay such amounts fully.
 
Directs the Secretary to request the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to verify the income-related eligibility of a benefit applicant, and deny benefits to a person or entity determined to be ineligible. Authorizes Farm Service Agency reconsideration of a denial.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
IRE Act

Bill: 111-hr-1610
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-12]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Consumer credit
Financial crises and stabilization
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Interest Rate Equity Act or the IRE Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to prohibit any financial institution that receives assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) from charging its customers more than 18% interest on credit card accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 to repeal a provision prohibiting the use of funds for a cross-border motor carrier demonstration program to allow Mexican-domiciled motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones along the international border between the United States and Mexico.

Bill: 111-hr-1611
Sponsor: Rep. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Latin America
Mexico
Motor carriers
Trade restrictions
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Amends the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 to repeal the prohibition against the use of funds made available under the Act to establish a cross-border motor carrier demonstration program to allow Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones along the international border between the United States and Mexico.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Made in America Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1613
Sponsor: Rep. Carney, Christopher P. [D-PA-10]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Industrial policy and productivity
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Made in America Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) increase to 20% the rate of the alternative simplified tax credit for research expenses; (3) make permanent the increased expensing allowance for depreciable business property; and (4) reduce to 30% the maximum income tax rate for corporations.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct studies of: (1) the impact of workplace employee health care facilities on employee health and and productivity; and (2) the best practices for encouraging college graduates from rural areas to return to those areas after graduation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Community Coalitions for Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1614
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Community Coalitions for Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to assist in developing integrated health care delivery systems to serve defined communities of individuals to: (1) improve efficiency and coordination among providers; (2) assist local communities in developing programs targeted toward preventing and managing chronic diseases; and (3) expand and enhance services provided.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, in awarding grants, to accord priority to: (1) applicants that demonstrate the greatest unmet need for a more coordinated system of care; and (2) applicants that best promote the objectives of this Act.
 
Authorizes a grantee to use amounts provided only for: (1) direct expenses associated with achieving greater integration of a health care delivery system to directly provide or ensure the provision of a broad range of culturally competent services; and (2) direct patient care and service expansions to fill identified or documented gaps within an integrated delivery system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Medical Economic Deferment for Students (MEDS) Act

Bill: 111-hr-1615
Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Medical Economic Deferment for Students (MEDS) Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to the meaning of economic hardship under the Federal Family Education Loan or Perkins Loan and related loan insurance programs.
 
Considers borrowers under such programs to be suffering economic hardship if they are working full-time, have a federal educational debt burden equal to at least 20% of their adjusted gross income, and the difference between their adjusted gross income minus such debt burden is less than 220% of the greater of: (1) the annual earnings of an minimum wage earner; or (2) 150% of the poverty line applicable to their family size.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1616
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-17]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: HIV/AIDS
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2009 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give states the option of providing Medicaid coverage for certain low-income HIV-infected individuals. Provides states taking advantage of this option with an enhanced federal Medicaid match. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act

Bill: 111-hr-1618
Sponsor: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act - Prohibits a state from prescribing or enforcing any regulation that allows a restricted property-carrying unit (any trailer, semitrailer, container, or other property-carrying unit longer than 53 feet, except for a fire-fighting unit) to operate on the National Highway System (NHS) (including the Interstate System), unless the operation of such unit is authorized by the state on June 1, 2008, and in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) on or before that date. 
 
Prohibits a state from allowing the operation of a commercial motor vehicle combination on the NHS (except a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled or divided easily, and that has been issued a special permit under state law) with more than one property-carrying unit (excluding the truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are more than: (1) the maximum combination trailer, semitrailer, or other type of length limitation allowed by state law on June 1, 2008; or (2) the length of the property-carrying units of those commercial motor vehicle combinations, by specific configuration, in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including continual seasonal operation) in such state on or before June 1, 2008. 
 Prohibits a state from allowing the operation of a vehicle or combination (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System unless its operation was lawful: (1) on July 1, 1956; (2) in the case of the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles, on the date of enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974; or (3) under a special permit pursuant to state (grandfather) law. 
 
Declares that Interstate weight limitations on vehicles and combinations (other than longer combination vehicles) that operate on the Interstate System shall also apply to such vehicles and combinations that operate on non-Interstate segments of the NHS, unless: (1) such segments are subject to lower state weight limits; or (2) a state allows the operation of any vehicle or combination on an existing non-Interstate segment of the NHS that could be so operated lawfully on June 1, 2008.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Children's Health Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1619
Sponsor: Rep. Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA-13]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Children's Health Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from imposing any preexisting condition exclusion for individuals who have not attained 25 years of age. 
 
Applies such requirement to coverage offered in the individual market. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, 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: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1620
Sponsor: Rep. Boozman, John [R-AR-3]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to provide for reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms in different states by persons who are not prohibited by federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm and who are: (1) carrying a valid state license or permit for carrying a concealed firearm; or (2) otherwise entitled to carry a concealed firearm in their state of residence. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1621
Sponsor: Rep. Broun, Paul C. [R-GA-10]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Music
National symbols

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009 - Prohibits state or local educational agencies from requiring or permitting the Pledge of Allegiance or national anthem to be recited or sung in any language other than English in any elementary or secondary school under their jurisdiction. 
 
Withholds federal funds from state or local educational agencies that violate such prohibition, unless the funds are specifically appropriated to such agencies after they have been found to be violating the prohibition.
 
Establishes a private right of action for persons injured by violations of such prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Military Personnel Income Tax Exclusion Act

Bill: 111-hr-1624
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Military personnel and dependents
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Military Personnel Income Tax Exclusion Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of members of the uniformed services for income tax purposes certain military benefits and basic pay.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Equity and Access for Podiatric Physicians Under Medicaid Act

Bill: 111-hr-1625
Sponsor: Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Medicaid
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
 Equity and Access for Podiatric Physicians Under Medicaid Act- Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include podiatrists as physicians in order to cover their services under the Medicaid program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1627
Sponsor: Rep. Dent, Charles W. [R-PA-15]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Military civil functions
Natural disasters
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act of 2009 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (the Secretary) to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense to use Civil Air Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions. Authorizes the Secretary to consider the use of such personnel and resources to provide: (1) aerial reconnaissance or communications capabilities to the Border Patrol to protect against illegal entry and trafficking; and (2) capabilities to respond to an act of terrorism, natural disaster, or other man-made event by assisting in damage assessment and situational awareness, search and rescue operations, evacuations, and transporting time-sensitive materials.
 
Directs the Secretary to consider the Civil Air Patrol as an available resource for purposes of national preparedness and response planning activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response.
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2009-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to House Homeland Security
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
IRA Assistance Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1628
Sponsor: Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Consumer credit
Employee benefits and pensions
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
IRA Assistance Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow premature distributions from individual retirement accounts (other than Roth IRAs) without penalty to make hardship loans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Helping Americans Keep Their Homes Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1629
Sponsor: Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Housing finance and home ownership
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Helping Americans Keep Their Homes Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from $10,000 to $15,000 the limit on penalty-free distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans for the purchase of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer; (2) suspend the first-time homebuyer requirement for such distributions that are made before January 1, 2011; and (3) exempt loans from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) used to refinance a principal residence from certain prohibited transaction tax rules until 2011. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in House