hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to establish an Energy Assistance Fund to guarantee low-interest loans for the purchase and installation of qualifying energy efficient property, idling reduction and advanced insulation for heavy trucks, and alternative refueling stations, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-855
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government trust funds
Housing finance and home ownership
Motor fuels
Motor vehicles

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Establishes in the Treasury the Energy Assistance Fund.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, upon request of the Secretary concerned, to transfer amounts from the Fund to that Secretary to make or guarantee low-interest loans or grants to U.S. persons to purchase and install: (1) qualifying energy efficient property in their principal dwelling (i.e., solar powered property to heat water or generate electricity, fuel cells, or compliant stoves); (2) idling reduction devices or advanced insulation in heavy trucks; and (3) qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property at a station.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4576)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Truck Highway Safety Demonstration Program Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-856
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government information and archives
Maine
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Commercial Truck Highway Safety Demonstration Program Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a program to demonstrate the effects on the safety of the highway network in Maine of permitting operation on the Interstate System highways within the state of a vehicle that weighs over 80,000 pounds, that consists of a three-axle tractor unit hauling a single trailer or semitrailer, and that does not exceed any vehicle weight limitation applicable under Maine law.
 
Waives highway funding reduction relating to weight of vehicles using Interstate System highways with respect to vehicles allowed pursuant to this program. 
Provides for program termination and for the responsibilities of the state of Maine, including: (1) submitting a plan to the Secretary; (2) establishing a highway safety committee; and (3) collecting data on the net effects of the operation of such vehicles on safety.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4576-4577)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
SERVE Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-857
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fires
Income tax credits
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts Act of 2009 or the SERVE Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $1,000 refundable tax credit for individuals who are bona fide volunteer members of a qualified volunteer fire department who provide firefighting, ambulance, or emergency medical services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
National Oceans Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-858
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Atmospheric science and weather
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Department of Commerce
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Great Lakes
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minority education
Postal service
Science and engineering education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
National Oceans Protection Act of 2009 - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to secure the full range of benefits of healthy ocean and Great Lakes ecosystems.
 
Establishes a national ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes policy and related principles. Requires each federal agency, as possible and in accordance with other laws, to interpret and administer policies, regulations, and laws in accordance with such policy. 
 
Ernest &quot;Fritz&quot; Hollings National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act - Formally establishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a civilian agency and transfers to NOAA's administrator any NOAA-related authority previously vested in the Secretary of Commerce.
 
Establishes: (1) a National Ocean Advisor and a Council on Ocean Stewardship in the Executive Office of the President; and (2) a Presidential Panel of Advisers on Oceans and Climate.
 
Designates nine ocean regions to promote coordinated regional efforts to implement the national ocean policy. Requires the NOAA Administrator to establish or designate a Regional Ocean Partnership for each region and requires each Partnership to prepare a Regional Ocean Strategic Plan.
 
Establishes: (1) the Committee on Ocean Science, Education, and Operations; (2) a marine biodiversity research program; (3) a network of regional Ocean Ecosystem Resource Information Systems; (4) a national interagency ocean and coastal public education program; (5) the National Ocean Science and Technology Scholarship Program; (6) the NOAA Office of Education; and (7) an educational partnership with minority-serving institutions.
 
Requires a national mass media campaign to increase public awareness of oceans.

Establishes the Ocean and Great Lakes Conservation Trust Fund.

Requires payments to coastal states for Regional Ocean Strategic Plan activities.
 
Authoirzes the United States Postal Service (USPS) to consider printing a special postage stamp to enable the public to help protect, maintain, and restore marine ecosystems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Professionals State Loan Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-860
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Income tax exclusion
Medical education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Health Professionals State Loan Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for payments under federal and state health service loan repayment or loan forgiveness programs to include payments under other state programs that are intended to provide increased health care services in underserved or health professional shortage areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Rebating America's Deposits Act

Bill: 111-s-861
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Licensing and registrations
Nevada
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Public utilities and utility rates
Radioactive wastes and releases

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Rebating America's Deposits Act - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to direct the President to publish in the Federal Register a notice certifying that the Yucca Mountain site (Nevada) is the selected site for the development of a repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
 
Declares that, if the President fails to publish the certification or revokes it, each entity: (1) that is required to make a payment to the Nuclear Waste Fund shall not be required to make any additional payment; and (2) that has made a payment shall receive a refund, 75% of which shall be used for rebates to the entity's ratepayers, and 25% shall be used to carry out upgrades to the entity's nuclear power facilities to enhance the storage and security of materials used to generate nuclear power.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy to initiate by January 1, 2017, the transportation to the Yucca Mountain site of defense waste from each state in which it is located.
 
Imposes penalties on the Secretary for failure to initiate such transportation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Debt Reduction Priority Act

Bill: 111-s-862
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Budget deficits and national debt
Financial crises and stabilization
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Debt Reduction Priority Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a procedure for: (1) depositing in the General Fund of the Treasury amounts received for repayment of financial assistance or payment of interest on the receipt of such assistance by an entity under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) or any program enacted by the Secretary under the authorities granted under such Act, including the Capital Purchase Program; and (2) dedication of any such amounts so received for the sole purpose of debt reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for Homeowners Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-863
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Housing finance and home ownership
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Fairness for Homeowners Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor or mortgage broker from arranging a consumer credit transaction secured by the principal dwelling of a consumer without first verifying the consumer's reasonable ability to to make the scheduled payments of principal, interest (including variable interest), real estate taxes, homeowner's insurance, assessments, and mortgage insurance premiums. 
 
Prescribes criteria to: (1) determine such consumer's reasonable ability to pay a variable interest rate; and (2) verify the consumer's income and financial resources. Declares a consumer's statement of income or financial resources insufficient evidence of the consumer's financial status.
 
Prohibits consumer equity in the principal dwelling that secures the consumer credit transaction from being used to establish ability to make payments.
 
Prohibits a mortgage broker or creditor from: (1) steering, counseling, or directing a consumer to rates, charges, principal amount, or prepayment terms that are more expensive than those for which the consumer qualifies; (2) arranging for any consumer credit transaction secured by the principal dwelling of a consumer that is more expensive than that for which the consumer qualifies; (3) engaging in certain mischaracterizations.
 
Prohibits prepayment penalties. Limits finance points, charges, and fees. Cites duties owed to a consumer by a mortgage broker.
 
Requires creditors and mortgage brokers to obtain independent verification that a borrower seeking to refinance a special mortgage has received counseling on the transaction's advisability. Defines &quot;special mortgage&quot; as one that: (1) was originated, subsidized, funded, or guaranteed by or through a state, tribal, or local government, or nonprofit organization; and (2) bears one or more specified nonstandard payment terms which substantially benefit the consumer.
 
Prescribes minimum financial requirements for mortgage brokers.
 
Excludes reverse mortgages from coverage by this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-864
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income distributions from individual retirement accounts for certain charitable purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4579-4581)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the sale of the Federal Government's reversionary interest in approximately 60 acres of land in Salt Lake City, Utah, originally conveyed to the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association under the Act of January 23, 1909.

Bill: 111-s-865
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, if after the completion of the appraisal required by this Act, the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association of Salt Lake City, Utah, submits an offer to acquire the federal reversionary interest in all or some portion, of the approximately 60 acres of land in Salt Lake City conveyed to the Association under the Act of January 23, 1909, to convey to the Association such reversionary interest in the lands covered by the offer. Requires the completion of such conveyance within 30 days of the date of such offer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-285.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
No Child Left Inside Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-866
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Higher education
Nutrition and diet
Outdoor recreation
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
No Child Left Inside Act of 2009 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require states, as a prerequisite to receiving implementation grants, to develop environmental literacy plans, approved by the Secretary of Education, for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 that include environmental education standards and teacher training.
 
Directs the Secretary to award Environmental Education Professional Development Grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to partnerships that include an LEA and, permissibly, institutions of higher education (IHE), other educational entities, or federal, state, regional, or local natural resource or environmental agencies, for activities involving, among other things, teacher training and the development of more rigorous environmental education curricula that advance the teaching of interdisciplinary courses.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive matching grants to partnerships that include an LEA and, permissibly, IHEs, other educational entities, federal, state, regional, or local natural resource or environmental agencies, or park and recreation departments, for activities to improve and support environmental education that include: (1) advancing content and achievement standards; (2) developing or disseminating innovations or model programs; and (3) research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4581-4584)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4581)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Shirley Constantino Tan.

Bill: 111-s-867
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Provides for the relief of Shirley Constantino Tan.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4585)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4584-4585)
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-868
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
User charges and fees
Wetlands
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Fee Repeal and Expanded Access Act of 2009 - Revises specified provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, including provisions concerning recreation fee authority, use of funds, distribution of revenue, recreation passes, and cooperative agreements. 
 
Provides for the application and administration of certain admission and use fee authorities under the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965, the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, and the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 as if the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act had not been enacted.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Debt Reduction Priority Act

Bill: 111-s-869
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Financial crises and stabilization
Government trust funds
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Debt Reduction Priority Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit in the Public Debt Reduction Payment Account (established by this Act) amounts received for repayment of financial assistance or payment of interest on the receipt of such assistance by an entity under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) or any program enacted by the Secretary under the authorities granted under such Act, including the Capital Purchase Program.
 
Requires the Secretary to use amounts in the Account to pay at maturity, or to redeem or buy before maturity, any obligation of the government held by the public and included in the public debt.
 
Reduces the public debt limit by the aggregate of amounts deposited into the Account.
 
 Excludes receipts and disbursements of the Account from consideration as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of the President's budget, the congressional budget, or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Requires outlays and receipts of the Account to be excluded from any official statement of budget surplus or deficit totals issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), or any other federal agency or instrumentality.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the credit for renewable electricity production to include electricity produced from biomass for on-site use and to modify the credit period for certain facilities producing electricity from open-loop biomass.

Bill: 111-s-870
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax credit for producing electricity from closed or open-loop biomass facilities equipped with a metering device to determine electricity consumption or sale to allow a tax credit after 2008 for electricity produced and consumed at such facilities and to extend the credit period for such production.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Honouliuli Internment Camp Special Resources Study Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-871
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Detention of persons
Government studies and investigations
Hawaii
Historic sites and heritage areas
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Honouliuli Internment Camp Special Resources Study Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the national significance, suitability, and feasibility of including the Honouliuli Gulch and associated sites within Hawaii in the National Park System.
 
Requires such study to evaluate the Honouliuli Gulch, associated sites on Oahu, and other islands in Hawaii respecting: (1) their significance as a component of World War II; (2) their significance as related to the forcible internment of Japanese Americans, European Americans, and other individuals; and (3) historic resources at those sites. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4671-4672)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate