hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Effective Homeland Security Management Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-872
Sponsor: Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Homeland security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Effective Homeland Security Management Act of 2009 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) replace the Under Secretary for Management with a Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for Management as the Chief Management Officer and principal advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters related to management; and (2) establish such position as the successor to the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security in exercising the duties of the Secretary in his or her absence.

action_date: 2009-10-26
text: 
Effective Homeland Security Management Act of 2009 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) replace the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for Management as the Chief Management Officer and principal advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters related to management; and (2) establish the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for Management as the successor to the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security in exercising the duties of the Secretary in his or her absence.
 
Provides that if an individual has been appointed and is serving as Under Secretary on the date of this Act's enactment, such individual shall serve as the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for Management for the applicable five-year term beginning on such date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-10-26
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 188.
action_date: 2009-10-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment. With written report No. 111-91.
action_date: 2009-10-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment. With written report No. 111-91.
action_date: 2009-07-29
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4673)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4672-4673)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-873
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Government trust funds
Military command and structure
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Improvement Act of 2009 - Prohibits more than 10% of amounts appropriated or otherwise made available in any fiscal year for Department of Defense (DOD) Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) programs from being expended to promote bilateral and multilateral activities relating to nonproliferation and disarmament. Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify the congressional defense, appropriations, and foreign relations committees at least 15 days before expending funds under such authority.
 
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) continued expansion of CTR programs requires increased cooperation with all unified combatant commands in which such activities are carried out; and (2) DOD should undertake a review of CTR contracting procedures, umbrella agreements, and program metrics to ensure that they are being undertaken consistently with CTR program urgency and necessity.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Cooperative Threat Reduction Partnership Account, to be used for CTR programs without further specific authorization in law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4673-4674)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-875
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Constitution and constitutional amendments
Evidence and witnesses
Judicial review and appeals
Legislative rules and procedure
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2009 - Prohibits any state or federal court from relying on or deferring to a presidential signing statement as a source of authority when determining the meaning of any Act of Congress. 
 
Requires any federal or state court, in any action, suit, or proceeding regarding the construction or constitutionality, or both, of any Act of Congress in which a presidential signing statement was issued, to permit the Senate, through the Office of Senate Legal Counsel, or the House, through the Office of General Counsel for the House, or both, to participate as an amicus curiae, and to present an oral argument on the question of the Act's construction or constitutionality, or both.
 
Authorizes the full Congress, in any such suit, to pass a concurrent resolution declaring its view of the proper interpretation of the Act of Congress at issue, clarifying Congress's intent or its findings of fact, or both.
 
Requires the federal or state court in question to permit Congress, through the Office of Senate Legal Counsel, to submit any such passed resolution into the record of the case as a matter of right.
 
Makes it the duty of each federal or state court, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the disposition of any matter brought under this Act.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4677-4678)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4676-4677)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the substitution of the United States in certain civil actions relating to electronic service providers and FISA.

Bill: 111-s-876
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Evidence and witnesses
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Telephone and wireless communication
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
 Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 to require a federal or state court to substitute the United States for an electronic communication service provider with respect to any claim in a covered civil action if the Attorney General certifies to the court that either: (1) the service provider did not provide the alleged assistance; or (2) the assistance alleged to have been provided was in connection with an intelligence activity involving communications authorized by the President between September 11, 2001, and January 17, 2007, and designed to detect or prevent a terrorist attack, or activities in preparation for a terrorist attack, against the United States. Requires the alleged provider assistance to be described in a written request or directive from the Attorney General or the head of an element of the intelligence community to the electronic communication service provider indicating that the activity was authorized by the President and determined to be lawful.
 
Requires a federal or state court, upon receiving such a certification, to: (1) substitute the United States for the electronic communication service provider as the defendant as to all claims designated by the Attorney General in the certification; (2) dismiss all such designated claims against the provider; and (3) enter a final judgment relating to those claims.
 
Provides that the electronic communication service provider shall remain as a defendant if the Attorney General's certification states that not all of the alleged assistance was provided under a written request or directive.
 
Allows substitution only after a determination by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (after certification by the Attorney General) that the directive requesting provider assistance was lawful and that the assistance was provided in good faith of the lawfulness of the directive.
 
Provides that, in a covered civil action in which the United States is substituted as a party-defendant, any plaintiff may serve third-party discovery requests to any electronic communications service provider as to which all claims are dismissed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4678-4679)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4678)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the non-discretionary Supreme Court review of certain civil actions relating to the legality and constitutionality of surveillance activities.

Bill: 111-s-877
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Constitution and constitutional amendments
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Judicial review and appeals
Supreme Court
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Requires review by the Supreme Court of appeals of interlocutory or final judgments, decrees, or court orders challenging the legality or constitutionality of: (1) the President's Surveillance Program (Terrorist Surveillance Program); (2) certain statutory defenses for the protection of persons assisting the federal government with information, or access to it, including communication contents, communications records, or other information relating to a customer or communication; and (3) any intelligence activity involving communications that was authorized by the President during a specified period.
 
Requires the Supreme Court to advance on the docket any such appeal and expedite it to the greatest extent possible. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4680)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4679-4680)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
See Something, Say Something Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-879
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Law enforcement officers
Legal fees and court costs
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
See Something, Say Something Act of 2009 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to grant immunity from civil liability to persons who, in good faith and based on an objectively reasonable suspicion, report suspicious activity indicating that an individual may be engaging, or preparing to engage, in a violation of law relating to an act of terrorism.
 
Grants qualified immunity from civil liability to any authorized official who observes, or receives a report of, such activity and takes reasonable action in good faith to respond, consistent with applicable law in the relevant jurisdiction. Provides that an authorized official not entitled to assert the defense of qualified immunity shall nonetheless be immune from civil immunity if that official takes reasonable action, in good faith, to respond to the reported activity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4680-4682)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit a Medicare beneficiary to elect to take ownership, or to decline ownership, of a certain item of complex durable medical equipment after the 13-month capped rental period ends.

Bill: 111-s-880
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit a Medicare beneficiary to elect to take, or decline to take, ownership of a Group 3 Support Surface item of complex durable medical equipment (DME) after the 13-month capped rental period ends. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act

Bill: 111-s-881
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Economic development
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act - Authorizes Sealaska Corporation, the Regional Corporation for southeast Alaska, notwithstanding specified provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and subject to conditions and restrictions, to select and receive conveyance of its remaining land entitlement under the ANCSA from federal land in southeast Alaska from each of the following categories: (1) specified economic development land; (2) sites with sacred, cultural, traditional, or historical significance; and (3) Alaska Native futures sites with traditional and recreational use value.
 
Authorizes the Director of the National Park Service to enter into a cooperative management agreement with Sealaska, other village corporations and urban corporations, and federally recognized Indian tribes with cultural and historical ties to Glacier Bay National Park to recognize and perpetuate National Park Service values, including those associated with the Tlingit homeland and culture, wilderness, and ecological preservation. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete the conveyance of lands to Sealaska within one year of selection.
 
Prohibits Sealaska from selecting or receiving any conveyance of lands under this Act from within any conservation system unit, federally designated wilderness area, or certain land use designation areas.
 
Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to add to the definition of &quot;tribal lands&quot; land held under the ANCSA by an incorporated Alaska Native group, a Regional Corporation, or a Village Corporation. 


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: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4683-4686)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4682-4683)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Drug and Device Accountability Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-882
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Prescription drugs
Product safety and quality
Trade restrictions
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Drug and Device Accountability Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to revise provisions regarding the registration of drug and device establishments, including to: (1) expand the information required to be included in a registration; and (2) provide for risk-based inspections.
 
Includes in the definition of &quot;drug&quot; a precursor ingredient.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess the registration exemption for manufacturers of harmless inactive ingredients that become components of drugs.
 
Deems a drug to be adulterated if certain conditions related to verification of identity and purity, identification of establishments, consistency with current manufacturing technologies, and conformity with good distribution and import practices are not met.
 
Deems a drug or device to be misbranded unless certain conditions related to labeling for country of manufacture and provision of required information on importation are met. 
 
Sets forth provisions governing importation of a drug and its components. 
 
Sets forth required actions, including cessation of distribution, if there is a reasonable probability that a drug intended for human use would cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
 
Establishes actions manufacturers must take regarding any defective drug.
 
Sets forth additional required certifications for submissions related to drugs and devices regarding accuracy and personal knowledge of information submitted.
 
Establishes whistleblower protection for employees providing information regarding a drug, biological product, or device.
 
 Requires the Secretary to contract with the Institute of Medicine to evaluate: (1) the organizational structure and operations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with respect to the review of medical devices for clearance and for premarket approval under FFDCA; and (2) the analytical and methodological tools used to conduct such reviews.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a corps of inspectors dedicated to inspections of foreign establishments and facilities.
 

 
Sets forth enforcement provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-883
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Currency
Military personnel and dependents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins emblematic of the design selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the Boards of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, in honor of the distinguished service of the American military men and women who have been Medal of Honor recipients. 
 
Limits the period for coin issuance to calendar year 2011. 
 
Imposes a surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin and $10 per coin for the $1 coin, to be distributed to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation to help finance educational, scholarship, and outreach programs of the Foundation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4687-4688)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Transportation Equity for All Americans Act

Bill: 111-s-884
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Transportation Equity for All Americans Act - Excludes privatized highway miles (lane and vehicle miles traveled on a privatized highway) as a factor in calculating the state apportionment of certain federal-aid highway funds (including funds under the Equity bonus program).
 
Defines &quot;privatized highway&quot; as a highway subject to an agreement giving a private entity control over the highway's operation and ownership over collected highway toll revenues.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4688-4689)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4688)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Transportation Access for All Americans Act

Bill: 111-s-885
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Land use and conservation
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Transportation Access for All Americans Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow accelerated depreciation of applicable leased highway property; and (2) provide for amortization of intangibles relating to such property. Defines &quot;applicable leased highway property&quot; as property subject to a lease between a taxpayer and a governmental entity under which the taxpayer leases a highway and associated improvements, receives a right-of-way on public lands underlying such highway and improvements, and receives a grant of a franchise or other intangible right to receive payments relating to the operation of such highway. Prohibits private activity bond financing of applicable leased highway property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4689)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Catastrophe Obligation Guarantee Act

Bill: 111-s-886
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2009-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Government lending and loan guarantees
Insurance industry and regulation
Intergovernmental relations
Life, casualty, property insurance
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: 
Catastrophe Obligation Guarantee Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to guarantee holders of debt against loss of principal or interest, or both, on debt issued by eligible state programs designed to: (1) promote the availability of private capital to provide liquidity and capacity to state catastrophe insurance (specifically, residential property insurance and reinsurance) programs; and (2) expedite the payment of claims under such programs and better assist financial recovery from significant natural catastrophes.
 
Limits the total principal amount of debt obligations guaranteed by the Secretary to: (1) $5 billion for eligible state programs that cover earthquake peril; and (2) $20 billion for eligible state programs that cover all other perils.
 
Makes appropriations to satisfy debt guarantee commitments.
 
 
Requires the Secretary, upon request of an eligible state program, to provide such debt guarantees.
 
Requires an eligible state program to show to the Secretary's satisfaction that covered insured losses in the state are likely to exceed the program's available cash resources, as calculated on the date of the event.
 
Prescribes requirements for eligible state programs.
 
Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to the payment of all guarantees issued under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4729-4730)
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate