hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Honest Services Restoration Act

Bill: 111-s-3854
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Honest Services Restoration Act - Amends the federal criminal code to expand the definition of &quot;scheme or artifice to defraud,&quot; for purposes of fraud offenses, to include: (1) a scheme or artifice by a public official to engage in undisclosed self-dealing; or (2) a scheme or artifice by officers and directors to engage in undisclosed private self-dealing. 
 
Defines &quot;undisclosed self-dealing&quot; to mean: (1) performing an official act to benefit or further a financial interest of the public official, a spouse or minor child, a general partner, a business or organization in which the public official is serving as an employee, officer, director, trustee, or general partner, or an individual, business, or organization with whom the public official is negotiating for, or has any arrangement concerning, prospective employment or financial compensation; and (2) knowingly falsifying, concealing, covering up, or failing to disclose material information regarding a financial interest as required by law.
 
Defines &quot;undisclosed private self-dealing&quot; to mean: (1) performing an act which causes or is intended to cause harm to the employer of the officer or director and which is undertaken to benefit or further by an actual or intended value of $5,000 or more a financial interest of the officer or director, a spouse or minor child, a general partner, another business or organization in which the officer or director is serving as an employee, officer, director, trustee, or general partner, or an individual, business, or organization with whom the officer or director is negotiating for, or has any arrangement concerning, prospective employment or financial compensation; and (2) knowingly falsifying, concealing, covering up, or failing to disclose material information regarding a financial interest as required by law. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7631-7632)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7631)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3855
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Income tax credits
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Clean Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt new clean renewable energy bonds, to: (1) repeal the national limitation amount for such bonds; (2) allow such unlimited bonds to be issued until January 1, 2014; (3) eliminate the eligibility of governmental bodies for new clean renewable energy bond financing; (4) designate a tribal utility as a clean renewable energy bond lender; and (5) provide that any reimbursements with the proceeds of new clean renewable energy bonds are subject to reimbursement rules applicable to all tax-exempt bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7632-7633)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Tax Relief for National Service Act

Bill: 111-s-3857
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Higher education
Income tax exclusion
National and community service
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Tax Relief for National Service Act - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to exclude national service educational awards from their recipients' gross income for federal income tax purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
H-2A Improvement Act

Bill: 111-s-3858
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Labor standards
Livestock
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
H-2A Improvement Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include within the H-2A nonimmigrant visa category (temporary agricultural workers) an alien coming temporarily to the United States to work as a sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker. Exempts an employer filing a petition to employ such a worker from the requirement to show that the position is of a seasonal or temporary nature.
 
 
Provides for a three-year initial period of admission with additional three-year extensions.
 
Authorizes such alien to petition to become a lawful permanent resident after having worked as a sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker in the United States for not fewer than 33 of the preceding 36 months.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7633-7634)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7633)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Pharmacy Dual Degree Program Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3859
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Drug therapy
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Medical education
Medical research
Nursing
Prescription drugs
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Pharmacy Dual Degree Program Act of 2010 - Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) there should be established a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) dual degree program; (2) the development of a joint degree in nursing and pharmacology should combine a DNP with a PharmD; (3) such a program would improve patient outcomes; (4) through such a dual collaborative role health providers will be better able to meet the unique needs of rural communities across the age continuum and in diverse settings; (5) such a program would enhance collaboration between DNPs and physicians regarding drug therapy, provide for research concerning and the implementation of safer medication administration, broaden the scope of practice for pharmacists through education and training in diagnosis and management of common diseases, provide new employment opportunities, and assist in filling the need for primary care providers with an expertise in geriatrics and pharmaceuticals; and (6) additional research and evaluation should be conducted to determine the extent to which graduates of such a program improve primary health care, address disparities, diversify the workforce, and increase quality of service for underserved populations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7634-7635)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7634)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act

Bill: 111-s-3861
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Cancer
Child health
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Genetics
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Research administration and funding
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) develop, publish, and update guidelines on an approach to investigate suspected or potential disease clusters, environmental pollutants or toxic substances associated with such clusters, or potential causes of such clusters; (2) establish and operate Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Centers and Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Teams; (3) ensure that the Office of Children's Health Protection has a prominent role in developing and updating such guidelines and in establishing and operating such Centers and Teams; (4) establish Community Disease Cluster Advisory Committees to provide oversight, guidance, and advice relating to such investigations; (5) provide support to individuals on such Teams and Committees through grants and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education; (6) compile and update a publicly available, online database that provides information relating to disease clusters; and (7) use available authorities and programs to compile, research, and analyze information generated by actions authorized under this Act.
 
Authorizes any person to submit a petition to the EPA Administrator, the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences that requests that a Response Team conduct an investigation or take action to address the potential causes of disease clusters.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to any group of individuals that may be affected by such clusters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Oil Spill Victims Redress Act

Bill: 111-s-3862
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Federal preemption
Jurisdiction and venue
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Oil Spill Victims Redress Act - Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to: (1) require all claims against each responsible party for removal costs or damages under such Act to be presented first to the responsible party or guarantor of the source of the discharge or threat; (2) authorize a state court to award damages or other relief to any person for claims under state law against any responsible party or other person; (3) provide that a civil action brought in state court is not within the original jurisdiction of the U.S. district courts, and is therefore not removable, unless a federal claim is pleaded in addition to claims arising under state law or otherwise removable based on diversity of citizenship; and (4) provide that nothing in such Act shall affect or preempt the authority of any state from imposing on any responsible party or other person any additional liability or requirement with respect to the discharge of oil occurring within the state, pollution by oil having effects within the state, or any removal activities in connection with such discharge.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Monongahela Conservation Legacy Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3863
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
West Virginia
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Monongahela Conservation Legacy Act of 2010 - Designates the federal land within the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, to be known as the North Fork Mountain Wilderness, as a wilderness area for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7635)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring State Wildlife Management Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3864
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2010-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Endangered and threatened species
Idaho
Mammals
Montana

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: 
Restoring State Wildlife Management Act of 2010 - Declares that the inclusion of any Rocky Mountain gray wolf located in Idaho or Montana on any list of threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 shall have no force or effect. Makes this Act effective with respect to each state on the date on which the Secretary of the Interior certifies to Congress that the Secretary has approved a state management plan for the maintenance of Rocky Mountain gray wolf populations with respect to that state. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3865
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to establish a Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grant Program (VITA grant program) for the development, expansion, or continuation of volunteer tax preparation programs to assist low-income taxpayers and members of underserved populations. 
 
Establishes the National Center to Promote Quality, Excellence, and Evaluation in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Requires such Center to: (1) promote the adoption of a universally accessible volunteer training platform for the preparation of federal income tax returns; (2) provide technical assistance to tax return preparation program managers; (3) identify and disseminate best practices related to tax site management; (4) support outreach and marketing efforts; and (5) provide evaluation of programs and activities funded under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the naturalization requirements related to physical presence in the United States for alien translators granted special immigrant status, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3867
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Foreign labor
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, with respect to naturalization of an Afghan or Iraqi translator who is a lawful permanent resident, to count a period of absence from the United States working as a translator for the United States or a U.S. contractor in Afghanistan or Iraq towards the accumulation of the required U.S. physical presence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Transition Assistance Advisor Act

Bill: 111-s-3868
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Transition Assistance Advisor Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD), as part of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, to ensure: (1) during the period beginning 180 days before the commencement of a contingency operation and ending 180 days after its conclusion, at least one Transition Assistance Advisor for every 1,500 Army and Air National Guard members who reside in each state; and (2) during any other period, at least one Advisor for every 5,000 Army and Air National Guard members who reside in each state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Spouse Employment Programs Evaluation Act

Bill: 111-s-3869
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Military Spouse Employment Programs Evaluation Act - Directs the Comptroller General to annually: (1) review all current Department of Defense (DOD) military spouse employment programs; and (2) report review results to the congressional defense committees.
 
Requires the Secretary of Defense to annually submit to such committees the number of military spouses who have obtained employment following participation in such DOD programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to permit certain livestock owners to plant a secondary crop for the use of the producer as emergency feed.

Bill: 111-s-3870
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Disaster relief and insurance
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to permit an agricultural producer who owns livestock to plant a second crop on the same acreage for harvest in the same crop year as a first crop and receive full prevented planting indemnity payments if such producer: (1) is located in an area that experienced excessive precipitation which prevented the first crop's planting by its final planting date; and (2) uses the second crop solely for emergency feed for the producer's livestock.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7792)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend chapter 13 of title 28, United States Code, to authorize the designation and assignment of retired justices of the Supreme Court to particular cases in which an active justice is recused.

Bill: 111-s-3871
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Judges
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Authorizes the designation and assignment of retired justices of the Supreme Court to serve as a justice in a particular case before the Court in which an active justice is recused. Requires a majority vote of active justices to make such a designation and assignment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7793)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7792-7793)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Cell Phone Bill Shock Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3872
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Telecommunication rates and fees
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Cell Phone Bill Shock Act of 2010 - Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate regulations requiring a commercial mobile service provider to: (1) notify a subscriber who has used in excess of a certain percentage of the monthly limit or prepaid amount of specified services (voice minutes, text messages, or data megabytes); (2) obtain a subscriber's consent before it allows the subscriber to use such services in excess of the monthly limit; and (3) ensure that any notice of possible excess usage, and the consent to use excess services, are not charged to the subscriber's account.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7794)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7793)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Children's Environmental Health Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-3873
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child health
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Children's Environmental Health Protection Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Task Force to Address Environmental Health and Safety Risks to Children to: (1) recommend to the President federal strategies to improve children's environmental health and safety; (2) develop a review of existing and planned data resources and a proposed plan for use in ensuring that researchers and federal research agencies have access to information on federal research that relates to adverse health risk in children resulting from exposure to environmental health and safety risks; and (3) submit a biennial report on research, data, or other information that would enhance understanding and analysis of, and response to, environmental health and safety risks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act

Bill: 111-s-3875
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: National Guard and reserves
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act - Honors as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular (reserve) service or, but for age, would be so entitled.
 
Provides that such person shall not be entitled to any benefit solely by reason of such recognition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate