hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-640
Sponsor: Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional oversight
General taxation matters
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Legislative rules and procedure
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
 Second Look at Wasteful Spending Act of 2009 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to transmit annually to Congress a maximum of four special messages that propose to rescind dollar amounts of discretionary budget authority, items of direct spending, and targeted tax benefits.
 
Requires an analysis by: (1) the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of an estimated savings in budget authority or outlays resulting from any such rescission; and (2) the Joint Committee on Taxation of an estimated savings resulting from repeal of targeted tax benefits.
 
Requires any rescinded budget authority, items of direct spending, or targeted tax benefit to be dedicated only to deficit reduction, and not to be used as an offset for other spending increases or revenue reductions.

Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission; and (2) applicable limits, as appropriate, under this Act.
 
Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Dehydroepiandrosterone Abuse Reduction Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-641
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Athletes
Child health
Department of Justice
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Dehydroepiandrosterone Abuse Reduction Act of 2009- Amends the Controlled Substances Act to impose civil penalties for knowingly selling, causing another to sell, or conspiring to sell a product containing dehydroepiandrosterone to an individual under the age of 18 years, including any such sale using the Internet. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3553-3554)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-642
Sponsor: Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Environmental health
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Veterans' medical care
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Defense, for each occupational and environmental health chemical hazard of particular concern, to establish and administer a registry of members and former members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to such hazard in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify a member or former member who may have been exposed to such a hazard; and (2) provide a complete physical and medical examination of such individual.
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies for the Institute of Medicine under which the Institute, for each incident of exposure reported in a registry, shall review and summarize the scientific evidence, and assess the strength thereof, concerning the association between the exposure to such hazard and acute and long-term health consequences of such exposure. Requires the Institute to: (1) make recommendations for necessary additional scientific studies; and (2) conduct periodic subsequent reviews of such evidence.
 
Requires members and former members listed in registries to be notified of any conclusive determinations with respect to such exposure, as well as any other significant related developments.
 
Makes any veteran who was exposed in the line of duty to an occupational and environmental health chemical hazard of particular concern eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for any disability, notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the disability may be associated with such exposure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Children's Health Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-643
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
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: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-644
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Iraq
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2009 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to back-date to September 11, 2001, the period of active duty or performed active service, in support of a contingency operation or in other emergency situations, for which members of Ready Reserve components of the Armed Forces shall receive credit in determining eligibility for early receipt of non-regular service retired pay.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 32, United States Code, to modify the Department of Defense share of expenses under the National Guard Youth Challenge Program.

Bill: 111-s-645
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Defense spending
Department of Defense
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Intergovernmental relations
National Guard and reserves
National and community service
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Amends the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (a training program to improve life skills and employment potential of civilian youth participants) to increase the Department of Defense (DOD) share of expenses to: (1) 100% of operating costs, in the first two years of a state program of the Program; and (2) 75% of operating costs, in the case of any other state program of the Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
MEDS Act

Bill: 111-s-646
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
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 Act or the 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: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-648
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Home and outpatient care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the definition of &quot;federally qualified health center services&quot; to include ambulatory services furnished by a federally qualified health center (FQHC) for which payment may otherwise be made under Medicare if such services were furnished by a non-FQHC health care provider or health care professional employed by or under contract with an FQHC.
 
Permits payment for hospital-based services. 
 
Provides for a Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare-covered services provided by FQHCs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3556-3557)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3556)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-650
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Firearms and explosives
Military law
Organized crime
Pornography
Sex offenses
Subversive activities
Terrorism
Violent crime
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2009 - Repeals death penalty provisions for a wide range of homicide-related offenses under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act, and other statutes relating to aircraft hijacking, espionage and treason, and offenses punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
 
Prohibits the sentencing to death or execution of any person for any violation of federal law after the enactment of this Act. Commutes death penalties imposed prior to the enactment of this Act to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3560-3563)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3558-3560)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Compensation Fairness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-651
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial crises and stabilization
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Housing finance and home ownership
Sales and excise taxes
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Compensation Fairness Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on excessive bonuses paid by federal emergency economic assistance recipients to their employees (including directors or officers). Sets the overall rate of such tax at 70% of the amount of such bonuses, 35% payable by federal emergency economic assistance recipients and 35% payable by the employees of such recipients. Exempts bonus recipients who repay bonus amounts to the federal government. Defines &quot;excessive bonus&quot; as any retention bonus or other bonus that exceeds $50,000 paid by a federal emergency economic assistance recipient after December 31, 2008. 
 
Defines &quot;federal emergency economic assistance recipient&quot; as: (1) an entity and its affiliates to which the federal government has paid an aggregate of more than $100 million of assistance and in which the federal government has acquired an equity interest under a program authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or the Federal Reserve Act; and (2) the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).
 
Limits to $1 million the amount of compensation which a participant in a nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by a federal emergency economic assistance recipient may defer in any 12-month period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 37.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3563-3564)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Coalitions for Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-652
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
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: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 111-s-653
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Conflicts and wars
Currency
Europe
Maryland
Military history
Music
National symbols
U.S. history
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Star-Spangled Banner Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins in commemoration of the bicentennial of the writing of the 
Star-Spangled Banner
.
 
Requires a coin design emblematic of the War of 1812, and in particular of, the Battle for Baltimore that formed the basis for the 
Star-Spangled Banner.

 
 Limits the period for coin issuance to calendar year 2012. 
 
Imposes a surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coins and $10 per coin for the $1 coins, which shall be distributed to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission for the purpose of supporting bicentennial activities, educational outreach activities, and preservation and improvement activities pertaining to the sites and structures relating to the War of 1812. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3564-3565)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3564)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Equity and Access for Podiatric Physicians Under Medicaid Act

Bill: 111-s-654
Sponsor: Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
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: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3565)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Teaming with Wildlife Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-655
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Ecology
Energy revenues and royalties
Government trust funds
Mining
Oil and gas
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Teaming with Wildlife Act of 2009 - Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the federal aid to wildlife restoration fund for deposit in the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account for each of FY2011-FY2016 specified funds from: (1) amounts received from rents, royalties, and other sums paid to the Secretary or the Secretary of the Navy under leases on the outer Continental Shelf; and (2) amounts received from sales, bonuses, and royalties collected under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 and from rentals of public lands under the Mineral Leasing Act and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3566)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-656
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Africa
Immigration status and procedures
Liberia

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2009 - Adjusts to permanent resident status a qualifying Liberian national who: (1) has been continuously present in the United States from January 1, 2009, through the date of status adjustment application; or (2) is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of such an alien.
 
Requires adjustment applications to be filed before April 1, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3566-3567)
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-658
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Indian social and development programs
Iraq
Mental health
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Minority health
Rural conditions and development
Transportation costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: 
Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay travel expenses for veterans receiving treatment at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities at the rate of 41.5 cents per mile. (Under current law the rate is that provided to federal employees in connection with the performance of official duties.)
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish and operate at least one and up to five centers of excellence for rural health research, education, and clinical activities; (2) establish a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas; (3) carry out demonstration projects to examine alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural areas; (4) establish a program to provide peer support, readjustment, and mental health services to veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (and related services to their family members); (5) assign an Indian Veterans Health Care Coordinator for each of the ten VA facilities that serve communities with the greatest per capita number of Indian veterans; (6) report to Congress jointly with the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the advisability of the joint establishment and operation by the VA's Veterans Health Administration and the Indian Health Service of health clinics to serve populations of Indian reservations, including Indian veterans; and (7) report annually to Congress on matters related to VA care for veterans residing in rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-22
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-76.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate