hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Rural Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4297
Sponsor: Rep. Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH-2]
Introduced: 2009-12-11 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Disaster relief and insurance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: 
Rural Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2009 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): (1) in order to provide more objective criteria for evaluating the need for assistance to individuals and to speed a declaration of a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to review, update, and revise the factors considered when evaluating a governor's request for such a declaration to measure the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster; and (2) to consider any disproportionate impacts of disasters on rural areas.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4298
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2009-12-11 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: 
Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or 20-year prison term on any person who: (1) knowingly provides or receives from another person two or more firearms if such person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that such transfer would violate a federal, state, or local law punishable by a prison term of more than one year (i.e., a felony); (2) makes materially false statements to a licensed firearm importer, dealer, or manufacturer relating to the purchase, receipt, or acquisition of two or more firearms; or (3) directs, promotes, or facilitates such illegal activity. 
 
Increases penalties on licensed firearms importers, dealers, or manufacturers who knowingly violate firearms restrictions under the federal criminal code, including recordkeeping requirements. Expands the authority of the Attorney General to revoke or suspend the license of a firearms dealer for failure to have secure gun storage or safety devices, for transporting armor piercing ammunition, or for violating other federal prohibitions on gun trafficking. Requires the Attorney General to identify licensed firearms dealers who have a heightened risk of firearms being diverted to criminal use.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on firearms that are lost or stolen during commercial shipping.
 
Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to hire additional personnel to enable inspections of gun dealers on a three-year cycle and requires the Director to hire additional investigators and special agents to address trafficking in firearms. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
To authorize a capitalization of self-sustainable social services grant program to provide workforce development opportunities and training to people with barriers to employment.

Bill: 111-hr-4299
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Introduced: 2009-12-11 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to award capitalization grants to eligible applicants (nonprofit local workforce investment boards, states, political subdivisions of a state, and Indian tribes, or a single national organization) for projects to create jobs and the delivery of self-sustainable social services (i.e., education, training, and career services) to people with barriers to employment.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of capitalization in providing workforce development opportunities and training to people with barriers to employment after the grantee has had three years to capitalize and build or expand its programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-02-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
Restoring America's Commitment to Consumers Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4300
Sponsor: Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2009-12-11 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Economic performance and conditions
Federal Reserve System
Interest, dividends, interest rates
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: 
Restoring America's Commitment to Consumers Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to an extension of credit on a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan from exceeding 16%.
 
Includes in an APR any compensation fee (including a membership fee or an annual fee) for: (1) opening or maintaining the account; (2) granting an extension of credit; or (3) making available a line of credit.
 
Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to make adjustments to the maximum APR limitation; but creates the presumption that any increase by the Board to the maximum limitation is not in the public interest unless severe economic conditions justify the increase.
 
Prohibits construction of this Act as an endorsement by Congress of a 16% APR.
 
Declares the intention of Congress that: (1) such maximum APR limitation should merely serve as a ceiling on consumer credit cards and few, if any, consumer credit card accounts would ever bear the maximum rate; and (2) consumer credit card issuers should strive to maintain APRs most advantageous to borrowers.
 
Treats as an unfair or deceptive act or practice a credit card account which, as of December 11, 2009, bears an APR that is less than 16%, and subsequently increases it between December 11, 2009, and 60 days after enactment of this Act. 
 
Imposes a $15 cap upon certain credit card account fees, including fees (such as late fees, overdraft fees, or over-the-limit transaction fees) for borrower default or breach of any condition upon which credit was extended.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to House Rules
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to House Financial Services
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Introduced in House
Iranian Digital Empowerment Act

Bill: 111-hr-4301
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Computers and information technology
Human rights
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Iran
Middle East
News media and reporting
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Iranian Digital Empowerment Act - States that the export of the following software and related services to Iran by U.S. persons may not be prohibited or restricted: (1) software and related services that allow private Iranian citizens to circumvent online censorship and monitoring efforts imposed by the government of Iran and (2) software and related services that enable personal communication by the Iranian people.
 
Excludes from such provisions the export of such software and related services to the government of Iran.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2986)
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4302
Sponsor: Rep. Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Small business
Unemployment
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to increase maximum amounts of loans under the following Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs: (1) the section 7(a) (general small business loans) guaranteed loan program; (2) the section 504 (state and local development company) program; and (3) the Microloan (small-scale loans to start-up, newly-established, and growing small businesses) program.
 
Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to extend through 2010 SBA authority to reduce or eliminate loan fees on section 7(a) and 504 loans.
 
Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to apply single-business investment limits to SBA-recognized new markets venture capital companies.
 
Directs the SBA Administrator to establish for prospective borrowers an alternative small business size standard that uses maximum tangible net worth and average net income as an alternative to the use of industry standards.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator should establish a website that: (1) lists SBA lenders and provides loan rate information; and (2) allows prospective borrowers to compare rates on SBA-guaranteed loans.
 
Amends provisions of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 relating to the local development business loan program to allow a small business borrower under such program to refinance a previous business debt: (1) that was incurred no less than two years before application for the SBA loan; (2) that is a commercial loan; (3) that is not guaranteed by a federal agency; (4) the proceeds of which were used to acquire a fixed asset for the benefit of the small business; (5) that is collateralized by fixed assets; and (6) for which the borrower has been current on all payments for at least one year. Allows the Administrator to provide financing under such program for a borrower that meets certain job creation or retention goals. Provides an alternate job retention goal for which a borrower may qualify.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
Stand with the Iranian People Act

Bill: 111-hr-4303
Sponsor: Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
Iran
Middle East
Public contracts and procurement
Sanctions
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade restrictions
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Stand with the Iranian People Act - Directs the Secretary of State to deny issuance of a visa and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to deny U.S. admission to any government official of Iran who is credibly alleged to have ordered, acquiesced to, or participated in human rights abuses against the people of Iran. Authorizes the Secretary of State to waive such ban if in the U.S. national interest.
 
Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into or renewing a contract for the procurement of goods or services with a person or entity that provides censorship or surveillance technology to the government of Iran. Authorizes the Secretary concerned to waive such prohibition if in the U.S. national interest.
 
States that the establishment and carrying out of operations by U.S. nonprofit organizations in Iran for the direct provision of specified humanitarian and people-to-people assistance may not be prohibited or restricted. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to require such an organization to notify the Department of the Treasury up to 14 days in advance of commencing operations in Iran. Excludes from such provision an organization that provides services or conducts transactions with any organization or entity that appears on the Department of the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals List (a list of organizations and individuals that are restricted from doing business with the United States or U.S companies or individuals).
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to House Financial Services
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to House Foreign Affairs
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4304
Sponsor: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Travel and tourism
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2009 - Designates the Agua Tibia proposed wilderness additions in Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County, California, as wilderness and incorporates them into the Agua Tibia Wilderness. 
 
Designates the Beauty Mountain wilderness additions in San Diego County, California, as wilderness and incorporates them into the Beauty Mountain Wilderness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the energy tax credit for transformers designed to use soybean-based electrical transformer fluid.

Bill: 111-hr-4305
Sponsor: Rep. Meek, Kendrick B. [D-FL-17]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Environmental technology
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy tax credit for investment in an electrical transformer which is designed to use, and contains, soybean-based electrical transformer fluid as the insulating fluid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the 15-year recovery period for qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail improvement property.

Bill: 111-hr-4306
Sponsor: Rep. Meek, Kendrick B. [D-FL-17]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Food industry and services
Income tax deductions
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the 15-year recovery period classification for qualified leasehold improvement, restaurant, and retail improvement property, for purposes of the depreciation tax deduction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Artesia, New Mexico, as the "Alejandro Renteria Ruiz Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic".

Bill: 111-hr-4307
Sponsor: Rep. Teague, Harry [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2009-12-14 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Health facilities and institutions
Military personnel and dependents
New Mexico
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: 
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Artesia, New Mexico, as the &quot;Alejandro Renteria Ruiz Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.&quot;

action_date: 2010-06-30
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Artesia, New Mexico, as the &quot;Alejandro Renteria Ruiz Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-07-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 0 (Roll no. 405). (text: CR 6/29/2010 H4920)
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 0 (Roll no. 405).(text: CR 6/29/2010 H4920)
action_date: 2010-06-30
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5211-5212)
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4307.
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4919-4921)
action_date: 2010-06-29
text: Mr. Filner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Introduced in House
Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act

Bill: 111-hr-4308
Sponsor: Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-15]
Introduced: 2009-12-15 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: 
Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns an amount (initially between $1 and $10, with annual increases of $1 for each taxable year after 2011) for reducing the federal deficit.
 
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to require a sequestration to reduce the federal deficit within 15 days after Congress adjourns to end a session by directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to apply an across-the-board reduction in federal spending equal to 10 times the amount raised by the voluntary tax checkoff under this Act. Exempts from such spending reduction social security and railroad retirement benefits, Medicare benefits, judicial salaries, and veterans benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Referred to House Budget
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4309
Sponsor: Rep. Bright, Bobby [D-AL-2]
Introduced: 2009-12-15 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: 
Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax-exempt Small Business Start-up Savings Accounts to pay for trade or business expenses, including the purchase of equipment or facilities, marketing, training, incorporation, and accounting fees. Allows annual contributions to such accounts up to $10,000. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of contributions to and rollovers from such accounts, similar to rules governing individual retirement accounts (IRAs).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect children's health by denying any deduction for advertising and marketing directed at children to promote the consumption of food at fast food restaurants or of food of poor nutritional quality.

Bill: 111-hr-4310
Sponsor: Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]
Introduced: 2009-12-15 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child health
Food industry and services
Income tax deductions
Marketing and advertising
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for expenses related to advertising primarily directed at children to promote the consumption by children of food from any fast food restaurant or of poor nutritional quality. Defines &quot;food of poor nutritional quality&quot; as food that is determined by the Secretary of the Treasury (in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services [HHS] and the Federal Trade Commission [FTC]) to provide calories primarily through fats or added sugars and to have minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Introduced in House