hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend section 310 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, to extend the period of time during which claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay may be submitted, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3890
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government liability
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 to extend the period for the submission by members of the Armed Forces of claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay (paid to members whose enlistment or period of obligated service was extended, or whose eligibility for retirement was suspended, by the President in time or war or national emergency) from one to two years after the date on which implementing rules for such payments take effect. Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to include in a required report concerning such payments a plan describing DOD outreach and informational efforts to promote and increase awareness of the special pay.
 
Provides funding for the outreach and informational efforts, with a funding limit of $10 million.
 
Requires, in subsequent reports concerning the stop-loss payments, descriptions and assessments of the outreach and informational efforts.


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
Diverse Teachers Recruitment Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3891
Sponsor: Sen. Burris, Roland [D-IL]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Minority education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Diverse Teachers Recruitment Act of 2010 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive matching grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or nonprofits, educational service agencies, institutions of higher education, or states that enter into partnerships with such LEAs for: (1) recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups as public elementary and secondary school teachers; and (2) providing training and retention incentives to public elementary and secondary school teachers, preferably teachers from underrepresented groups.
 
Prohibits grants to applicants that do not serve schools that have difficulty recruiting, training, and retaining individuals from underrepresented groups as teachers.
 
Gives priority to LEAs that serve the most high-need schools and those that serve schools with high concentrations of poor, minority, disabled, or limited English proficient students. 
 
Requires the Secretary to evaluate the success of the grantees and compile a database of best practices for recruiting, training, and retaining individuals from underrepresented groups as public elementary and secondary school teachers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Wrongful Convictions Tax Relief Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3892
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Employment taxes
Government liability
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Wrongful Convictions Tax Relief Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow wrongfully incarcerated individuals: (1) an exclusion from gross income for compensation received relating to their incarceration and for the first $50,000 of annual income received by such an individual after December 31, 2009; and (2) a refundable tax credit for 50% of payroll taxes on employment and self-employment income, up to $50,000 of such income. Limits the duration of such tax benefits to the lesser of 15 years or the number of years such an individual was incarcerated.
 
Defines &quot;wrongfully incarcerated individual&quot; as an individual who was convicted of a criminal offense and was then pardoned or found not guilty of such offense because of innocence after serving all or a portion of a prison term. Disqualifies individuals with prior convictions punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.


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 establish the Emergency Trade Deficit Commission, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3893
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Environmental regulatory procedures
Free trade and trade barriers
International monetary system and foreign exchange
Manufacturing
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Oil and gas
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade agreements and negotiations
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Establishes the Emergency Trade Deficit Commission to examine, and report to the President and Congress on, the causes of the U.S. trade deficit, together with recommendations to address and reduce trade imbalances, such as the U.S. merchandise trade deficit, in order to promote sustainable economic growth that provides broad-based income and employment gains.


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
LOCAL TV Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3894
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Intellectual property
Licensing and registrations
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Letting Our Communities Access Local Television Act of 2010 or the LOCAL TV Act of 2010 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to seek and consider petitions requesting the expansion of a satellite or cable license to permit secondary transmissions to an adjacent in-state market area in those instances where transmissions to such adjacent market area are not currently allowed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Button Cell Batteries Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3896
Sponsor: Sen. Goodwin, Carte Patrick [D-WV]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child safety and welfare
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Access to Button Cell Batteries Act of 2010 - Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a standard requiring that electronic product button cell battery compartments be secured so as to reduce access to such batteries by children three years of age or younger. Defines a &quot;button cell battery&quot; as a battery that is 32 millimeters or less in diameter.


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 S7804)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7803-7804)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
National Commission on Children and Disasters Reauthorization Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3897
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
National Commission on Children and Disasters Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Amends the Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health Act of 2007 to authorize appropriations for the National Commission on Children and Disasters through FY2012. 

Requires any vacancy in the Commission to be filled within 90 days after the date of the vacancy. Requires the Commission to submit: (1) interim reports to the President and Congress annually; and (2) its final report by December 31, 2012. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to treat municipalities and school districts as consumers for certain purposes under that Act.

Bill: 111-s-3898
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer credit
Elementary and secondary education
Federal Reserve System
School administration
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to include as an account, for purposes of determining consumer liability for unauthorized electronic fund transfers, an account of a municipality or a school district used for the purpose of carrying out the official duties of that municipality or school district.
 
 Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to issue final rules to define the terms &quot;municipality&quot; and &quot;school district&quot; for purposes of, and to otherwise carry out, this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Violence Against Children Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3899
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child safety and welfare
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Domestic violence and child abuse
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Violence Against Children Act of 2010 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance to state, local, or Indian tribal governments in the criminal investigation or prosecution of felonies against individuals under 18 years of age; and (2) award grants to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution of crimes against children and to provide education, prevention, intervention, and victims' assistance services for such crimes.
 
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) require states to use a certain percentage of funds received under such Act to improve their parole systems; and (2) allow the use of school security grants for the placement of surveillance equipment in schools and the establishment of hotlines or tiplines for reporting potentially dangerous students and situations. Establishes an interagency task force to develop advisory school safety guidelines.
 
Requires states receiving grants under this Act to use the National Incident-Based Reporting System to report crimes against children. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop model training and caseload standards for child guardians in child abuse and neglect cases. 
 
Mynisha's Law - Authorizes a local government, city, county, tribal government, or a group of counties (located in one or more states) to apply to the Attorney General for designation as a High Intensity Gang Activity Area. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish criteria for reviewing such applications; and (2) establish an Interagency Gang Prevention Task Force to coordinate federal assistance to such Areas.


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
A bill to deem references to Operation Iraqi Freedom in provisions of Federal law providing benefits for service in the Armed Forces to include references to Operation New Dawn.

Bill: 111-s-3902
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Iraq
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Deems any reference to Operation Iraqi Freedom in a provision of federal law providing a benefit for service in the Armed Forces to include a reference to Operation New Dawn, unless otherwise terminated by an explicit delimiting or other termination date.
 
Considers active-duty service in Operation New Dawn as service on active duty in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities, for purposes of eligibility for certain veterans' benefits.


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
High Plains Groundwater Resource Conservation Act

Bill: 111-s-3904
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Colorado
Kansas
Nebraska
New Mexico
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Texas
Water use and supply
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
High Plains Groundwater Resource Conservation Act - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, for each of FY2011-FY2020, to enter into contracts with producers in the High Plains Aquifer states (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming) through a High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Conservation Incentives Program, aimed at achieving significant per-acre savings of groundwater resources of the High Plains Aquifer.
 
Directs the Secretary to ensure that producers on land drawing water from that Aquifer throughout the High Plains region have an opportunity to participate in the Program. Requires producers in areas experiencing significant aquifer level declines to be given priority.
 
Provides for incentive payments for a producer on land drawing water from the Aquifer who agrees not to irrigate all or part of the land and to transfer the producer's water rights for the nonirrigated land to the applicable High Plains Aquifer state.


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: Introduced in Senate
A bill to improve the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3905
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Financial literacy
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that: (1) each member of the Armed Forces who is discharged, released, or otherwise separated from service participates in DOD's Transition Assistance Program; and (2) such Program's programs and services are also accessible by all members of the National Guard and reserves. Outlines services available under the Program, including employment and training information, available educational benefits, and financial management and computer training.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense and education committees: (1) four semiannual reports on the status of implementation of requirements under this Act; and (2) a one-time report on the Program's evolution and results.


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
PREEMIE Act

Bill: 111-s-3906
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Birth defects
Child health
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act or the PREEMIE Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of NIH with respect to research on the causes and prevention of preterm labor and delivery and the care and treatment of preterm infants; (2) establish within NIH a multicenter clinical program and trans-disciplinary centers for prematurity research; (3) require the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct research, activities, and studies on preterm birth; and (4) require the CDC to award grants for telemedicine demonstration projects for services for high risk pregnancies.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish and implement a national science-based consumer education campaign on the prevention of preterm birth; and (2) conduct and report on research studies and demonstration projects for reducing the rate of preterm birth.
 
Requires the Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality of HHS to report annually to the Secretary on a strategic plan for the conduct of preterm birth-related research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7809)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Debbie Blanchard Access to Health Care for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3907
Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Disability and paralysis
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Debbie Blanchard Access to Health Care for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to develop, maintain, and improve Internet directories of health care providers that are known to have entrances, examination rooms, and examination tables that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Office on Disability of HHS, to: (1) establish a pilot program to increase the awareness of health care providers of the need to offer accessible environments, examination rooms, and examination tables for individuals with disabilities and to increase voluntary compliance with federal accessibility requirements; and (2) develop and disseminate resources to support individuals with disabilities in finding providers that are accessible to such individuals, which shall include a concise list of questions for individuals with disabilities to ask when calling a health care provider for the first time to schedule an appointment and suggestions for explaining the special needs of such individuals to the provider and for seeking accommodation from the provider.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a National Advisory Committee on Access to Health Care for Individuals With Disabilities to support implementation of this Act and to ensure interagency coordination of efforts to improve access to care for individuals with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7810)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Burn Area Flood Prevention Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3908
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Arizona
Disaster relief and insurance
Evidence and witnesses
Fires
Floods and storm protection
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Indian lands and resources rights
Legal fees and court costs
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Watersheds
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Burn Area Flood Prevention Act of 2010 - Amends the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act of 2009 to include within the purpose of FLAME Wildlife Suppression Reserve Funds to cover the costs of burn area responses, including flood prevention. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to make the waiting period for coverage under a new contract for flood insurance coverage, and any modification to coverage under an existing flood insurance contract, inapplicable to the initial purchase of flood insurance coverage upon a determination by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that such period should be waived for private property affected by flooding on federal land affected by wildfire.
 
Establishes the Schultz Fire Flooding Area Task Force. Designates the FEMA Administrator as the Chair of the Task Force. Directs the Task Force to: (1) coordinate the efforts of the entities represented on the Task Force (including FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, the Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the United States Geological Survey [USGS], state and local governments, and community-based organizations and other interested parties) to implement interim and long-term flood protection systems; and (2) identify existing and potential funding, technical assistance, general investigations, and construction of flood protection projects.
 
Directs the Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, and the Secretary of Agriculture, to carry out a detailed study of the area that suffered damage as a result of wildfire or flash flooding beginning on June 20, 2010, depicted on the Arizona Division of Emergency Management map entitled "Schultz Flood #1 Operations Map," dated August 3, 2010, to evaluate the potential of integrating projects and programs of the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) into a comprehensive, long-term flood protection system for that area.
 
Directs the Attorney General to report on court costs and legal fees and expenses connected with the Jack Smith/Schultz Fuels Reduction Healthy Forest Restoration Project.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7810-7811)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate