hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medical Practice Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2975
Sponsor: Rep. Campbell, John [R-CA-48]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Evidence and witnesses
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Prescription drugs
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Medical Practice Protection Act of 2009 - Sets conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce. 
 
 Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions. 
Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility. 
Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded. 
 
Allows the introduction of collateral source benefits and the amount paid to secure such benefits as evidence. Prohibits a provider of such benefits from recovering any amount from an award in a health care lawsuit involving injury or wrongful death. 
Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. 
Provides for periodic payments of future damages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2976
Sponsor: Rep. Castle, Michael N. [R-DE-At Large]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover as a part D drug any devices approved for home use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the safe and effective containment, removal, decontamination, and disposal of home-generated needles, syringes, and other sharps through a sharps container, decontamination/destructive device, or sharps-by-mail program or similar program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of sustainable water and environmental management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-hr-2977
Sponsor: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-20]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
California
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fishes
Hydrology and hydrography
Lakes and rivers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Research administration and funding
Water quality
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to offer to, and if the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) agrees, to enter into an agreement with NAS to conduct a study to help ensure the scientific basis of plans for management of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, to help maintain and restore the estuary while enhancing the quality and reliability of California's water supply.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Bureau, to commission additional studies by NAS to provide more strategic advice on water and environmental management challenges facing the Delta.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 5, United States Code, to increase the maximum age to qualify for coverage as a "child" under the health benefits program for Federal employees.

Bill: 111-hr-2978
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Family relationships
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Includes an unmarried dependent child who is under 25 years of age (currently, under age 22) or incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that existed before age 25 (currently, before age 22) as a member of a federal employee's family who is eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veteran's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death.

Bill: 111-hr-2980
Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability assistance
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Allows veterans' disability compensation benefits to be paid to the survivor of a veteran whose service-connected disability was continuously rated totally disabling for at least one year immediately preceding death. (Current law allows such survivor right of payment if the disability was rated total for periods of up to ten years under various circumstances.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2981
Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government liability
Marriage and family status
Military personnel and dependents
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims.
 
Prohibits related retaliation. 
 
Makes this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; and (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces. Declares that this Act does not repeal or modify any federal, state, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran.
 
 
Provides for the construction of this Act regarding: (1) enforcement by employers of rules and policies; (2) sexual harassment; (3) certain shared facilities such as showers or dressing facilities; (4) construction of new or additional facilities; (5) dress and grooming standards; and (6) provision of employee benefits to married vs. unmarried couples. Declares that, in this Act, &quot;married&quot; refers to a legal union between one man and one woman.
 
Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from collecting statistics from covered entities on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or compelling the collection by covered entities of such statistics.
 
Provides for enforcement, including giving the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress, the Attorney General, and U.S. courts the same enforcement powers as they have under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and other specified laws.
 
Allows actions and proceedings, subject to exception, against the United States and the states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Administration
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, 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: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
FAIR CREDIT Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2982
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits
Indian lands and resources rights

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Fair Allocation of Internal Revenue Credit for Renewable Electricity Distribution by Indian Tribes Act of 2009 or the FAIR CREDIT Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an Indian tribe, in the case of a facility that uses a renewable energy resource to produce electricity in which such tribe has an ownership interest in the gross sales from such facility, to assign to any other person who has such an ownership interest in such facility any portion of the production from the facility that would, but for this Act, be allocated to such tribe for purposes of the renewable electricity production tax credit. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
Detainee Interrogation Recording Act

Bill: 111-hr-2983
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Defense
Detention of persons
Government information and archives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Photography and imaging
Sound recording

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) ensure the videotaping or other electronic recording of each strategic intelligence interrogation of any person in the custody or control of DOD or under detention in a DOD facility; (2) develop and adopt videotaping or recording guidelines; and (3) submit such guidelines to the defense committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Intelligence (Permanent)
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Armed Services
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
United States Mariner and Vessel Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2984
Sponsor: Rep. LoBiondo, Frank A. [R-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Coast guard
Crimes against property
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Government liability
International law and treaties
Marine and inland water transportation
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
United States Mariner and Vessel Protection Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Coast Guard's Commandant to deploy a maritime safety and security team for up to six months to deter, protect against, and rapidly respond to acts of piracy against vessels in international waters.
 
Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations establishing standards and circumstances under which an individual is authorized to use force (including lethal force) against an individual in the defense of a vessel against piracy.
 
Limits the liability of the individuals, the federal government, and owners, operators, and masters of vessels in actions arising out of a use of force authorized under the regulations.
 
Directs the Secretary to work through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to establish agreements to promote coordinated action among flag and port states to deter, protect against, and rapidly respond to acts of piracy against the vessels of, and in the waters under the jurisdiction of, those nations, and to ensure limitations on liability similar to those under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
action_date: 2009-06-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Homeland Security
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
Ambassador's Fund for Strategic Exchanges Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2985
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Cultural exchanges and relations
Department of State
Executive agency funding and structure
International exchange and broadcasting

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Ambassador's Fund for Strategic Exchanges Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish in the Voluntary Visitors Division of the Office of International Visitors in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs the Ambassador's Fund for Strategic Exchanges to bring political, economic, civil society, and other leaders to the United States for short-term exchange visits in order to advance U.S. strategic goals.
 
Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
National Capital Region Land Conservation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2986
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: District of Columbia
Farmland
Fishes
Forests, forestry, trees
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Maryland
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Sports and recreation facilities
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Virginia
Watersheds
West Virginia
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
National Capital Region Land Conservation Act of 2009 - Amends the Capper-Cramton Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), to make grants to Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions (the covered states and covered local governments) for assistance in acquiring lands and interests therein that affect or are within the National Capital region and will be used for: (1) parks; (2) open space; (3) green space corridors that link public lands, lands subject to conservation restrictions, or a combination of such lands; (4) agriculture; (5) forests; (6) fish and wildlife habitat; (7) watershed protection; (8) historic preservation; (9) sensitive environmental area protection; and (10) public recreation. 
 
Bars the use of any land and interest acquired through the assistance of such a grant for a purpose other than a purpose specified above. 
 
Limits grant amounts to 50% of the total cost of the acquisition the grant will assist, including costs related to purchase price, appraisal, survey, title clearance, and closing. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to covered states, covered local governments, and nonprofits to plan and evaluate acquisitions eligible for a grant for assistance under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-04-27
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1508)
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
La Cura Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2987
Sponsor: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-39]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Behavioral sciences
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: 
Cure and Understanding through Research for Alzheimer's Act of 2009 or La Cura Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to ensure sufficient resources for activities relating to Alzheimer's disease and Hispanic communities, including by: (1) increasing efforts in epidemiological work in Hispanic subgroups; (2) allocating resources to the National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's disease research centers and other academic centers involved in such research to increase participation of Hispanics and other underrepresented ethnic groups in research and clinical trials in sufficient numbers to draw valid conclusions; and (3) conducting social, behavioral, and health services research to understand the underlying reasons why Hispanic individuals delay diagnosis and underutilize services, to identify culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches to address such delays and underutilization, and to identify approaches for providing, and improving the quality of, culturally competent care.
 
Requires the Director to expand and intensify NIH efforts to educate communities about the importance of research relating to Alzheimer's disease and to respond effectively to cultural concerns about participation in such research.

Authorizes appropriations for a program of grants to states to carry out demonstration programs related to Alzheimer's disease.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct an aggressive, evidence-based education and outreach program to promote public awareness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer's disease, particularly to Hispanic populations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Fernando Javier Cervantes.

Bill: 111-hr-2988
Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51]
Introduced: 2009-06-19 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Provides for the relief of Fernando Javier Cervantes.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-19
text: Introduced in House