hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
SMA Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1158
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Medical research
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: 
SMA Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a national clinical trials network for spinal muscular atrophy by upgrading and unifying spinal muscular atrophy clinical trial sites and recruiting new investigators and sites. Requires the Director to ensure that such network: (1) conducts coordinated, multisite, clinical trials of therapies and clinical approaches to the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy; and (2) rapidly and efficiently disseminates scientific findings to the field.
 
Requires the Director to: (1) establish a data coordinating center with respect to spinal muscular atrophy; and (2) expand and intensify NIH programs with respect to preclinical translation research related to spinal muscular atrophy.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance and support a spinal muscular atrophy patient registry to provide for expanded epidemiological research towards improving awareness, management, treatment, and prevention of spinal muscular atrophy. Requires the Secretary to ensure the collection and analysis of longitudinal data related to individuals of all ages.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish the Interagency Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research Coordinating Committee. Sets forth the duties of the Committee, including to develop a comprehensive strategy related to spinal muscular atrophy research and other related neurological diseases and disorders.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a program to provide information and education on spinal muscular atrophy to health professionals and the general public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1159
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Cultural exchanges and relations
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Foreign aid and international relief
Free trade and trade barriers
Human rights
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
International exchange and broadcasting
News media and reporting
Political movements and philosophies
Political representation
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Sanctions
Tariffs
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: 
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009 - Prohibits the federal government from providing the government of Vietnam with nonhumanitarian development, trade, economic, and security assistance during any fiscal year that exceeds the amount of such assistance provided during FY2009, unless such increases are matched or exceeded by additional funding for programs focusing on human rights and democracy promotion. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or it is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. 
 
Prohibits the President from providing certain duty-free treatment for Vietnam until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam protects freedom of association and does not engage in violations of workers' rights.
 
Authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights in Vietnam. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress regarding diplomacy with the government of Vietnam. 
 
Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to take such measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the government of Vietnam; and (2) that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy. 
Declares it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or certain circumstances beyond their control.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Homes for Heroes Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1160
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-06-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Energy efficiency and conservation
Executive agency funding and structure
Housing and community development funding
Housing industry and standards
Housing supply and affordability
Low- and moderate-income housing
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public housing
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-01
text: 
Homes for Heroes Act of 2009 - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure veteran access to HUD housing and homeless assistance programs; (2) coordinate all HUD programs and activities relating to veterans; and (3) serve as a HUD liaison with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
 
Directs the HUD Secretary to provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing for very low-income veteran families (that is, families with incomes not exceeding 50% of the area median income).
 
Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to: (1) make housing rental vouchers available to all homeless veterans, regardless of medical condition; and (2) include veterans in public housing planning.
 
Excludes veterans' benefits from income for purposes of HUD assisted housing rental determinations.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) make grants to nonprofit entities for technical assistance in sponsoring HUD housing projects for veterans; and (2) report annually to specified congressional committees and the VA Secretary on HUD activities relating to veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Nurse Faculty and Physical Therapist Education Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1161
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Government studies and investigations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Minority education
Nursing
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: 
Nurse Faculty and Physical Therapist Education Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a Nurse Faculty Education Program to ensure an adequate supply of nurse faculty through awarding grants to eligible entities to: (1) hire new faculty, retain existing faculty, and purchase educational resources; (2) increase enrollment and graduation rates for students from doctoral programs; and (3) assist graduates in serving as nurse faculty in schools of nursing. Requires the Comptroller General to report on activities to increase participation in the nurse educator program.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a program to provide Geriatric Academic Career Awards to promote the career development of eligible individuals as geriatric nurse faculty.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a Nurse and Physical Therapist Distance Education Pilot Program to award grants for activities to increase accessibility to nursing and physical therapy education, including to: (1) assist individuals in rural areas who want to study nursing or physical therapy; (2) promote the study of nursing and physical therapy at all educational levels; (3) establish additional slots for nursing and physical therapy students at existing schools and programs; and (4) establish new nursing and physical therapy education programs at institutions of higher education
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) report on the country of origin or professional school of origin of newly licensed nurses and physical therapists in each state; and (2) contract with the Institute of Medicine to study the nursing and physical therapy workforce.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5945-5947)
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5945)
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Wildlife Strike Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1162
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Birds
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: 
Wildlife Strike Act of 2009 - Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be notified expeditiously by: (1) an aircraft operator if the aircraft collides with one or more birds or other wildlife; (2) airport or aircraft operator personnel if they see the collision; and (2) aircraft maintenance personnel if they identify damage to the aircraft resulting from such a collision.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to add 1 member with aviation safety expertise to the Federal Aviation Administration Management Advisory Council.

Bill: 111-s-1163
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Aviation and airports
Department of Transportation
Executive agency funding and structure
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: 
Revises the composition of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council to add one member specifically representing aviation safety interests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Automated Defibrillation in Adam's Memory Reauthorization Act

Bill: 111-s-1164
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: 
Automated Defibrillation in Adam's Memory Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize appropriations for grants for states, political subdivisions, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to develop and implement public access defibrillation programs. Requires that any information clearinghouse that is established by a grantee using grant funds be administered by an organization that has substantial experience in pediatric education, pediatric medicine, and electrophysiology and sudden death.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5948)
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5947-5948)
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act

Bill: 111-s-1165
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: 
Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to award grants for the development of health care purchasing cooperatives by two or more self-insured employers. 
 
 
 
Sets forth requirements for cooperatives, including that they: (1) are nonprofit, wholly owned, and democratically governed by their member-employers; (2) exist solely to serve the membership base; (3) assist members in pooling their health care insurance purchasing power; (4) provide data to improve the ability of the members to make data-based decisions regarding their health plans; and (5) conduct activities to enhance quality improvement in the health care community. 
Requires the Secretary to carry out an identical grant program for eligible groups consisting of a consortium of two or more employers that each: (1) have 99 employees or fewer; and (2) purchase health insurance for their employees.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5949-5950)
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5948-5949)
action_date: 2009-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act

Bill: 111-s-1166
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2009-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: 
Voluntary Support for Reservists and National Guard Members Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to designate that a portion (but not less than $5) of any income tax overpayment be paid over to the Reserve Income Replacement Program to benefit reservists and National Guard members. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6032-6033)
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6032)
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1167
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2009-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: 
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2009 - Requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, except if: (1) such goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed by such agency; or (2) the head of the agency determines and certifies that federal production or performance is necessary for the national defense or homeland security, that a good or service is so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by government employees, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service.
 
Requires such private sector provision of goods and services to be performed through: (1) the divestiture of federal involvement; (2) the award of a contract using competitive procedures; (3) converting an activity to performance by a qualified firm under at least 51% ownership by an Indian tribe or a Native Hawaiian Organization; or (4) conducting a public-private competitive sourcing analysis in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures and determining that using the private sector is in the best interest of the United States and provides the best value to the taxpayer.
 
Authorizes an agency head to utilize federal employees to provide goods or services previously provided by a private sector entity upon completion of a public-private competitive sourcing analysis and after determining that provision by federal employees provides the best value.
 
Requires the Director to carry out a study, in conjunction with the Comptroller General, to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Bill: 111-s-1168
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Europe
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
U.S. history
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: 
Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (the Act), with respect to the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program, to: (1) include under the definition of &quot;battlefield report&quot; the document titled &quot;Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States&quot;; (2) authorize grants to eligible entities to pay the federal share of the cost of acquiring eligible sites for the preservation and protection of those sites; (3) permit eligible entities to acquire eligible sites using such grants in partnership with nonprofit organizations; (4) require the non-federal share of the total cost of acquisition of eligible sites to be not less than 50% of the total; and (5) subject acquired eligible sites to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act's prohibition against conversion to other than public outdoor recreation uses without the Secretary's approval. 
 
Requires acquisitions of lands or interests under the Act to be from willing sellers only. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Program, to submit to Congress a report on activities carried out under the Act, including: (1) preservation carried out at the battlefields and associated sites identified in the battlefield report; (2) changes in their condition; and (3) other relevant developments related to such battlefields and sites. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-92.
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of autism under TRICARE.

Bill: 111-s-1169
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Hereditary and development disorders
Military medicine
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: 
Revises TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program) to authorize treatment of autism spectrum disorders, if a health care professional determines that such treatment is medically necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Alaska Omnibus Aviation Improvement Act

Bill: 111-s-1170
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2009-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alaska
Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Employment and training programs
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: 
Alaska Omnibus Aviation Improvement Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to promulgate regulations to: (1) exempt Iditarod Air Force pilots, for a minimum five-year period, from certain federal regulations restricting private pilot and commercial pilot operation of passenger aircraft for compensation to allow them to accept nonmonetary compensation for costs for flying in support of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race; and (2) develop, implement, and submit to Congress a plan for the future of Alaska flight service stations.
 
Makes authorizations for FY2009-FY2012 for: (1) the Medallion Foundation Program in Alaska; and (2) the Alaska aviation safety project.
 
Authorizes the use of airport improvement program grants received by Alaskan airports for on-the-job trainee positions to the same extent as such positions are authorized for federal-aid highway projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Critical Access Flexibility Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1171
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-06-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: 
Critical Access Flexibility Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the Medicare rural hospital flexibility program a state may establish.
 
Authorizes state designation of a Medicare critical access hospital (CAH), even if it does not comply with the requirement that it be located more than a 35-mile drive from another hospital, if it is certified by the state on or after enactment of this Act as being a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area. (Thus restores state authority that existed before January 1, 2006, to waive the 35-mile rule.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6033)
action_date: 2009-06-03
text: Introduced in Senate