hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Guard and Reserve Soft Landing Reintegration Act

Bill: 111-s-1426
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employee leave
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
National Guard and Reserve Soft Landing Reintegration Act - Requires that a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who was deployed for more than 179 days for a contingency operation or a homeland defense mission be: (1) retained on active duty in the Armed Forces for 90 days after the end of the member's demobilization from a deployment; (2) allowed to use accrued leave; and (3) paid specified pay and allowances.
 
Allows a member to be released from such retention if the member requests release after the first 15 days of the retention.
 
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide each member so retained (and, as practicable, appropriate family members) reintegration counseling and services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1427
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and implement a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Requires the Secretary, at least semiannually, to make available to the public and to submit to the congressional Veterans' Committees reports on the quality of each VA medical center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-10-21
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-264.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Mercury Pollution Reduction Act

Bill: 111-s-1428
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Business records
Child health
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Industrial facilities
Manufacturing
Solid waste and recycling
Trade restrictions
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Mercury Pollution Reduction Act - Declares that is the policy of the United States that the United States should develop policies and programs that will reduce: (1) mercury use and emissions; (2) mercury releases from the reservoir of mercury currently in use or circulation; and (3) exposures to mercury, particularly of women of childbearing age and young children.
 
Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit: (1) the manufacture of chlorine or caustic soda using a mercury cell; and (2) the export of any mercury, mercury cell, mercury compound, or mixture containing mercury by the owner or operator of a chlor-alkali facility. 
 
Requires the owner or operator of each chlor-alkali facility to report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator and the state in which the facility is located on mercury waste, emissions, and content in products.
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) conduct a comprehensive mercury inventory covering the life and closure of chlor-alkali facilities that cease operations on or after January 1, 2009; and (2) obtain mercury purchase records and such other information from each such facility as the Administrator determines to be necessary to determine the magnitude and nature of mercury releases from the facility into air and other environmental media.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act

Bill: 111-s-1429
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Medical research
Mental health
Military medicine
Neurological disorders
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act - Establishes a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces (members) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other mental health disorders caused by military service. Requires the commission to: (1) oversee the monitoring and treatment of veterans and members with such disorders; and (2) conduct a study of the long-term adverse consequences of such disorders for such veterans and members.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-10-21
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-264.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
School Accountability Improvements Act

Bill: 111-s-1430
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Indian social and development programs
Rural conditions and development
School administration
Special education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
School Accountability Improvements Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow local educational agencies (LEAs) that are unable to provide a small, rural, or remote school with a highly-qualified on-site classroom teacher for a core academic subject to use distance education provided by a teacher who is highly qualified in the subject, provided a teacher who is highly-qualified in another subject is present in the classroom to assist students during the distance education.
 
Allows states to use a growth model in calculating whether students are making adequately yearly progress (AYP) toward state academic performance standards if the state plan ensures their attainment of proficiency within certain periods of time.
 
Gives schools which are identified as needing improvement an extra year to make AYP before being required to allow student transfers. Limits the transfer option to students who do not meet proficiency standards. 
 
Permits LEAs identified as needing improvement to provide supplemental educational services themselves.
 
Allows schools and LEAs identified as needing improvement due to an underperforming disabled or limited English proficient (LEP) student subgroup to limit their improvement plan to such failing subgroup. Eliminates the requirements that schools face corrective action or restructuring and LEAs face corrective action because of such a subgroup's underperformance, if AYP can be shown using a growth model that counts students who are on track to attain proficiency by their final year in secondary school.
 
Requires AYP measurements of certain schools providing Native language instruction to kindergarten through second grade children in states with no AYP assessment in such language to exclude grade three results and employ a growth model requiring progress toward proficiency by seventh grade.
 
Allows partnerships receiving subgrants for preparing, recruiting, and training teachers and principals to include parent teacher organizations and use funds for activities enhancing parental involvement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7325-7327)
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7324-7325)
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair and Representative Presidential Primaries Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1433
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Fair and Representative Presidential Primaries Act of 2009 - Divides the United States into six regions of specified states to provide for: (1) interregional primary elections and caucuses, according to a certain order; and (2) selection of delegates to political party presidential and vice presidential national nominating conventions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1435
Sponsor: Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Genetics
Sex and reproductive health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit and to set penalties for: (1) creating or attempting to create a human-animal hybrid (a being with human and non-human tissue as specified in this Act); (2) transferring or attempting to transfer a human embryo into a non-human womb, or a non-human embryo into a human womb; or (3) transporting or receiving for any purpose a human-animal hybrid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify the definition of switchblade knives.

Bill: 111-s-1437
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2009-07-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Consumer affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: 
Amends the Act commonly known as the Federal Switchblade Act to exclude from the Act a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward blade closure and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome that bias.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-07-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Fostering a Global Response to Cyber Attacks Act

Bill: 111-s-1438
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
First Amendment rights
International organizations and cooperation
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: 
Fostering a Global Response to Cyber Attacks Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should work with foreign governments to: (1) develop comprehensive norms and cooperative activities to improve cybersecurity; (2) encourage international cybersecurity cooperation; and (3) develop safeguards for the protection of privacy, freedom of speech, and commercial transactions for inclusion in cybersecurity agreements. 
 
Directs the Secretary to report to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs describing U.S. actions taken with foreign governments to improve cybersecurity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Optimal Use of Trade to Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Act

Bill: 111-s-1439
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Government trust funds
Manufacturing
Outdoor recreation
Research and development
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: 
United States Optimal Use of Trade to Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Act or U.S. OUTDOOR Act - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain recreational performance outerwear.
 
Establishes the Sustainable Textile and Apparel Research Fund (STAR Fund). 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to impose and collect, with specified exceptions, a fee of 1.5% of the appraised value of imported recreational performance outerwear and to deposit amounts collected into the STAR Fund. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to make quarterly distributions from the STAR Fund to one or more appropriate organizations to conduct applied research, development, and education activities to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in clean, eco-friendly apparel, other textile and apparel products, and sewn-product design and manufacturing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7360-7361)
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Wounded Warrior Retention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1440
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: 
Wounded Warrior Retention Act of 2009 - Sets forth requirements applicable to the retention in the Armed Forces of members of the Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard or Reserve, who seek to remain in military service following an injury or disability suffered or incurred in the line of duty. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Family Leave Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1441
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: 
Military Family Leave Act of 2009 - Entitles an employed family member of a member of the Armed Forces who receives notification of a call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation, or who is deployed in connection with a contingency operation, to two workweeks of leave per year for each family member who is so called or deployed. Allows such leave to: (1) be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule; and (2) consist of paid or unpaid leave, as the employer considers appropriate.
 
Allows an employer to require certification of entitlement to such leave within a leave request.
 
Provides employment and benefits protection for employees upon their return from such leave. Prohibits an employer from interfering with or otherwise denying the exercise of such leave rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to modify State responsibilities under such Act.

Bill: 111-s-1443
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2009-07-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: 
Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require each state to ensure that absentee ballots are sent to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters not later than 45 days before the state's deadline for receiving absentee ballots in order to be counted in a federal election.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2009-07-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act

Bill: 111-s-1444
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2009-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability assistance
Mental health
Military operations and strategy
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-13
text: 
Compensation Owed for Mental Health Based on Activities in Theater Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Act or COMBAT PTSD Act - Defines &quot;combat with the enemy,&quot; for purposes of proof of service-connection for veterans' disability compensation, as service on active duty: (1) in a theater of combat operations during a period of war; or (2) in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-10-21
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-264.
action_date: 2009-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-07-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7414)
action_date: 2009-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Stillbirth and SUID Prevention, Education, and Awareness Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1445
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child health
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Genetics
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex and reproductive health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: 
Stillbirth and SUID Prevention, Education, and Awareness Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award grants for: (1) improving state comprehensive death scene investigations for sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) and sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC); and (2) increasing the rate of comprehensive and standardized autopsies for such deaths.
 
Requires the Director to: (1) develop national guidelines for a standard autopsy protocol for such deaths; and (2) commission a study on the benefits and appropriateness of genetic testing for infant and early childhood deaths that remain unexplained after investigation and autopsy.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to: (1) award grants for death scene investigation training; (2) establish a population-based case registry for SUID and SUDC deaths; (3) conduct a needs assessment for investigations and determinations of such deaths; and (4) develop public education and prevention programs to reduce stillbirths and address the racial and ethnic disparities in occurrence.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to: (1) award grants for death review programs and prevention strategies; (2) establish a public health awareness and education campaign on SUID and SUDC; and (3) award grants for support services to families who have experienced SUID, SUDC, or stillbirth.
 
Provides for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths. 
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a task force to develop a national research plan to determine the causes of, and how to prevent, stillbirths.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide incentives for increased use of HIV screening tests under the Medicaid program.

Bill: 111-s-1446
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: HIV/AIDS
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: 
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make quarterly payments to states with Medicaid plans for 90% of their expenditures for routine HIV screening services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Connecting America Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1447
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2009-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Department of Commerce
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: 
Connecting America Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) broadband providers a tax credit for investment in broadband equipment and services to enhance Internet access in unserved areas; and (2) a tax credit to holders of private activity bonds designated as Broadband America Bonds to finance the deployment of broadband services.
 
Establishes the Office of National Broadband Strategy in the Department of Commerce to assist entities in applying for funds for specified broadband and telecommunication programs. Requires such Office to establish a National Advisory Panel on broadband deployment and adoption to review and evaluate the status of industry efforts to promote broadband in underserved and unserved areas, the effectiveness of government programs that fund broadband deployment, and the effect of broadband deployment on economic competitiveness.
 
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to expand telecommunication services for rural healthcare providers.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to educational institutions and other agencies to carry out PlugGED In programs to provide instruction in technology skills to secondary school students and students in high school equivalency programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-1449
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2009-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Federally chartered organizations
Military personnel and dependents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: 
Grants a federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America (a nonprofit corporation and incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia). 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate