hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the deduction of attorney-advanced expenses and court costs in contingency fee cases.

Bill: 111-s-437
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Income tax deductions
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow attorneys a tax deduction in the current taxable year for reimbursable expenses and court costs which they pay or incur in connection with contingency fee cases.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2325-2326)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2325)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-438
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Medicaid
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Improved Medical Decision Incentive Act of 2009 - Allows a state health department to approve best practices in a course of, or as a means of treatment for, a particular condition, illness, or procedure, as the qualifying standard of care for the state in order to take advantage of the differential rates of payment implemented under the Social Security Act and the private insurance incentive under this Act.
 
Requires a state health department, among other conditions for state approval, to allow any duly constituted state medical society or medical speciality group to file with the state health department a course or means of treatment representing best practices for a particular condition, illness, or procedure.
 
Requires any interstate health insurer providing health care coverage within a state with approved qualifying best practices to pay all provider charges for any service provided in accordance with such practices.
 
Authorizes any such provider or specialty group to bring a civil action in an appropriate U.S. district court to enjoin efforts by any health insurer to challenge or delay payment for services provided by the provider or a member of the specialty group in accordance with such best practices.
 
Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) to provide for implementation of differential rates of payment for covered items and services (except those in a clinical trial or study or, in exceptional circumstances, requiring non-standard care) that favor treatment consistent with qualifying best practices approved under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to review annually and report to Congress on the efficacy of all qualifying best practices approved pursuant to this Act and, if applicable, any national best practices adopted pursuant to this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary also to host an annual conference on best practices for all state health directors, any state medical societies and medical specialty groups that have filed best practices for state approval, and any health insurers and advocacy groups that have participated in any administrative proceeding to approve best practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Indian Development Finance Corporation Act

Bill: 111-s-439
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Economic development
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government lending and loan guarantees
Indian social and development programs
Minority and disadvantaged businesses

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Indian Development Finance Corporation Act - Establishes the Indian Development Finance Corporation to take certain actions, including: (1) providing development capital through financial services under this Act; (2) encouraging the development of new and existing Indian business enterprises eligible to receive assistance from the Corporation; and (3) otherwise assisting in strengthening Indian tribal economies through the development of Indian business enterprises.
 
Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) make loans or commitments for loans to any Indian business enterprise; (2) purchase, insure, or discount any obligation of an Indian business enterprise if the enterprise meets specified requirements; (3) purchase, or make commitments to purchase, any portion of the equity or ownership interest in the Indian business enterprise for purposes of providing long-term capital and working capital; and (4) supervise or participate in the management of an Indian business enterprise in which such an investment has been made.
 
Authorizes the Corporation to issue shares of stock. Requires the stock to be issued only to, and held only by, an Indian tribe or the federal government. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) initially subscribe to at least $20 million in stock and; and (2) beginning in FY2012, subscribe to $80 million in stock (unless the Corporation's board requests a smaller amount). Makes all stock subscribed to by the Secretary nonvoting and prohibits that stock from accruing dividends.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-04-29
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-631.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2326-2329)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2326)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an above-the-line deduction for attorney fees and costs in connection with civil claim awards.

Bill: 111-s-440
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Income tax deductions
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax deduction for attorney's fees and courts costs to allow an above-the-line deduction for such fees and costs paid in connection with any legal action involving a civil claim (currently, limited to actions involving unlawful discrimination, the False Claims Act, and Medicare payments). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2330)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2329)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Quality Reform Expansion and Savings Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-441
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Quality Reform Expansion and Savings Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award quality reform grants to eligible entities to enhance, encourage, and expedite implementation of quality reform plans in order to: (1) encourage the coordinated development of local health care quality reforms; (2) fund the development of practices beneficial to the health care system; (3) expand information technology, electronic health records, and interoperable data systems in the health care system; (4) develop reimbursement practices that align financial incentives with health and prevention reforms to identify and encourage best practices; (5) lower the costs of health care delivery; (6) encourage reform initiatives in different U.S. regions; and (7) reward cooperation among local entities engaged in reforming the health care system.

Requires the Secretary to establish the Quality Reform Committee, which shall: (1) approve the application of an eligible entity and recommend to the Secretary that a grant be awarded; (2) evaluate and exchange best practices related to activities carried out under the grant; (3) share research and expertise; and (4) study, identify, and report on market failures and anomalies that create economic incentives adverse to achievement of the goals of quality reform, cost reduction, health information technology expansion, and illness prevention.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-442
Sponsor: Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan from imposing an aggregate lifetime benefit limit of less than: (1) $5 million for the first two plan years; (2) $10 million for the third and fourth plan years; and (3) adjusted amounts based on the consumer price index for subsequent plan years. Excludes from such prohibition a group health plan offered to employees of a small employer, except upon request of the employer for a consistent limit.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the Institute of Medicine for a study to determine the number of individuals who have reached the lifetime limitations set forth in this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
National Health Information Technology and Privacy Advancement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-444
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Medical research
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
National Health Information Technology and Privacy Advancement Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) provide federal governmental assistance to the planning and development of, and provide for the implementation of, a national program for the establishment and operation of a national health information technology and privacy system; (2) ensure that timely arrangements are made under which there can be national participation in the establishment and use of the system; and (3) provide for incentives for the adoption and use of health information technology that improves the quality and efficiency of patient care.

Establishes the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Authorizes the establishment of a nonprofit national health information technology and privacy corporation to: (1) plan, initiate, construct, own, manage, and operate a national health information technology and privacy system; (2) furnish access to individuals and to authorized providers and payers of health care services; and (3) specify rules for allowing access to non-identifiable health care data for public health and research purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings.

Bill: 111-s-446
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Due process and equal protection
Supreme Court
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Requires the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless it decides by majority vote that allowing such coverage in a particular case would violate the due process rights of any of the parties involved.

action_date: 2010-06-08
text: 

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

 
Requires the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless it decides by majority vote that allowing such coverage in a particular case would violate the due process rights of any of the parties involved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-08
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 420.
action_date: 2010-06-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2010-06-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2010-04-29
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2332-2336)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Free Speech Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-449
Sponsor: Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
First Amendment rights
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Free Speech Protection Act of 2009 - Allows any U.S. person against whom a lawsuit for defamation is brought in a foreign country for defamation on the basis of the content of any speech by that person that has been published, uttered, or otherwise disseminated in the United States to bring an action in a U.S. district court against any person who, or entity which, brought the suit, if: (1) the speech at issue in the foreign lawsuit does not constitute defamation under U.S. law; and (2) the person or entity which brought the foreign lawsuit serves or causes to be served any documents in connection with such foreign lawsuit on a U.S. person. 
 
Allows the award of treble damages if it is determined by a preponderance of the evidence that the person or entity bringing the foreign lawsuit intentionally engaged in a scheme to suppress rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution by discouraging publishers or other media from publishing, or by discouraging financial supporters from employing, retaining, or supporting the research, writing, or other speech of an individual.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-02-23
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2342-2343)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Meth Mouth Prevention and Community Recovery Act

Bill: 111-s-450
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Dental care
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Indian social and development programs
Medical education
Medical research
Minority health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Meth Mouth Prevention and Community Recovery Act - Requires the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to make grants to enable public and private nonprofit entities to determine whether educating youth about meth mouth (oral decay that is commonly associated with methamphetamine use) is an effective strategy for preventing or reducing methamphetamine use. Reserves a portion of appropriated funds for Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand and intensify the clinical research, health services research, and public health research on associations between substance use disorders, oral health, and the provision of dental care.

Requires the Secretary to study the effect methamphetamine use has on the demand for, and provision of, dental care.

Directs the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to support training and offer technical assistance to ensure that dentists and allied dental personnel are prepared to: (1) recognize signs of alcohol or drug addiction; (2) discuss the nature of substance abuse as it relates to their area of expertise; (3) understand how certain dental therapies can affect the relapse potential of substance dependent patients; and (4) help those affected by a substance use disorder find appropriate treatment for their conditions.

Authorizes the Administrator to collaborate with professional accrediting bodies to develop and support substance abuse training courses for oral health professionals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2343-2345)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2343)
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 111-s-451
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Child care and development
Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Women's education

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: 
Girl Scouts USA Centennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 350,000 $1 coins in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the USA. 

Requires the coin design to be emblematic of the 100 years of the organization.
 
Restricts issuance of such coins to calendar year 2011. 
 
Subjects coin sales to a surcharge of $10 per coin.
 
Requires payment of such surcharges to the Girl Scouts of the United States of America for Girl Scout program development and delivery.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

Bill: 111-s-452
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2009-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: 
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits the Secretaries of the Interior or Agriculture from taking any action that would permanently close, restrict, or render or declare unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on land under their jurisdiction unless: (1) the action has been approved by the head of the aviation department of the state in which the landing strip is located; (2) the Secretary publishes notice of the proposed action and provides for a 90-day public comment thereafter; and (3) the Secretary and appropriate state aviation department head have taken into consideration any comments received. 
 
Requires the Secretaries to: (1) establish a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues relating to the management of federal land under the jurisdiction of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture; and (2) require officials with jurisdiction over such land to adhere to such policy. 
 
Requires private and publicly-owned aircraft land strips acquired by the government to be made available to the public for unrestricted use. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Regeneration, Sustainability, and Innovation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-453
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Housing and community development funding
Housing supply and affordability
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Public participation and lobbying
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: 
Community Regeneration, Sustainability, and Innovation Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a demonstration program, under multiyear cooperative agreements with local governments experiencing at least 20% population loss since 1970 (or consortia of them), to encourage and test innovative vacant property reclamation and urban infrastructure renewal strategies in older industrial cities, their suburbs, and metropolitan areas with a history of severe population and employment loss, blight, and decay caused by vacant properties.
 
Specifies as vacant property and program capacity activities establishment of: (1) local or regional land banks; (2) recovered building materials reuse and recycling infrastructure, facilities, and technical support; (3) local government purchasing requirements for deconstruction to make use of existing building materials stock in new and rehabilitation construction; and (4) the ability of state and local courts and administrative agencies to address problems caused by vacant and abandoned properties, and to facilitate their transfer to public control under a local or regional land bank.
 
Enumerates other related activities, including: (1) expansion and improvement of code enforcement capabilities; (2) development of data and information systems such as comprehensive real property systems, early warning systems, and vacant property inventory and tracking systems; and (3) amendment or reform of state and local property tax foreclosure procedures.
 
Specifies stabilization, design, development, reuse, and planning and policy innovation activities.
 
Requires an applicant local government or consortium to establish a regeneration plan for the community or region. Directs the Secretary by regulation to provide for citizen participation requirements relating to the development and implementation of such plans.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to local governments (and consortia of them) for sustainability demonstration projects.
 
Directs the Secretary to convene a Federal Interagency Regeneration Communities Coordinating Council to develop federal agency support plans for communities receiving such grants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate