hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-239
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Veterans Health Equity Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect to each of the 48 contiguous states, to ensure that veterans eligible for hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have access to: (1) at least one full-service hospital of the Veterans Health Administration in the state; or (2) hospital care and medical services comparable to that provided in full-service hospitals through contract with other health providers in the state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S391)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S390-391)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Ready to Learn Act

Bill: 111-s-240
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Preschool education
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Ready to Learn Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive matching grants to states and, through them, subgrants to schools, child care entities, Head Start programs, or other community-based prekindergarten providers for full day voluntary prekindergarten programs that prepare four-year olds for school.
 
Requires that such programs: (1) first serve children whose family income is no higher than 200% of the poverty level or who are limited English proficient; (2) ensure that, within two years of grant receipt, each classroom is taught by a teacher who has at least a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education or such a degree and specialized training in early childhood development; (3) use curricula that are aligned with state early learning standards; and (4) have teacher-child ratios of no more than 1 to 10 and group sizes of no more than 20.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S649)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-241
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to establish the right of an eligible deferred-foreclosure consumer, defendable in court, to defer initiation of a foreclosure or related action, including a foreclosure sale, brought by any creditor, servicer, or holder of an eligible deferred-foreclosure mortgage, during a specified deferment period.
 
Declares invalid any foreclosure action or proceeding regarding a deferred-foreclosure mortgage if the creditor or servicer fails to notify the consumer: (1) at least 30 days before instituting the action or proceeding; and (2) at least once during each subsequent 30-day period until the foreclosure becomes final.
 
Prescribes procedures governing: (1) initiating foreclosure deferment; (2) payment notices during the deferment period; and (3) the manner of consumer payment during the deferment period.
 
Amortizes over the life of the mortgage the difference between the amount of monthly payment due under the eligible deferred-foreclosure mortgage and the deferment payment amount.
 
Prohibits a creditor or servicer from imposing any late fee or other fee or charge during the deferment period.
 
Requires the creditor or servicer to provide the consumer with separate, written notification, distinct from all other correspondence, regarding: (1) any interest rate increase with respect to a sub-prime mortgage; (2) any minimum monthly payment increase with respect to a negative amortization mortgage; (3) clear and conspicuous disclosure of the good faith estimate of the monthly payment applicable after the adjustment or reset date; and (4) a list of alternatives available to consumers prior to the date of adjustment or increase.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to implement foreclosure mitigation activities, which may include use for costs of providing additional counselors, translators, and other staffers and costs of providing additional computers and improving databases and overall operations to better assist mortgagor families.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Title I Education Funding Integrity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-242
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Title I Education Funding Integrity Act of 2009 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies (LEAs) to use only for direct or indirect instructional services any funds received under the program established to ensure that students make adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward state academic performance standards. 
 
Limits to 10% the portion of such funds that LEAs may use for indirect instructional services.
 
Sets forth the types of direct and indirect instructional services for which such funds may be used.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S392)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S391-392)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-243
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Motor vehicles
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Giving Incentives to Volunteers Everywhere Act of 2009 or the GIVE Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the standard mileage rate for use of a passenger automobile for charitable purposes to a rate not less than the rate used for the tax deduction for medical transportation expenses; and (2) exclude from the gross income of charitable volunteers reimbursements paid to them for the use of a passenger automobile for the benefit of a charitable organization. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S393)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S392-393)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Education Begins at Home Act

Bill: 111-s-244
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child care and development
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Military personnel and dependents
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Education Begins at Home Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make: (1) grants to states for programs of early childhood home visitation; and (2) competitive grants to local educational agencies and other eligible applicants for early home visitation for families with English language learners. Directs the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make competitive grants to eligible applicants for early home visitation for military families.
 
Directs the Secretary of HHS to develop and implement a public information and educational campaign to inform the public and new parents about the importance of proper care for infants and children under five years of age. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-245
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical research
Medicare
Mental health
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Nursing
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand training for health professionals in the fields of geriatrics, long-term care, and chronic care management. 
 
Requires an analysis of the health and long-term care workforce.

Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to provide for information to adults and dislocated workers about health care and long-term care occupations. Provides for information to veterans about training, internship, and employment opportunities in geriatrics, gerontology, and long-term care.
 
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant Secretary for Aging to: (1) develop family caregiver training materials; and (2) provide for the establishment and operation of a National Resource Center on Volunteers, Students, and Seniors to promote partnerships between entities in the aging network and institutions of higher education and secondary schools, and to encourage projects that involve underserved communities.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for the development of core training competencies for personal or home care aides and additional training content for nurse aides and home health aides; and (2) establish a panel of long-term care workforce experts.

Provides for the development of information and referral protocols for family caregivers of Medicare beneficiaries.

Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of assessments of family caregiver support needs.

Provides for studies on: (1) the mental health workforce; (2) the aging network's capacity to meet current and future needs; (3) retention and tenure of nurse aides and home health aides; and (4) spending by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on conditions and illnesses that disproportionately impact the health of older individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S393-394)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act

Bill: 111-s-246
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Veterans Health Care Quality Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe standards for appointment and practice as a physician within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires: (1) applicants to provide certain information, including each lawsuit, civil action, or other claim against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence, and their results; (2) each appointee to disclose any judgments against the individual for medical malpractice or negligence and any payments made; and (3) physicians already employed within the VHA to disclose such information. Prohibits a new appointment without approval of the director of the Veterans Integrated Services Network (Network) in which the individual will serve. Directs the Secretary to encourage directors to hire physicians who are board-certified.
 
Requires: (1) the VHA's Under Secretary of Health to designate a National Quality Assurance Officer for the VHA quality assurance program; (2) each Network regional director to appoint a quality assurance officer; and (3) the director of each VHA medical facility to appoint a quality assurance officer.
 
Directs the Secretary to review VA policies for maintaining health care quality and patient safety at VA medical facilities.
 
 Authorizes the Secretary, in order to recruit and retain VHA physicians in hard-to-fill positions, to: (1) repay certain educational loans for individuals who agree to serve for at least three years as a VHA physician; (2) reimburse tuition for medical students who agree to serve as a VHA physician after such education; and (3) enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program an individual who agrees to serve as a VHA physician for at least five days per month. Encourages the Secretary to undertake additional incentives to encourage individuals to serve or practice as VHA physicians in hard-to-fill positions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S394)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-247
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Department of Energy
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Motor vehicles
Public transit
Retail and wholesale trades
Solid waste and recycling
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Energy the Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) authorize the issuance of a redeemable voucher, with limitations, to the registered owner of an eligible high fuel consumption automobile for the purchase of a new or used fuel efficient automobile upon transfer of the eligible automobile title to a participating dealer, dismantler, or scrap recycling facility; (2) allow a dealer, dismantler, or scrap recycling facility to participate in the program if they agree to scrap the eligible high fuel consumption automobile, issue a voucher to its owner, and meet all applicable requirements; (3) require dealers to accept such vouchers as partial payment for the purchase of a new or used fuel efficient automobile; and (4) make payments to dealers who accepted vouchers between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014.
 
Authorizes the use of vouchers to acquire single-passenger transit fare credits. Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations that allow operators of bus and rail public transit systems to redeem properly issued vouchers to offset the purchase price of annual transit passes or any other form of individual transit fare credit designated by the transit system operator.
 
Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S396-397)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S394-395)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Limitations on Interrogation Techniques Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-248
Sponsor: Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Limitations on Interrogation Techniques Act of 2009 - Prohibits any individual in the custody or control of personnel of an element of the intelligence community or contractor or subcontractor thereof, regardless of nationality or physical location, from being subject to the following interrogation techniques: (1) forcing the individual to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; (2) placing hoods or sacks over the head of the individual or using duct tape over the eyes; (3) applying beatings, electrical shock, burns, or similar forms of physical pain; (4) using the technique known as waterboarding; (5) using military working dogs; (6) inducing hypothermia or heat injury; (7) conducting mock executions; or (8) depriving the individual of adequate food, water, or medical care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S397-398)
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to qualify formerly homeless youth who are students for purposes of low income tax credit.

Bill: 111-s-249
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Higher education
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Income tax credits
Low- and moderate-income housing

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify low-income building units that provide housing for a student who previously was a homeless child or youth for the low-income housing tax credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-250
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the hope scholarship and lifetime learning tax credits with a higher education opportunity tax credit.

Allows a higher education opportunity tax credit for the lesser of: (1) the sum of 100% of qualified tuition and related expenses (including a certain allowance for books) up to $2,000, 50% for such expenses between $2,000 and $4,000, and 25% of such expenses between $4,000 and $8,000; or (2) the excess (if any) of $16,000 over aggregate credits from prior taxable years. Reduces credit amounts for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes over $70,000 ($140,000 in the case of a joint return). 

Limits such credit to three eligible students per taxpayer in any taxable year. 

Denies such tax credit to certain part time students and students convicted of a felony drug offense.

Repeals the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Fix Housing First Homebuyer Tax Credit Act

Bill: 111-s-253
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2009-01-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: 
Fix Housing First Homebuyer Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the tax credit for first-time homebuyers by: (1) eliminating the first-time homebuyer requirement (thus making such credit available to all homebuyers); (2) eliminating the repayment requirement for such credit except for resales of a principal residence, or failure to occupy such residence, at any time within three years of purchase; (3) exempting from the repayment requirement members of the Armed Forces who are ordered to relocate; (4) extending the period for purchasing a residence until December 31, 2009; (5) allowing taxpayers who purchase a residence before 2010 to claim such credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns; (6) increasing the maximum amount of such credit and the adjusted gross income thresholds for reductions in the credit amount; (7) allowing taxpayers to transfer their anticipated credit amount to another individual for specified purposes, including making a downpayment on a portion of a purchase price of a principal residence; and (8) extending eligibility for the credit to taxpayers who purchase residences financed with state and local tax-exempt bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-254
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-01-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Home and outpatient care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: 
Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement the Medicare home infusion therapy benefit in a manner that ensures that: (1) Medicare beneficiaries have timely and appropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes; and (2) there is rapid and seamless coordination between drug coverage under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) and home infusion therapy services coverage under Medicare part B (Supplemental Security Income).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S613-614)
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering States' Right To Protect Consumers Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-255
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-01-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: 
Empowering States' Right To Protect Consumers Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth In Lending Act to limit the annual percentage rate (APR) applicable to any consumer credit transaction (other than a residential mortgage transaction), including any associated fees, to the maximum rate permitted by the laws of the state in which the consumer resides.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Introduced in Senate