hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2718
Sponsor: Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure
Medicare
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to rename the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) the Medicare Payment and Access Commission, make it an independent executive branch (instead of a legislative branch) agency, and revise its membership requirements. 
 
Directs MedPAC to determine payment rates for items and services furnished under Medicare. 
 
Requires the Comptroller General to study and report annually to Congress on changes to payment policies under the Medicare program as a result of the amendments made by this Act. 
 
Makes it in order in the Senate or the House to consider any measure that would overrule a MedPAC determination with respect to such payments if three-fifths of the Members agree to such consideration.
 
Authorizes MedPAC to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on priorities for health services research.
 
Directs MedPAC to establish: (1) an office of ombudsman to handle complaints on the implementation of certain regulations; and (2) a council of health and economic advisers to advise it on its development, analyses, and implementation of payment policies.
 
Establishes: (1) a consumer advisory council to advise MedPAC on the impact of Medicare payment policies on consumers; and (2) a federal health advisory council.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
To extend the temporary suspension of duty on certain ceiling fans.

Bill: 111-hr-2719
Sponsor: Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on certain ceiling fans.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the election to treat the cost of qualified film and television productions as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account.

Bill: 111-hr-2720
Sponsor: Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the taxpayer election to expense qualified film and television production costs in the current taxable year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1316-1317)
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Senior Executive Service Diversity Assurance Act

Bill: 111-hr-2721
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 

 

 

 

 
Senior Executive Service Diversity Assurance Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish within OPM the Senior Executive Service Resource Office (SES Resource Office). Makes it the mission of the SES Resource Office to: (1) improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity of the Senior Executive Service (SES) through policy formulation and oversight; (2) advance the professionalism of the SES; and (3) recruit qualified individuals from appropriate sources to ensure that the SES is reflective of the nation's diversity. Sets forth the functions of the SES Resource Office with respect to the management, training, oversight, and recruitment activities of the SES. 
 
Revises the career appointments recruiting process to require agency heads to ensure diversity of executive resources boards and any subgroup or other evaluation panel related to the merit staffing process for career appointees by including members of racial and ethnic minority groups, women, and individuals with disabilities.
 
Requires each federal agency to submit to OPM a plan to enhance and maximize opportunities for the advancement and appointment of minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities to the SES.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2722
Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Health facilities and institutions
Medical education
Medical research
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends federal provisions concerning the establishment at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities of nonprofit research and education corporations (NRECs) to allow an NREC to facilitate the conduct of research or education, or both, at more than one VA medical center. States that such an NREC shall be known as a multi-medical center research corporation (MCRC).
 
Allows an NREC to act as a MCRC if: (1) the NREC board of directors approve a resolution permitting that NREC to act as a MCRC; and (2) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approves the resolution.
 
Requires each NREC and MCRC (corporation) to be established in accordance with the nonprofit corporation laws of the state in which the VA medical center which it supports is located. States that neither such corporation shall be considered to be owned by, or an agent or instrumentality of, the United States.
 
Restates the purposes of the corporations.
 
Modifies the composition of, and standards applicable to, corporation boards of directors, including by changing applicable conflict of interest requirements.
 
Expands the required areas of experience or expertise with respect to non-VA members of corporation boards of directors.
 
Increases authorized corporate powers of the corporations to include entering into contracts and setting fees for education and training facilitated through a corporation.
 
Revises audit requirements to require submission of an Internal Revenue Service return form applicable to organizations exempt from income tax.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Social Security Act to provide for an exemption to allow an individual otherwise ineligible to travel outside the United States to do so for employment purposes to pay child support arrearages, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-hr-2723
Sponsor: Rep. Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Separation, divorce, custody, support
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of State to waive certain travel restrictions for an individual otherwise subject to them, if the Secretary determines that it is appropriate to allow such individual to travel outside the United States for employment to pay child support arrearages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Foreign Affairs
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2724
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Motor carriers
Pedestrians and bicycling
Performance measurement
Public transit
Railroads
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009 - Establishes: (1) national transportation objectives to provide a 21st century vision for the national surface transportation system, including to promote energy efficiency and achieve energy security, ensure environmental protection and safety for all transportation users, improve economic competitiveness and transportation system conditions, and provide equal access to transportation in urban, suburban, and rural communities; and (2) national transportation performance targets to meet such objectives, including to reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled by 16% and transportation-generated carbon dioxide levels by 40%, triple walking, biking, and public transportation use, increase freight transportation provided by railroad and intermodal services by 20%, and improve public safety and lower congestion costs by reducing traffic crashes by 50%.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) develop baseline levels and appropriate data collection systems for meeting the national transportation performance targets; and (2) develop and implement a National Surface Transportation Performance Plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2009-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a 5-year extension for the real property standard deduction and to adjust such deduction for inflation.

Bill: 111-hr-2725
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2014 the standard tax deduction for real property taxes; and (2) allow an annual inflation adjustment to the allowable amount of such deduction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2726
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Tim Fagan's Law or the Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2009 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a criminal fine and/or imprisonment for a person who: (1) knowingly causes a prescription drug to be adulterated, misbranded, or misrepresented as an approved prescription drug and sells or trades the drug; or (2) purchases or trades for such drug knowing or having reason to know that the drug was knowingly adulterated, misbranded, or misrepresented. Requires a manufacturer of a drug to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) within 48 hours after first receiving or becoming aware of information that reasonably suggests that such a violation may have occurred. 
 
Deems a drug to be misbranded if it is not manufactured in accordance with the use of technologies that the Secretary determines are technically feasible and will assist in preventing such violations.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish alternative requirements to the extent that such requirements provide greater certainty on the chain of custody and are technically feasible.
 
Increases funding for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections, examinations, and investigations.
 
Requires the Secretary to educate the public and health care professionals on counterfeit drugs.
 
Directs the Secretary: (1) upon a finding of reasonable probability that a drug intended for human use would cause serious health consequences or death, to issue an order requiring the appropriate person (including the manufacturers, importers, distributors, or retailers of the drug) to cease distribution of the drug and to notify and instruct health professionals to cease administering or prescribing the drug; and (2) amend the order to include a recall if necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Financial Transparency Restoration Act

Bill: 111-hr-2727
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
News media and reporting

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Financial Transparency Restoration Act - Requires each financial institution to publish, within 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, a statement of its financial condition in a newspaper of general paid circulation published in a city or county within each of its market areas.
 
Requires such financial statements to include a written verification of the accuracy of the statement, under oath or by affirmation, by the president of the financial institution or another officer designated by its board of directors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Financial Services
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2730
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to make demonstration grants to states in which the student-to-school nurse ratio in public secondary schools, elementary schools, and kindergarten is 1,000 or more students to every school nurse to reduce such ratio.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Nurse Training and Retention Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2731
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Nursing
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Nurse Training and Retention Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a partnership grant program to award matching grants to eligible entities to carry out comprehensive programs to provide education to nurses and create a pipeline to nursing for incumbent ancillary health care workers who wish to advance their careers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2009-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
RAISE Act

Bill: 111-hr-2732
Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Rewarding Achievement and Incentivizing Successful Employees Act or the RAISE Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to declare that neither its prohibition against interference by an employer with employees' right to bargain collectively, nor the terms of a collective bargaining agreement entered into between employees and an employer after enactment of this Act, shall prohibit an employer from paying an employee higher wages, pay, or other compensation than the agreement provides for.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6311)
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Fixed Indexed Annuities and Insurance Products Classification Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2733
Sponsor: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Contracts and agency
Employee benefits and pensions
Insurance industry and regulation
Life, casualty, property insurance
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Fixed Indexed Annuities and Insurance Products Classification Act of 2009 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to include within the class of securities exempt from its coverage any insurance or endowment policy or annuity contract or optional annuity contract: (1) whose value does not vary according to the performance of a separate account; and (2) which satisfies standard nonforfeiture laws or similar requirements of the applicable state, Territory, or District of Columbia at time of issue or, in the absence of applicable standard nonforfeiture laws or requirements, satisfies the Model Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Life Insurance or Model Standard Nonforfeiture Law for Individual Deferred Annuities, or any successor model law, as published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
 
Declares without force or effect Rule 151A promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 16, 2009, and entitled &quot;Indexed Annuities and Certain Other Insurance Contracts.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-2734
Sponsor: Rep. Perriello, Thomas S.P. [D-VA-5]
Introduced: 2009-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Family relationships
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: 
Health Care for Family Caregivers Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide medical care to a family member of a disabled veteran who provides caregiver services to the veteran for such disability. Prohibits the caregiver from being subject to deductibles, premiums, copayments, or other fees for such care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-18
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-04
text: Introduced in House