hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-950
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allied health services
Health personnel
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: 
Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize qualified physical therapists to provide services for Medicare beneficiaries without the requirement of a physician referral. 
 
Provides for treatment of outpatient speech-language pathology services separately from outpatient physical therapy services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 111-s-951
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Space flight and exploration

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the President to present gold medals, on behalf of Congress, to: (1) the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission to the surface of the moon, Neil A. Armstrong (the first human to walk on the moon), Edwin E. &quot;Buzz&quot; Aldrin Jr. (pilot of the lunar module Eagle and second person to walk on the moon), and Michael Collins (pilot of their command module Columbia) in recognition of the first lunar landing, on July 20, 1969; and (2) John Herschel Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, on February 20, 1962.

action_date: 2009-07-20
text: 
New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the President to present gold medals, on behalf of Congress, to: (1) the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission to the surface of the moon, Neil A. Armstrong (the first human to walk on the moon), Edwin E. &quot;Buzz&quot; Aldrin Jr. (pilot of the lunar module Eagle and second person to walk on the moon), and Michael Collins (pilot of their command module Columbia) in recognition of the first lunar landing, on July 20, 1969; and (2) John Herschel Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, on February 20, 1962. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-23
text: Message received in the Senate: Returned to the Senate pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1653.
action_date: 2010-09-23
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1653, papers are returned to the Senate.
action_date: 2009-07-21
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2009-07-21
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2009-07-21
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S721)
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-07-20
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Seasonal Influenza and Pandemic Preparation Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-953
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
Seasonal Influenza and Pandemic Preparation Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a national voluntary influenza vaccination program for adults and children under which any individual may receive an influenza vaccine at no cost at any federally qualified health center, public or private hospital, physician office, clinic, or other entity determined appropriate by the Secretary. Sets forth provisions governing reimbursements for the costs of administering such vaccines. Declares that participation by an entity in such program is voluntary.
 
Requires the Secretary to award grants to state and local health departments, public hospitals, and other entities to facilitate the establishment of influenza vaccination programs in partnerships with private entities, including pharmacies and private employers. Requires vaccines provided under a grant to be at no cost to the individual. Authorizes an entity participating in the grant program to seek reimbursement from the Secretary.
 
Requires the Secretary to award grants to facilitate the development of influenza vaccination programs for students and families of students in partnership with local primary and secondary educational institutions.
 
Directs the Secretary, under Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP), to develop an immunization plan with immunization target numbers for the respective populations served under such programs. Requires the Secretary to provide bonus payments to eligible health care providers and other entities who meet immunization targets established by the Secretary in such plans.
 
Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish and implement a national public affairs campaign to increase influenza immunization rates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5019-5020)
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserve Patient Access to Reputable DMEPOS Providers Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-956
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Medicare
Public contracts and procurement
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
Preserve Patient Access to Reputable DMEPOS Providers Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to declare that the surety bond requirement under the Medicare program for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) shall apply only to a state-licensed retail pharmacy if there has been a final adverse action that is not subject to administrative or judicial appeal taken against such pharmacy during the 10-year period preceding the issuance (or renewal) of the provider number involved.
 
(Thus exempts from the surety bond requirement any state-licensed retail pharmacy that has not been subject to such an adverse action for at least 10 years. Such adverse actions refer to: (1) a Medicare-imposed revocation of any Medicare billing privileges; (2) suspension or revocation of a license to provide health care by any state licensing authority; (3) revocation or suspension by an accreditation organization; (4) conviction of a federal or state felony offense within the last 10 years preceding enrollment, revalidation, or re-enrollment; or (5) an exclusion or debarment from participation in a federal or state health care program.)
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-957
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to activate the coverage of short-term emergency health care services if the Secretary determines that there is a public health emergency. Sets forth factors for the Secretary to consider, including the degree to which the emergency is likely to overwhelm health care providers in the region.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a medical monitoring program for monitoring and reporting on the health care needs of the affected population over time.
 
Limits eligibility for coverage of emergency health care services to: (1) uninsured or underinsured emergency victims who need health care services due to injuries or disease resulting from the public health emergency; or (2) uninsured individuals residing in the affected area whose ability to access care or medicine is disrupted as a result of the emergency.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a streamlined process for determining eligibility for emergency health care services; (2) report to Congress on the number and adequacy of volunteers enrolled in the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) who will be available to each state in the event of a public health emergency; and (3) conduct an outreach and public education campaign to inform health care providers and the general public about the availability of emergency health care coverage during the period of the emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5020-5022)
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-958
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax credits
Income tax rates
Medicaid
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009 - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII (Medikids Program), which creates a program to guarantee comprehensive health care coverage, including prescription drugs for all children meeting specified age requirements.
 
Creates the MediKids Trust Fund. 
 
Expands the duties of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC).
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose a MediKids premium for the taxable year, with an exemption for very low-income taxpayers; and (2) create a refundable tax credit providing a catastrophic limit on MediKids cost-sharing expenses.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to propose a gradual schedule of progressive tax changes to fund the Medikids program, as the number of enrollees grows in the out-years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5023-5027)
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5022-5023)
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the extension of a certain hydroelectric project located in the State of West Virginia.

Bill: 111-s-959
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Licensing and registrations
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request of the licensee of a specified hydroelectric project in West Virginia, to extend such project's deadline for construction to begin to two years after the enactment of this Act.
 
Directs FERC, with respect to such project, to: (1) reinstate the license if it expires before enactment of this Act; and (2) extend the license period to 70 years upon licensee request.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Early Access Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-960
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: 
Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to add a new part E (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals 55 to 65 Years of Age).
 
Provides access to Medicare benefits for individuals 55 to 64 years of age who do not have coverage under a federal health insurance program or under a group plan. 
 
Requires enrollees to pay a premium to receive Medicare coverage. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to base the premium on the Secretary's estimate of the average, national annual per capita amount of the cost of providing services to the population. 
 
Allows early retirees with access to retiree coverage to enroll under this part while keeping their federal or state COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation coverage. Allows an employer that offers employment-based retiree health coverage to an individual who enrolls under this part to modify such coverage to provide for: (1) employer payment of items and services for which payment may not be made under Medicare; and (2) employer payment of 25% of the monthly premium applicable to the individual after enrollment.
 
Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund to hold the premiums collected under this Act and to support the new program. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow program enrollees to receive a 75% advance, refundable credit to offset Medicare early access premium costs (thus requiring program enrollees in the Medicare early access program to be responsible for 25% of the monthly premiums).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Authorizing the Regulation of Swaps Act

Bill: 111-s-961
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Commodities markets
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Credit and credit markets
Department of the Treasury
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve System
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: 
Authorizing the Regulation of Swaps Act - Amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of 2000, and the Commodity Exchange Act to repeal prohibitions against regulation of credit default swaps and other swap agreements, whether traded on an exchange or over-the-counter, including commodity, equity, foreign currency, and interest rate swaps.
 
Authorizes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and specified other federal financial regulators to: (1) exercise oversight over any swap agreement entered into, purchased, or sold by any financial institution, entity, or person (for its own account or for the account of others), and any swap agreement, that is subject to the regulator's jurisdiction; and (2) promulgate, interpret, and enforce regulations, issue orders of general applicability, and impose disclosure, reporting, or recordkeeping requirements relating to any such swap agreement.
 
Grants the SEC sole oversight authority over: (1) any exchange or clearing agency; and (2) any swap agreement traded on or cleared through such exchange or clearing agency.
 
Grants the CFTC sole oversight authority over: (1) any trading facility or registered entity; and (2) any swap agreement executed on, traded on, or cleared through such trading facility or registered entity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5067-5069)
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Optional One Page Flat Tax Act

Bill: 111-s-963
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2009-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Legislative rules and procedure
Tax reform and tax simplification
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Optional One Page Flat Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize an individual or a person engaged in business activity to make an irrevocable election to be subject to a flat tax (in lieu of the existing tax provisions) of 19% for the first two years after an election is made, and 17% thereafter. 
 Calculates taxable income for individual taxpayers by subtracting a basic standard deduction and an additional standard deduction for each dependent from the total of wages, retirement distributions, and unemployment compensation. Defines &quot;business taxable income&quot; to mean gross active income reduced by the cost of certain business inputs. 
Imposes an employer tax on the value of excludable compensation provided to employees not engaged in business activity of 19% for the first two years after an election is made under this Act and 17% thereafter. 
Repeals the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. 
Requires a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives or the Senate to increase the flat tax rate proposed by this Act or to reduce the amount of the standard deduction or business-related deductions allowed by this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the President to posthumously award a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Robert M. LaFollette, Sr., in recognition of his important contributions to the Progressive movement, the State of Wisconsin, and the United States.

Bill: 111-s-964
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Members of Congress
Senate
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: 
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to award a gold medal of appropriate design posthumously to Robert M. La Follette, Sr., in recognition of his important contributions to the Progressive movement, Wisconsin, and the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
National Health Care Quality Act

Bill: 111-s-966
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Indian social and development programs
Medicaid
Medical research
Medicare
Minority health
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: 
National Health Care Quality Act - Establishes within the Executive Office of the President the Office of National Health Care Quality Improvement, headed by a Director of National Health Care Quality. Sets forth the duties of the Director, including: (1) advising the President on the quality of health care in the United States; (2) determining national priorities for improving health care quality; (3) establishing annual benchmarks for federal agencies to achieve national priorities for health care quality improvement; (4) developing an annual report card on the nation's health; and (5) posting on a website public information relating to national priorities for health care quality improvement and other information relating to health care quality. Establishes within the Office the Quality Interagency Coordinating Council to coordinate health care quality improvement efforts across all federal agencies.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) make the position of Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a presidential appointment; and (2) require the Agency to incorporate health care quality improvement priorities into research conducted under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), apply health care quality measures to HHS health programs, and conduct a public education campaign to educate health care providers and consumers about health care quality improvement. Establishes a National Quality Resource Center to assist health care providers in understanding and implementing health care quality improvement initiatives.
 
Requires the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to award National Quality Support Extension grants to support and facilitate local health care quality improvement efforts throughout the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5076-5080)
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5076)
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-967
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Oil and gas
Strategic materials and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2009 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) contain at least 30 million barrels of refined petroleum products.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy to submit to the President and, if the President approves, to Congress, a plan for inclusion of such products in the SPR.
 
Prohibits drawdown and sale of SPR petroleum products unless the Secretary determines that: (1) the drawdown and sale are required by a severe energy market supply interruption or U.S. obligations under the international energy program; or (2) a sale of refined petroleum products will mitigate the impacts of weather-related or other natural events that have resulted in a severe energy market disruption.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-67.
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5081)
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5080-5081)
action_date: 2009-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate