hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Access for All America Act

Bill: 111-s-486
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Access for All America Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for community health centers and for the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment program for FY2010-FY2015, and provide for increased funding for such programs in FY2016 and each subsequent fiscal year; and (2) revise and expand provisions allowing a community health center to provide services at different locations, adjust its operating plan and budget, enter into arrangements with other centers to purchase supplies and services at reduced cost, and correct material failures in grant compliance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2561-2562)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-487
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cell biology and embryology
Department of Health and Human Services
Medical ethics
Medical research
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo. Limits such research to stem cells that meet the following requirements: (1) the stem cells were derived from human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics, were created for the purposes of fertility treatment, and were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment; (2) prior to donation, it was determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded; and (3) the individuals seeking fertility treatment donated the embryos with written informed consent and received no financial or other inducements.
 
Requires the Secretary to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of stem cells that are capable of producing all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may result in improved understanding of treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but that are not derived from a human embryo. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide guidance concerning the next steps required for additional research; (2) prioritize research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit; and (3) take into account techniques outlined by the President's Council on Bioethics and any other appropriate techniques and research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2562-2563)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2562)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-488
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Drug therapy
Employee benefits and pensions
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from: (1) denying an eligible participant or beneficiary with cancer participation in clinical trials related to the prevention or treatment of cancer that are federally funded or conducted under an investigational new drug application reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); (2) denying (or limiting or imposing additional conditions on) the coverage of routine patient costs for items and services furnished in connection with such participation; or (3) discriminating against an individual on the basis of such participation. Includes as routine patient costs all items and services provided in the clinical trial that are otherwise generally available to a qualified individual, with certain exceptions. 
 
Applies such prohibitions to coverage offered in the individual market and coverage offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
 
Makes this Act effective January 1, 2009.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study the impact on group health plans of requiring them to cover routine patient care costs for individuals with serious and life threatening diseases other than cancer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2564-2565)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-489
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Birds
Disaster relief and insurance
Farmland
Outdoor recreation
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act of 2009 - Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to allow an agricultural producer, or a hunter with the producer's permission, to take migratory game birds by the aid of baiting, if: (1) the manipulation occurs on the producer's land on which a crop was not harvestable during the current or immediately preceding crop year due to a natural disaster; and (2) a local representative of the Secretary of Agriculture confirms that the crop has been destroyed and that it would not be economically practicable to harvest the crop.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Servant Retirement Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-490
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Social security and elderly assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Public Servant Retirement Protection Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to repeal the current windfall elimination provision (WEP) (that reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security) for individuals first performing non-covered service beginning one year after enactment of this Act. 
 
Establishes a new formula for the treatment of non-covered earnings in determining Social Security benefits. Applies such formula to individuals subject to the current WEP if the benefit under the new formula would be higher.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act

Bill: 111-s-491
Sponsor: Sen. Webb, Jim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis (i.e., exclude premiums from gross income); and (2) a tax deduction (available to itemizers and nonitemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums or enrollment fees. 
Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Secretary of Defense to ensure that the option of paying FEHBP and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis is available to federal civilian and military retirees for the first open enrollment period beginning not less than 90 days after the enactment of this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2565)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2565)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Officials Tax Relief Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-492
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Income tax exclusion
Social security and elderly assistance
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Local Officials Tax Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to exempt from social security taxes certain remuneration paid on or after January 1, 2010, to elected or appointed members of any general governing board, commission, or committee of any political subdivision of a state. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-493
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Disability and paralysis
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 or the ABLE Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish tax-exempt ABLE accounts for individuals with a disability to pay certain expenses of such individuals, including expenses for education, housing, transportation, employment support, medical care, and certain life necessities. Defines &quot;individual with a disability&quot; as an individual who is eligible to receive certain supplemental security income benefits under the Social Security Act.

Allows individual taxpayers a tax deduction, up to $2,000 per year, for contributions to an ABLE account. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to Congress on the use of ABLE accounts and the effect of the tax deduction for contributions to such accounts.

Requires ABLE accounts to be disregarded in determining eligibility for Medicaid benefits and for purposes of determining eligibility for other means-tested federal programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Salah Naji Sujaa.

Bill: 111-s-494
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Provides for the relief of Salah Naji Sujaa.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice Integrity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-495
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Judicial procedure and administration
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Justice Integrity Act of 2009 - Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish a pilot program in 10 U.S. districts to promote fairness and the perception of fairness in the federal criminal justice system and to determine whether legislation is required; and (2) designate a U.S. attorney in each of the districts to implement a plan for carrying out such pilot program.

Requires each U.S. attorney designated to implement a pilot program to appoint an advisory group consisting of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other individuals and entities who play an important role in the criminal justice system. Requires each advisory group to: (1) collect and analyze data on the race and ethnicity of defendants at each stage of a criminal proceeding; (2) seek to determine causes of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice process; and (3) submit to the U.S. attorney a report and proposed plan for addressing such disparities. Requires each U.S. attorney to annually evaluate the efficacy of a plan submitted by an advisory group. 

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) prepare a comprehensive report on all advisory group plans and submit such report and plans to Congress; and (2) exercise continuing oversight of the criminal justice system to reduce unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities and improve such system. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2566-2567)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2565-2566)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-496
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Economic development
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Human rights
Pakistan
Tariffs
Terrorism
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009 - Declares the purposes of this Act, including to stimulate economic activity and development in Afghanistan and the border region of Pakistan in an effort to combat violent extremism. 
 
Authorizes the President to: (1) designate an area within Afghanistan or Pakistan as a Reconstruction Opportunity Zone, provided such country meets certain eligibility requirements; and (2) proclaim duty-free treatment for certain articles (including certain textile and apparel articles as well as non-textile or non-apparel articles) that are imported into the United States from a designated zone within such country, provided certain requirements are met. Specifies rules of origin for such articles.

Prohibits duty-free treatment for any such articles unless the country in question adopts certain enforcement measures to prevent their unlawful transshipment and the use of false documents relating to importation into the United States.

Authorizes the President to: (1) waive duty-free treatment for such articles if it is inconsistent with the national interests of the United States; and (2) withdraw, suspend, or limit such treatment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-497
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Medical education
Nursing
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Nurse Education, Expansion, and Development Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to award a grant to each eligible school of nursing to increase the number of nursing faculty and students.
 
Requires such schools to formulate and implement a plan to accomplish at least two of specified goals, which include: (1) establishing or significantly expanding an accelerated baccalaureate degree nursing program designed to graduate new nurses in 12 to 18 months; (2) establishing cooperative interdisciplinary training between schools of nursing and other specified health related fields; (3) increasing admissions, enrollment, and retention of qualified individuals who are financially disadvantaged; (4) increasing enrollment of minority and diverse student populations; (5) increasing enrollment of new graduate baccalaureate nursing students in graduate programs that educate nurse faculty members; (6) developing post-baccalaureate residency programs to prepare nurses for practice in specialty areas where nursing shortages are more severe; and (7) increasing integration of geriatric content into the core curriculum.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to study ways to increase participation in the nurse faculty profession and to submit a report to Congress that includes: (1) a discussion of the master's degree and doctoral degree programs that are successful in placing graduates as faculty in schools of nursing; and (2) an examination of compensation disparities throughout the nursing profession and between higher education instructional faculty generally and higher education instructional nursing faculty.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2568-2569)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2567-2568)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize dental insurance for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-498
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Dental care
Health care costs and insurance
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
 Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a dental insurance plan for any veteran enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) annual patient enrollment system, as well as the survivors and dependents of certain veterans.
 
Provides for: (1) the payment of premiums for plan enrollment; and (2) voluntary plan disenrollment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2569)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Withdraw Energy Addicting New Subsidies Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-499
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy research
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Withdraw Energy Addicting New Subsidies Act of 2009 or the WEANS Act of 2009 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal the research and development program for ultra-deepwater and unconventional onshore natural gas and other petroleum assets.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2570)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2570)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-500
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%.
 
Sets forth criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Empowers state Attorneys General to enforce this Act.
 
Revises requirements for a periodic statement for each billing cycle with respect to where the total finance charge exceeds 50 cents for a monthly or longer billing cycle, or the pro rata part of 50 cents for a billing cycle shorter than monthly. Requires inclusion of the fee and interest rate, displayed as &quot;FAIR,&quot; instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2571-2572)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2570-2571, S2572-2573)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Prescription Drug Competition Act

Bill: 111-s-501
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Fair Prescription Drug Competition Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit a holder of a new, approved drug application from commencing to manufacture, market, sell, or distribute a generic version of such drug from the time of the receipt of notice from the generic manufacturer that an abbreviated new drug application has been submitted for approval until the expiration or forfeiture of the exclusivity period granted to the generic manufacturer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2569-2570)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Older Worker Opportunity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-502
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2009-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aging
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-27
text: 
Older Worker Opportunity Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers who provide health and retirement benefits to their employees a tax credit for 25% of the first $6,000 of wages paid to individuals age 62 or older participating in a flexible work program. Terminates such credit after 2012. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate