hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act

Bill: 111-s-380
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Great Lakes
Historic sites and heritage areas
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Michigan
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: 
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act - Expands, notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation, the boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in Lake Huron.

action_date: 2009-08-04
text: 
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act - Expands, notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation, the boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in Lake Huron.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 148.
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. With written report No. 111-65.
action_date: 2009-08-04
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with amendments. With written report No. 111-65.
action_date: 2009-05-20
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians, to provide a process for the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian and the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian government, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-381
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal-Indian relations
Hawaii
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: 
Establishes the U.S. Office for Native Hawaiian Affairs (Office) within the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
 
Requires the Attorney General to designate a Department of Justice official to assist the Office in the implementation and protection of the rights of Native Hawaiians and their political, legal, and trust relationship with the United States. 
Establishes the Native Hawaiian Interagency Task Force to: (1) coordinate federal policies or actions that may significantly or uniquely affect Native Hawaiian resources, rights, or lands; (2) assure that each federal agency develops a policy on consultation with Native Hawaiians; and (3) assure the participation of such agencies in the development of an annual report on the Task Force. 
Establishes a process for development of a membership roll for organizing a Native Hawaiian Interim Governing Council and for election of a Native Hawaiian government. Recognizes the right of the Native Hawaiian people to adopt organic governing documents. 
Extends federal recognition to the government as the representative governing body of the Native Hawaiian people upon election of officers and certification by the Secretary. 
Permits the United States, upon federal recognition of the Native Hawaiian government, to enter into an agreement with the state of Hawaii and such government regarding the transfer of lands, resources, and assets dedicated to Native Hawaiian use.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1547-1550)
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1546-1547)
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
MediFair Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-382
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2009-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Medicare
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: 
MediFair Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a system for making adjustments to the amount of payment made to entities and individuals for items and services provided under the original Medicare fee-for-service program under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Requires such adjustments in order to make the state average per beneficiary amount equal to the national average per beneficiary amount.
 
Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to develop recommendations on policies and practices that would encourage: (1) healthy outcomes and quality care under the Medicare program in states with respect to which payments are reduced under such system; and (2) the efficient use of payments made under the Medicare program in such states.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Intelligence Community Audit Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-385
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: 
Intelligence Community Audit Act of 2009 - Reaffirms the authority of the Comptroller General to audit and evaluate financial transactions, programs, and activities of elements of the intelligence community (those elements identified in the National Security Act of 1947) and obtain access to records for such purposes.
 
Allows the Comptroller General to conduct an audit or evaluation of intelligence sources and methods or covert actions only upon a request of a congressional intelligence committee or the majority or minority leader of the Senate or the House of Representatives. Requires the Comptroller General to disclose the results of any such audit or evaluation only to the original requestor, the Director of National Intelligence, and the head of the relevant element of the intelligence community. 

Requires the Comptroller General to establish safeguards to protect the unauthorized disclosure of all classified and other sensitive information furnished to the Comptroller General in conducting an audit or evaluation.

Requires elements of the intelligence community to cooperate with the Comptroller General in providing documentation and information necessary for audits and evaluations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1681)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1680-1681)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 211 South Court Street, Rockford, Illinois, as the "Stanley J. Roszkowski United States Courthouse".

Bill: 111-s-387
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Illinois
Judges

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: 
Designates the United States courthouse, located at 211 South Court Street, Rockford, Illinois, as the &quot;Stanley J. Roszkowski United States Courthouse.&quot;

action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 

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

 
Designates the United States courthouse, located at 211 South Court Street, Rockford, Illinois, as the &quot;Stanley J. Roszkowski United States Courthouse.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: For further action see P.L. 111-14.
action_date: 2009-03-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2009-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2009-03-02
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2009-02-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2009-02-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2575)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S2575)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2574-2575)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2574-2575)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1684)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1684)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-388
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2009-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: 
Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2009 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend for three years after the date of enactment of this Act the annual cap exemption for returning H-2B aliens (temporary nonagricultural worker). 
 
Provides that such amendment shall: (1) take effect as if enacted on December 1, 2008; and (2) apply only to petitions with an approved start date in FY2009-FY2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1685)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1684-1685)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a conditional stay of the ban on lead in children's products, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-389
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2009-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: 
Amends the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 to revise the effective dates relating to the allowable limits on lead in children's products so as to link such dates to the publication of related final regulations and stays of enforcement by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1685-1686)
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to expand the authority of the Secretary of the Air Force to convey certain relocatable military housing units to Indian tribes located in Idaho and Nevada.

Bill: 111-s-390
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2009-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Housing supply and affordability
Idaho
Indian social and development programs
Land transfers
Military facilities and property
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: 
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2009 to include Idaho and Nevada among specified states to which the Secretary of the Air Force may convey certain relocatable military housing units to Indian tribes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Americans Act

Bill: 111-s-391
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Aging
Child health
Civil actions and liability
Comprehensive health care
Disability assistance
Elementary and secondary education
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medical education
Medicare
Prescription drugs
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: 
Healthy Americans Act - Requires each adult individual to have the opportunity to purchase a Healthy Americans Private Insurance Plan (HAPI), which is: (1) a plan offered by a state; or (2) an employer-sponsored health coverage plan. Makes individuals who are not enrolled in another specified health plan and who are not opposed to coverage for religious reasons responsible for enrolling themselves and their dependent children in a HAPI plan offered through their state of residence. Sets forth penalties for failure to enroll. 

Establishes standardized coverage and state options for HAPI plans. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate guidelines concerning the benefits, items, and services to be covered. Sets forth requirements for setting premiums. Requires the Secretary to establish the Healthy America Advisory Committee to provide annual recommendations concerning modifications to the benefits, items, and services required. 

Provides for school-based health centers.

Authorizes states to establish and operate a State Choices for Long-Term Care Program. 

Requires the Secretary to establish Chronic Care Education Centers.

Requires states to establish or designate a state Health Help Agency to carry out the administration of HAPI plans and to promote prevention and wellness for residents.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require employers and individuals to each make shared responsibility payments for HAPI plan premiums.

Sets forth requirements for health insurance issuers offering a HAPI plan.

Establishes the Healthy Americans Public Health Trust Fund for the payment of: (1) premium subsidies; and (2) bonuses to states for implementing medical malpractice reform.

Terminates federal health benefits coverage, including coverage provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Card Reform Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-392
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2009-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Child safety and welfare
Consumer credit
Contracts and agency
Federal Reserve System
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-06
text: 
Credit Card Reform Act of 2009 - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to permit a consumer reporting agency to furnish a consumer report in connection with any credit or insurance transaction that is not initiated by the consumer only if the report indicates that the consumer is age 21 or older. Allows 18-year olds to elect to have their name and address included in any agency list. 

Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a credit card issuer from changing the terms of a credit card under an open end consumer credit plan: (1) before the scheduled contract expiration or renewal date; and (2) until the issuer has published all contract changes in any mandatory disclosures. 

Establishes a cardholder right to repay all existing balances on a terminated or expired credit card account under the terms of the account in effect before the termination or expiration.

Imposes limits upon increases of interest rates and finance charges on a credit card account before its scheduled renewal date.

Permits an increase in the annual percentage rate (APR) as a penalty only for specific, material contract violations of a consumer directly related to the account that are specified in the contract as grounds for an increase. 

Bans retroactive rate increases.

Prohibits a credit card issuer from imposing adverse consequences for late payment if the cardholder's payment is postmarked or initiated by electronic funds transfer on or before the required postmark date. 

Requires a credit card issuer to verify, when the account is opened or the credit limit increased, that the consumer will be able to make the scheduled payments, based on a consideration of current and expected income, current obligations, and employment status.

Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to redefine &quot;firm offer of credit or insurance&quot; to require the offer to specify all material terms, including APR, fees, and the applicable amount of credit or credit limit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Sopuruchi Chukwueke.

Bill: 111-s-393
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-06
text: Provides for the relief of Sopuruchi Chukwueke.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Art and Collectibles Capital Gains Tax Treatment Parity Act

Bill: 111-s-394
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Capital gains tax
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Literature
Music
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: 
Art and Collectibles Capital Gains Tax Treatment Parity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) eliminate the 28% capital gains tax rate for collectibles, thus allowing gain from the sale of collectibles (including art works) to be taxed at the 15% tax rate applicable to other investment property; and (2) allow the creator of a literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly property a fair market value tax deduction for the donation of such property to a tax-exempt organization, if properly appraised and donated no sooner than 18 months after its creation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-395
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Congressional agencies
Government information and archives
Historical and cultural resources
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Libraries and archives
Library of Congress
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Racial and ethnic relations
Smithsonian Institution
Sound recording

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: 
Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009 - Requires the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (acting through the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture) to establish an oral history project to: (1) collect video and audio recordings of, and visual and written materials relevant to the personal histories of, participants in the Civil Rights movement; and (2) make the collection available for public use through the Library of Congress and the Museum.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2028-2029)
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2028)
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Marcos Antonio Sanchez-Diaz.

Bill: 111-s-396
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Provides for the relief of Marcos Antonio Sanchez-Diaz.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Anton Dodaj, Gjyljana Dodaj, Franc Dodaj, and Kristjan Dodaj.

Bill: 111-s-397
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Provides for the relief of Anton Dodaj, Gjyljana Dodaj, Franc Dodaj, and Kristjan Dodaj.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-398
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Idaho
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: 
Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2009 - Prohibits any reduction of the apportionment of federal-aid highway funds to Idaho if: (1) it permits a commercial combination vehicle weighing up to 129,000 pounds to operate on specified routes of the Interstate System within the state; (2) such vehicle does not exceed state weight limits for operation on state highways; and (3) the vehicle is limited to travel only on certain portions of Interstate Routes 15, 84, and 86.
 
(Under current law, the federal-aid highway funds of a state shall be reduced if it permits a commercial combination vehicle with a weight in excess of federal weight limits to operate on Interstate System highways within the state.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Universal Default Prohibition Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-399
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: 
Universal Default Prohibition Act of 2009 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from: (1) using any adverse information concerning any consumer, including any in a consumer report or any change in the consumer's credit score, as the basis for increasing any annual percentage rate of interest (APR) for a credit card account of the consumer's under an open end consumer credit plan; or (2) removing or increasing any introductory APR for that account, for reasons other than actions or omissions of the consumer directly related to the account.
 
Requires such limitation on the use of adverse information to be clearly and conspicuously described to the consumer by the credit card issuer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate