hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to make technical corrections to a provision relating to project deauthorizations.

Bill: 111-s-1014
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2009-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Maine
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: 
Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 to include the projects for navigation at Northeast Harbor and Tenants Harbor, Maine, among those projects that are deauthorized by such Act (currently, those projects are included among projects that are deauthorized except with respect to any portion completed before, or under construction on, the date of enactment of such Act).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance disability compensation for certain disabled veterans with difficulties using prostheses and disabled veterans in need of regular aid and attendance for residuals of traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-1015
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2009-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Neurological disorders
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: 
Reduces the level of difficulty required in the use of prostheses by veterans suffering the loss of hands, arms, or legs as a result of military service before becoming eligible for a higher level of veterans' disability compensation for such injury.
 
Authorizes additional veterans' disability compensation for service-disabled veterans determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to residual effects of traumatic brain injury.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the commencement of the period of payment of original awards of compensation for veterans who are retired or separated from the uniformed services for disability.

Bill: 111-s-1016
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2009-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: 
Commences the payment of original awards of veterans' disability compensation, in the case of veterans who are retired or separated from active military service for a disability or disabilities, as of the date the award becomes effective.
 
Provides a similar effective date for a waiver by such veterans of military retired or retainer pay in an amount equal to the disability compensation received.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Cane River National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-1017
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2009-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Louisiana
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: 
Cane River National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage Area Act to: (1) revise the boundaries of the Cane River National Heritage Area, Louisiana; (2) revise the duties of the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission; and (3) terminate such Commission on August 5, 2025 (under current law, on the day occurring 10 years after the first official meeting of the Commission). 

action_date: 2010-08-05
text: 
Cane River National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Amends the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage Area Act to: (1) add to the purposes of the Cane River National Heritage Area (Louisiana) the fostering of compatible economic development and the enhancement of the quality of life for local residents; (2) revise the boundaries of the Cane River National Heritage Area; (3) revise the composition of the membership and powers of the Cane River National Heritage Area Commission; (4) require the Secretary of the Interior to review amendments to the management plan that substantially alter the purposes for the Heritage Area; and (5) extend the termination date of the Commission to September 30, 2015.
 
Directs the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area and report to Congress on the results of the evaluation, including any future role of the National Park Service respecting the Area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 523.
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 111-253.
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with amendments. With written report No. 111-253.
action_date: 2010-06-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2010-03-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-476.
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5330-5331)
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5330)
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act

Bill: 111-s-1019
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2009-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aging
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Income tax credits
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers an income tax credit of up to $500 for the purchase of a hearing aid for the use of the taxpayer or a dependent.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act

Bill: 111-s-1020
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2009-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medical education
Medical research
Medicare
Rural conditions and development
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: 
Patient-Focused Critical Care Enhancement Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), to conduct research to assess: (1) the standardization of critical care protocols, intensive care unit layout, equipment interoperability, and medical informatics; and (2) the impact of differences in staffing, organization, size, and structure of intensive care units on access, quality, and efficiency of care.
 
Requires the Secretary to undertake demonstration projects to: (1) optimize the provision of critical care services to Medicare beneficiaries through innovations in such areas as staffing and utilization of technology; and (2) measure and evaluate outcomes derived from a &quot;family-centered&quot; approach to the provision of inpatient critical care services that includes direct and sustained communication and contact with the beneficiary family members, involvement of family members in the critical care decisionmaking process, and responsiveness of critical care providers to family requests.
 
Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY2010-FY2015 for augmenting the delivery of critical care services in the rural or other medically underserved area inpatient setting through the use of telecommunications systems that allow for consultation with critical care providers not located in the rural or other medically underserved area facility regarding the care of such patients. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to give preference in awarding telehealth grant funds to entities to develop plans for, or to establish, such critical care telehealth networks.
 
Requires the Secretary to undertake an initiative to recruit providers of critical care services into the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
USA Jobs Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1021
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Energy research
Income tax credits
Manufacturing
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: 
USA Jobs Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a manufacturer who has domestic production gross receipts that are greater than 50% of total production gross receipts an increased tax credit for research expenditures, including energy research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5440)
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1022
Sponsor: Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN]
Introduced: 2009-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Medical education
Nursing
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: 
Nurses' Higher Education and Loan Repayment Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to repay education loans in exchange for an individual working as a full-time member of the faculty of an accredited school of nursing. Terminates the provisions of this Act on December 31, 2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act

Bill: 111-s-1024
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Coast guard
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Great Lakes
Marine and inland water transportation
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: 
Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Homeland Security for necessary expenses of the Coast Guard relating to the design, acquisition, and construction of a combined buoy tender-icebreaker to replace icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-1025
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2009-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Fires
Government studies and investigations
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: 
Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit any employee from being terminated, demoted, or discriminated against in the terms or conditions of employment because the employee is absent or late as a result of serving as a volunteer firefighter or providing volunteer emergency medical services as part of a response to an emergency or major disaster. Excludes absences for which the employee: (1) is absent for more than 14 days per calendar year; (2) responds to an emergency or major disaster without being officially deployed in accordance with a coordinator national deployment system; or (3) fails to provide written verification within a reasonable period of time. 
 
Allows employers to: (1) reduce the employee's regular pay for such time as the employee is absent; and (2) require the employee to provide written verification from the supervising Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state, or local official that such employee responded in an official capacity at a specified time and date. 
 
Requires such an employee to make a reasonable effort to notify his or her employer that he or she may be absent or late. 
 
Gives such an employee a private cause of action for discrimination which violates this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Voting Protection Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1026
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2009-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: 
Military Voting Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to direct the Secretary of Defense (the presidential designee) to establish procedures for: (1) collecting marked absentee ballots of absent overseas uniformed services voters in regularly scheduled general elections for federal office; and (2) delivering such ballots to the appropriate state election officials.
 
Requires the designee to: (1) ensure that such ballots are delivered prior to the time established for the closing of the polls on the date of the election; (2) carry out delivery requirements by utilizing the express mail delivery services of the U.S. Postal Service, which shall include a mechanism for ballot tracking; (3) inform individuals who are anticipated to be absent overseas uniformed services voters in such an election of the procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee ballots established pursuant to this Act; and (4) take steps to ensure that such voters are able to cast their votes in a private and independent manner, and that vote contents remain private while in the designee's possession or control. 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5376-5377)
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5375-5376)
action_date: 2009-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-1027
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Currency
Government studies and investigations
International monetary system and foreign exchange
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: 
Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the administering authority to: (1) determine, based on certain requirements, whether the exchange rate of the currency of an exporting country is fundamentally and actionably undervalued or overvalued (misaligned) against the U.S. dollar for an 18-month period; and (2) take certain actions under a countervailing duty or antidumping duty proceeding to offset such misalignment in cases of an affirmative determination.
 
Subjects the misalignment to the U.S. dollar of the currency of nonmarket economy countries also to the countervailing and antidumping duty provisions of the Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening America's Public Health System Act

Bill: 111-s-1028
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Computers and information technology
Department of Health and Human Services
Emergency communications systems
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mexico
Student aid and college costs
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: 
Strengthening America's Public Health System Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) establish the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant Program to assist public health agencies in improving surveillance for, and response to, infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance; and (2) issue guidelines for public health entities relating to information systems to receive, monitor, and report infectious diseases and other such conditions.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director, to: (1) address documented workforce shortages in state and local health departments in applied public health epidemiology and public health laboratory science and informatics; and (2) provide for the expansion of applied epidemiology training programs.

Requires the Director, upon request, to assist the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists in developing or improving a process for states to conduct surveillance and submit reports to the Director on nationally notifiable diseases and conditions.

Requires the Secretary to adopt and use guidelines to develop improved standards and protocols for binational epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory analyses, and control of infectious diseases between the United States and Mexico.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to establish a committee to: (1) evaluate best practices in public health surveillance; and (2) assess systems needed for improving coordination among public health surveillance and monitoring systems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5437-5439)
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5437)
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
21st Century Skills Incentive Fund Act

Bill: 111-s-1029
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2009-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Computers and information technology
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government trust funds
Higher education
Income tax deductions
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: 
21st Century Skills Incentive Fund Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to states to establish statewide 21st Century Skills initiatives.
 
Conditions grant eligibility on a state's: (1) developing a comprehensive plan for such initiative; (2) showing a commitment to advancing such skills within standards and assessments, curriculum, professional development, and the learning environment; (3) achieving broad support for the initiative among state education, business, and civic leaders; and (4) implementing 21st century assessments of education that measure core subjects and 21st century themes, life and career skills, thinking and innovation skills, and information media and technology skills.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a 21st Century Skills Incentive Fund from which grants shall be awarded.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require that the percentage limitation on corporate charitable contributions be applied separately to cash contributions to state 21st Century Skills initiatives and all other corporate charitable contributions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5439-5440)
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the reduction in the credit rate for certain facilities producing electricity from renewable resources.

Bill: 111-s-1030
Sponsor: Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2009-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the reduction in the rate of the tax credit for producing electricity from open-loop biomass, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5440-5441)
action_date: 2009-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate