hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Lighthouse Stewardship Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-715
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
National Lighthouse Stewardship Act of 2009 - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service, to establish a three-year pilot program under which the Secretary shall use amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to this Act to provide grants to eligible entities for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouse structures. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-07-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3904-3905)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve care for ventilator-dependent patients.

Bill: 111-s-716
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Hospital care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to a hospital which provides acute care services to ventilator-dependent patients who are: (1) entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance); and (2) eligible for medical assistance under a state plan approved under SSA title XIX (Medicaid). 
 
Revises ventilator-dependent patient days requirements for the disproportionate patient percentage in the formula for calculation of an additional Medicare payment for each subsection (d) hospital.
 
(Generally, a subsection (d) hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Surface Estate Owner Notification Act

Bill: 111-s-719
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
Property rights

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Surface Estate Owner Notification Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, at least 45 days before the sale of a lease under the Mineral Leasing Act for development of U.S.-owned oil and gas resources (including coalbed methane), to submit a written notice to the surface estate owner of the land subject to the lease.
 
Requires such a notice to include information on split estates and the rights and responsibilities of landowners.
 
Requires the Secretary to notify the surface estate owner of: (1) the lessee's identity by 10 working days after a lease is issued; (2) any subsequent decisions regarding a lease, such as modification or waiver of stipulations and approval of rights of way; and (3) the issuance of the drilling permit within five days afterwards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Land REPAIR Act

Bill: 111-s-720
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Federal Land Restoration, Enhancement, Public Education, and Information Resources Act or Federal Land REPAIR Act - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and federal law relating to National Forest System lands to make available for certain restoration and public informational activities on federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture any amounts received from fines or any amounts received from collateral payments in lieu of appearance for violations of rules and regulations applicable to such land. Transfers any excess funds to the Crime Victims Fund established under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3919-3920)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3918-3919)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-721
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Washington State
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act - Designates certain land in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the state of Washington, which shall be considered to become a part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers in Washington state as scenic and/or wild rivers. 

action_date: 2010-03-02
text: 
Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act - Designates as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System and considers as part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness certain federal land in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the state of Washington that is within the proposed Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions Boundary. 
 
Makes any land or interests within the proposed boundary acquired by the United States part of the Wilderness. 
 
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers in the state of Washington as scenic and/or wild rivers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 282.
action_date: 2010-03-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-132.
action_date: 2010-03-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-132.
action_date: 2009-12-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2009-10-29
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-223.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3920)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Certainty and Relief Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-722
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Capital gains tax
Child care and development
Income tax credits
Income tax rates
Inflation and prices
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Tax treatment of families
Transfer and inheritance taxes
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Taxpayer Certainty and Relief Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the increased alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts and the offsets against such tax for nonrefundable tax credits; (2) adjust such AMT exemption amounts for inflation after 2009; (3) make reductions in individual income tax rates and capital gains and dividend tax rates enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA) permanent; (4) make expanded eligibility for the child tax credit permanent; (5) increase the earned income tax credit rate for taxpayers with three or more children; (6) make estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer provisions in effect in 2009 permanent and adjust estate and gift tax unified credit amounts for inflation after 2010; and (7) allow surviving spouses to increase their estate and gift tax unified credit by any unused credit amounts of a deceased spouse.
 
Repeals EGTRRA sunset dates for: (1) marriage penalty relief provisions; and (2) increases in the dependent care, adoption assistance, and earned income tax credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3921-3924)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3920-3921)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-723
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Fires
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act of 2009 - Treats certain novelty lighters as banned hazardous substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, and applies to them the Act's prohibitions (in effect banning their introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce).
 
Defines as a &quot;novelty lighter&quot; a lighter that has a toy-like appearance, has entertaining audio or visual effects, or resembles in any way in form or function an item that is commonly recognized as appealing, attractive, or intended for use by children of 10 years of age or younger. Excludes from that term standard disposable and refillable lighters that are printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals, artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3924)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3924)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to temporarily prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from considering global climate change as a natural or manmade factor in determining whether a species is a threatened or endangered species, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-724
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Asia
China
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Endangered and threatened species
India
International law and treaties

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from considering global climate change as a natural or manmade factor in the determination as to whether a species is threatened or endangered until the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notifies the Secretary that: (1) each major emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) (specifically including China, India, and the United States) has ratified an international agreement to reduce the quantity of GHGs emitted; and (2) any such emitter found to not to be in compliance with such agreement, in any year, becomes compliant. 

Makes this Act effective as of January 1, 2006.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Equity for Our Nation's Self Employed Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-725
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Self-employed

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Equity for Our Nation's Self Employed Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow self-employed individuals to deduct health insurance costs in computing the tax on self-employment income. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3925)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3925)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act

Bill: 111-s-726
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Child health
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Intellectual property
Judicial procedure and administration
Licensing and registrations
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the licensing of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products. Defines &quot;biosimilar&quot; and &quot;interchangeability&quot; for purposes of this Act. 
 
Allows any person to file an abbreviated biological product application with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires such applications to include information demonstrating a high degree of similarity or interchangeability between the biological product and the licensed biological product (reference product).
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) approve an application and issue a license for a biosimilar product unless the Secretary finds and informs the applicant that the information in the application fails to demonstrate biosimilarity between the biological product and the reference product or the safety, purity, and potency of the biological product; and (2) establish requirements for the efficient review, approval, suspension, and revocation of abbreviated biological product applications. 
 
Allows an applicant to request the Secretary to make a determination as to the interchangeability of a product and its reference product based on whether a product can be expected to produce the same clinical result as the reference product in any given patient. Grants market exclusivity to any biological product that is determined to be interchangeable for a specified period. 
 
Sets forth provisions governing patent infringement claims involving comparable biological products and legal remedies to expedite the adjudication of patent infringement disputes.
 
Extends the period for approval of biological products to allow for studies of the use of new biological products in the pediatric population.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-727
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Mammals

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for possessing, shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering, or receiving any horse, horse flesh, or carcass with the intent that it be used for human consumption. Reduces the prison term to one year if the offense involves less than five horses or less than 2,000 pounds of horse flesh or carcass and the offender has no prior conviction for this offense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3926)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3925-3926)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
DREAM Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-729
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Citizenship and naturalization
Department of Homeland Security
Education programs funding
Foreign labor
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009 or DREAM Act of 2009 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the provision making unlawful aliens ineligible for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. citizen or national is eligible for such benefits without regard to state residence.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of, and adjust to conditional permanent resident status, an alien who: (1) entered the United States before his or her 16th birthday and has been present in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding enactment of this Act; (2) is a person of good moral character; (3) is not inadmissible or deportable under specified grounds of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (4) at the time of application, has been admitted to an institution of higher education or has earned a high school or equivalent diploma; (5) from the age of 16 and older, has never been under a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal; and (6) was under age 35 on the date of this Act's enactment.
 
Sets forth the conditions for conditional permanent resident status, including: (1) termination of status for violation of this Act; and (2) removal of conditional status to permanent status.
 
Authorizes an alien who has satisfied the appropriate requirements prior to enactment of this Act to petition the Secretary for conditional permanent resident status. 
 
Provides for: (1) exclusive jurisdiction; (2) penalties for false application statements; (3) confidentiality; (4) fee prohibitions; (5) higher education assistance; and (6) a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report respecting the number of aliens adjusted under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3930-3932)
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable Footwear Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-730
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Caribbean area
Consumer affairs
Haiti
Latin America
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Affordable Footwear Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the reduction or elimination of duties on certain imported footwear would provide significant benefits to U.S. consumers, particularly lower-income families.
 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain footwear (including children's shoes) made of rubber or plastics that are imported into the United States. Deems the outer sole of shoes made of rubber or plastics to which textile materials are attached or incorporated to be made only of rubber or plastics.
 
Amends the Caribbean Basic Economic Recovery Act to provide footwear imported directly from Haiti into the United States with the same preferential treatment that is provided to certain imported footwear under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for continuity of TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Retired Reserve.

Bill: 111-s-731
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
 Makes a member of the Retired Reserve who is qualified for a non-regular (reserve) retirement at age 60, but is not yet 60, eligible for health benefits under TRICARE Standard (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed health care program for members of the reserves). Terminates such eligibility when the member becomes eligible for TRICARE Standard at age 60.
 
Includes immediate family members under such coverage.
 
Requires members to pay a premium for such coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2009

Bill: 111-s-732
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2009-03-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Dams and canals
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: 
Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2009 - Amends the National Dam Safety Program Act to require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to provide grant assistance to states for use in rehabilitating publicly-owned dams that fail to meet minimum safety standards and pose an unacceptable risk to the public (deficient dams).
 
Sets forth provisions regarding procedures for grant awards and fund allocation. Requires FEMA to develop a risk-based priority system for identifying deficient dams for which such grants may be made. Limits the federal share of rehabilitation costs to 65%. 
 
Prohibits funds from being used to: (1) rehabilitate a federal dam; (2) perform routine operation or maintenance; (3) modify a dam to produce hydroelectric power; (4) increase water supply storage capacity; or (5) make any other modification that does not also improve safety.
 
Conditions the receipt of grants by states upon compliance with specified requirements regarding contracts for architectural and engineering services. Provides that such contracts shall not be considered to confer a proprietary interest upon the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2009-03-26
text: Introduced in Senate