jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Transportation — Air Travel
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2016-12-08 00:00:00

Strengthening American Transportation Security Act of 2016

This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the personnel system used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides insufficient workplace protections for its workforce and such personnel should be entitled to protections under the civil service system applicable to all federal employees.

The bill repeals personnel authorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation governing the conditions of employment for TSA employees, thus making TSA employees subject to the personnel management system applicable to all other federal employees.

Within 60 days after the enactment of this bill or an earlier date set by DHS: (1) all TSA personnel management policies, directives, letters, and guidelines and any DHS human resources management system shall cease to be effective with respect to TSA employees; and (2) TSA employees shall become subject to labor provisions applicable to other federal transportation employees.

The bill sets forth transition rules that protect the pay rates and other rights of TSA employees. DHS shall consult with the labor organization certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to carry out the conversion of TSA employees and positions to the civil service system.

The provisions of this bill do not affect the prohibitions against disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the federal government.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Amends the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1986 to repeal the prohibition against use of certain funds for any segment of the downtown Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project unless the Southern California Rapid Transit District notifies the Urban Mass Transportation Administration that no part of the Metro Rail project will tunnel through any zone designated as a potential risk zone or high potential risk zone for methane gas. Amends federal transportation law to extend the special rule for the allocation of urbanized area formula grants through FY2009. Sets forth the maximum amounts to be allocated for such grants for FY2008 and FY2009.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2007-01-30 00:00:00

Transit System Flexibility Protection Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make public transportation formula grants for operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation in an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000 if the state or regional authority providing public transportation for the area operates less than 100 buses in fixed-route service in the area during peak service hours.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2007-03-13 00:00:00

Public Transportation and Rail Security Assistance Act of 2007 - Requires the public transportation security assessment (a risk assessment of a public transportation system conducted pursuant to specified provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users) of each public transportation system to identify: (1) the critical assets of the public transportation system; (2) threats to those assets; (3) security weaknesses in the public transportation system; (4) redundant and backup systems required in the event of an incident; and (5) the extent to which public transportation employees have received training in security awareness and emergency response procedures. Requires a public transportation agency that receives an assessment to develop a prioritized plan of needed capital and operational security improvements. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop: (1) a national public transportation security needs assessment (national assessment) to determine the costs of needed capital and operational security improvements for each system; and (2) a security plan for U.S. railroads. Makes grants to eligible public transportation agencies for certain capital security improvements and operational security improvements. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide notification of all credible terrorist threats against public transportation assets in the United States. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop and issue guidelines for a public transportation employee security training program. Requires a public transportation agency that receives a public transportation security assessment to develop, and submit for the Secretary of Transportation's approval, an employee training program in accordance with such guidelines. Makes grants to private operators of over-the-road buses for certain system-wide security improvements to their operations. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit to Congress a preliminary report that includes an assessment of the over-the-road bus security grant program. Allows a rail carrier, a rail shipper, or railroad contractor or railroad labor organization to report a security vulnerability, cargo information, security plan, or security training program to specified individuals.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2007-05-23 00:00:00

Reduce Individuals' Dependence on Energy Act of 2007 or the RIDE Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a deduction from gross income for transportation expenses on federal, state, or local government mass transit facilities.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2008-05-08 00:00:00

Free Way Act of 2008 - Prohibits a state from collecting a toll from an operator of a high occupany vehicle (HOV) that was permitted to use a HOV lane in the state at no cost before December 31, 2007. (Currently, a state is allowed to collect a toll from any operator of a HOV vehicle that uses an HOV lane in the state.)
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2008-05-13 00:00:00

Creating Opportunities to Motivate Mass-transit Utilization to Encourage Ridership Act of 2008 or the Commuter Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a refundable tax credit for 50% of the cost of transit passes provided on a tax-free basis to employees.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2008-07-15 00:00:00

Transportation and Housing Choices for Gas Price Relief Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) carry out a competitive grant program that supports community efforts to invest in transportation alternatives and travel demand management strategies; and (2) award grants to eligible entities, giving priority to activity proposals for reducing single occupancy vehicle trips. Provides certain formula grant funding for specified improvement activities to increase use of public transportation. Requires the Secretary to award grants for a national consumer awareness program on the environmental, energy, and economic benefits of transportation alternatives to the single occupancy vehicle, including carpooling, vanpooling, transit, and bicycles. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a telework tax credit of up to $400 per year; (2) include a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement as a qualified transportation fringe benefit, excludable from gross income; (3) equalize and increase to $200, with a modified cost-of-living adjustment, the tax exclusion for both transportation and parking fringe benefits; (4) make self-employed individuals eligible for transit pass fringe benefits; (5) include employer-established parking cash-out programs as qualified transportation fringe benefits; and (6) allow a vanpool (general business) tax credit. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to: (1) incorporate transportation costs associated with location of housing into affordability standards for allocating low-income housing tax credits related to rental assistance vouchers or other affordable housing programs; and (2) develop a model transportation cost field for Multiple Listing Services to measure transportation costs associated with the location of a home. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) Act to include the use of location-efficient mortgages among their purposes. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to require the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to establish graduated annual goals for the purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac of location-efficient mortgages for single-family, owner-occupied homes. Requires the Secretary of HUD to make grants to states to construct or acquire affordable housing that is location-efficient. Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to include high schools in the safe routes to school program.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2008-07-24 00:00:00

Gas Price Relief for Schools Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to a state or local government unit responsible for providing school bus transportation to a public school system to assist it in offsetting increases in school bus transportation operating costs due to higher fuel prices.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2007-02-06 00:00:00

Amends the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1986 to repeal the prohibition against use of certain funds for any segment of the downtown Los Angeles to San Fernando Valley Metro Rail project unless the Southern California Rapid Transit District notifies the Urban Mass Transportation Administration that no part of the Metro Rail project will tunnel through any zone designated as a potential risk zone or high potential risk zone for methane gas.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2007-03-27 00:00:00

Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act of 2007 - Establishes in the executive branch the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation to carry out this Act under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. Requires the Foundation to award grants, increasingly for study in nontraditional study abroad destinations, to: (1) U.S. students; (2) nongovernmental institutions that provide and promote study abroad opportunities for U.S. students, in consortium with institutions of higher education (IHEs); and (3) IHEs, individually or in consortium.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2008-03-03 00:00:00

Complete Streets Act of 2008 - Amends the surface transportation program to require state and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to: (1) adopt a policy statement that ensures that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users as well as children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on streets and highways within the public right-of-way; and (2) apply such policy to Transportation Improvement Program projects as well as to all aspects of the transportation project development process. Requires states and MPOs to certify that each road project has been reviewed for compliance with the policy statement and enhances the safety, convenience, and accessibility for all users of the transportation system to the extent reasonably possible. Requires the U.S. Access Board to issue final standards for accessibility of new construction and alterations of pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to require the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to conduct complete streets research to assist states and MPOs in developing and implementing plans, projects, procedures, policies, and training that comply with the policy statement.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2008-06-02 00:00:00

Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), with respect to the alternatives analysis program, to change the FY2006-FY2007 project for the South Carolina Department of Transportation Light Rail study to the South Carolina Department of Transportation Corridor study. Revises the item descriptions for certain bus and bus-related facilities projects for FY2006-FY2009. Makes amounts obligated for such projects in FY2006 available for obligation through FY2009.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Commemorations
Date: 2008-09-25 00:00:00

Designates the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2008-09-25 00:00:00

Patent Reform Act of 2008 - Amends federal patent law to define terms, including "inventor," "joint inventor," and "effective filing date of a claimed invention." Modifies the conditions under which a patent may be obtained, including basing patent granting in part on filing dates (often referred to as a "first-to-file" system). Repeals provisions relating to inventions made abroad and provisions allowing statutory invention registration. Requires that a subsequent patent application which names an inventor or joint inventor in a previous application apply as though filed on the date of the previous application. Repeals provisions providing for interfering patent civil actions. Allows an applicant to request a derivation proceeding. Allows a third party assignee or a person with a proprietary interest to file a patent application. Allows tripling of royalty damages. Sets forth criteria for calculating reasonable royalties. Replaces provisions relating to optional inter partes reexamination procedures with post-grant review procedure provisions. Replaces the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and specifies its responsibilities. Revises civil action venue requirements. Allows the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to set its fees. Prohibits, subject to exception, holding a patent invalid or unenforceable based on misconduct before the USPTO, but allows a court to order a reissue application. Allows a civil penalty for intentional, materially deceptive conduct. Shields a financial institution that infringes by using a check collection system from the infringement remedies of civil actions, injunctions, damages, and attorney's fees. Applies the amendment made by this paragraph to any civil action for infringement pending or filed on or after enactment of this Act. Establishes the United States Patent and Trademark Office Public Enterprise Fund, transfers to it the amounts in the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation Account, and makes Fund amounts available without fiscal year limitation for all ordinary and reasonable expenses.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2009-03-31 00:00:00

Flexibility Incentive Grant Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a flexibility incentive grant pilot program to encourage states to establish new sources of revenue for public transportation projects and services and to reward states for creating more flexibility in the use of their existing transportation funds. Requires the Secretary to make a grant for FY2010-FY2013 to: (1) each state whose increase in expenditures for public transportation projects and services over the preceding fiscal year was 10% or more and aggregate expenditures for such projects and services was $1 billion or less; (2) each large state whose increase in expenditures for such projects and services over the preceding fiscal year was 1% or more and aggregate expenditures for such projects and services was more than $1 billion; (3) each state that established in the first preceding fiscal year a dedicated source of revenue (i.e., state motor fuels tax, sales tax, or other specified sources of revenue) for carrying out public transportation projects and services that was not in effect in the second preceding fiscal year and which will result in a 10% increase of state funds expended for such projects and services within two years after such implementation; and (4) each state that in the preceding fiscal year amended state law or the state constitution to allow restricted highway funds to also be used for public transportation projects and services. Sets forth certain grant eligibility requirements. Directs the Secretary to conduct, and report to Congress on, a study to evaluate the pilot program.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2009-05-19 00:00:00

Transportation Job Corps Act of 2009 - Requires the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish: (1) a National Joint Workforce Development Council; and (2) regional workforce development councils and governing boards in each of its 10 regions. Replaces the current discretionary grant and contract programs addressing human resource needs as they apply to public transportation activities. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator, to establish programs for the award of grants to: (1) nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to introduce disconnected youth (ages 16 through 24 who are out of school and unemployed) to careers in the transit industry by providing them with basic skills education and pre-apprenticeship skills; (2) partnerships of transit agencies and unions representing non-managerial employees (partnerships), as well as providers of management and technical programs for managerial employees, to develop education programs to improve job skills of transit employees and to provide education and training to assist individuals to enter the transit profession; and (3) the same or similar partnerships to develop special projects to increase education opportunities for disadvantaged transit industry individuals, including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented in transit management, by providing student scholarships, pre-entry preparation, and retention activities.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2010-02-22 00:00:00

Public Transportation Safety Program Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a federal public transportation safety program to improve the safety of, and reduce the number of accidents involving, rail fixed guideway public transportation systems and public transportation bus systems that receive federal assistance. Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations to establish a federal certification program for employees and contractors who carry out state public transportation safety program activities in compliance with this Act. Delineates requirements for state preemption of federal law with respect to public transportation safety. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain public transportation safety program activities, including inspection and testing of public transportation systems and accident prevention and investigation. Allows a state to establish a state public transportation safety program that complies with federal regulations and policies issued by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants or enter into agreements to carry out such state programs, including to: (1) train employees to administer the program; and (2) enforce federal and state public transportation safety laws and regulations. Grants the Secretary enforcement authority for violations of public transportation safety, including alcohol and controlled substances testing. Authorizes the Secretary immediately, without regard to ordinary administrative procedure, to order restrictions and prohibitions to abate an emergency situation.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Housing and community development
Date: 2010-07-22 00:00:00

Transportation and Housing Affordability Transparency Act - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop publicly a transportation affordability index that measures the transportation costs associated with the location of a home, both on a neighborhood and regional basis. Requires HUD to make the index publicly available through the Internet, as well as to Multiple Listing Services for real estate, regional and metropolitan planning organizations, local housing and planning agencies, and states, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and transportation management agencies. Requires HUD to: (1) incorporate transportation costs associated with the location of housing into affordability measures and standards for HUD housing programs; (2) provide related information and resources to states to encourage them to incorporate transportation costs into their housing and land use plans; (3) work with regional and local government entities to integrate housing, transportation, and other costs associated with location into long-range transportation, land use, housing and community development, or investment plans; and (4) work with federal agencies to incorporate the transportation affordability index.
Topic: Transportation — Mass
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2010-07-30 00:00:00

Commuter Bill of Rights Act of 2010 - Establishes the Commuter Transit Rights Commission. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation in the form of a Commuter Bill of Rights which includes: (1) a list of situations in which a provider of public transportation will implement its contingency plan during an emergency; (2) recommendations for minimum standards that a plan must meet, including the provision of food, water, restrooms, ventilation, and medical services, as well as the distribution of certain critical information to commuters on a disabled or delayed train or other transit vehicle; and (3) recommendations for federal regulations on commuter safety during emergencies. Authorizes the Secretary to provide competitive grants to providers of public transportation to develop and implement contingency plans that fulfill the Bill of Rights. Requires the Secretary to review the Bill of Rights and issue regulations to require providers of public transportation to comply with the Bill's recommended standards. Requires the Secretary to use the Bill of Rights to develop related federal policies. Authorizes the Secretary to assess penalties or sanctions against providers of public transportation who fail to submit, obtain approval of, or adhere to its contingency plan. Requires the Secretary to establish a consumer hotline telephone number for public transportation complaints.