lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2007-10-16 00:00:00

Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any measure making supplemental appropriations for two or more unrelated emergencies. Prohibits any provisions containing spending that is not designated as emergency spending from being reported in a measure making supplemental appropriations. Makes it out of order in the House or the Senate to consider: (1) the conference report on a measure making supplemental appropriations if such measure contains such spending; or (2) any bill, joint resolution, or conference report if the accompanying report or joint statement of managers does not comply with this Act. Requires the Committee on Appropriations or any other House or Senate committee that reports any bill or joint resolution that provides budget authority for any emergency, the accompanying report, or the joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report on the measure to: (1) identify all provisions that provide budget authority and the resulting outlays for such emergency; (2) state the reasons why such budget authority meets the definition of an emergency; and (3) justify why such funding is in a supplemental appropriation and not the regular appropriation for the next fiscal year. Prohibits a provision containing an earmark from being reported in a measure making supplemental appropriations. Makes it out of order in the House or the Senate to consider the conference report on any measure making supplemental appropriations containing earmarks.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2007-11-08 00:00:00

Make It Count Act - Changes from March 31st to December 15th of each year the date by which the Secretary of the Treasury must submit to the President and Congress an audited financial statement covering all accounts and associated activities of the executive branch.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Law
Date: 2008-02-06 00:00:00

Contempt of the House of Representatives Subpoena Authority Act of 2008 - Grants the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia original jurisdiction over any civil action brought by the House of Representatives (or any authorized committee or subcommittee) to enforce, to secure a declaratory judgment concerning the validity of, or to prevent a threatened refusal or failure to comply with, any subpoena or order issued by it to any entity acting or purporting to act under color or authority of state law, or to any natural person, to secure the production of: (1) documents or other materials of any kind, or the answering of any deposition or interrogatory; (2) testimony; or (3) any combination of such things. Requires the district court, upon application by the House (or any authorized committee or subcommittee), to issue a mandatory compliance order to an entity or person refusing, or failing to comply with, or threatening to refuse or not to comply with, a subpoena or order. Authorizes the court to hold in contempt any refusal or failure to obey a lawful order. Authorizes the General Counsel of the House of Representatives to bring a civil action under any statute conferring jurisdiction on any U.S. court to enforce, to secure a declaratory judgment concerning the validity of, or to prevent a threatened failure or refusal to comply with, any subpoena or order issued by the House (or a committee or a subcommittee). Prescribes a procedure for consideration in the House of a resolution to direct the General Counsel to bring such an action.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Arts, culture, religion
Date: 2008-04-24 00:00:00

Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 to authorize appropriations through FY2016 for: (1) Library of Congress activities for the maintenance and preservation of sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant; and (2) the National Recording Preservation Foundation to accept and administer private gifts to promote and ensure the preservation and public accessibility of the nation's sound recording heritage held at the Library of Congress and other public and nonprofit archives.Revises the standards for removal by the Librarian of Congress of a member of the Library's National Recording Preservation Board.Allows board members of the National Recording Preservation Foundation to serve more than two consecutive terms.Amends the National Film Preservation Act of 1996 to authorize appropriations through FY2016 for the Library's National Film Preservation Board. Updates the names of organizations that represent the Board. Authorizes appropriations to the Library through FY2016 for the National Film Preservation Foundation. Adds to the purposes of the Foundation the encouragement, acceptance, and administration of private gifts to ensure the repatriation of American films from foreign archives.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2008-06-12 00:00:00

Amends the short title of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 to add the names of Cesar E. Chavez, Barbara C. Jordan, William C. Velasquez, and Dr. Hector P. Garcia.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-06-26 00:00:00

Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act; (2) interview agency officers and employees to get information about agency duties, powers, activities, organization, and financial transactions; and (3) administer oaths to witnesses (currently, the Comptroller General may administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts).Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this Act.Declares that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain information, inspect records, or interview specified agency officers or employees, including with respect to: (1) information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Social Security Act; (2) information concerning any method or process protected as a trade secret; and (3) information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act. Declares that this Act shall not be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information; and (2) affect the applicability of requirements governing the availability of agency information to information obtained.Requires the Comptroller General to: (1) report annually on the cooperation of agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and other agencies designated by the Comptroller General in making personnel available for interviews, providing written answers to questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller General, granting access to records, providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting report recommendations, and responding to such matters as the Comptroller General deems appropriate; and (2) report to Congress when agencies do not respond to requests regarding such matters.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-06-26 00:00:00

Congress 2012 Commission Act - Establishes the Congress 2012 Commission to make proposals to the President and Congress regarding changes in the size of the membership of, and the method of electing Representatives to, the House of Representatives.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-07-10 00:00:00

Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2008 - Establishes the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program for the appointment of individuals who are graduates of accredited law schools to serve as Congressional Clerks in the Senate or House of Representatives. Requires the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration to each select at least six individuals for a one-year term to serve as employees in their respective chambers. Specifies eligibility criteria for a Congressional Clerk, including that the selected candidate be a graduate of such a law school as of the starting date of his or her clerkship. Requires the committees to ensure that Congressional Clerks selected under this Act are apportioned equally between majority and minority party offices. Entitles each clerk selected to the same compensation as, and comparable benefits to, an individual who holds the position of a judicial clerkship for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia within three months of graduating from law school. Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2008-07-16 00:00:00

Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act of 2008 - Establishes alternate procedures for the prosecution of current or former officers or employees of the executive branch found in contempt of Congress for refusal to testify or produce documents in response to a congressional subpoena. Establishes a Special Division of the U.S. Supreme Court to hear such criminal contempt cases. Requires the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to designate three judges or justices, one of whom shall be an active judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to serve on the Special Division. Requires the Special Division to appoint a special advocate to serve as the prosecuting attorney in criminal contempt cases after the Attorney General declines to present such cases to a grand jury. Grants full power and independent authority to the special advocate to exercise all prosecutorial functions and powers.Sets forth provisions for the removal of the special advocate and the termination of the special advocate's authority. Makes this Act effective on January 20, 2009.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-07-23 00:00:00

Charles H.W. Meehan Law Library Improvement and Modernization Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Librarian of Congress, in addition to any other amounts made available, for maintaining and administering the operations of the law library of the Library of Congress, including the cataloguing of its collections. Requires the Law Librarian of Congress, to the extent practicable in using such funds, to catalog and archive nonproprietary material in the collections of the Law Library electronically in a nonproprietary and nondiscriminatory format.Requires the Librarian of Congress, in preparing the annual budget for the Library of Congress, to ensure that all amounts attributable to salaries and expenses of the law library are set forth separately as a separate line item. Directs the Librarian, acting through the Law Librarian of Congress, to establish and operate a program to be known as the Charles H.W. Meehan Law Library Support Program, to provide enhanced or special services and programs for the Law Library and otherwise support the mission of the Law Library. Allows acceptance of donations of private funds, in-kind contributions, and voluntary services in support of the Program.Establishes a separate account in the Treasury for use solely by the Librarian to carry out the Program. Requires an annual report to Congress, the American Bar Association, and the American Association of Law Libraries on Program funding and activities. Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-07-24 00:00:00

House Reservists Pay Adjustment Act - Requires the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the House of Representatives to pay an eligible House employee, who is also a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, for each active duty month the amount by which the employee's regular compensation from the House would have exceeded (if at all) the total monthly military compensation paid to the employee for the active duty month by the Secretary of Defense. Limits employee eligibility for such adjusted compensation to those employed by the House each day of the 90 days ending on the day on which the employee reports for active duty under an involuntary mobilization order. Requires the CAO to reduce the amount of any payment to such employee for an active duty month by the amount of any pay and allowances received by the individual from any other source as replacement of lost income. Prohibits the CAO from making a required payment under this Act unless the payment, taking into account any reduction, is at least $50. Authorizes appropriations. Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to declare that nothing in such Rule may be construed to prohibit the disbursement or receipt of any payment authorized under this Act. Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1955 to declare that nothing in the Act may be construed to prohibit the CAO from paying a gratuity to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law of a House employee who dies during an active duty month.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-07-29 00:00:00

Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require Members of Congress to include in mandatory annual financial disclosure reports information on the balance of any mortgage secured by a personal residence and on the property's value.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2008-07-29 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of State, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and not later than 120 days thereafter, to provide detailed briefings to Congress respecting: (1) any discussions conducted between any executive branch agency and the government of Taiwan during a covered period (as defined by this Act); and (2) any potential transfer of defense articles or defense services to Taiwan.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2008-07-30 00:00:00

Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2008 - Requires the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate, the chair and ranking Minority Members of the congressional appropriations committees, the chair and ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on House Administration, and the chair and ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Establishes a 10-year term for the AOC, as under current law, but permits additional reappointments. Repeals the requirement of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1990 that the AOC be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2008-08-01 00:00:00

Legislative Branch Personnel Appeals Procedural Consolidation Act of 2008 - Transfers from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Personnel Appeals Board to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) authority to investigate any personnel action taken with respect to a GAO officer or employee, or an officer or employee of a participating federal office, and seek corrective and disciplinary action with respect to such personnel action, in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as if such officer or employee were an executive agency employee and such action were a prohibited practice against them. Authorizes the officer or employee to seek corrective and disciplinary action with respect to such an action from the OSC and the Merit Systems Protection Board in the same manner and subject to the same terms. Excludes current appeals by GAO officers and employees from the provisions of this Act. (Thus, allows such appeals to be considered by the GAO Personnel Appeals Board.)
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Date: 2008-09-10 00:00:00

Administrative Review Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Congressional Review Act to require that the chairman and ranking member of each relevant committee (currently, each standing committee) of the House of Representatives receive copies of reports required to be submitted before a federal agency rule can go into effect.Defines "relevant committee" to mean: (1) each committee with jurisdiction under House rules to report a bill to amend the legal provision under which the rule is issued; and (2) the House Judiciary Committee as the committee with jurisdiction to report a bill to amend federal administrative procedure provisions.Directs the Comptroller General's report on each major rule to be provided to each relevant committee (currently, the committees of jurisdiction) in the House.Requires joint resolutions introduced to disapprove a rule to be referred to the appropriate committees (currently, the committees with jurisdiction) in each House.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Date: 2008-09-10 00:00:00

Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Provides for automatic continuing appropriations if any regular appropriation for a fiscal year (or, if applicable, for each fiscal year in a biennium) does not become law before the beginning of such fiscal year, or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect. Appropriates amounts necessary to continue any project or activity for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year: (1) in the corresponding regular appropriation Act for such preceding fiscal year; or (2) if such legislation did not become law, then in the joint resolution making continuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year. Requires the appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for any fiscal year for a project or activity to be available for the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in appropriations and ending with the earlier of: (1) the date on which the applicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year becomes law (whether or not such law provides for such project or activity) or a continuing resolution making appropriations becomes law, as the case may be; or (2) the last day of such fiscal year. Declares that this Act imposes no prohibition on the expenditure of funds: (1) to prepare or publish final regulations regarding a commercial leasing program for oil shale resources on public lands pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 or to conduct an oil shale lease sale; (2) by the Department of the Interior for the conduct of offshore preleasing, leasing, and related activities placed under restriction in the President's moratorium statement of June 12, 1998, in specified areas; or (3) by the Department to conduct oil and natural gas preleasing, leasing and related activities in the mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic planning areas.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2008-11-20 00:00:00

Midnight Rule Act - Amends federal civil service law to provide that a midnight rule (i.e., a rule adopted by an agency within the final 90 days a President serves in office) shall not take effect until 90 days after the agency head is appointed by the new President. Makes exceptions if the President serving his final term makes a determination by executive order, and submits written notice to Congress, that the rule should take effect because it is: (1) necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency; (2) necessary for the enforcement of criminal laws; (3) necessary for national security; or (4) issued pursuant to any statute implementing an international trade agreement.Provides that an exercise by the President of such authority shall have no effect on existing provisions governing congressional disapproval of agency rules.Authorizes the agency head appointed by the new President to disapprove of a midnight rule (by publishing a statement of disapproval in the Federal Register and sending a notice of disapproval to the congressional committees of jurisdiction) no later than 90 days after being appointed.Makes this Act applicable to any rule adopted on or after October 22, 2008.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Date: 2008-12-10 00:00:00

Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term for up to six months for knowingly: (1) transferring for money or property a ticket to a presidential inaugural ceremony; (2) falsely making, forging, counterfeiting, or altering such a ticket, with intent to defraud; or (3) entering or attempting to enter a presidential inaugural ceremony with a forget ticket, with intent to defraud.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Amends Rule XXXV (Gifts) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require a Member, officer, or employee of the Senate to: (1) disclose a flight taken in connection with official duties on an aircraft that is not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate for compensation or hire (unless it is owned, operated, or leased by a governmental entity); (2) reimburse the aircraft's owner or lessee for the pro rata share of the flight's fair market value; and (3) report to the Secretary of the Senate specified information about the trip, including its purpose and the persons on it (other than the pilot). Declares that the fair market value of noncommercial air travel is the fair market value of the normal and usual charter fare or rental charge for a comparable plane of appropriate size. Amends Rule XXXVIII (Prohibition of Unofficial Office Accounts) to prescribe the value for reimbursement purposes of the use of an aircraft that is not licensed by the FAA to operate for compensation or hire. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to require a principal campaign committee disclosure report of such a flight by a federal office candidate (other than one for President or Vice President). Excludes from the FECA definition of "contribution" any travel expense for such a flight if within seven days the candidate (or the candidate's authorize committee) pays the owner, lessee, or other individual providing the airplane the pro rata share of the flight's fair market value.