lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-01-29 00:00:00

Fire-Safe Communities Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to publish a federal model ordinance for municipalities at risk (subdivisions located in a fire hazard area) that includes specified elements regarding fire prevention and management, such as: (1) specifications for construction materials and techniques for use in such communities; and (2) standards for roads, culverts, and bridges. Authorizes the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modify, for a municipality at risk, the requirements of the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program related to the provision of a non-federal share of funds, so that if such a municipality has adopted an applicable model ordinance and is making significant progress toward implementing it, the Administrator may reduce the required non-federal share to 10% of the grant amount. Directs the Administrator to provide grants to: (1) municipalities at risk to encourage responsible development in state-identified fire-prone regions and to mitigate the catastrophic effects of fires; and (2) states to create or update fire-hazard assessment maps. Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to: (1) include as a purpose of the Community and Private Land Fire Assistance Program to enhance the capacity of local governments to integrate fire-resistant community and home design into local planning, zoning, building code, and brush clearing ordinances; and (2) authorize a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing assistance to fire-safe communities located near federal land.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-03-14 00:00:00

Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to: (1) prohibit the President from contributing federal funds to a state or local government or private nonprofit organization for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of donated real property that the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determines is not critical to the public welfare; and (2) repeal a provision authorizing a state or local government to elect to receive in lieu of such public facility funds a contribution equal to 90% of the federal share of the estimated cost of repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing a facility and of management expenses if such government determines that conducting such activity would not best serve the public welfare.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-04-02 00:00:00

Mortgage and Rental Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide temporary assistance in the form of mortgage or rental payments for individuals and families who, because of financial hardship caused by a major disaster occurring on or after August 24, 2005, certify that they face dispossession or eviction from a residence by reason of a foreclosure of any mortgage or lien, cancellation of any contract of sale, or termination of any lease, entered into prior to such disaster. Limits assistance to not more than 18 months.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-04-16 00:00:00

Skilled Trades Second Responders Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to establish a national program for the training, certification, registration, tracking, and integration of skilled construction workers to assist first responders in responding to disasters, including natural and manmade disasters and terrorist attacks. Requires the Director to coordinate and consult with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other relevant agencies, and private organizations, including construction industry contractors, joint labor-management training funds, and building trade unions, that are experienced in providing rescue and recovery assistance to first responders and in the cleanup, demolition, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of disaster sites after recovery operations.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Housing and community development
Date: 2008-04-24 00:00:00

Emergency Housing Assistance Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for grants under the Emergency Food and Shelter Program under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Allows only up to 3.5% of such funds to be used for administrative costs. Limits the use of grants to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board under this Act, and any monies received by any private nonprofit organization or local government from the National Board from such amounts, solely for housing-related assistance needed to prevent homelessness in connection with the foreclosure on a dwelling occupied by an eligible family. Specifies among the uses of such assistance relocation expenses, security and utility deposits, mortgage payments, rent payments, utility payments, and other foreclosure or eviction prevention expenses. Allows an eligible family to receive such assistance for up to three months. Requires such assistance to be provided directly to mortgage servicers, property managers, utility companies, or other entities necessary to prevent the homelessness of such family. (No funds shall be provided directly to the family). Requires the National Board, and any private nonprofit organization or local government receiving monies from it, to maintain such monies in an account separate from other funds provided under the Program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Energy
Date: 2008-05-08 00:00:00

Ratepayer Recovery Act of 2007 [sic]- Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to cite conditions under which the President is authorized to make disaster assistance contributions for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of private or investor-owned power transmission and distribution facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster.Cites conditions for large in-lieu contributions to a private or investor-owned power facility in any case in which the owner determines that the public welfare would not best be served by repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing the facility.Restricts the use of such funds to the area affected as a result of the major disaster.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-05-13 00:00:00

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the President, acting through the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to: (1) modernize and implement the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to ensure that the President can alert governmental authorities and the civilian population in areas endangered by disasters under all conditions; (2) assign to the National Continuity Programs Directorate responsibility for advising on system modernization and implementation; (3) establish or adopt common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures; (4) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, or personal user preferences and to alert individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency; and (5) ensure the conduct of training, tests, and exercises.Requires the system to: (1) incorporate multiple communications technologies; (2) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public; (3) be designed to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible and improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; (4) promote local and regional partnerships to enhance community preparedness and response; and (5) provide redundant alert mechanisms.Requires the Director to conduct pilot programs to demonstrate the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving system requirements.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-05-21 00:00:00

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to: (1) increase the amount guaranteed to each state under the pre-disaster mitigation program; (2) require other financial assistance under the program to be awarded on a competitive basis; and (3) authorize appropriations for the program through FY2011.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-05-22 00:00:00

Federal Emergency Management Advancement Act of 2008 or the FEMA Act - Reestablishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Requires FEMA to be headed by a Director appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Designates the Director as the principal advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Homeland Security for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States. Directs the President to designate the Director to serve as a Cabinet member in the event of specified disasters. Establishes as FEMA's primary mission to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards, including natural and man-made disasters, through a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.Prescribes the Director's responsibilities. Provides for 10 regional offices. Requires each Regional Administrator to: (1) establish a Regional Advisory Council; and (2) oversee multi-agency strike teams. Establishes a National Operations Center. Requires the Director to: (1) establish Area Offices in appropriate Regional Offices; (2) defer to substantiating documentation submitted by states in determining the duration of a major disaster and in establishing the eligibility period for assistance; (3) establish and implement the voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program; (4) ensure that the National Response Plan provides for a clear chain of command to lead and coordinate the federal response to disasters; and (5) enter into a memorandum of understanding with specified individuals to collaborate on developing standards for deployment capabilities. Transfers specified functions and personnel to FEMA. Authorizes the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to make necessary determinations regarding such functions and incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, and property.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-06-12 00:00:00

Midwest Storm Victim Relief Act of 2008 - Directs the President, in providing financial assistance to individuals and households in connection with major disasters declared for storm damage and flooding in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin from May 26-June 15, 2008, to double the maximum assistance available under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend certain limitations on personal casualty losses attributable to major disasters declared for such storm damage and flooding. Excludes from gross income, for purposes of the Code, any amount received as compensation for a loss for which a deduction is allowed by reason of such a declaration if such compensation is received in a subsequent taxable year.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-06-17 00:00:00

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to revise the requirements for determining a community's adequate progress on the construction of a flood protection system for flood insurance eligibility purposes. Permits the minimum 60% of system cost appropriation requirement to be met from federal, state, or local appropriations or funds otherwise made available (currently, only from federal appropriations).
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-06-26 00:00:00

Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from updating a floodplain area or flood-risk zone under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 until the Administrator submits a community outreach plan to Congress.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a credit equal to the premium paid by the taxpayer for flood insurance covering any residential property which is a qualified flood risk property, subject to an income-based limitation. Defines "qualified flood risk property" as a residential property: (1) that is located in a floodplain area or flood-risk zone depicted on a flood insurance rate map revised and updated pursuant to such Act; (2) that was outside of any floodplain area or flood-risk zone prior to such revision; and (3) that the taxpayer owned on the date such map became effective or the purchase or construction of which by the taxpayer was subject to a binding written contract on such date.Makes this Act applicable to any flood insurance rate map that becomes effective pursuant to such Act. Provides that if a refund or credit of any overpayment resulting from this Act is prevented at any time before one year after enactment of this Act, such refund or credit may occur if the claim is filed before the close of that period.Amends such Act to require the community rating system program to provide grants to communities for projects to improve the rating of communities under the program.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-06-26 00:00:00

Property Mitigation Assistance Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a grant program to provide assistance to states to promote pre-disaster property mitigation measures within their jurisdictions. Requires a state, to be eligible for assistance, to have: (1) submitted a mitigation plan; (2) established a process for accepting and processing grant and loan applications from individual homeowners and business owners; (3) established a revolving loan fund into which any grant amounts received under this Act shall be deposited; and (4) submitted a detailed plan for how terms and conditions for authorized loans and grants will be set. Directs the Administrator to allocate grant amounts to eligible states according to a formula based on specified factors, including the nature and extent of potential hazards to property in the state, the number of properties at risk in the event that a hazard or natural disaster should occur, the amount of prior property damage incurred by the state during any previous hazard or natural disaster, and any available data on the future risk of occurrence of any hazard or natural disaster in a state.Sets forth provisions regarding baseline amounts for eligible states and matching requirements. Authorizes each state to make grants or loans to assist individual homeowners and businesses in undertaking pre-disaster property mitigation measures from a revolving loan fund established under this Act.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Commerce
Date: 2008-07-08 00:00:00

Small Business Energy Emergency Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration to make disaster loans to assist small businesses that have suffered or are likely to suffer substantial economic injury as the result of a significant increase in the price of heating fuel occurring on or after October 1, 2007. Prohibits such loan from being made if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower would exceed $1.5 million, unless the borrower is a major source of employment in its surrounding area. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to farm operations that qualify as a small business and that have or are likely to suffer substantial economic injury on or after October 1, 2007, as the result of a significant increase in energy costs in connection with an energy emergency declared by the President or the Secretary.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-07-16 00:00:00

8/29 Investigation Team Act - Establishes a bipartisan 8/29 Investigation Team to examine: (1) the events beginning on August 29, 2005, with respect to the failure of the flood protection system in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and (2) each flood control and restoration project that has been carried out since that date in the Gulf Coast. Prohibits any elected federal official from serving as a Team member. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding member qualifications.Urges the Team to: (1) review findings and recommendations of all studies conducted in the aftermath of the levee failures in Louisiana on or after August 29, 2005; (2) review the ongoing U.S. exposure to flood control system failures; and (3) report on necessary legislative or regulatory changes.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Health
Date: 2008-07-22 00:00:00

Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to activate the coverage of short-term emergency health care services if the Secretary determines that there is a public health emergency. Sets forth factors for the Secretary to consider, including the degree to which the emergency is likely to overwhelm health care providers in the region.Requires the Secretary to establish a medical monitoring program for monitoring and reporting on the health care needs of the affected population over time.Limits eligibility for coverage of emergency health care services to: (1) uninsured or underinsured emergency victims who need health care services due to injuries or disease resulting from the public health emergency; or (2) uninsured individuals residing in the affected area whose ability to access care or medicine is disrupted as a result of the emergency.Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a streamlined process for determining eligibility for emergency health care services; (2) report to Congress on the number and adequacy of volunteers enrolled in the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) who will be available to each state in the event of a public health emergency; and (3) conduct an outreach and public education campaign to inform health care providers and the general public about the availability of emergency health care coverage during the period of the emergency.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2008-07-23 00:00:00

Midwestern Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits to individuals affected by presidentially-declared natural disasters (i.e., severe storms, tornadoes, or flooding) in the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin on or after May 20, 2008, and before August 1, 2008 (Midwestern disaster area).Makes specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently apply only to residents of the Gulf Opportunity Zone and the Hurricane Katrina disaster area, applicable to the Midwestern disaster area, including: (1) tax-exempt bond financing, the low-income housing tax credit, accelerated depreciation and increased expensing of business assets, an increase in the rehabilitation tax credit, extended carryback of net operating losses, and investment in tax credit bonds; (2) increased tax deductions for tuition and related educational expenses; (3) expensing of environmental remediation costs and demolition and cleanup costs; (4) tax incentives for employer-provided housing; (5) tax-free withdrawals from retirement accounts and recontributions for home purchases; (6) employer tax credits for retention of employees; (7) suspension of limitations on tax deductions for charitable contributions and personal casualty losses; (8) mortgage revenue bonds for owner-occupied residences; (9) tax exemptions for cancellation of indebtedness; and (10) nonrecognition of gain for homes and businesses destroyed in a disaster. Allows taxpayers in the Midwestern disaster area who claimed a tax deduction for a casualty loss to a principal residence and later received a grant under any federal or state program for reimbursement of such loss to file an amended tax return, without incurring tax penalties.Extends through 2009 the additional tax exemption for housing displaced individuals in the Midwestern disaster area. Excludes from gross income, through December 31, 2008, reimbursements to volunteers in the Midwestern disaster area for the use of a personal vehicle for charitable work. Increases the standard mileage rate for the charitable use of personal vehicles.Extends through 2009 the enhanced tax deduction for charitable contributions of food inventories and of book inventories to public schools. Requires tax-exempt charitable organizations to provide the Secretary of the Treasury with specified information, on an annual basis, relating to their disaster relief activities.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2008-07-24 00:00:00

Allows taxpayers who claimed a tax deduction for a casualty loss to a principal residence resulting from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma and then received a grant as reimbursement for such loss in a subsequent taxable year to file an amended income tax return and reduce such tax deduction by the amount of the reimbursement. Waives interest and penalties on any underpayment of tax resulting from the reduced tax deduction if such underpayment is paid within one year of the filing of the amended tax return.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2008-07-29 00:00:00

Fair Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide special tax rules for individuals affected by a federally declared disaster, including: (1) allowance of all personal casualty losses incurred in a federally declared disaster in excess of $500; (2) an increase in the standard tax deduction for disaster losses; (3) full expensing of business-related disaster cleanup expenses; (4) extension of the net operating loss carryback period from two to five years for disaster-related losses; and (5) allowance of tax-exempt bond financing of low-interest loans for principal residences damaged in a federally declared disaster.
Topic: Domestic Commerce — Disaster Relief
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2008-07-29 00:00:00

Small Business Owner Disaster Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide contributions to a person who owns or operates a private business damaged or destroyed by a major disaster for the repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of the facility and for associated expenses, if the business employed an average of 25 or fewer employees during the 12-month period preceding the disaster.