zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to require the international registered traveler program to expedite the screening and processing of international travelers entering or exiting the United States, including lawful permanent residents (current law specifically includes only U.S. citizens).

Date: 2008-06-11
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Alerting Lives through Effective and Reliable Technological Systems Act of 2008 or ALERTS Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) establish a national integrated public alert and warning system; (2) develop within such system a commercial mobile alert system to provide rapid dissemination of information over commercial mobile devices; and (3) designate an agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to receive, aggregate, validate, and authenticate homeland security and other information originated by authorized federal, state, local, and tribal governments to facilitate the transmission of such mobile alert system.Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards of performance, and terminology; (2) include the capability to adapt the dissemination of information and the content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, or user preferences and to alert special needs populations; (3) ensure that the national warning system is incorporated into DHS training and exercise programs; and (4) coordinate with other federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, and key stakeholders.Directs the Secretary to conduct a pilot program to increase the national warning system's reach.Amends the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to authorize the use of grant funds to permit state, local, and tribal governments to improve public alert and warning capabilities.Prohibits tampering or interfering with components of the national warning system that are used or designed to deliver alerts and warnings and that were purchased with public funds.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Department of Homeland Security Preparedness, Research, and Education Program Act of 2008 or the DHS PREP Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, to establish a program for fellowships and research to enhance domestic preparedness and the collective response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. Requires the Secretary to award fellowships to individuals to: (1) promote such research and response; and (2) provide for the development of best practices for the response to and recovery from such events. Requires recipients to be individuals who: (1) are enrolled in an institution of higher education, with priority to those enrolled in minority serving institutions; (2) have demonstrated an interest in homeland security or emergency management and response; and (3) are geographically diverse.Directs recipients to focus their research on, and participate in the rebuilding and recovery of, the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Date: 2008-06-26
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 to reauthorize appropriations for the Select Agent Program, which lists and controls biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Requires appropriate training of individuals handling or using such agents and toxins.Includes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) among the federal agencies limited in the disclosure of information related to listed agents or toxins.Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review and make recommendations for improving the Select Agent Program.Sets forth additional factors that the Secretary must consider in determining whether to list an agent or toxin, including whether the agent or toxin is endemic to the United States.Requires the Secretary to issue guidance on inventorying and monitoring listed biological agents.Directs the Attorney General to issue guidance regarding the scope of the statutory definition of "variola virus." Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for how laboratories and laboratory personnel that do not regularly test for listed agents and toxins may be rapidly accessed and utilized during emergencies; and (2) evaluate national needs of, and oversight of, high containment biological laboratories.Provides for the development of minimum standards for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training for relevant personnel of high containment biological laboratories.Requires the Secretary to establish a Biological Laboratory Incident Reporting System.

Date: 2008-07-30
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Health
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) limit to 35 the number of Urban Area Security Initiative grants awarded; (2) require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), when weighing "threat," "vulnerability," and "consequences from acts of terrorism" in allocating funds, to assign to "threat" a value that is not less than 33%; and (3) apply minimum allocation requirements only to state Homeland Security grants. Requires the Administrator, in carrying out the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program, to disregard the tier system used to determine the award of such grants and to not make use of any similar system in making such awards.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Border Security Search Accountability Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) issue a rule regarding the scope of, and procedural and recordkeeping requirements associated with, border security searches of electronic devices; and (2) provide related officer training. Sets forth rule contents.

Date: 2008-09-11
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Laboratory Surge Capacity Preparedness Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to award grants to regional biocontainment laboratories for maintaining surge capacity that can be used to respond to acts of bioterrorism or outbreaks of infectious diseases. Authorizes the Secretary to award such a grant only if the laboratory agrees to allow the Secretary and other relevant federal agencies to inspect laboratory facilities. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on: (1) activities undertaken to integrate the network of regional biocontainment laboratories with the laboratory response network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and (2) the extent to which additional Biosafety Level 3 laboratories are needed to fulfill the national's laboratory surge capacity needs.

Date: 2008-09-24
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Anthrax Attacks Investigation Act of 2008 - Establishes the National Commission on the Anthrax Attacks Upon the United States to: (1) conduct an investigation of the anthrax letter attacks of September and October 2001; and (2) submit interim reports to the President and Congress and a final report on its findings with recommendations for corrective measures to prevent and respond to acts of bioterrorism. Directs the Commission to hold public hearings and release its reports to the public.

Date: 2008-09-24
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Prohibits federal funds from being used to transfer any individual detained by the United States at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the Naval Consolidated Brig, Charleston, South Carolina.

Date: 2008-11-19
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
High Risk Protection Act - Requires amounts appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program to be allocated based solely on risk (which shall include an evaluation of threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences and consideration of any previous terrorist attacks). Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security: (1) in determining which areas qualify as high-threat areas, to consider whether the area contains critical infrastructure and is located on an international border or coastline and the area's population, population density, law enforcement investigative and enforcement activity, and tourism; and (2) in allocating amounts among high-threat areas, to evaluate all threats (including threats to national monuments and icons) and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. Provides that the Program shall not be subject to the DHS peer review process. Allows funds made available under the Program to be used for overtime and other employment costs directly relating to the prevention of terrorist activities. Requires the Secretary to submit reports to each Member of Congress who represents a high-threat area regarding the proposed allocation of funds and to specified congressional committees on the determinations made.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
National Domestic Preparedness Consortium Expansion Act of 2007 - Includes the Transportation Technology Center located in Pueblo, Colorado, within the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Prohibits U.S. military force levels in Iraq to exceed force levels in Iraq as of January 16, 2007, without specific statutory authority enacted by Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2007-01-16
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: International affairs
Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Amends the Clayton Act to make it unlawful for a person, in connection with the sale of a drug product, to be a party to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in which: (1) an abbreviated new drug (generic) application filer receives anything of value; and (2) such filer agrees not to research, develop, manufacture, market, or sell the generic product for any period. Excludes a resolution or settlement that includes no more than the right to market the generic product prior to the expiration of the patent. Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to set forth additional filing requirements related to agreements between a brand name drug company and a generic drug applicant. Requires the Chief Executive Officer or the company official responsible for negotiating any agreement to file a certification that materials filed with respect to such agreements: (1) are complete, final, and exclusive; (2) include any ancillary agreements that are contingent upon, provide a contingent condition for, or are otherwise related to, the agreement; and (3) include written descriptions of any relevant oral agreements, representations, commitments, or promises between the parties that have not been reduced to writing. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide that forfeiture of the 180-day exclusivity period for the marketing of a generic drug occurs if there is a final decision of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the court that an agreement has violated this Act. Requires the FTC to study the prevalence of anticompetitive agreements in the pharmaceutical industry and their impact. Requires the Attorney General or FTC to consider whether any additional enforcement action is necessary. Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Commerce
Long-Term Care Trust Account Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt long-term care trust accounts; (2) allow cash contributions to such accounts up to $5,000 annually; (3) allow an exclusion from gross income for certain distributions, including for long-term care services for chronically-ill individuals; (4) impose penalties for excess contributions to such accounts and for failure to provide required reports on such accounts; and (5) allow a refundable tax credit for 10% of the annual contributions to such accounts.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Taxation
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act - Exempts provisions expanding the adoption tax credit and adoption assistance programs enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 from the general terminating (sunset) provisions of that Act.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the REAL ID Act of 2005 to extend the deadline by which: (1) state drivers' licenses and identification cards must meet certain minimum federal standards to be accepted by a federal agency; and (2) a state must meet certain minimum verification standards before issuing such licenses or cards due to the nonavailability of state electronic systems to verify such documents. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to reconvene the negotiated rulemaking committee established pursuant to the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004, with the addition of any new interested parties, to: (1) review proposed regulations to implement the minimum document requirements, and the provisions, of the REAL ID Act of 2005; and (2) submit recommendations to the Secretary regarding appropriate modifications to such regulations and such Act.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise requirements for Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) under title V (Developing Institutions). Establishes a program of competitive grants to eligible HSIs that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or degrees (part B grants). Limits a part B grant award's duration to not more than five years. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from awarding more than one part B grant to an HSI in any one fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the current part A program of grants to HSIs that offer baccalaureate degrees or are junior or community colleges; and (2) the new part B program of grants to HSIs that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or degrees.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Education
Growing Our Manufacturing Employment Act or the GoMe Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain employers with domestic production gross receipts in the current and preceding taxable year a manufacturer's jobs tax credit through 2009 for annual increases in wages paid to their employees and to employees eligible for benefits under the Trade Adjustment Act; (2) extend through 2012 the tax credit for increasing research expenses; and (3) set forth rules for the application of the economic substance doctrine.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Taxation
Risk-Based Homeland Security Grants Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to set forth provisions governing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant funding for first responders pursuant to the State Homeland Security Grant Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, and the Citizen Corps Program. Makes eligible for a covered grant any state, region, or directly eligible tribe. Sets forth grant application requirements. Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish: (1) a Homeland Security Grants Board; (2) clearly defined essential capabilities for state and local government preparedness for terrorism (sets forth factors to address in establishing such capabilities and lists critical infrastructure sectors and types of threats to consider); and (3) a Task Force on Essential Capabilities. Directs the Secretary to promulgate national voluntary consensus standards for first responder equipment and training. Lists authorized and prohibited uses of grants. Requires each grant recipient to submit quarterly and annual reports on homeland security spending. Establishes penalties for states that fail to pass through to local governments, first responders, and other local groups funds or resources within 45 days of receipt. Expresses the sense of Congress regarding interoperable communications and Citizen Corps councils. Requires the Secretary to ensure coordination of federal efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Directs the Secretary to conduct studies regarding: (1) implementation of a nationwide emergency telephonic alert notification system; (2) modifying the definition of "National Capital Region" to expand the area under the jurisdiction of the Office of National Capital Region Coordination; (3) risk-based funds allocation for port security grants; and (4) funds allocation under the Assistance to Firefighter Grants Program.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funds under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to a state or local government to replace a public facility that was damaged as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita if: (1) the extent of the damage would require the replacement of that facility based on a cost estimate provided by FEMA; (2) that government acquired real property for such replacement based on reasonable reliance on that estimate; and (3) such funds would otherwise be available to that government for that facility in accordance with such Act.

Date: 2007-03-20
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Amends provisions of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to the implementation of a mutual aid agreement for the National Capital Region in the event of a regional or national emergency to: (1) remove the requirement that agents and volunteers acting on behalf of a regional organization or entity be committed (listed) in a mutual aid agreement in order to prepare for or respond to such an emergency; and (2) expand the list of organizations or entities authorized to enter into and be covered by such an agreement to include any governmental agency, authority, or institution within the Region.

Date: 2007-04-26
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Grants immunity from civil liability to persons who: (1) in good faith report threats to or acts of terrorism against transportation systems or passengers; and (2) take reasonable action to mitigate such actions.

Date: 2007-05-11
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Law
Border Health Security Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary), acting through the U.S. members of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, to award grants to improve border residents' health. Requires the Secretary to award grants to states, local or tribal governments, trauma centers, regional trauma center coordinating entities, or public health entities for all hazards preparedness in the border area, including bioterrorism and infectious disease. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act. Allows the Secretary to coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security in establishing a health alert system that: (1) alerts clinicians and public health officials of emerging disease clusters and syndromes along the border area; and (2) is alerted to signs of health threats, disasters of mass scale, or bioterrorism along the border area. Requires the Secretary to enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine for the study of binational health infrastructure (including trauma and emergency care) and health insurance efforts. Amends the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act to authorize any member or staff of the Commission to provide advice or recommendations to Congress concerning issues that are considered by the Commission.

Date: 2007-07-17
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Health
Water Security Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants for: (1) vulnerability assessments of publicly owned treatment works or community water systems; (2) implementation of security enhancements; (3) the development, expansion, or upgrading of emergency response and site security plans; and (4) the voluntary creation of mutual aid and emergency network preparedness agreements.Authorizes grants for security enhancements of treatment works and community water systems that meet specified certification requirements. Prescribes disclosure limits and protections for vulnerability assessments. Limits the federal cost share of an activity funded under this Act to 50%.Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) provide technical guidance to small publicly owned treatment works and small community water systems (serving fewer than 10,000 individuals) for conducting vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, or site security plans and for implementing security enhancements; and (2) make grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations to improve assessment methodologies and tools and to implement a comprehensive training program.Requires the Administrator to research and review: (1) means of providing alternative processes to convey, treat, and dispose of wastewater and to treat and deliver drinking water if a disruption of service event occurs; (2) means by which a distribution system of a community water system could be compromised to allow the delivery of any hazardous chemical or substance; (3) methods for monitoring a collection system for hazardous substances and unauthorized entry; and (4) strategies for recovery from, and restoration of services after, such an event.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Environmental protection
Protect America Act of 2007 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to provide that a court order is not required for the electronic surveillance of communication between persons who are not located within the United States for collecting foreign intelligence information, without respect to whether the communication passes through the United States or the surveillance device is located within the United States. Authorizes the Attorney General (AG) to apply to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Court) for an order, or the extension of an order, authorizing for up to one year the electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes of persons outside the United States. Allows the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the AG to authorize the immediate electronic surveillance (without prior Court order) of persons reasonably believed to be outside the United States if: (1) the DNI and AG determine that it is in the U.S. national security interest to begin such surveillance; and (2) the AG submits to the Court, within five days after the commencement of the surveillance, a certification of and application for such surveillance. Authorizes the AG, with respect to an authorized surveillance, to issue a directive to a communications service provider, custodian, or other person to: (1) furnish all appropriate information, facilities, and assistance necessary to accomplish the surveillance; and (2) maintain under security procedures any surveillance records. Directs the Inspector General to report to the congressional intelligence and judiciary committees on surveillance conducted during the previous four-month period.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Supporting America's Protective Security Advisor Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Protective Security Advisor Program Office within the Protective Security Coordination Division of the Office of Infrastructure Protection of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Requires the Office to have primary responsibility within DHS for: (1) encouraging state, local, and tribal governments and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure and key resources to participate and collaborate within the risk management framework of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan; (2) coordinating national and intergovernmental critical infrastructure and key resource activities with such governments, owners, and operators; (3) facilitating and conducting requirements, capabilities, and risk assessment analyses that enhance critical infrastructure and key resources preparedness; (4) promoting information sharing and security awareness; (5) assisting such governments in developing multijurisdictional security plans; (6) helping to ensure coordination among such governments, such owners and operators, emergency response providers, and related agencies; (7) serving as infrastructure liaison officials when a joint field office is activated in response to a natural disaster or terrorist event; and (8) facilitating and coordinating interaction with international security partners.Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a plan for the assignment and distribution of protective security advisors that takes into account baseline requirements and anticipated growth to: (1) ensure that protective security advisors are located across the United States and provide appropriate coverage and coordinated support, especially in high-risk regions; and (2) assign protective security advisors and support staff based on risk.

Date: 2007-10-22
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Authorizes a financial institution, when verifying the identity of a non-U.S. citizen or national who is seeking to open a bank account, to accept only: (1) a Social Security number; (2) a passport number and the country of issuance; (3) an alien identification card number; or (4) any combination of such items. Prohibits a financial institution, for such verification purposes, from accepting identification documents issued by a foreign government, other than an unexpired passport.

Date: 2007-11-16
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use an employer's failure to timely resolve discrepancies with the Social Security Administration (SSA) after receiving a "no match" notice as evidence that the employer violated unlawful employment provisions under such Act. Provides that an employee's firing by an employer having constructive knowledge that the employee is not authorized to work in the United States based on SSA notice that the name and number provided by the employee do not match, and cannot be corrected to match, SSA records shall not be considered an unfair immigration-related employment practice. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct SSA to provide DHS with certain "no match" information.

Date: 2008-03-05
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Immigration
OPEN FOIA Act of 2008 - Amends the Freedom of Information Act to require statutory exemptions to its disclosure requirements to specifically cite its provision that authorizes such exemptions.

Date: 2008-03-12
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to repeal a provision that includes the Chief Human Capital Officer among the officials of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be appointed by the President.

Date: 2008-04-03
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) conduct a survey of and report to Congress on the compliance of fire departments in the United States with national consensus standards for staffing, training, safe operations, personal protective equipment, and fitness relating to fire department operations and firefighting practices; and (2) establish a Task Force to Enhance Firefighter Safety to develop a plan to enhance firefighter safety by increasing compliance with such standards and to consider ways in which the federal government, states, and local governments can promote, encourage, or require compliance.

Date: 2008-04-17
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
National Improvised Explosive Device Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Office for Bombing Prevention, which shall have primary responsibility within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for enhancing the nation's ability, and coordinating its efforts, to deter, detect, prevent, protect against, intercept, and respond to terrorist improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. Transfers to the Office all functions of the current Office for Bombing Prevention of DHS's Office of Infrastructure Protection.Directs the Secretary of DHS to ensure that a Homeland Security Advisory Council subcommittee, to be known as the Senior Advisory Committee on Improvised Explosive Device Prevention and Response, is established. Requires the Committee to: (1) provide policy guidance and recommendations; (2) develop best practices, training, and basic operational procedures; (3) promote interoperability and information sharing between the federal government and IED first responders; and (4) meet annually to review grant applications under the Bomb Prevention and Response Grant Program (established by this Act) and provide advice on proposed grant allocations.Requires the Secretary's annual report on progress in achieving compliance with the correction of Coast Guard identified vulnerabilities in port security and compliance with Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans to include: (1) the identification of modifications necessary in funding to ensure the correction of capability gaps identified by the Coast Guard and the dive team component of the national analysis database on the capabilities of IED first responders (required to be maintained by the Office for Bombing Prevention); and (2) an assessment of progress in completing assessments for the dive team component for all applicable ports.

Date: 2008-05-01
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008 - Directs: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for the delivery of medical and mental health care to all immigration detainees in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody; and (2) that such procedures address all detainee health needs, including primary care, emergency care, chronic care, prenatal care, dental care, eye care, mental health care, medical dietary needs, and other medically necessary specialized care.

Date: 2008-05-12
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Immigration
Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2009 for public transportation formula grants. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make such grants for: (1) operating costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide the public transportation the grant recipient is no longer able to pay as a result of reducing fares; (2) operating and capital costs of equipment and facilities being used to provide transportation services that the recipient incurs as a result of expanding such services; (3) the avoidance of increased fares or decreased services; (4) the costs of acquiring clean or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities; and (5) administrative costs in establishing or expanding services to provide commuters with information about alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use. Requires a grant that involves acquiring clean or alternative fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities for complying with the Clean Air Act to be for 100% of the net project cost unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage.Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to require federal employees in urbanized areas served by fixed route public transportation to be offered transit pass transportation fringe benefits. Requires: (1) the Secretary to issue guidance on nationwide implementation of a transportation fringe benefit program; and (2) agencies to report on program implementation.Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program to carry out vanpool demonstration projects in not more than three urbanized areas and two other areas. Requires a grant for a capital project during FY2008-FY2009 that involves additional parking facilities at an end-of-line fixed guideway station or at a park-and-ride lot that serves a fixed route commuter bus route that is more than 20 miles in length to be for 100% of the net capital cost of the project unless the grant recipient requests a lower percentage. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a national consumer awareness program on the environmental, energy, and economic benefits of public transportation alternatives to the use of single occupancy vehicles. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to allow a federal agency to enter into a contract to purchase a generally available fuel that is not an alternative or synthetic fuel or a fuel predominantly produced from a nonconventional petroleum source if: (1) the contract does not specifically require the contractor to provide such an alternative, synthetic, or nonconventional fuel; (2) the purpose of the contract is not to obtain such a fuel; and (3) the contract does not provide incentives for a refinery upgrade or expansion to allow a refinery to use or increase its use of fuel from a nonconventional petroleum source.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Homeland Security Partners Preservation Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to prohibit the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from requiring the recipient of a grant under the Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative to provide a matching contribution as a condition of the grant.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
State Cyber Security Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a State Cyber Security Pilot Program to demonstrate best practices, innovation, and knowledge transfer regarding cyber security within state governments. Directs the Secretary of DHS: (1) through the Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications, to be responsible for administering the Pilot Program; and (2) to ensure the maintenance of geographic and population diversity among selected Pilot Program participants.

Date: 2008-09-10
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Corporate Transparency Act of 2007 [sic] - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) certain tax return information of public entities whose securities are required to be registered under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 relating to the reconciliation of financial income statements with income tax returns (i.e., Schedule M-3); and (2) post on the Internet certain identifying and financial information for such entities. Imposes penalties on entities that fail to file required information. Requires the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the reconciliation of differences between financial income statements of public entities with income tax returns.

Date: 2008-10-01
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Taxation
Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2007 - Repeals title II of the Real ID Act of 2005. Prohibits federal agencies from accepting state-issued driver's licenses and personal identification cards after specified deadlines unless such identification conforms to the minimum standards promulgated under this Act. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) establish by regulation minimum standards for acceptance of state-issued driver's licenses and personal identification cards by federal agencies; (2) establish a negotiated rulemaking process before publishing such standards; and (3) award grants to states to assist them in conforming to such standards.

Date: 2/28/2007
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
State Defense Force Improvement Act - Recognizes state defense forces as integral military components of the homeland security effort of the United States, while reaffirming that such forces remain entirely state regulated, organized, and equipped, and recognizing that they will be used for homeland security purposes exclusively at the local level under state law. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to coordinate homeland security efforts with, and provide assistance (including the use of Department of Defense (DOD) property, arms, equipment, and facilities) to, a state defense force, upon request. Leaves participation by a state defense force in a DOD or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) training program to state discretion. Requires a state to reimburse DOD for training assistance costs. Provides that funds available to DOD may not be made available to a state defense force. Makes the state liable for any injuries or damages incurred by a defense force member while engaged in training activities or state active duty.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Chemical Facility Security Improvement Act of 2009 - Prohibits federal funds from being used by the Secretary of Homeland Security to approve a site security plan for a chemical facility unless the facility meets or exceeds security standards and requirements to protect it against terrorist acts established by the state or local government for the area where it is located. Amends the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 to: (1) repeal a provision prohibiting the Secretary from disapproving a site security plan based on the presence or absence of a particular security measure; (2) require vulnerability assessments and site security plans to be treated as sensitive security information; and (3) repeal a provision limiting to the Secretary any right of action against a chemical facility owner or operator to enforce security measures.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Securing the Homeland Through Agency Reporting Enhancement Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to any case in which the Social Security account number in the wage records of an employee provided by the employer to the Social Security Administration does not match relevant records otherwise maintained by the Administration. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security, in such a case, to send a prompt written notice ("no match" letter): (1) informing the employer of the discrepancies; (2) requesting information that would assist the Commissioner in resolving the discrepancies; and (3) informing the employer that a copy of such notice is being forwarded to assist the Secretary of Homeland Security in the enforcement of applicable federal immigration laws relating to employment of individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. Requires the Commissioner to forward such a copy to the Secretary of Homeland Security, including the information in which discrepancies appear.

Date: 2009-01-15
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Social welfare
Homeland Security Transparency Act of 2009 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) require homeland security grant recipients to submit quarterly reports describing the nature and amount of each expenditure made using grant funds; and (2) publish such information and make it publicly available on the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) website.

Date: 2009-01-21
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
National Emergency Centers Establishment Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish at least six national emergency centers on military installations to use existing infrastructure to provide: (1) temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster; and (2) centralized locations for the training of first responders and the coordination of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. Lists minimum requirements for sites for such centers, including that they be capable of: (1) meeting for an extended period the housing, health, transportation, education, public works, humanitarian, and other transition needs of a large number of individuals affected; (2) being scaled up or down to accommodate major disaster preparedness and response drills, operations, and procedures; (3) housing existing permanent structures necessary to meet training and first responders coordination requirements during non-disaster periods; and (4) hosting the infrastructure necessary to rapidly adjust to temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance needs. Sets forth center location requirements, including requiring the Secretary to designate closed military installations as sites whenever possible and to designate portions of existing military installations as centers otherwise.

Date: 2009-01-22
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Targeting Homeland Security Resources Effectively Against Terrorism Act of 2009 or the THREAT Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a program of discretionary grants for use in high-threat, high-density urban areas. Directs the Secretary to make grants to not more than 15 areas in a fiscal year after considering the population, presence of critical infrastructure, and credibility of the terrorism-related threat for an area. Requires amounts awarded to be disbursed directly to local governments.

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) conduct, through the Coast Guard in the maritime environment, a program for the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including terrorists, to enhance border security and for other purposes; (2) ensure such program's coordination with other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) biometric identification programs; and (3) report to the appropriate congressional committees respecting the cost of expanding the Coast Guard's biometric identification capabilities for use by other Coast Guard and DHS vessels and units. Defines "biometric identification" as the use of fingerprint and digital photography images.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
First Responder Funding Modernization Act of 2009 - Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from limiting the amount of grant funds provided under the Urban Area Security Initiative or the State Homeland Security Grant Program that may be used to pay salaries or overtime pay of law enforcement officials engaged in antiterrorism activities. Requires DHS to treat such a proposed use of grant funds as at least as effective as all other proposed uses.

Date: 2009-02-02
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Laboratory Surge Capacity Preparedness Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to award grants to regional biocontainment laboratories for maintaining surge capacity that can be used to respond to acts of bioterrorism or outbreaks of infectious diseases. Authorizes the Secretary to award such a grant only if the laboratory agrees to allow the Secretary and other relevant federal agencies to inspect laboratory facilities. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on: (1) activities undertaken to integrate the network of regional biocontainment laboratories with the laboratory response network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and (2) the extent to which additional Biosafety Level 3 laboratories are needed to fulfill the nation's laboratory surge capacity needs.

Date: 2009-02-24
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
Anthrax Attacks Investigation Act - Establishes the National Commission on the Anthrax Attacks Upon the United States to: (1) conduct an investigation of the anthrax letter attacks of September and October 2001; and (2) submit interim reports to the President and Congress and a final report on its findings with recommendations for corrective measures to prevent and respond to acts of bioterrorism. Directs the Commission to hold public hearings and release its reports to the public.

Date: 2009-03-02
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Emergency management
First Responders Fighting Terrorism Protection Act of 2009 - Grants qualified immunity from civil liability for a first responder who: (1) takes reasonable action to prevent an act of terrorism; or (2) observes or receives a report of, and takes reasonable action to respond to, any suspicious transaction, activity, or occurrence that indicates that an individual may be engaging, or preparing to engage, in a violation of law relating to a terrorist act. Makes a first responder not entitled to assert the defense of qualified immunity nevertheless immune from civil liability under federal, state, and local law if such responder acted in good faith and on objectively reasonable suspicion. Entitles a first responder found to be immune from liability under this Act to recover from the plaintiff all reasonable costs and attorney fees.

Date: 2009-03-05
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Law
Southern Border Security Task Force Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) establish a Southern Border Security Task Force to coordinate the efforts of federal, state, and local border and law enforcement officials and task forces to protect U.S. border cities and communities from violence associated with drug trafficking, gunrunning, illegal alien smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international border between the United States and Mexico; and (2) deploy the Task Force along that border in cities and communities most affected by violence.

Date: 2009-03-11
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Safe and Secure America Act of 2009 - Amends the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 to extend through 2019 provisions which: (1) authorize the use of multipoint or roving wiretaps for national security and intelligence investigations; and (2) allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to apply to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to grant government access to tangible items (books, records, etc.) in foreign intelligence, international terrorism, and clandestine intelligence cases. Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to extend through 2019 the inclusion of "lone wolf" terrorists as agents of a foreign power, for purposes of the authority to obtain intelligence on non-U.S. persons engaged in international terrorism.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Defense (Civil)
Subject: Armed forces and national security