zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow sponsors of certain deferred compensation plans to elect to include length of service award plans for bona fide volunteers providing fire fighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, and emergency rescue services.Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations exempting a length of service award program from treatment as an employee pension benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Date: 2007-07-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Prohibits the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from barring the use by Louisiana under its Road Home Program of specified amounts provided under FEMA's hazard mitigation grant program because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita based upon the existence of a Program requirement that: (1) limits the amount made available to an eligible homeowner who does not agree to remain an owner and occupant of a home in Louisiana; or (2) waives the applicability of such limitation for homeowners who are elderly or senior citizens. Directs the Administrator to implement mechanisms to simplify the expedited distribution of such funds, including: (1) creating a programmatic cost-benefit analysis to provide a means of conducting cost-benefit analysis by project type and geographic factors rather than on a structure-by-structure basis; and (2) developing a streamlined environmental review process to significantly speed the approval of project applications.Requires the President to waive requirements regarding minimum project criteria under the Hazard Mitigation Program Grant and regarding the payment of claims or specify alternative requirements if requested by Louisiana to facilitate the timely use of funds or a guarantee provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Prohibits the President from waiving any requirement relating to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, or the environment.

Date: 2007-07-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include the states of Idaho and Montana among affected areas for purposes of payments to individuals with certain medical conditions who were exposed to fallout emitted during the U.S. government's atmospheric nuclear tests

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Law
National Flood Mapping Act of 2007 - Establishes the Technical Mapping Advisory Council to make certain recommendations to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including: (1) how to improve in a cost-effective manner the accuracy and dissemination of flood insurance rate maps and risk data; (2) mapping standards and guidelines for flood insurance rate maps and data integrity; (3) how to maintain on an ongoing basis flood insurance rate maps and flood risk identification; and (4) procedures for delegating mapping activities to state and local mapping partners.Instructs the Administrator to: (1) report to certain congressional committees on actions taken to address such recommendations; and (2) establish an ongoing program to review, update, and maintain the National Flood Insurance Program rate maps.Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the heads of each federal entity implementing such activities to work together to ensure that flood risk determination data and geospatial data are shared among federal agencies.Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to repeal the limitation placed upon state contributions for updating flood maps.Directs the Administrator to contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to study and report to Congress on how the FEMA: (1) should improve interagency and intergovernmental coordination on flood mapping; and (2) can establish joint funding mechanisms with federal agencies and governmental entities to share data among all governmental users.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health Act of 2007 - Establishes the National Commission on Children and Disasters, which shall: (1) conduct a comprehensive study that assesses childrens' needs as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all hazards, including major disasters and emergencies; (2) identify, review, and evaluate existing laws, regulations, policies, and programs relevant to such needs; (3) identify, review, and evaluate the lessons learned from past disasters relative to addressing such needs; and (4) report to the President and Congress on its findings and recommendations to address such needs, including regarding the need for a national resource center on children and disasters, coordination of resources and services, administrative actions, policies, regulations, and legislative changes.Sets forth provisions regarding the Commission's powers, staffing, reporting, and record-keeping requirements, and termination. Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Families
Rate Payer Recovery Act of 2007 - 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.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Energy
Agricultural Emergency Financial Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to extend the date for which emergency crop assistance and livestock indemnity payments and livestock compensation program assistance is available for disaster-caused losses.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Louisiana Road Home Act - Authorizes appropriations for the state of Louisiana to carry out the Road Home Program, provided that as of June 1, 2007, the state has provided at least $1 billion for the Program.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Housing and community development
Community Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to authorize the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to publish, through the issuance of national flood insurance rate maps, specified notes to designate areas protected by certified flood control structures against at least: (1) the 100-year flood (1% annual chance); and (2) the 500-year flood (.2% annual chance).Provides that publication of such a note shall not be considered a requirement of participation in the national flood insurance program.

Date: 2007-10-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Federal Emergency Management Advancement Act of 2007 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.

Date: 2007-10-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Homeowner's Flood Insurance Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 with respect to any area that: (1) previously was not designated as a special flood hazard area because it was protected by a flood protection system; and (2) becomes so designated as a result of the decertification of that flood protection system pursuant to any updating, reviewing, or remapping of flood insurance program rate maps. Sets the chargeable flood insurance premium rate for any property that, before enactment of this Act, was located within such an area at 50% of the chargeable risk premium rate otherwise applicable. Terminates such discount rate five years after the area's initial designation as a special flood hazard area.

Date: 2007-10-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Commission on Natural Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance Act of 2007 - Establishes the Commission on Natural Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance to report to Congress on its findings and assessments regarding the risks posed to the United States by natural catastrophes, and means for mitigating those risks and paying for losses caused by such catastrophes. Requires the Commission to assess: (1) the condition of the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance markets prior to and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005, and the four major hurricanes that struck the United States in 2004; (2) the current condition of, as well as the outlook for, the availability and affordability of insurance in all regions of the country; and (3) the current ability of states, communities, and individuals to mitigate their natural catastrophe risks, including the affordability and feasibility of such activities.Directs the Commission to report its findings and assessments to certain congressional committees on December 1, 2008.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007 - Establishes the National Catastrophe Risk Consortium as a nonprofit, nonfederal entity to: (1) maintain an inventory of catastrophe risk obligations held by state reinsurance funds, and state residual insurance market entities; (2) issue, on a conduit basis, securities and other financial instruments linked to catastrophe risks insured or reinsured through Consortium members; and (3) act as a centralized repository of state risk information accessible by certain private-market participants. Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement a national homeowners' insurance stabilization program to make liquidity loans and catastrophic loans to qualified reinsurance programs to: (1) ensure their solvency; (2) improve the availability and affordability of homeowners' insurance; (3) provide incentive for risk transfer to the private capital and reinsurance markets; and (4) spread the risk of catastrophic financial loss resulting from natural disasters and catastrophic events. Authorizes the Secretary to establish and collect, from qualified and precertified reinsurance programs, a reasonable fee to offset expenses of the program. Instructs the Secretary to require full repayment of all loans made under this Act.

Date: 2007-11-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Homeowners Insurance Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers in certain hurricane disaster areas a tax credit for 50% of their homeowner insurance premiums, up to $250 annually.

Date: 2007-11-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Property Mitigation Assistance Act of 2007 - 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 to 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.

Date: 2007-11-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Case Management Services Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act that authorize the President to provide case management services for victims of major disasters to require private sector recipients to be nonprofit or faith-based organizations with experience in case management services. Makes this provision applicable to any major disaster declared on or after January 1, 2005.

Date: 2007-11-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act of 2007 - 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 to or on behalf of individuals and households who, as a result of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, have received written notice of dispossession or eviction from a residence because of a foreclosure of mortgage or lien, cancellation of sales contract, or lease termination, entered into before such disaster. Defines such a "financial hardship" to include: (1) the loss of employment or significant income because a job, a business, or a business interest was located in a disaster area; or (2) suffering financially because of travel restrictions or station or road closures affecting residents of such area.Restricts eligibility for such assistance to individuals or households who have an adjusted gross income of not more than $75,000 ($100,000 for individuals or households who resided in an area with a high cost of living). Directs the President to adjust the limits annually to reflect inflation. Allows assistance to be provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship caused by the disaster, not to exceed 18 months. Requires recipients determined to be ineligible to return the full amount of assistance to the government.Makes this Act applicable to any major disaster declared on or after October 21, 2007.

Date: 2007-11-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Disaster Rebuilding Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to increase the maximum amount of assistance available to individuals and households to $50,000 (the current limit is $25,000) with respect to a single major disaster. Authorizes the President to increase the amount for an individual or household residing in a state with a high cost of living. Makes this Act applicable to any major disaster declared on or after October 21, 2007.

Date: 2007-11-16
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Suspends limitations on the tax deduction for personal casualty losses for losses arising on or after January 1, 2007, and before March 1, 2008, in areas declared as major disasters due to tornado damage.

Date: 2008-02-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that any trailer or mobile home purchased by FEMA meets safety standards established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under provisions relating to limitations on hazardous materials in housing to be used in Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, including any such standards for formaldehyde, lead, or any other hazardous material, contamination, toxic chemical or gas, or radioactive substance that could affect the health or safety of an occupant.

Date: 2008-02-25
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
CJ's Home Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to revise federal standards for manufactured homes (other than one affixed to a permanent foundation) to require each such home to be installed with a weather radio: (1) capable of broadcasting emergency information relating to local weather conditions; (2) equipped with a tone alarm and Specific Alert Message Encoding, or SAME technology; and (3) compliant with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Standard 2009-A Performance Specification for Public Alert Receivers (or its current revision). Shields from common law civil liability: (1) manufacturers, installers, or retailers of manufactured homes for any aspect of the installation, furnishing, function, operation, performance, capabilities, or utilization of such a weather radio; and (2) the operator, owner, or employee of a manufactured home community, or the home manufacturer, with respect to the functionality of such a radio owing to any reminder, assistance, or instructions the community operator provides. Exempts modular homes from such installation standards. Requires the consensus committee established under such Act to develop and submit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development a proposed standard for installed weather radios. Requires the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on conditioning the applicability of the weather radio installation requirement on the geographic location at which a manufactured home is placed.

Date: 2008-03-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2010 increased depreciation allowances for certain business and investment property located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) (through 2011 for nonresidential real property or residential rental property in the GO Zone); (2) extend through 2012 special rules relating to the depreciation of buildings in the GO Zone; (3) extend through 2010 the tax credit for rehabilitation expenditures in the GO Zone; (4) increase the new markets tax credit limitation in 2008 and 2009 for investments in community development entities serving the GO Zone; (5) extend through 2012, and increase the authority for, tax-exempt bond financing for bonds issued by Louisiana or a political subdivision thereof; (6) authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to expand an area designated as a renewal community; and (7) extend through 2012 the period for designating areas located in the GO Zone as renewal communities. Amends the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 to extend for an additional two years the hiring period of employees in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area for purposes of the work opportunity tax credit.

Date: 2008-03-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 to extend the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funds to state and local governments for utility costs resulting from the provision of temporary housing units to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes of the 2005 season where the state or local government has previously arranged to pay for such utilities on behalf of the evacuees, to cover the term of any leases for up to 36 months (currently, 24 months) contracted by or prior to February 7, 2006.

Date: 2008-03-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
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 region in which those events occurred.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.

Date: 2008-04-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Gulf Coast Multifamily and Assisted Housing Recovery Act - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize additional appropriations to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing for low-income elderly persons meeting certain criteria relating to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize additional appropriations to the Secretary to provide the same kind of assistance for low-income persons with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations for the redevelopment (rebuilding or replacement) of housing authorized under the Housing Act of 1959 which was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and in the Parish of St. Bernard. Requires the Secretary to adjust the rent levels annually on a budget-based basis for eligible projects in a designated disaster area receiving rental assistance under the Housing Act of 1959 and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the number of project-based assistance contracts and units which were terminated in the designated disaster area after September 30, 2005; and (2) the specific developer, project name, location, number of units, and project description for each such project-based assistance contract. Prohibits a project-based assistance payments contract for a covered assisted multifamily housing project from expiring or being terminated because of the damage or destruction of dwelling units in the project by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. Deems the expiration date of such a contract to be the later of the date: (1) specified in the contract; or (2) that is not less than three months after the dwelling units in such project, or in a replacement project, are first made habitable. Requires the Secretary to develop and report to specified congressional committees on a written disaster response plan for federally assisted properties that receive assistance pursuant to such Acts.

Date: 2008-05-02
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Housing and community development
Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to establish an avalanche protection program to: (1) identify the potential for avalanches on federal land and inform the public about the probability of avalanches and the potential adverse effects; (2) carry out ongoing research to improve avalanche forecasting; and (3) reduce the risks and mitigate the effects of avalanches.Requires the Secretary: (1) to coordinate the program to ensure protection for recreational users of public land under the Secretary's and Secretary of the Interior's jurisdiction, using resources of the Forest Service's National Avalanche Center; (2) to establish an advisory committee to assist in program development and implementation; and (3) with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the Army, to establish a central depository for weapons, ammunition, and parts for avalanche control purposes.Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to carry out projects and activities to: (1) assist in the prevention, forecasting, detection, and mitigation of avalanches; (2) maintain essential transportation, utilities, and communications; (3) assist avalanche artillery users to ensure the availability of adequate supplies of artillery and explosives required for avalanche control in specified areas; and (4) assist persons in providing public education about avalanches and in conducting research and development activities for alternatives to minimize reliance on military weapons for avalanche control.Directs the Secretary to give priority to projects carried out in avalanche zones with a high frequency or severity of avalanches or in which deaths, injuries, or damage to public facilities and communities have occurred. Requires the Administrator of General Services to transfer specified property suitable for avalanche control purposes to a user of surplus ordnance.

Date: 2008-05-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Act of 2008 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the President to: (1) award financial assistance under the pre-disaster hazard mitigation program on a competitive basis; and (2) ensure that the amount of assistance made available to each state is not less than the lesser of $575,000 or the amount that is equal to 1% of the total funds appropriated to carry out such program for the fiscal year, and is not more than 15% of such appropriated funds. Authorizes appropriations for the program for FY2009-FY2013. Repeals the program termination date. Prohibits a state from using more than 25% of the financial assistance made available to the state under the program in a fiscal year for flood control projects.

Date: 2008-06-20
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
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.

Date: 2008-06-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Higher Education Extension Act of 2005 to extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 through August 15, 2008.

Date: 2008-07-28
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Education
Rural Fuel for School Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award triennial grants to rural local educational agencies (LEAs) in amounts equal to between 10% to 50% of each grantee's annual total transportation costs for the previous fiscal year. Makes rural LEAs eligible for such grants if they experience: (1) an increase in annual fuel costs of at least 20% for the fiscal year; (2) an increase in contract transportation costs of at least 20% for the fiscal year; or (3) extreme hardship, as certified by the Secretary, in providing transportation to elementary and secondary students due to increased fuel prices. Terminates the Secretary's authority to make such grants on December 31, 2013.

Date: 2008-07-29
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Education
Increased Student Achievement Through Increased Student Support Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive, renewable, five-year grants to partnerships between low-income local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools offering graduate programs in school counseling, social work, or psychology to increase the number of program graduates employed by low-income LEAs. Defines "low-income LEAs" as those that: (1) serve students at least 20% of which are from low-income families; (2) have ratios of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists to students that fall at least 10% below specified target ratios; and (3) have been identified as needing improvement or corrective action or include at least one school identified as needing improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Allows the use of grant funds to: (1) provide program graduate students with field training at partnership LEA schools; (2) contribute to program graduates' salaries at such schools for up to three years after they graduate; (3) increase the number of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists per student in such schools; (4) enhance the capacity of partnership graduate schools to train such professionals; (5) develop course work designed to facilitate such graduates' service to low-income LEAs and at-risk students; and (6) provide tuition credits to such graduate students and student loan forgiveness to program graduates employed as school counselors, social workers, or psychologists by low-income LEAs for at least five years. Directs the Secretary to establish a program providing student loan forgiveness to non-participants in this Act's grant program who have been employed for at least five years as school counselors, social workers, or psychologists by low-income LEAs. Requires the Secretary to identify a formula for future use in designating regions as eligible for benefit programs because of having a shortage of such school personnel.

Date: 2008-07-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Education
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow a surviving spouse of a U.S. citizen who was married for less than two years at the time of the citizen's death who proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit to self-petition (within the required two years) for continued immediate relative status. (Applies such provision to applications and petitions pending on or after the date of enactment of this Act.) Extends the petition filing deadline for two years after the date of the enactment of this Act if: (1) the alien's U.S. citizen spouse died before the date of the enactment of this Act; (2) the alien and the citizen spouse were married for less than two years at the time of the citizen spouse's death; and (3) the alien has not remarried.

Date: 2008-07-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Immigration
Limitations on Interrogation Techniques Act of 2008 - Prohibits any individual in the custody or control of personnel of an element of the intelligence community or contractor or subcontractor thereof, regardless of nationality or physical location, from being subject to the following interrogation techniques: (1) forcing the individual to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; (2) placing hoods or sacks over the head of the individual or using duct tape over the eyes; (3) applying beatings, electrical shock, burns, or similar forms of physical pain; (4) using the technique known as waterboarding; (5) using military working dogs; (6) inducing hypothermia or heat injury; (7) conducting mock executions; or (8) depriving the individual of adequate food, water, or medical care.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2008 - Makes technical amendments to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 with respect to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Capitol Police. Requires the CAO to report to and serve at the pleasure of the Chief of the Capitol Police. Repeals the CAO's authority over the personnel of the Capitol Police Office of Administration.Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 to authorize the Chief of Police to discipline and suspend Capitol Police employees with or without pay.Establishes a General Counsel to the Chief of Police and the U.S. Capitol Police.Prohibits lump sum payments to terminated U.S. Capitol Police officers or employees for unused compensatory time.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Congress
Costal [sic] Homeowners Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for: (1) 25% of the qualified hurricane mitigation property expenditures incurred by a homeowner in a federally declared hurricane disaster area or in a county located in a state which borders the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, up to $5,000; and (2) 50% of the increases in homeowner insurance premiums in such disaster areas, up to $5,000. Includes within the definition of "qualified hurricane mitigation property expenditures" expenditures to improve the strength of a roof deck attachment, create a secondary water barrier, improve the durability of a roof covering, or protect exterior doors and garages.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Flood Insurance Refund Adjustment Act - Instructs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modify certain regulations governing premium refunds so that a standard flood insurance policyholder, whose property has been determined not to be in a special flood hazard area as a result of a specified flood map revision, has one year to submit a policy adjustment claim for a policy cancellation and refund. Declares such adjustment claims inapplicable to flood claims that have been paid or are pending.

Date: 2008-08-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Incentive to Serve Tax Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit for 25% of wages paid to employees while such employees are performing certain services (e.g., services advancing the improvement of education, health care access, energy conservation, economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals, and disaster preparedness and response) for charitable organizations and community agencies. Limits the amount of wages eligible for such credit to $100,000 per employee.

Date: 2008-09-15
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Taxation
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Army for levee and flood protection repairs, restoration, and improvements, critical coastal restoration projects, the dredging of affected waterways, and the beneficial use of dredged material in Louisiana. Requires the Secretary to provide such funds to the state of Louisiana on the later of: (1) a date that is 90 days after the governor of Louisiana submits a plan describing how the funds will be used; or (2) October 1, 2008.

Date: 2008-09-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2008 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts unless the agreement specifies that: (1) all of the work under the contract will be performed by the prime contractor or one or more subcontractors at one tier under the contract; (2) any work performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors, except to the extent that local subcontractors are not available to perform any such work; (3) the prime contractor will act as the project manager or construction manager for the contract; and (4) the prime contractor has primary responsibility for managing all work under the contract and is to be paid a certain percentage of the overall value of the contract as sole compensation for assuming the risk associated with such responsibility. Requires the agency head, in entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to give preference in the source selection process to each offeror who certifies that any work that is to be performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors.

Date: 2008-11-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Flood Insurance Choice Act of 2007 - Amends the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 to permit an individual homeowner not to purchase property flood insurance, even for property in a special flood hazard area, if he or she submits certain written certifications to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state, community, or local official responsible for zoning and building codes. Declares that such homeowner shall not be required to comply with certain base flood elevation requirements. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, with respect to land use controls, financial assistance and mitigation assistance, to shield from penalties for non-compliance those areas that have complied with its requirements but where individuals have opted out pursuant to this Act. Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to deny assistance for individuals who have opted-out of the flood insurance program.

Date: 7/26/2007
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Hurricane Katrina Disaster Inquiry Commission Act of 2009 - Directs the President to establish an independent nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to discover and assess the circumstances relating to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on or between Friday, August 26, 2005, and Tuesday, August 30, 2005. Directs the Commission to: (1) chronicle the trajectory of Hurricane Katrina, including the timetable and locations of its path, and the responses made by the federal, state, and local governments; (2) estimate the loss of life, physical and structural damage, and displacement of residents; (3) recommend corrective actions; and (4) prepare a report to Congress, the President, and the public.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2009 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise the Secretary regarding estimated loss costs associated with contracts for reinsurance coverage.Authorizes the Secretary to make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance coverage. Restricts purchase of such coverage to eligible state programs. Prescribes criteria for state eligibility.Requires each contract for reinsurance coverage to provide insurance coverage against residential property losses to homes, including condominium and cooperative ownership, and the contents of apartment buildings. Cites covered perils.Prescribes a minimum level of retained losses and maximum federal liability.Authorizes any insurer who participates in an eligible state program to establish a Catastrophe Capital Reserve Fund to hold funds on the Secretary's behalf to offset reinsurance claims.Establishes the Consumer Hurricane, Earthquake, Loss Protection (HELP) Fund to: (1) make payments to covered purchasers under contracts for reinsurance coverage for eligible losses; and (2) pay for Commission operating costs and reinsurance program administrative expenses.Directs the Comptroller General to study the national flood insurance program and hurricane-related flooding.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Smarter Funding for All of America's Homeland Security Act of 2007 [sic] - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a State and Regional First Responder Grant Program under which the Secretary may make grants to states and eligible regional entities on the basis of the threat to a state or region's population and critical infrastructure, as determined by the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, to evaluate and prioritize grant applications, considering factors such as threats to the population, specific economic sectors, major communications nodes and transportation systems, specific elements of the food supply, the water and energy supplies, civic infrastructure and emergency response capabilities, and specific structures of symbolic national importance. Bars the use of grant funds to supplant state or local funds that would otherwise be available for homeland security or first responder projects. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish the Advisory Council on First Responders, which shall report to the Secretary through the head of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination; and (2) revise the Homeland Security Advisory System to require that any designation of a threat level or other warning be accompanied by a designation of the geographic regions and economic sectors to which it applies. Directs the Under Secretary for Science and Technology to conduct a study of whether there is a need to assign additional bands of frequencies of electromagnetic spectrum to assist first responders.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Emergency Fueling Station Designation Act of 2009 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a program to address the shortage of fuel along hurricane evacuation routes by providing funds to eligible states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia) to assist in the purchase and installation of transfer switches and generators at designated emergency fueling stations. Requires states applying for funds to provide: (1) identification of hurricane zones and evacuation routes; (2) the estimated number of designated and adjacent emergency fueling stations determined to be necessary by such state using population figures along hurricane evacuation routes as a guide in selecting stations; and (3) specified assurances, including that a fueling station will not be selected as a designated emergency fueling station unless it has not less than 10 fueling positions and is located within one mile of a hurricane evacuation route.Directs the Administrator to make available to an eligible state that applies for funds 50% of the cost for the purchase and installation of transfer switches and generators for designated emergency fueling stations, and 30% of that cost of adjacent emergency fueling stations, selected by the state.

Date: 2009-01-09
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
Skilled Trades Second Responders Act of 2009 - 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.

Date: 2009-01-22
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management
National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act of 2009 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) continue to administer the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System; (2) provide for a national network of standardized search and rescue resources; (3) designate task forces to participate in the System and determine criteria for participation; and (4) enter into an agreement with the required sponsoring agency of each task force regarding participation. Sets forth provisions regarding the composition of task forces and reimbursement. Authorizes the Administrator to appoint a System member for a period of federal service to participate in sponsored or sanctioned exercises, pre-incident staging, major disaster and emergency response activities, and training events. Entitles a member who suffers personal injury, illness, disability, or death while acting in the scope of such appointment to be treated as an employee who sustained the injury in the performance of duty. Sets forth provisions regarding election of benefits, liability, employment and re-employment rights, and licenses and permits. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish and maintain an advisory committee; (2) enter into an annual preparedness cooperative agreement with each agency; and (3) enter into response cooperative agreements under which the Administrator agrees to reimburse agencies for emergency response costs.

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Disaster Relief)
Subject: Emergency management