zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend by six years the time period during which Fairlawn Hydroelectric Company is required to commence construction on the Jennings Randolph Hydroelectric Project located on the North Branch of the Potomac River in Garrett County, Maryland, and Mineral County, West Virginia.

In addition, FERC is authorized to reinstate the construction license if it is expired.

Date: 2016-02-01
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
This bill amends the Federal Power Act with respect to the prohibition regarding mergers or consolidations by a public utility. Any merger or consolidation of a public utility whose value exceeds $10 million must first be authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

In addition, FERC is required to promulgate a rule within 180 days that mandates any public utility seeking to merge or consolidate to notify FERC, within 30 days of transaction consummation, if the value of such merger or consolidation exceeds $1 million but is less than $10 million.

Date: 2016-02-02
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon the request of the licensee for FERC project numbered 13287 (Cannonsville Hydroelectric Project, New York), to extend the time period during which the licensee is required to commence the construction of the project for up to four consecutive two-year periods from the date of the expiration of the extension originally issued by FERC.

Date: 2016-02-02
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request of the City of Saxman, Alaska, to issue a stay of the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.

In addition, upon request, FERC must reinstate the construction license and make it effective as of the date the stay is lifted.

Subject to certain conditions, FERC is required to extend for up to six years the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the project.

Date: 2016-05-19
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Public Engagement at FERC Act

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to revise and expand the Office of Public Participation in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)and rename it as the Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy.

The office may participate in FERC proceedings on rates, service, and infrastructure siting to represent the interests of the public and issue guidance for potential improvements to industry and FERC practices.

Additionally, the office must establish a Public and Consumer Advocacy Advisory Committee to review rates, services, and disputes and make recommendations to the office.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Energy Contracting Opportunities Act 

This bill expands, from 10 to 30 years, the maximum length of a federal agency contract for the acquisition of renewable energy or energy from cogeneration facilities.

In addition, the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior must establish an interagency working group to study the impact thatenergy development hashad on bird populations.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project Boundary Correction Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior, after consulting with the U.S. Forest Service, to modify the boundary of the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2911) in southeast Alaska and to convey any additional land necessary for the project to the state of Alaska.

Date: 2016-06-07
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to extend by six yearsthe time period during which Okanogan CountyPublic Utility District No. 1is required to commence construction on the Enloe Hydroelectric Project located on the Similkameen River in Okanogan County, Washington.

In addition, FERC is authorized to reinstate the construction license if it is expired.

Date: 2016-06-15
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Energy and Water Research Integration Act of 2016

 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to integrate water considerations into its energy research, development, and demonstration programs and projects by: (1) advancing energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices that meet the objectives of minimizing freshwater withdrawal and consumption, increasing water use efficiency, and utilizing nontraditional water sources with efforts to improve the quality of the water from those sources; (2) considering the effects climate variability may have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and fuel production; and (3) improving the understanding of the energy required to provide reliable water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies.

DOE shall develop and update every five years a strategic plan to carry out the integration.

DOE shall establish an Energy-Water Subcommittee of the Energy Advisory Board to promote and enable improved energy and water resource data collection, reporting, and technological innovation.

This bill shall not be construed to require state, tribal, or local governments to take any action that may result in an increased financial burden by restricting their water use.

Date: 2016-09-09
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Water resources development
Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Power Act with respect to orders by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to generate, transmit, or sell electricity to prevent an emergency in energy reliability, where the order may result in a conflict with environmental law. FERC must ensure that the order: (1) requires generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission of electricity only during hours necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest; and (2) be consistent with applicable environmental law and minimize any adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable.

Compliance with such an order shall not be considered a violation of conflicting federal, state, or local environmental laws.

Orders that may result in a conflict with environmental law must expire within 90 days and may be renewed or reissued for subsequent periods as necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest.

During an emergency, a municipality engaged in the transmission or sale of electricity and not otherwise subject to FERC's jurisdiction may make temporary connections with public utilities subject to FERC's jurisdiction and construct temporary facilities for the transmission of electricity in interstate commerce as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the emergency.

Date: 2015-03-24
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
This bill amends the Federal Power Act to declare U.S. policy regarding the national interstate electricity transmission system, and to ensure that high-priority regional transmission (HPRT) projects are in the public interest.

The bill prohibits a project developer from seeking a certificate for construction without first seeking authorization under applicable state law.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) may authorize HPRT project construction found to be required by public convenience and necessity if the state:

 fails to approve the project, rejects the project application, has no authority to approve the project siting, or authorizes the project subject to conditions that unreasonably interfere with an HPRT project. FERC is designated the lead agency to coordinate both federal authorizations and related environmental reviews for an HPRT project.

FERC shall: (1) coordinate the federal authorization and related environmental review process with any Indian tribe, multistate entity, or state agency responsible for separate permitting or environmental review of a project; and (2) ensure timely and efficient review and permit decisions.

FERC must incorporate into the certificate certain mitigation measures recommended by federal and state agencies, including affected Indian tribes.

Excludes from coverage by this Act Alaska, Hawaii, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Date: 2015-04-21
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, upon the request of the licensee for the project numbered 12429 (Clark Canyon Dam, Montana), to reinstate the license and extend for three years after enactment of this Act the time period during which the licensee is required to commence the construction of project works.

Date: 2015-04-27
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon the request of the licensee for the project numbered 12478-003 (Gibson Dam, Montana), to extend the time period during which the licensee is required to commence construction for six years beginning on the date of expiration of the previous extension issued by FERC before enactment of this Act.

Date: 2015-04-27
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Clean Distributed Energy Grid Integration Act

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to: (1) study the status of integration of clean distributed energy into electric grids, (2) identify issues requiring additional research or regulatory development, and (3) make grants for research proposals that address technical barriers identified in the study.

"Clean distributed energy" means energy technologies that are located on the customer site operating on the customer side of the electric meter and are interconnected with the electric grid. DOE shall convene a stakeholder working group to:

 address regulatory barriers to deployment of intelligent grid integration of clean distributed energy technologies; and provide guidance on how to address the technical, regulatory, and economic factors that limit widespread integration of grid-level clean distributed energy use in order to advance the integration of such energy into electric grids. DOE may make grants to implement integration demonstration projects, based on study findings, to state and local agencies, public institutions, private companies, electric utilities, and equipment manufacturers.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Next Generation Electric Systems Act 

This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grants program for eligible partnerships to develop and implement projects related to achieving the transformation of the future electric grid by the year 2030 using a comprehensive approach to electric system design and architecture.

Eligible partnerships may include any institution of higher education, National Laboratory, representative of a state or local government, representative of an Indian tribe, federal power marketing administration, industry expert, or nonprofit industry trade association, but must include at least one electric utility (either investor-owned or publicly owned), technology provider, rural electric cooperative, Regional Transmission Organization, or Independent System Operator.

DOE must, when selecting eligible partnerships to receive grants, give priority to those proposing projects for which a cost-share is to be provided.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Bulk-Power System Reliability Impact Statement Act 

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to require reliability coordinators registered with the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to report to certain congressional committees and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding:

 the state of and prospects for the reliability and affordability of electricity within their respective geographic areas, and the most significant risks to the reliability of the bulk-power system that might arise or need to be monitored within such geographic areas, including risks from proposed or final federal regulations. FERC must:

 solicit a reliability impact statement from the affected reliability coordinator within 15 days after a federal agency proposes a major rule that may significantly affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system, and transmit the coordinator's reliability impact statement to the head of the federal agency for inclusion in the public record. A reliability coordinator may also submit voluntarily a reliability impact statement for any proposed major federal rule that the coordinator determines would significantly affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system within the coordinator's jurisdiction.

If a proposed rule subject to a reliability impact statement affects an area broader than the jurisdiction of a single reliability coordinator, the ERO must convene a committee of the affected reliability coordinators in order to produce a single statement that demonstrates for each affected area the reliability impact of the proposed rule.

When issuing a proposed major rule subject to a reliability impact statement, the head of the federal agency must:

 consider the reliability impact statement in issuing the proposed rule, and include in the final rule a detailed response to the reliability impact statement.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Continuity of Electric Capacity Resources Act 

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to notify transmission organizations that they must file an electric capacity resources report if they have a tariff on file that addresses the procurement of electric capacity resources.

Report contents must:

 identify electric capacity resources available to the transmission organization; describe the fuel sources and operational characteristics of each electric capacity resource; evaluate the financial health, viability, and projected remaining years of service of these available electric capacity resources; and assess the current and projected reliability of the elements of the bulk-power system under the transmission organization's control. Subsequent to this report, transmission organizations must also submit tariff amendments that would achieve specified objectives, including a diverse generation portfolio and the availability of transmission facilities and transmission support services that would provide a continuous supply of electricity for customers.

The bill shields any person from liability for actions taken to comply with a FERC order for temporary connections and exchanges of facilities during war or an energy emergency.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
PURPA's Legislative Upgrade to State Authority Act or the PURPA PLUS Act

Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, with respect to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority to prescribe rules requiring electric utilities to offer to sell and purchase electric energy to and from any qualifying cogeneration or small power production facility.

Permits state regulatory authorities or nonregulated electric utilities, acting under state authority, to set rates exceeding the incremental cost of alternative electric energy for purchases from any such qualifying facility of up to two megawatts capacity. (Current law requires FERC to set rates that do not exceed the incremental cost to the electric utility of alternative electric energy.)

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Enhanced Grid Security Act of 2015

This bill designates the Department of Energy (DOE) as the lead Sector-Specific Agency for cybersecurity for the energy sector (this action comports with the presidential policy directive entitled "Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience" dated February 12, 2013).

 DOE shall:

 develop advanced cybersecurity applications and technologies for the energy sector; advance the security of field devices and third-party control systems; leverage electric grid architecture as a means to assess risks to the energy sector, including by implementing an all-hazards approach to communications infrastructure, control systems architecture, and power systems architecture; perform pilot demonstration projects with the energy sector to gain experience with new technologies; and develop workforce development curricula for energy sector-related cybersecurity. DOE shall also implement within the energy sector cybertesting and cyberresilience programs that target:

 DOE emergency response capabilities, cooperation with the intelligence communities for energy sector-related threat collection and analysis, enhancing the tools of DOE and the Electricity Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ES-ISAC) for monitoring the status of the energy sector, expanding industry participation in ES-ISAC, and technical assistance to small electric utilities to assess cybermaturity posture. DOE must develop an advanced energy security program that secures diverse energy networks in order to increase the functional preservation of the electric grid operations or natural gas and oil operations in the face of natural and human-made threats and hazards, including electric magnetic pulse and geomagnetic disturbances.

DOE shall study alternative management structures and funding mechanisms to expand industry membership and participation in ES-ISAC.

Date: 2015-05-07
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Grid Modernization Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a program of research and development of electric grid energy storage that addresses the principal challenges identified in the 2013 Department of Energy Strategic Plan for Grid Energy Storage.

DOE shall establish and facilitate a collaborative process to develop model grid architecture and a set of future scenarios for the electric system to examine the impacts of different combinations of resources on the electric grid (including different quantities of distributed energy resources and large-scale, central generation).

DOE shall also:

 conduct modeling based upon the scenarios developed; and analyze and evaluate the technical and financial impacts of the models to assist states, utilities, and other stakeholders in enhancing strategic planning efforts, avoiding stranded investments, and maximizing the cost-effectiveness of future grid-related investments. DOE shall: (1) conduct six demonstration projects to expand the application of technologies to improve observability, advanced controls, and prediction of system performance on the distribution system; and (2) establish a program for the development and promotion of grid-scale energy storage with microgrids to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure.

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 establishes a new resilience standard requiring each electric utility, each state authority regulating one, and each nonregulated electric utility to incorporate consideration of electric grid resilience (the ability of the electric grid to adapt to changing conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from disruptions) into its integrated resource planning.

DOE shall: (1) initiate development of voluntary model pathways for modernizing the electric grid through a collaborative, public-private effort; and (2) establish a steering committee to facilitate development of the pathways.

DOE must develop baseline, voluntary model performance metrics to facilitate and promote the adoption of best practices and processes for electricity infrastructure providers to design, build, and implement a modernized electric grid and maximize opportunities to enhance progress in grid technologies and capabilities, consumer engagement, and policy.

DOE shall also, upon request, partner with the states and regional organizations to facilitate development of state and regional distribution plans.

Date: 2015-05-07
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act or the RIVER Act

This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize through FY2025 the program of hydroelectric production incentives and incentive payments to the owners or operators of hydroelectric facilities at existing dams to make capital improvements directly related to improving efficiency.

Date: 2015-05-11
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
(Sec. 1) This bill authorizes the licensee for the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] project number 2743) to occupy up to 20 acres of federal land to construct, operate, and maintain the Upper Hidden Basin Diversion Expansion without further authorization of the Department of the Interior or under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

This is the expansion of the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Project described in the Upper Hidden Basin Grant Application dated July 2, 2014, as submitted by Kodiak Electric Association, Inc., to the Alaska Energy Authority Renewable Energy Fund Round VIII.

The Expansion must meet the terms and conditions contained in any amendment to a license which may be issued by FERC subsequent to its environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Date: 2015-06-16
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
This bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon the request of the licensee of FERC project 11393, to continue the current stay of the license.

 Upon subsequent licensee request, but no later than 10 years after enactment of this Act, FERC shall: (1) lift the stay of the license, and (2) make the license's effective date the one upon which the stay is lifted.

Also upon licensee request, FERC shall extend for up to 3 consecutive 2-year periods the time period during which the licensee must commence project construction.

Date: 2015-06-16
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1)This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request of the City of Saxman, Alaska, to issue a stay of the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.

In addition, upon request, FERC must reinstate the construction license and make it effective as of the date the stay is lifted.

Subject to certain conditions, FERC is required to extend for up to six years the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the project.

Date: 2015-09-17
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill permits the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon licensee request, to extend for up to three consecutive two-year periods from the expiration date of the extension originally issued by FERC the time period during which the licensee must commence construction of project numbered 12642.

FERC may also reinstate the license effective as of its expiration date if the period required for commencement of project construction has expired before enactment of this Act. The first extension authorized under this Act shall take effect upon that expiration date.

Date: 2015-09-28
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Energy
Energy Tax Fairness Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax credit for investment in energy property to include qualified high-efficiency linear generator property.

A stationary linear generator power plant is an integrated system consisting of translators, cylinders, electricity generating equipment, and associated balance of plant components which converts a fuel or waste heat into electricity for stationary applications. Qualified high-efficiency linear generator property is a stationary linear generator power plant which has: (1) a nameplate capacity of less than 2,000 kilowatts, and (2) an electricity-only generation efficiency of greater than 30%.

For high-efficiency linear generator property that is placed in service during the taxable year, the credit for the year may not exceed $1,500 for each 0.5 kilowatt of capacity of the property.

Date: 2016-07-07
Topic: Energy (Electricity)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to detain for examination, testing, or the taking of evidence: (1) any horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction which is sore or which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is sore; and (2) any horse or other equine which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is being shipped, transported, moved, delivered, received, possessed, purchased, sold, or donated in violation of such prohibition.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Early Pest Detection and Surveillance Improvement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a cooperative agreement with any state department of agriculture that agrees to conduct early plant pest detection surveillance activities, including inspection and surveillance of domestic plant shipments between a state and other states.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Domestic Pet Turtle Market Access Act of 2007 - Prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from restricting the sale by a turtle farmer or other commercial retail seller of a turtle that is less than 10.2 centimeters in diameter as a pet if: (1) the turtle is raised, shipped, and sold using methods proven to keep the turtle free of salmonella, using salmonella safety standards comparable to standards for other animals allowed for sale as pets or animal products allowed for sale as food products; (2) the FDA has approved a plan submitted by the turtle farmer or seller relating to compliance with this Act; and (3) the farmer or seller makes certain disclosures to the buyer. Sets forth required disclosures, which include: (1) information regarding the dangers that could result if the turtle is not properly handled and safely maintained, the proper handling of the turtle, and the proven methods of treatment that keep the turtle safe from salmonella; (2) a detailed explanation of how to properly treat the turtle to keep it safe from salmonella; and (3) a statement that buyers of pet turtles should not abandon the turtle or abandon it outside, but should instead return them to a commercial retail pet seller or other organization that would accept turtles no longer wanted as pets.Requires the turtle farmer or seller to submit a plan to the FDA that includes use of non-antibiotic compounds that suppress or eliminate the presence of salmonella in turtle hatchlings. Directs the FDA to accept or reject such a plan within 30 days.

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Amends the Animal Health Protection Act to prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from implementing or carrying out (and prohibits use of federal funds to implement or carry out) a National Animal Identification System or similar requirement that mandates the participation of livestock owners. Sets forth requirements governing disclosure of information obtained through a voluntary animal identification system established by the Secretary to identify and trace animals.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to list permissible sources of dogs and cats used by research facilities to include dogs and cats obtained: (1) from a licensed dealer; (2) from a publicly owned and operated pound or shelter that meets specified requirements; (3) by donation from a person who bred and raised the dog or cat and owned it for not less than one year; or (4) from a research facility licensed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Sets forth additional monetary penalties for related violations. Prohibits federal facilities from purchasing or otherwise acquiring dogs or cats for exhibition purposes except from: (1) the operator of an auction that comports with legal requirements; or (2) a person holding a valid dealer or exhibitor license. Prohibits dealers from selling or otherwise providing a research facility with random source dogs or cats unless specified certification requirements are met.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Haley's Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to: (1) define the term "big cat" to mean any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species; (2) allow the Secretary of Agriculture to deny or revoke licenses to animal dealers and exhibitors based on recommendations from state or local officials with jurisdiction over captive wildlife; (3) require the Secretary to include in standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals by dealers, research facilities, and exhibitors a minimum requirement to provide for public safety; (4) increase civil and criminal penalties for violations of such Act; (5) prohibit a licensed exhibitor or dealer from allowing direct contact between a big cat and a member of the public, with an exception for zoos; and (6) prohibit the Secretary from granting a license to a dealer or exhibitor of a big cat until the Secretary has issued regulations to implement this Act.

Date: 2007-04-19
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Animal Protection Accountability Improvement Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit a person from using a live animal to: (1) demonstrate a medical device or product to a sales representative, or in a workshop or training session, for marketing purposes; (2) train a sales representative to use a medical device or product; or (3) create a multimedia recording for the purpose of marketing a medical device or product. Exempts from this requirement the training of medical personnel for a purpose other than marketing a medical device or product.Increases the cap on the fine for violations of humane standards and record keeping requirements at auction sales from $2,500 to $10,000 for each violation. Provides that each animal that is the subject of a violation shall be a separate offense.Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to include in a report to Congress an identification of all research facilities, intermediate handlers, carriers, and exhibitors registered under such Act.

Date: 2007-05-07
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Prohibits the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to approve or contract with any person or entity to approve for human consumption any cow, sheep, pig, goat, or horse, mule, or other equine that does not stand and walk unassisted at any time while the animal is alive at a slaughtering, packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar establishment.

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Dog Fighting Prohibition Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to make it unlawful to: (1) knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in, or knowingly attend, a dog fighting venture; and (2) knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive for purposes of transportation any dog or other animal for the purposes of having the dog, animal, or offspring of the dog or other animal participate in a dog fighting venture. Provides for imprisonment for up to five years for violations.

Date: 2007-07-27
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Amends the Public Health Service Act to repeal provisions providing for the removal of surplus chimpanzees from a sanctuary facility. Prohibits use of such chimpanzees for research except for noninvasive behavioral studies.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Health
Federal Dog Protection Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to make it unlawful to knowingly: (1) sponsor or exhibit an animal in, or knowingly attend, a dog fighting venture; (2) sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive for purposes of transportation any dog or other animal for the purpose of having the dog or other animal, or offspring of the dog or other animal, participate in a dog fighting venture; or (3) use the U.S. mail service or any instrumentality of interstate commerce for commercial speech that promotes or furthers such prohibited actions.Makes costs incurred for the care of animals seized and forfeited recoverable from the owner (currently recoverable costs are limited to those incurred by the United States).Allows animal control agencies, humane societies, or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals to commence a civil suit to enjoin any private party who is alleged to be in violation of provisions concerning animal fighting. Provides for enforcement.

Date: 2007-08-02
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit knowingly transferring, transporting, or possessing a confined exotic animal for purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of that animal for entertainment or for the collection of a trophy. Defines "confined exotic animal" as a mammal of a species not indigenous to the United States that has been held in captivity for the majority of its life or a period of one year.

Date: 2007-10-15
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Emerald Ash Borer Municipality Assistance Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Treasury the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to use Fund amounts for loans to eligible local government units for purchases of equipment to monitor, dispose of, and replace infested trees on local government land within quarantine areas infested by the emerald ash borer.

Date: 2007-10-18
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Farm Animals Anti-Cruelty Act - Subjects a person to specified civil and criminal penalties who: (1) kills, mutilates, tortures, or intentionally causes an animal held for commercial use pain or suffering; or (2) has responsibility for an animal held for commercial use and fails to provide it with necessary food, water, shelter, and health care. Exempts from such provision the treatment of an animal held for commercial use: (1) in lawful scientific or agricultural research; (2) undergoing veterinary treatment; or (3) at a state or county fair, or at similar exhibitions. States that any act in compliance with the Humane Slaughter Act is not prohibited under this Act.

Date: 2008-06-05
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to assess and collect fees for an abbreviated application for a generic new animal drug, including application fees, product fees, and sponsor fees.Sets forth total revenue to be collected for each type of fee for FY2009-FY2013.Provides for fee adjustments. Requires the Secretary to establish such fees each fiscal year.Provides for fee waivers where the Secretary finds that the generic new animal drug is intended solely to provide for a minor use or minor species indication.Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.Requires the Secretary to report to Congress and make publicly available information on: (1) progress toward the goal of expediting the generic new animal drug development process and the review of abbreviated applications for such drugs; and (2) the implementation of the authority for and use of generic new animal drug fees.Sets forth the process for developing recommendations to present to Congress for the review of abbreviated applications for generic new animal drugs after FY2013.Terminates the authority to assess and use generic new animal drug fees on October 1, 2013. Terminates reporting requirements on January 31, 2014.

Date: 2008-07-08
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Health
Animal Cruelty Statistics Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to change existing Department of Justice (DOJ) crime data bases so that data on all crimes of animal cruelty will be collected and made publicly available in a manner that facilitates analysis.

Date: 2008-07-24
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to three years for possessing, shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, delivering, or receiving: (1) any horse (i.e., member of the family Equidae) with the intent that it be slaughtered for human consumption; or (2) any horse flesh or carcass with the intent that it be used for human consumption. Reduces the prison term to one year if the offense involves less than five horses or less than 2,000 pounds of horse flesh or carcass and the offender has no prior conviction for this offense.Requires the Attorney General to provide for the humane placement or disposition of any horse seized in connection with an offense under this Act.

Date: 2008-07-24
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to define "retail pet store" as a person that: (1) sells an animal directly to the public for use as a pet; and (2) does not breed or raise more than 50 dogs for use as pets during any one-year period.Exempts from requirements to obtain a license as an animal dealer or exhibitor under such Act any retail pet store or other person who: (1) does not breed or raise more than 50 dogs for use as pets during any one-year period; and (2) derives less than a substantial portion of their income from the breeding and raising of dogs or cats on their own premises and sells such dogs or cats to a dealer or research facility.Requires: (1) a dealer to provide each dog it holds that is 12 weeks or older with a minimum of two exercise periods during each day for a total of no less than one hour of exercise; (2) such exercise to include removing the dog from the dog's primary enclosure and allowing the dog to walk for the entire exercise period; and (3) such exercise to not include use of a treadmill, catmill, jenny mill, slat mill, or similar device, unless prescribed by a doctor of veterinary medicine.

Date: 2008-09-18
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Amends the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to detain for examination, testing, or the taking of evidence: (1) any horse at any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction that is sore or which the Secretary has probable cause to believe is sore; and (2) any horse or other equine that the Secretary has probable cause to believe is being shipped, transported, moved, delivered, received, possessed, purchased, sold, or donated in violation of such prohibition. Increases appropriations to carry out such Act.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Establishes the Energy Security Fund, to be funded by proceeds deposited in the general fund of the Treasury from fines, penalties, and other funds obtained through enforcement actions for violations of automobile fuel economy standards. Directs the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Clean Cities Program of the Department of Energy, to establish a program of grants to expand the availability of alternative fuels to consumers. Makes amounts in the Fund available to the Secretary for such grants. Declares eligible for assistance any entity that is eligible for assistance under the Clean Cities Program. Bars from such assistance: (1) large, vertically-integrated oil companies; and (2) any entity that receives other federal funds for the construction or expansion of the same alternative refueling infrastructure. Sets forth a maximum ceiling for grants and for stations. Limits the use of such funds to construction or expansion of alternative fueling infrastructure.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Energy
Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to list permissible sources of dogs and cats used by research facilities to include dogs and cats obtained: (1) from a licensed dealer; (2) from a publicly owned and operated pound or shelter that meets specified requirements; (3) by donation from a person who bred and raised the dog or cat and owned it for not less than one year; or (4) from a research facility licensed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Sets forth additional monetary penalties for related violations. Prohibits federal facilities from purchasing or otherwise acquiring dogs or cats for exhibition purposes except from: (1) the operator of an auction that comports with legal requirements; or (2) a person holding a valid dealer or exhibitor license. Prohibits dealers from selling or otherwise providing a research facility with random source dogs or cats unless specified certification requirements are met.

Date: 2007-02-28
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Amends the Act of October 24, 2000, which authorized the establishment in the District of Columbia of a service-disabled veterans' memorial, to extend the authority for establishing such memorial until October 24, 2015.

Date: 2007-03-08
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Commemorations
Captive Primate Safety Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to add nonhuman primates (i.e., monkeys, apes, etc.) to the definition of "prohibited wildlife species" for purposes of the prohibition against the sale or purchase of animals in interstate or foreign commerce, except allows such a sale or purchase by zoos, research facilities, or other federally licensed and regulated entities.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Amends the Animal Welfare Act to make it unlawful to: (1) knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in, or knowingly attend, a dog fighting venture; and (2) knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver, or receive for purposes of transportation any dog or other animal for the purposes of having the dog, animal, or offspring of the dog or other animal participate in a dog fighting venture. Provides for imprisonment for up to five years for violations.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Chimp Haven is Home Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to repeal provisions providing for the removal of surplus chimpanzees from a sanctuary facility. Prohibits use of such chimpanzees for research except for noninvasive behavioral studies.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Health
Sportsmanship in Hunting Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit anyone, in or substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, from knowingly transferring, transporting, or possessing a confined exotic animal for purposes of allowing the killing or injuring of such animal for entertainment or for the collection of a trophy. Exempts the killing or injuring of an exotic animal in a state or federal natural area reserve undertaking habitat restoration from such prohibition.Defines "confined exotic animal" as a mammal of a species not historically indigenous to the United States that has been held in captivity for the majority of its life or for a period of one year.Allows persons authorized by the Secretary of the Interior to make arrests, execute warrants, and search for and seize animals to enforce the provisions of this Act.

Date: 2008-04-24
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Whaling Convention Amendments Act of 2008 - Amends the Whaling Convention Act of 1949 to require the Secretary of Commerce to authorize aboriginal subsistence whaling if it: (1) is for subsistence purposes (including the sale of authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing); (2) does not include the striking, taking, or killing of calves or any whale accompanied by a calf; and (3) is not accomplished in a wasteful manner.Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish catch limits for the Alaska Native aboriginal subsistence hunt of bowhead whales for any year or set of years if: (1) the International Whaling Commission has failed to adopt applicable catch limits; and (2) the biological status of the affected bowhead stock or stocks is such that, based on the most recent review of their status by the Scientific Committee of the Commission, the aboriginal subsistence needs request submitted to the Commission by the United States for that year or set of years is sustainable.

Date: 2008-07-24
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals
Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations establishing a process for assessing the risk of all nonnative wildlife species proposed for importation into the United States, other than those included in a list of approved species issued under this Act. Sets forth factors that must be considered, including the identity of the organism to the species level, the native range of the species, whether the species has caused harm to the economy, the environment, or other animal species or human health in similar ecosystems, and the likelihood of establishment or spread of the species in the United States. Provides procedures for issuance and expansion of a list of nonnative wildlife species approved for importation and a list of nonnative wildlife species that are prohibited.Establishes prohibitions on: (1) importation or transportation between states of nonnative species that are not included in the list of approved species; (2) permit violations; and (3) possession, purchase, sale, barter, release, or breeding of such species. Exempts from such prohibitions actions by law enforcement personnel to enforce this Act or by federal or state officials to prevent the introduction or establishment of nonnative wildlife species. Declares that nothing in this Act restricts the importation or transportation between states of such species by a federal agency for its own use if the species remains in its possession. Authorizes the Secretary to issue permits authorizing otherwise prohibited importation for scientific research, for medical, accredited zoological or aquarium display purposes, or for educational purposes that are specifically reviewed, approved, and verified by the Secretary if the Secretary finds that there has been a proper showing by the permittee of responsibility for the specimen and continued protection of the public interest and health. Allows the imposition of fees on persons who submit a proposal to include a species in either of the lists to recover the costs of assessing risks of nonnative wildlife species. Establishes a Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Fund into which such fees and fines for violations will be deposited.Redesignates the Invasive Species Council established by Executive Order 13112 as the National Invasive Species Council.

Date: 2009-01-26
Topic: Agriculture (Animal and Crop Disease)
Subject: Animals