zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act of 2015

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the amount of rebate with respect to each generic drug in the manner that the rebate for a dosage form and strength of a single source drug or an innovator multiple source drug is increased, except as provided in special application rules, including a special rule for certain noninnovator multiple source drugs.

Date: 2015-05-18
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Value Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act of 2015

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program to test Value-Based Insurance Design methodologies in Medicare Advantage plans under part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for beneficiaries with chronic clinical conditions.

Defines "value-based insurance design methodology" as one for identifying specific prescription medications and clinical services for which copayments or coinsurance should be reduced or eliminated due to the high-value and effectiveness of such medications and services for specific clinical conditions.

Directs HHS to expand the demonstration program, except in certain circumstances, by issuing regulations to implement, on a permanent basis, those components that are beneficial to Medicare beneficiaries and the Medicare program.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Joint Formularies for Veterans Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly establish: (1) a uniform formulary with respect to systemic pain and psychotropic drugs that are critical for the transition of an individual from receiving health care services furnished by DOD to health care services furnished by VA, and (2) a uniform formulary for DOD and VA that includes all appropriate systemic pain and psychotropic drugs.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit DOD and VA from each maintaining its own formularies.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Safe and Affordable Prescription Drugs Act of 2015

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations within 180 days permitting individuals to import a prescription drug purchased from an approved foreign pharmacy that:

 is dispensed by a pharmacist licensed in that country; is purchased for personal use in quantities not greater than a 90-day supply; is filled using a valid prescription issued by a physician licensed to practice in the United States; and has the same active ingredient or ingredients, route of administration, dosage form, and strength as a prescription drug approved under the FFDCA. Sets forth exceptions, including for controlled substances and biological products.

 Establishes a certification process for approving pharmacies in certain foreign countries. Requires HHS to publish a list of approved foreign pharmacies.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2015

This bill amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer one or more Medicare-operated prescription drug plan options.  In doing so, CMS must: (1) negotiate prices with drug manufacturers; (2) establish an appeals process for denials of plan benefits, including the option for external review and determination by an independent entity; and (3) establish and apply a formulary and formulary incentives. In general, a Medicare-operated drug plan must meet the same requirements as apply to any other prescription drug plan.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act

This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to authorize the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to initiate a proceeding against parties to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug. Such an agreement, with specified exceptions, is presumed to have anticompetitive effects and is a violation of this Act if the filer of an abbreviated new drug (generic) application receives anything of value and agrees to limit or forego research, development, manufacturing, marketing, or sales of the generic drug.

An agreement is exempted if the only consideration granted to the generic manufacturer is: (1) the right to market the generic drug prior to the expiration of any statutory exclusivity, (2) a payment for reasonable litigation expenses, and (3) a covenant not to sue on any claim that the generic drug infringes a patent.

An entity subject to an FTC enforcement order may petition for the order be reviewed in federal court. Civil penalties are imposed for violations of this Act.

This bill amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to require a brand name manufacturer and generic manufacturer to submit to the FTC any other agreements the parties enter into within 30 days of entering into an agreement related to the manufacturing, marketing, sale, or exclusivity period of a drug.

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to forfeit the 180-day exclusivity period for a generic drug if the FTC or a court decides that an agreement violated this Act.

The FTC is granted exclusive authority to litigate matters relating to anticompetitive practices in connection with the sale of generic drugs. The FTC may not commence enforcement actions (other than cease and desist requests) more than six years after the FTC is notified of an agreement.

Date: 2015-09-09
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Commerce
Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015

This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to modify provisions related to the affordability of prescription drugs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifically, the bill:

 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to negotiate lower prices on behalf of beneficiaries for drugs covered under Medicare Part D; accelerates closure of the Medicare Part D coverage gap known as the "donut hole," under which beneficiaries who have reached a certain level of yearly drug costs become fully responsible for any additional drug costs up to a certain limit; requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates for prescription drugs dispensed to eligible low-income individuals under Medicare or Medicaid; and expands the application of certain prescription drug rebate requirements under Medicaid to include rebates for generic drugs. The bill also amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) allow the importation by individuals of prescription drugs from Canada and, potentially, other countries; and (2) establish certain conditions on the award of market exclusivity with respect to drugs. Specifically, a drug manufacturer's market exclusivity shall be terminated if the manufacturer commits, or fails to report, a drug-related violation such as misbranding, illegal marketing, or fraud.

In addition, the bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to: (1) establish restrictions on certain anticompetitive patent settlements known as "pay-for-delay" agreements, which effectively block generic drug competition; and (2) allow the Federal Trade Commission to initiate proceedings to enforce these restrictions against any parties to such a settlement.The bill also requires drug manufacturers to produce and share annual reports containing specified information related to domestic and foreign sales.

Date: 2015-09-10
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Cody Miller Patient Medication Information Act

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the authorship, content, format, and dissemination of patient medication information for prescription drugs. (Patient medication information includes the instructional brochures provided to patients when a prescription is filled.)

FDA regulations must require drug patient medication information to be scientifically accurate, to be based on the approved professional labeling, and to include plain language that is not promotional in tone or content and that provides specified information including drug uses and side effects.

The regulations must include standards for: (1) timely reviews and updates of patient medication information, (2) updates to help communicate information that is shared by similar drugs, and (3) assessing the effectiveness of patient medication information in promoting patient understanding and safe and effective use of medications. The FDA must develop a public electronic repository for all patient medication information.

When a prescription drug is sold or dispensed, patient medication information must be provided.

Date: 2015-10-28
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a reciprocal marketing approval process that allows for the sale of a drug, biological product, or medical device that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if the product is approved for sale in another country.

For a product to be granted reciprocal marketing approval, the product's sponsor must submit a request to the FDA that demonstrates: (1) the product may be sold in at least one country from a specified list of countries, (2) the FDA and listed countries have not withdrawn approval of the product because of safety or effectiveness concerns, and (3) there is a public health or unmet medical need for the product.

The FDA may: (1) require postmarket studies of a product granted reciprocal marketing approval, or (2) decline to approve a product that is not safe and effective.

The FDA must grant or decline reciprocal marketing approval not later than 30 days after receiving a request. During that period, the FDA and product sponsor must negotiate and finalize product labeling and, for a medical device, classify the device.

Congress may pass a joint resolution to grant reciprocal marketing approval to a product that the FDA declines to approve through this process.

User fees apply to requests for reciprocal marketing approval.

The FDA must encourage the sponsors of potentially eligible products to request reciprocal marketing approval.

Date: 2015-12-10
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Expanding Access to Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act and revises the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to require a state receiving grant funds for a prescription drug monitoring program to make relevant prescription information available to all individuals authorized by the state to prescribe controlled substances, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Date: 2016-02-02
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Preventing Overprescribing for Pain Act of 2016

This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue guidelines for the safe prescribing of opioids for the treatment of acute pain. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as certain pain medications.)

Date: 2016-02-23
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Increasing Competition in Pharmaceuticals Act

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise provisions regarding review and approval of generic drug applications or supplements to generic drug applications for drugs: (1) for which there is a shortage, or (2) that have not been recently introduced to the market by more than one manufacturer and for which tentative approval has not been granted to more than two applications.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must prioritize the review of such submissions and act on them within 150 days. User fees are waived for such an application unless the drug is under patent. The FDA may expedite the inspection of a facility proposed to manufacture such a drug.

The FDA must award a transferrable generic drug priority review voucher to the sponsor of such an application upon approval. A voucher may be used to have the FDA review and take action upon a generic drug application within 150 days of submission. The FDA may revoke a voucher awarded for a drug that is not marketed within one year of approval. This voucher program is terminated at the end of FY2022.

The FDA must periodically report on generic drug applications filed before FY2016 that are still pending.

For a new drug application to be eligible for a priority review voucher as a tropical disease product application, the application must include new, essential clinical investigations.

The Government Accountability Office must study the FDA's program for drug risk evaluation and mitigation strategies.

Date: 2016-03-01
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Protecting Americans from Drug Marketing Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for the cost of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. The bill defines "direct-to-consumer advertising" as any dissemination by or on behalf of a sponsor of a prescription drug product of a prescription drug advertisement that is primarily targeted to the general public through: (1) publication in journals, magazines, other periodicals, and newspapers; (2) broadcasting through media such as radio, television, and telephone communication systems; and (3) dissemination on the Internet (including social media).

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Taxation
This bill exempts from the requirement that veterans pay a Department of Veterans Affairs copayment for:

 any opioid antagonists furnished to a veteran at high risk for overdose of a specific medication or substance in order to reverse the effect of such an overdose, and education on their use.

Date: 2016-04-11
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Reducing Existing Costs Associated with Pharmaceuticals for Seniors Act of 2016 or the RxCAP Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate beneficiary cost-sharing above the Medicare prescription benefit's annual out-of-pocket threshold beginning in plan year 2018. Under current law, the Medicare prescription drug benefit provides coverage above that threshold only with cost-sharing in the form of either copayment or coinsurance.

Date: 2016-04-27
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit Medicare Prescription Drug Plan sponsors from retroactively reducing payment on clean claims submitted by pharmacies. (A "clean claim" is a Medicare claim that is free of defects such as incomplete documentation.)

Date: 2016-09-12
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2016

This bill amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to indefinitely extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients. Under current law, such coverage is limited to 36 months following a transplant.

Date: 2016-11-30
Topic: Health (Drug Coverage and Cost)
Subject: Health
College Student Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to phase-in cuts in the interest rate charged undergraduate student borrowers under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and Direct Loan (DL) programs, thereby reducing such rate from 6.8% in July 2006 to 3.4% in July 2011. Limits FFEL lender insurance to 95% of the unpaid balance of such loans. (Currently, 97% of a FFEL issued after June 2006 is federally-insured.) Provides for graduated reductions in the percentage of defaulted FFEL loan collections a guaranty agency is allowed to retain until, beginning in October 2010, it is equal to the average rate paid to collection agencies that have contracts with the Secretary of Education. Eliminates exceptional performer status for lenders, servicers, and guaranty agencies, which rewards such entities for high due diligence in FFEL collection. Reduces special allowance payments made to FFEL lenders to compensate them for the difference between FFEL interest rates and market rates. Exempts small lenders from such reduction. Increases the loan fee charged FFEL lenders from .5% to 1% of the principal amount of loans disbursed after June 2007. Prohibits its collection from borrowers. Increases, after June 2007, the rebate fee charged a holder of FFEL consolidated loans, provided that at least 90% of the total principal and accrued unpaid interest outstanding on loans held by such holder are such loans.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
401Kids Family Savings Act of 2007 - Amends the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to extend through 2015 provisions allowing increased annual contributions to Coverdell education savings accounts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow tax-free distributions from a Coverdell education savings account for first-time homebuyer expenses; (2) permit rollovers from Coverdell education savings accounts to Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs); and (3) rename Coverdell education savings accounts as 401Kids Savings Accounts.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Veterans' Equity in Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to calculation of financial assistance for which a student receiving veterans' education benefits may be eligible. Reduces, for the first year a student receives such benefits, the factor in the eligibility formula representing estimated educational financial assistance already received by the student by the amount of military pay deductions for such benefits made by or on behalf of the student while on active duty in the U.S. armed forces or in the Selective Reserve.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Higher Education Science and Technology Competitiveness Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to public institutions of higher education to establish and implement statewide articulation agreements that provide a seamless transition for the transfer of students from two-year institutions to four-year institutions through a common core curricula in math, science, engineering, and technology that reflects the workforce needs of private industry.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
G.I. Advanced Education in Science and Technology Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly stipend to each individual who is entitled to veterans' basic educational assistance and is pursuing full-time a doctoral degree in the sciences of engineering, mathematics, or other technology disciplines. Allows such payment in addition to any other authorized Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance. Makes such payment $1,200 a month (adjusted for inflation for fiscal years after 2005) for up to 60 months.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
David Shick Honesty in Campus Justice Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act to require an institution of postsecondary education to disclose to the alleged victim of any crime of violence or a nonforcible sex offense (or to a deceased victim's next of kin) the final results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by such institution against a student who is the alleged perpetrator. (Current law states that such disclosure is not prohibited.)

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Make College Affordable Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers, their spouses, dependents, and grandchildren a tax deduction from gross income for certain higher education expenses and for interest on certain student loans. Includes as higher education expenses undergraduate tuition and fees and reasonable living expenses while attending an institution of higher education.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Cybersecurity Education Enhancement Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Cybersecurity, to establish a program awarding competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) and consortia of IHEs for: (1) cybersecurity professional development programs; (2) associate degree programs in cybersecurity; and (3) the purchase of equipment to provide training in cybersecurity for professional development and degree programs. Gives grant priority to consortia of IHEs and such consortia that include IHEs eligible to receive funds under title III (Institutional Aid) or V (Developing Institutions) of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Authorizes FY2009-FY2010 appropriations for the grant program. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary to establish a DHS Cybersecurity Fellows program to bring state, local, tribal, and private sector officials to participate in the work of the National Cybersecurity Division in order to assist with Department of Homeland Security's stated cybersecurity missions and capabilities. Urges the House of Representatives to designate a committee to serve as the single, principal point of cybersecurity oversight and review.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Cellulosic Ethanol Development and Implementation Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish: (1) a grants program for eligible entities to implement research, development, and demonstration projects relating to the use of cellulosic ethanol fuel for motor vehicles; and (2) a pilot program to provide grants to eligible entities for use in installing infrastructure (such as pumps) that would enable retail gas stations to sell and dispense ethanol fuel. Requires an eligible entity to provide matching funds in the amount of 20% of the total amount of the grant.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Environmental protection
Independent Study of Distance Education Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the quality of distance education, as compared to campus-based education programs, at institutions of higher education. Requires the study to identify the types of students that derive the most benefit from each program and the types that do not benefit from distance education.

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Fairness in Higher Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the provision of federal funding under such Act to institutions of higher education located in states whose law expressly authorizes the provision of state student aid, including in-state tuition, to illegal aliens.

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
College Affordability and Transparency Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of Education Statistics, in redesigning the College Opportunity On-Line (COOL) website, to identify and include the data of greatest importance to prospective and enrolled students, and their families. Requires the Secretary of Education to publish, on such website, additional college affordability information comparing the change in each school's student costs with the change in the consumer price index (CPI) over the most recent three-year period. Requires a school whose prices increase at more than twice the percentage change in the CPI over such time period to: (1) report an explanation to the Secretary; and (2) establish a quality-efficiency task force to review the school's operations, if the school's price increase is in the top 5% of such schools. Places schools on affordability alert status if their prices continue to exceed the CPI by such amount for two additional years. Requires publication of the explanatory reports, task force analyses, and affordability alerts on the COOL website. Changes the student aid recipient survey to require that it be conducted at least once every four, rather than every three, years and include information on the effect students' costs and debt have on student school and career choices. Authorizes the Secretary to select up to 100 schools to participate in a College Affordability Demonstration Project allowing increased innovation in the delivery of higher education and student financial aid to test the ability of innovations such as accelerated degree programs, distance education, and school collaborations with other schools and organizations, to reduce costs for students and schools.

Date: 2007-01-16
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Military Educational Parity Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education, as a condition of their participation in the student aid program, to grant students who are called or ordered to active duty a military leave of absence while serving on active duty and for one year after conclusion of such service. Entitles students receiving such leave, upon release from active duty, to be restored to prior educational status attained without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition or fees paid, unless those have been refunded. Requires institutions to give such students certain refunds of tuition or fees paid prior to active duty. Includes as active duty, in the case of National Guard members, active state duty. Excludes training or attendance at a service school from treatment as active duty.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Financial Readiness Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from $2,000 to $5,000 the annual contribution limit to Coverdell education savings accounts; (2) adjust such contribution limit for inflation after 2007; and (3) prohibit contributions by individuals whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000 ($300,000 for married couples filing joint tax returns).

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each institution participating in any program under the Act to provide to all current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request, an annual fire safety report containing specified information about the campus fire safety practices and standards of that institution. Requires such institutions to: (1) record all on-campus fires, including the nature, date, time, and general location of each fire and all unwanted and false fire alarms; and (2) open such information to public inspection. Requires the institutions to report on such information annually to the campus community in a manner that will aid the prevention of similar occurrences. Directs each institution to require the national organizing bodies of the fraternities, sororities, and other student groups they recognize to collect specified fire safety information for each student housing facility they own, control, or occupy and report such information to the Secretary of Education, all current members, and to any interested party upon request. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on fire safety systems and standards in institution and student housing facilities, and on exemplary fire safety education and training programs at such institutions.

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Community College Partnership Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Community College Opportunity program to help students at community or technical colleges transfer to four-year institutions and complete bachelor's degrees. Directs the Secretary of Education to award program grants to eligible partnerships that include one or more community or technical colleges that award associate's degrees, one or more institutions of higher education (IHEs) that offer a baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree not awarded by the partner colleges, and a state agency overseeing or coordinating IHEs. Requires such grants to be used for: (1) the development of policies and programs that expand opportunities for community or technical college students to earn bachelor's degrees, including those that promote the transfer of academic credits between institutions and expand articulation and guaranteed transfer agreements between IHEs; (2) support services to students participating in the program, including tutoring, mentoring, academic and personal counseling, and transition facilitation; (3) academic program enhancements at the community or technical college that increase program quality and the number of student participants in the dual enrollment program offered in cooperation with a baccalaureate degree-granting institution; and (4) programs to identify barriers that inhibit student transfers.

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Earning and Learning Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to enter into agreements with private for-profit organizations for the provision of work-study employment, except as otherwise permitted by regulations of the Secretary of Education. (Current law allows such institutions to enter into such agreements at their own option.)

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Loan Interest Full Deductibility Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the current dollar limitations on the tax deduction of interest on education loans.

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
FAFSA Fix for Homeless Kids Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to deem a student independent for financial aid purposes if such student has been verified as both a homeless child or youth and an unaccompanied youth by: (1) a local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth; (2) a director of a homeless shelter, transitional shelter, or independent living program; or (3) a financial aid administrator. Requires such a verification to take place during the school year in which the application for such aid is submitted.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to provide grants and related assistance to certain institutions of higher education that have an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 10% Asian American or Pacific Islander, for activities to improve their capacity to serve such students. Requires applicants for such assistance to submit a five-year plan for improving the assistance they provide to such students. Gives priority to eligible institutions that serve a significant percentage of low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander students.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-exempt charitable or educational organizations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to certain tax-exempt social clubs (e.g., college fraternities and sororities) so long as all of the active members of such clubs are full-time students at the college or university with which such clubs are associated. Defines "collegiate housing and infrastructure grants" to include grants to provide, improve, operate, or maintain collegiate housing.

Date: 2007-01-23
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Secretary of Labor to make a grant, to a public university with specified characteristics, to establish the Center for the Study of Women and Workplace Policy. Requires the Center to: (1) compile and analyze available data and data sets on the difference between the earnings of men and women, including the Panel Study of Income Dynamics housed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; (2) identify factors which affect differences in earnings; and (3) disseminate findings, maintain a website as a clearinghouse, and publish an annual best practices guide.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Labor and employment
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation
Community College Partnership Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Community College Opportunity program to help students at community or technical colleges transfer to four-year institutions and complete bachelor's degrees. Directs the Secretary of Education to award program grants to eligible partnerships that include one or more community or technical colleges that award associate's degrees and one or more institutions of higher education (IHEs) that offer a baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree not awarded by the partner colleges. Authorizes the inclusion of a state agency overseeing or coordinating IHEs. Requires such grants to be used for: (1) the development of policies and programs that expand opportunities for community or technical college students to earn bachelor's degrees, including those that promote the transfer of academic credits between institutions and expand articulation and guaranteed transfer agreements between IHEs; (2) support services to students participating in the program, including tutoring, mentoring, academic and personal counseling, and transition facilitation; (3) academic program enhancements at the community or technical college that increase program quality and the number of student participants in the program offered in cooperation with a baccalaureate degree-granting institution; and (4) programs to identify barriers that inhibit student transfers.

Date: 2007-01-29
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Increasing Access to Higher Education Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $4,810 for each of the academic years 2007-2008 through 2013-2014.

Date: 2007-01-30
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Diploma Integrity Protection Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make available to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of other appropriate federal agencies a list of: (1) accrediting agencies and associations recognized by the Secretary or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; (2) institutions of higher education eligible under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program; and (3) foreign institutions of higher education whose authority to issue degrees is accepted in their home country and that the Secretary deems to be academically equivalent to FFEL participants in this country. Conditions a school's eligibility for student assistance funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 on its providing notice on its internet website of its recognition by the Secretary as a legitimate degree-granting institution for immigration and federal employment purposes. Requires an accreditation agency or association to be on such list for its authority to be recognized for any federal purpose. Requires the Secretary to establish the Diploma Mill Task Force to develop: (1) guidelines for distinguishing between legitimate and fraudulent degree-granting institutions for federal purposes; (2) a strategic diploma integrity protection plan to address the sale and use of fraudulent degrees; and (3) legislative language to effectuate such plan. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to define as an unfair and deceptive act or practice: (1) the offering of a degree by an entity that is not recognized as a legitimate degree-granting institution in accordance with the Task Force's guidelines; or (2) the issuing of any accreditation by an entity not recognized by the Secretary, any other appropriate federal agency, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or, in the case of a foreign entity, by the appropriate agency in its home country. Requires the Secretary to study: (1) both legitimate and fraudulent degree-granting institutions that are not properly accredited; and (2) steps taken by the Secretary to repair vulnerabilities of the FFEL program to fraudulent degree-granting institutions.

Date: 2007-01-31
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
National Endowment for Workforce Education in Renewables and Agriculture Act of 2007, or NEW ERA Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to community colleges and advanced technology education centers located in Iowa or other midwestern states to support the education and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agricultural, renewable energy resources. Requires grant applicants to demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and develop educational and occupation outreach and training programs with secondary schools, four-year institutions of higher education, and the agricultural extension system. Gives funding priority to specified occupational education and training initiatives, which include: (1) improving the capacity of bioenergy service industry technicians to meet the needs of agricultural bioenergy businesses; (2) teacher training in agricultural bioenergy research, efficiency, and conservation; (3) the identification of agricultural bioenergy employment opportunities; and (4) the development of partnerships with nonprofit organizations dedicated to bioenergy education and training. Requires grant applications to include a comprehensive education and training evaluation component.

Date: 2007-02-07
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Student Aid Reward Act of 2007 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a Student Aid Reward (SAR) Program of payments to encourage institutions of higher education (IHEs) to participate in the student loan program under title IV that is most cost-effective for taxpayers. Requires that a SAR payment to an IHE equal at least 50% of the savings to the federal government generated by the IHE's participation in the most cost-effective student loan program, rather than one not cost-effective for taxpayers. Requires IHEs receiving SAR payments to: (1) provide student loans under that most cost-effective program for five years after the payment date; and (2) use payment funds, where appropriate, to supplement student Pell Grants. Allows such funds to be used also to award need-based grants to lower and middle income graduate students.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
National STEM Scholarship Database Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain, on the public website of the Department of Education, a database of information on public and private programs of financial assistance for the study of postsecondary and graduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Requires that such database: (1) provide separate information for each field of study; (2) be searchable by category and combinations of categories; (3) indicate programs targeted toward specific demographic groups; (4) provide searchers with program sponsor contact information and hyperlinks; and (5) include a recommendation that students and families carefully review application requirements and a disclaimer that scholarships presented in the database are not provided or endorsed by the Department or the federal government.Requires the Secretary and the entity contracted to furnish and regularly update information to consult with public and private sources of scholarships and make easily available a process for the sources to provide regular and updated information.Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) pregnant college students should not have to make a choice between keeping their baby and staying in school; (2) the pilot program under this Act will help institutions of higher education to establish offices that will operate independent of federal funding within five years after enactment of this Act; and (3) amounts appropriated to carry out other federal programs should be reduced to offset the costs of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot program to provide grants to encourage eligible institutions of higher education to establish and operate pregnant and parenting student services offices for pregnant students, parenting students, prospective parenting students anticipating a birth or adoption, and students who are placing or have placed a child for adoption.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Total Force Educational Assistance Enhancement and Integration Act of 2007 - Recodifies under federal veterans' benefits law (currently codified under federal armed forces law) provisions relating to educational assistance for members of the reserves. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) (currently, the Secretary of each military department) to carry out such assistance. Makes eligible for such assistance under this Act those who, after October 1, 2008: (1) enlist or extend an enlistment in the Selected Reserve for not less than six years; or (1) are appointed or agree to serve in the Selected Reserve for at least six years. Includes under this Act those eligible for such assistance as of October 1, 2008. Increases monthly amounts of authorized assistance. Removes restrictions on the use of such assistance for apprenticeships and on-job training, flight training, licensing and certification tests, and individualized tutorial assistance. Requires the Secretary (currently, the military department Secretaries) to provide educational assistance to reserve personnel ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency. Makes eligible for such assistance under this Act those who, on or after October 1, 2008: (1) serve on active duty in support of a contingency operation for 90 days or more; or (2) perform full-time National Guard duty for 90 days or more in response to a national emergency. Includes under this Act those eligible for such assistance as of October 1, 2008. Revises provisions concerning assistance amounts. Requires funding for benefits accruing under this Act: (1) on or after October 1, 2008, to be made from funds available to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the payment of readjustment benefits; and (2) before such date from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Resuming Education After Defense Service Act of 2007 - Makes eligible for basic educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill a member of the Selected Reserve who (among other qualifications), during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2008, serves on active duty in the Armed Forces for one or more periods aggregating not less than two years. Entitles such individuals to one month of educational assistance for each month served on active duty. Makes the amount of such assistance equivalent to that provided for active-duty personnel who have served a minimum of two years of active duty. Requires the basic pay of qualifying members to be reduced by $100 for each of first 12 months of such active duty service. Requires the Secretaries of the military departments concerned to inform eligible Selected Reserve personnel of such entitlement.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program of financial assistance for individuals who: (1) are accepted for, or currently enrolled in, a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or both; and (2) enter into an agreement to serve, after program completion, as a full-time Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee for three years within the first six years after program completion. Sets maximum assistance amounts of $15,000 per academic year and $45,000 total. Requires pro rate repayment for failure to satisfy education or service requirements, while allowing the Secretary to waive or suspend such repayment whenever noncompliance is due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant, or when waiver or suspension is in the best interests of the United States.

Date: 2007-02-28
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Protection of University Governance Act of 2007 - Prohibits a nongovernmental entity that regulates intercollegiate sports from penalizing, or denying any benefit to, an institution of higher education by reason of the name, symbol, emblem, or mascot of the school's intercollegiate sports team. Makes an entity which violates such prohibition subject to injunction and liable to an aggrieved school for damages and legal fees.

Date: 2007-03-05
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Extends the conditional time limit for the use of basic educational assistance by members of the Selected Reserve and members of the reserve components supporting contingency operations and certain other operations to 14 years after the date on which the person first becomes entitled to such assistance (current law) or ten years after the date on which (currently, the date on which) the person is separated from the Selected Reserve or reserve component.

Date: 2007-03-06
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Helping Our Students Communicate Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to assume or cancel loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan or the Direct Loan programs to individuals who have been employed for five consecutive complete school years as full-time speech-language pathologists: (1) principally at elementary and secondary schools whose enrollment of disadvantaged students exceeds 30% and whose local educational agencies are eligible for funding under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (2) have at least a graduate degree in speech-language pathology, or communication sciences and disorders. Caps loan forgiveness at $17,500. Limits the benefits of this Act to new borrowers on or after October 1, 2007.

Date: 2007-03-07
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Education
Higher Education Affordability and Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the dollar limitation on the tax deduction for interest on education loans and expand eligibility for such deduction by revising the modified adjusted gross income phaseout for such deduction; (2) make the tax deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses permanent; (3) increase from $2,000 to $5,000 the maximum allowable contribution to a Coverdell savings account; (4) exclude from gross income amounts received for qualified higher education expenses (e.g., books, supplies, room, board, and special needs services); and (5) allow certain additional expenses (e.g., fees, books, supplies, and equipment) for purposes of the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and provide that such tax credit shall not be reduced by Federal Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity (SEOG) Grants.Repeals the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) applicable to title IV, subtitles A, B, and D (Affordable Education Provisions) of such Act.

Date: 2007-03-08
Topic: Education (Higher)
Subject: Taxation