zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Mark Takai Compact-Impact Aid Act

 This bill amends the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 to authorize and appropriate FY2017 funds to the Department of the Interior for: (1) grants to any local government of the United States that demonstrates financial strain due to demands on public services by significant immigration from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau; and (2) aid in defraying costs incurred as a result of increased demands placed on health, educational, social, or public safety services, or infrastructure related to such services due to the residence of qualified nonimmigrants.

Interior shall provide for periodic enumerations of qualified nonimmigrants in the states and territories of the United States.

A "qualified nonimmigrant" is defined as a person admitted to the United States pursuant to: (1) section 141 of the Compact of Free Association set forth in title II of such Act, or (2) section 141 of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the government of Palau.

Date: 2016-11-14
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2015

Prohibits the wages or other remuneration earned by an employee who performs employment duties in more than one state from being subject to income tax in any state other than: (1) the state of the employee's residence, and (2) the state within which the employee is present and performing employment duties for more than 30 days during the calendar year. Exempts employers from withholding of tax and information reporting requirements for employees not subject to income tax under this Act. Allows an employer, for purposes of determining penalties related to employer withholding or reporting requirements, to rely on an employee's annual determination of the time such employee will spend working in a state in the absence of fraud or collusion by such employee.

Exempts from the definition of "employee" for purposes of this Act professional athletes, professional entertainers, and public figures who are persons of prominence who perform services for wages or other remuneration on a per-event basis.

Date: 2015-02-05
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Taxation
Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015

 Authorizes each member state under the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (the multistate agreement for the administration and collection of sales and use taxes adopted on November 12, 2002) to require all sellers not qualifying for a small-seller exception (applicable to sellers with annual gross receipts in total U.S. remote sales not exceeding $1 million) to collect and remit sales and use taxes with respect to remote sales under provisions of the Agreement, but only if such Agreement includes minimum simplification requirements relating to the administration of the tax, audits, and streamlined filing. Defines "remote sale" as a sale of goods or services into a state in which the seller would not legally be required to pay, collect, or remit state or local sales and use taxes unless provided by this Act. Prohibits states from beginning the exercise of the authority granted by this Act for a specified period after enactment.

Date: 2015-03-10
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Taxation
Subsistence Access Management Act of 2015

Prohibits the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, with respect to a community or area designated as rural on or before May 6, 2007, from:

 redesignating the community or area as nonrural, or adjusting the boundaries of a community or area to render some or all of it as nonrural. Reinstates the list of communities and areas designated as rural (including their boundaries) as in effect on May 6, 2007, and as if the final rule issued May 7, 2007, and entitled "Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, Subpart C: Nonrural Determinations," had not been issued.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
End Discriminatory State Taxes for Automobile Renters Act of 2015

This bill prohibits a state or local government from levying or collecting a discriminatory tax on the rental of motor vehicles, the business of renting motor vehicles, or motor vehicle rental property. A tax is discriminatory if it is not a generally applicable tax and is only applicable to the rental of motor vehicles, a motor vehicle business, or motor vehicle rental property, but not to the majority of other rentals of tangible personal property within a state or locality. This prohibition does not apply to an already existing tax if such tax does not lapse, the tax rate does not increase, and the tax base for such tax does not change.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Taxation
State, Territory, and Local Government Bailout Prevention Act 

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase or guarantee obligations of, issue lines of credit to, or provide direct or indirect grants-in-aid to any state (defined to include Puerto Rico and any other U.S. territory or possession), municipal, local, or county government that, on or after May 1, 2016, has defaulted on its obligations, is at risk of defaulting, or is likely to default, without such federal assistance.

The Departrment of the Treasury is prohibited from using general fund revenues or borrowed funds to purchase or guarantee any asset or obligation of, or to otherwise assist, any such state, municipal, local, or county government.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is prohibited from: (1) providing or extending to, or authorizing with respect to, such a state, municipal, local, or county government or other entity with taxing authority or bonding authority, any funds, loan guarantees, credits, or any other financial instrument or other authority, including bond purchases; or (2) otherwise assisting such a government entity under any Board authority.

Such prohibitions: (1) shall not apply to federal assistance provided in response to a declared disaster, (2) include debt restructuring or any other related activity, and (3) exclude any discretionary appropriations or direct spending and any grant awarded by the United States to the state, municipal, local, or county government.

Date: 2016-05-17
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Alaska Land Use Council Act

This bill establishes the Alaska Land Use Council for improving coordination, efficiency, and cooperation among federal, state, and Alaska Native corporations and Tribal land managers in addressing land and resource issues.

The council must be comprised of specific members and shall meetat least four times a year.In addition, the council may appoint advisory members to assist the council with specific matters on an ad hoc basis.

The council must study and advise certain governmental agencies, Alaska Native tribes and corporations of any: (1)ongoing and proposed land and resource uses in the state, and (2)matters submitted by council members for advice.A committee of land use advisors may be established by the council to assist the council in implementing programs.

The council shall terminate 15 years after the enactment of this bill, unless Congress grants an extension.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2016

This bill requires a state or local government that receives funds under a Department of Justice (DOJ) grant program and uses such funds for a pretrial services program to annually report certain information about participating defendants.

DOJ must publish the information.

Additionally, DOJ must reduce the grant allocation of a state or local government that fails to comply.

Date: 2016-12-09
Topic: Government Operations (Intergovernmental Relations)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Amends the airport improvement program to provide that the federal share of costs for airport improvement projects at airports that are receiving subsidized small community air service and that are located in economically depressed communities shall be 100% (effectively exempting such airports from matching grant requirements under the program).

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Serving Economies through Aviation and Technology in the 21st Century (SEAT 21) Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to allow public charter operators, if certain conditions are met, to provide air service to small communities utilizing smaller jets (turbine-powered aircraft with nine or fewer passenger seats). Authorizes airports to choose not to receive such air services (opt-out) if they notify the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) not later than 180 days after making their choice.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends federal aviation law with respect to written assurances required for approval of an airport development project grant application. Revises the requirement that an airport owner or operator, who has come to an agreement with a person who owns an aircraft that a hangar is to be constructed at the airport for the aircraft at the aircraft owner's expense, will grant to the aircraft owner a long-term lease for the hangar. Adds a requirement that such a lease be for a term of not less than 75 years (currently, there is no minimum). Requires further that the airport owner or operator will compensate the lessee for the costs of, and associated loss of income from, relocation, replacement, or removal of the hangar (in whole or in part) during the lease term whenever such relocation, replacement, or removal is the result of a change in the airport development plan or at the airport owner's or operator's request.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits the Secretaries of the Interior or Agriculture from taking any action that would permanently close, restrict, or render or declare unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on land under their jurisdiction unless: (1) the head of the aviation department of the state in which the landing strip is located approves the action; (2) the Secretary publishes notice of the proposed action and allows for a 90-day public comment thereafter; and (3) the Secretary and appropriate state aviation department head have taken into consideration any comments received. Requires the Secretaries to: (1) adopt a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues relating to the management of federal land under their jurisdiction; and (2) require regional managers to adhere to such policy.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Flight 587 Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to: (1) require each aircraft manufacturer to list any information in the limitation section of each flight manual that may affect an aircraft's safe operation; and (2) resolve any dispute between a manufacturer and an operator arising about the safe operation of an aircraft (except in cases in which an adjudicatory resolution is sought). Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the effectiveness and timeliness of the FAA in implementing recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Promotion Responsibility for Our U.S. Aviation Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in carrying out safety regulation, to consider as being in the public interest: (1) regulating air commerce in a way that best promotes the development of safety and fulfills national defense requirements; and (2) promoting civil aeronautics.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Airline Passenger Bill of Rights Act of 2007 - Requires a covered airline to: (1) establish procedures for handling passenger complaints; (2) provide customers at the airport and aboard an aircraft with information regarding delay, cancellation, or diversion; (3) establish procedures to allow passengers to exit the aircraft in the case of a departure or arrival delay which would require passengers to remain on a grounded aircraft for more than three hours, with specified exceptions; (4) provide passengers on a departure- or arrival-delayed grounded aircraft with essential ventilation, food, water, sanitary, and medical services; (5) publish a monthly list of its chronically delayed flights and provide such information upon ticket purchase; (6) publish and update lowest fare and schedule information; and (7) make every reasonable effort to return lost baggage within 24 hours. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) review airline and airport emergency contingency plans for bad weather; (2) work with air carriers to ensure that a pilot operating a (long) departure delayed-flight is permitted to return the aircraft to the terminal to allow passengers to exit the aircraft without losing the flight's departure sequence position; and (3) conduct a study of the ability of air carriers to provide for passengers' essential needs in cases of diverted flights.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to: (1) implement a pilot program at seven commercial service airports to screen all individuals with unescorted access to secure and sterile areas of the airport; and (2) conduct a vulnerability assessment of, and an operational assessment at, each airport participating in such program. Requires: (1) at least two of the participating airports to be large hub airports and at least one of the airports to be a category III airport, with each of the remaining airports representing a different airport security risk category; (2) screening to be conducted under the same standards as apply to passengers at airport security screening checkpoints, to be carried out by private screeners, and, in addition, the designation of at least one lane to be used to screen individuals with unescorted access on a priority basis; (3) deployment of alternative means of screening of all individuals at one of the participating airports; (4) each participating airport operator to conduct an assessment of the screening technology used at the airport and to submit the results to the Assistant Secretary; and (5) the program to be carried out for not less than 180 days. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Assistant Secretary to report to Congress on the results of the program.

Date: 2007-03-08
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Guaranteeing Airport Physical Screening Standards Act - Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to: (1) implement a pilot program at five commercial service airports to physically screen all airport workers with access to sterile areas of the airport; (2) issue regulations, directives, or other appropriate measures to implement requirements directing airport perimeter screening of all individuals, goods, property, vehicles, and other equipment before entry into a secured airport area; and (3) set a schedule for requiring airports to update their airport security plans to comply with such perimeter screening requirements. Requires, with respect to the pilot program: (1) at least two of the participating airports to be large hub airports, with each of the remaining airports representing a different airport security risk category; (2) screening to be conducted under the same standards as apply to individuals at airport security screening checkpoints and to be carried out by contract screeners at a minimum of two airports; and (3) that it shall be carried out for not less than 180 days. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to hire the necessary number of passenger and baggage screeners to ensure aviation security.

Date: 2007-03-26
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Emergency management
Allows a passenger facility fee imposed at a large hub airport (that is subject to an amended judgment and final order in condemnation filed on January 7, 1980, by the Superior Court of the State of California for the county of Los Angeles) to be used as an eligible project cost to carry out noise mitigation for certain school buildings in the noise impacted area surrounding the airport if: (1) the buildings are adversely affected by airport noise; and (2) certain other requirements are met.

Date: 2007-03-27
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Requires the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Safety Administration) to issue regulations ensuring that federal aircraft security standards apply to all foreign aircraft maintenance employees (including requiring a criminal history record check and a review of law enforcement databases), as well as all foreign aircraft repair stations. Requires the Assistant Secretary, if the regulations are not issued by 60 days after enactment of this Act, to prohibit the use of foreign repair stations, except in an emergency. Reduces from 18 months to 9 months after enactment of this Act the deadline for a security review and audit of foreign repair stations.

Date: 2007-04-20
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Airline Personnel Training Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations that require air carriers to provide initial and annual recurring training for flight attendants and gate attendants regarding serving alcohol, dealing with disruptive passengers, and recognizing intoxicated persons.

Date: 2007-04-23
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to exempt from liability a nonprofit volunteer pilot organization (or its referring agency) that flies for public benefit, its staff members, and its volunteers for harm caused by a volunteer while flying, in furtherance of the organization's purpose, an aircraft for which the volunteer was properly licensed and insured.

Date: 2007-05-07
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Law
Airport Badge Security Act - Makes an employer (other than a governmental entity or airport operator) who fails to collect an airport security badge from an employee that has been terminated and does not notify the operator of the airport of such termination within a specified time liable to a civil penalty.

Date: 2007-05-10
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends provisions under the airport noise and access restriction review program for stage two and stage three aircraft to exempt from review under such program local restrictions limiting the hours of operation of an airport provided the airport owner had maintained such a restriction which was disallowed by a court before 1985 and certain other requirements are met.

Date: 2007-05-15
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Federal Aviation Administration Facility Consolidation Moratorium Act of 2007 - Suspends the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to realign FAA air traffic control facilities and services until January 1, 2009.

Date: 2007-05-22
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
High Threat Helicopter Flight Area Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to designate an area at high risk for an attack by one or more terrorists as a high threat helicopter flight area. Directs the Secretary to provide screening of all passengers and property transported from a high threat flight helicopter area on a passenger helicopter equivalent to that provided for passengers and property carried aboard a domestic passenger aircraft. Requires the Secretary to develop a plan for acquiring and training personnel, including acquiring equipment, to provide such screening. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to take necessary action to ensure that: (1) no passenger helicopter flies in a high threat flight area, except on approach for landing, or departure after takeoff, in such area; (2) a passenger helicopter when flying in such area, to the maximum extent practicable, flies over water; and (3) a helicopter pilot when in flight over such area remains in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding its flight path, irrespective of its altitude. Exempts from such requirement helicopters carrying out military, police, medical, or other operations as the Secretary of Transportation deems appropriate.

Date: 2007-06-06
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) require each air carrier that submits an airline service quality performance report to the Secretary to also submit a monthly report on each diverted flight and canceled flight of the air carrier; and (2) publish such data on the Department of Transportation's website.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends prescreening of international airline passengers provisions to extend the Department of Homeland Security 's (DHS) authority to compare passenger information against the consolidated and integrated terrorist watchlist maintained by the federal government before departure of an international flight to any international flight that overflies the United States (Under current law, DHS is limited to comparing passenger information against a watchlist before departure of any international flight to or from the United States).

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Federal Aviation Administration Fair Labor Management Act of 2007 - Requires, after May 31, 2007, that where the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service have led to an impasse between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its employees in reaching an agreement with respect to the implementing of proposed changes to the FAA personnel management system: (1) the Service issue a written certification of such impasse; and (2) the negotiating parties request the Federal Service Impasses Panel to consider and resolve the matter not later than 60 days after issuance of the certification. (Currently, the FAA Administrator's proposed change shall not take effect until 60 days have elapsed after the Administrator transmits the proposed change, along with the objections of the exclusive bargaining representatives to the change, and the reasons for such objections, to Congress.)

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
FAA Aviation Safety Research Assessment Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council to provide for an independent review of the FAA's aviation safety-related research programs.

Date: 2007-06-12
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
LAX Community Safety Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from approving any project for the relocation of Runway 24R, or for construction of a runway north of the location of Runway 24R, at Los Angeles International Airport.

Date: 2007-06-26
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Transport Aircraft Fuel Tank Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to: (1) finalize and implement the proposed FAA rule regarding the reduction of fuel tank flammability in transport category airplanes; (2) take necessary action to ensure that operators and manufacturers of airplanes take appropriate action to comply with such rule; and (3) conduct a study, and report to Congress, on ways to improve the safety and reduce the flammability of fuel tanks that are located on the wings of airplanes.

Date: 2007-06-28
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Rural Aviation Improvement Act - Repeals the Essential Air Service Local Participation Program. Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from compensating an air carrier for providing essential air service to an eligible community in the 48 contiguous states if such community: (1) is located fewer than 70 miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport; or (2) is fewer than 210 miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport and requires a per passenger subsidy for such service in excess of $200 for calendar year 2008, including any increase for each ensuing calendar year. Authorizes a state or local government to submit a proposal to the Secretary to: (1) compensate an air carrier for essential air service to an eligible community above the $200 per passenger subsidy cap; (2) compensate a preferred air carrier for providing such service (i.e., an air carrier preferred by the affected community although it is not the lowest bidder); and (3) restore the eligibility of a community to receive subsidized essential air service. Requires the Secretary, in determining compensation (or eligibility for it) for essential air service based on highway mileage, to use the highway mileage of the most commonly used route between the eligible community and the nearest medium hub airport or large hub airport. Establishes within the Office of the Secretary the Office of Rural Aviation. Extends through FY2011 the Secretary's authority under the essential air service program to make agreements to provide assistance to underserved airports. Requires adjustment of compensation to air carriers for providing essential air service in order to take into account significant increases in fuel costs. Directs the Secretary to treat passenger boardings on aircraft operated by charter air carriers at airports receiving essential air service as passenger boardings for purposes of making apportionments of airport improvement grant funds.

Date: 2007-07-11
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Anti-Terrorism Act of 2007 - Provides that no federal agency shall prohibit an airline pilot, copilot, or navigator, or law enforcement person specifically detailed for protection of an aircraft, from carrying a firearm.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Financing Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to (1) impose an excise tax on aviation-grade kerosene of 35.9 cents per gallon (4.3 cents per gallon for commercial aviation uses); (2) increase to 24.1 cents per gallon the tax rate for aviation gasoline; and (3) extend through FY2011 the excise tax on the transportation by air of persons and property and the excise tax on aviation gasoline and aviation-grade kerosene.Extends through FY2011 the expenditure authority for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Dedicates revenues from the taxes imposed on aviation gasoline and aviation-grade kerosene to carry out air traffic control modernization.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Taxation
Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through December 31, 2007: (1) the excise taxes on aviation fuels and air transportation of persons and property for funding the Airport and Airway Trust Fund; and (2) the expenditure authority for such Trust Fund.Amends federal transportation law to extend funding through December 31, 2007, for: (1) grants for airport planning and development and airport noise compatibility planning and programs; (2) operating expenses of the Federal Aviation Administration; (3) air navigation facilities; and (4) civil aviation research and development activities.Extends through December 31, 2007, the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) incur obligations to make project grants for public-use airports; and (2) limit the liability of air carriers to third parties for claims arising out of acts of terrorism.

Date: 2007-09-17
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Taxation
Family Friendly Flights Act of 2007 - Requires an air carrier that provides publicly viewable entertainment screens on which violent in-flight programming is displayed to provide a child safe viewing area for child passengers who are under the age of 13 and for at least one adult travel companion per child. Requires: (1) all unaccompanied children under the age of 13 to be seated in the child safe viewing area; and (2) an air carrier, ticket agent, or their employees to offer an adult traveling with a child under the age of 13 the opportunity to request seating in the child safe viewing area.

Date: 2007-09-26
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue an order to require: (1) the installation of secondary barriers to prevent access to the flight deck of a commercial aircraft; (2) with respect to an aircraft that is equipped with a cockpit door, such secondary barriers remain locked while the aircraft is in flight and the cockpit door separating the flight deck and the passenger area is open; and (3) with respect to an aircraft that is not equipped with a cockpit door, such secondary barriers remain locked as determined by the pilot.

Date: 2007-10-22
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Requires a pilot of an aircraft providing emergency medical services to comply with federal crewmember flight time and duty period and rest requirements whenever there is a medical crew on board, without regard to whether there are patients on board. Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate a rulemaking to: (1) require pilots of aircraft providing emergency medical service to use a standardized checklist of risk evaluation factors to determine whether a mission should be accepted; (2) establish performance based flight dispatch procedures for such pilots; and (3) require, after a certain feasibility study is done, flight data and cockpit voice recorders on board such aircraft.

Date: 2007-10-23
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Airport Security Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends federal transportation law to authorize the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) to: (1) designate certain airport areas (tarmacs, aircraft, baggage handling areas, baggage loading areas, and such other areas as the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate) as Federal Special Security Zones; and (2) issue a badge authorizing certain qualified individuals access to such zones. Restricts access to a Federal Special Security Zone to individuals who require access because of their employment and who have obtained a badge. Prohibits the use of a state issued badge to gain access to a Federal Special Security Zone.

Date: 2007-11-14
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Safe Aviation and Flight Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring all commercial aircraft in extended-range operations that must carry fixed cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder units to also be equipped with a second recorder system that utilizes deployable combination cockpit voice and digital flight data recording technology. Requires the second deployable recorder system to be mounted as far rear on the airframe as practicable. Sets forth minimum deployable recorder capabilities. Directs the Secretary to reimburse an air carrier for the costs of purchasing and installing such deployable recorder systems for it to comply with regulations.

Date: 2007-12-06
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act - Amends federal transportation law to allow a pilot who has attained 60 years of age to serve as a passenger airline pilot until the age of 65, provided that a pilot who has attained age 60 may serve as pilot-in-command on international flights only if there is another pilot in the flight crew who has not yet attained 60 years of age. Prohibits subjecting pilots to different medical examinations and standards on account of age unless to ensure an adequate level of safety in flight, except that no person who has attained 60 years of age may serve as a pilot unless such person has a first-class medical certificate.Requires air carriers to: (1) continue to provide FAA-approved training to pilots, with specific emphasis on initial and recurring training and qualification of pilots who have attained 60 years of age; and (2) evaluate, every six months, the performance of pilots who have attained 60 years of age through a line check of such pilot.Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the effect of the modification of pilot age requirements, if any, on aviation safety.

Date: 2007-12-11
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Appropriations Act, 2004 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to grant a waiver or exemption from certain airspace restrictions with respect to an event, stadium, or other venue if the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Transportation Security Administration, determines that granting such waiver or exemption poses no security risk.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Emergency management
Fair and Competitive Air Transportation Service in New York-New Jersey Region Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from taking action that only limits commercial air traffic from one airport operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and not from all other airports operated by such Authority unless consent is given by the Authority. Provides an exception to such prohibition if such action is necessary to preserve air traffic safety or in cases of a national emergency.

Date: 2007-12-19
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends federal transportation law to encourage airport sponsors and state and local officials in the development of their airport master plans to take into account as additional goals: (1) customer convenience and access to airport facilities; and (2) threats of a terrorist attack, including the need to continually adjust plans to address new terrorist threats.

Date: 2008-01-22
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through June 30, 2008: (1) the excise taxes on aviation fuels and air transportation of persons and property for funding the Airport and Airway Trust Fund; and (2) the expenditure authority for such Trust Fund.Amends federal transportation law to provide funding for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs for the nine-month period beginning October 1, 2007. Extends until June 30, 2008: (1) the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to incur obligations to make grants under such programs; (2) the increase in the federal government's share (to 95%) of certain airport improvement program costs; and (3) funding for airport development at Midway Island Airport.Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to calculate funding apportionments for airport development programs in FY2008 in accordance with a specified formula.Extends through FY2008 the period for final orders issued by the Secretary of Transportation with respect to eligibility for essential air service compensation.

Date: 2008-02-07
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act of 2008 - Prohibits any individual (except flight crew members, flight attendants, or federal law enforcement officers) from engaging in voice communications using a mobile communications device on a passenger aircraft during a flight. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to require all domestic and foreign air carriers to adopt this prohibition. Authorizes the Secretary to waive this prohibition for air carriers of foreign countries that have negotiated an alternative prohibition on voice communications using such devices during a flight.

Date: 2008-04-15
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish procedures to prohibit for a period of one year a flight standards inspector from accepting certain employment positions or responsibilities with an air carrier for whom the inspector has conducted inspections or had oversight responsibility in the past.

Date: 2008-04-23
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing Act of 2008, or the COVERT Act of 2008 - Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to make sure that advance notice of a covert test of a transportation security system is not provided to any individual (including any security screener) before completion of the test, except: (1) that such information may be provided to certain federal, state, and local government employees, officers, and contractors (including military personnel); and (2) an individual conducting such a test may disclose his or her status if a security screener or other non-covered employee identifies such tester as a potential threat. Requires the head of each covert testing office to make sure that a covert testing person or group is accompanied by a cover team to monitor the test and confirm the identity of personnel involved. States, however, that a cover team is not required to be present during a test of the screening of persons or baggage at an aviation security checkpoint if the test: (1) is approved by the Federal Security Director for the airport; and (2) is administered under an aviation screening assessment program of the Department of Homeland Security. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to study and report to Congress on the impact of implementing covert testing procedures under this Act on the Department's efforts to improve transportation security.

Date: 2008-04-24
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration (TSA)), to: (1) study and report to Congress on how airports can transition to uniform, standards-based, and interoperable biometric identifier systems for airport workers with unescorted access to secure or sterile areas of an airport; and (2) conduct a risk-based analysis of selected Category X and I airports and other airports to identify where implementation of such systems could benefit them. Defines "biometric identifier system" as a system that uses biometric identifier information to match and confirm identity of individuals for purposes of transportation security. Requires the Secretary to convene a working group to assist with issues pertaining to implementing this Act.

Date: 2008-05-07
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Travel Related Industries Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend for a specified period the excise tax on kerosene and certain liquids used as fuel in commercial aviation.

Date: 2008-06-03
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to research, develop, and procure new technologies to inspect and screen air cargo carried on passenger aircraft at the earliest date possible. Requires existing checked baggage explosive detection equipment and screeners to be used to screen air cargo carried on such aircraft to the greatest extent practicable at each airport until the new technologies are available. Requires the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) to work with air carriers and airports to increase incrementally each quarter the screening of air cargo carried on passenger aircraft.

Date: 2008-06-11
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from taking actions to regulate the scheduling of airline operations at a U.S. commercial airport if such an action includes: (1) auctioning rights or permission to conduct airline operations at that airport; (2) implementing peak-period or congestion pricing at the airport; (3) withdrawing an airline's right to operate at that airport; (4) charging a fee for use of navigable airspace at the airport; or (5) requiring, or providing incentives or disincentives to, airport owners to take any such actions.

Date: 2008-06-18
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through FY2008: (1) excise taxes on aviation fuels and air transportation of persons and property; and (2) the expenditure authority for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.Amends federal transportation laws to extend funding through September 30, 2008, for various airport development projects, including: (1) the pilot program for passenger facility fees at nonhub airports; (2) state and local airport compatibility projects; (3) airport improvement projects; (4) Midway Island airport development; (5) small airport grants for airports located in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau; and (6) airport planning and development grant programs.Extends through November 30, 2008, Department of Transportation (DOT) insurance coverage for domestic air carriers.Extends through March 31, 2009, air carrier liability limits for injuries to passengers resulting from acts of terrorism.

Date: 2008-06-20
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Air Service Improvement Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to collect, and publish on the Department of Transportation (DOT) website, data regarding cancelled and diverted flights of air carriers. Requires certain air carriers and hub airport operators to submit for the Secretary's approval emergency contingency plans for flight delays. Requires the Secretary to establish a consumer complaints hotline telephone number. Prohibits flight ticket sales on aircraft on which a insecticide has been applied within the last 60 days or on which an insecticide is planned to be used in the aircraft while passengers are on board, unless passengers are informed before buying a ticket. Requires the Inspector General of DOT to review air carrier flight delays, cancellations, and associated causes to update its 2000 report on such matters. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on European Union rules for passenger rights. Establishes an advisory committee for aviation consumer protection. Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) denied boarding compensation; and (2) expansion of DOT airline consumer complaint investigations. Prescribes requirements for mediation of disputes between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its employees in attempting to reach an agreement concerning the implementation of proposed changes to the FAA personnel management system.

Date: 2008-06-24
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Homecoming Help for Our Heroes Act - Requires an air carrier to offer: (1) reduced-price air transportation to active duty members of the Armed Forces; and (2) flexible terms that allow such members of the Armed Forces to purchase, modify, or cancel air tickets without time restrictions, fees, or penalties.

Date: 2008-07-09
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Aviation Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 - Establishes in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office, with a Director appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, which shall receive and assess complaints and information relating to possible violations of aviation safety laws and regulations.Directs the FAA Administrator to modify the FAA customer service initiative, mission and vision, and other policy statements to: (1) remove any reference to air carriers or other entities regulated by the FAA as "customers"; (2) state that in regulating safety the only FAA customers are individuals traveling on aircraft; and (3) state that air carriers and other entities regulated by the FAA do not have the right to select the FAA employees who will inspect their operations.Prohibits any person holding an air carrier operating certificate from knowingly employing, or contracting with, an individual to act as an agent or representative of the certificate holder in any matter before the FAA if, in the preceding two-year period, the individual: (1) served as, or was responsible for oversight of, an FAA flight standards inspector; and (2) had responsibility to inspect, or oversee inspection of, the operations of the certificate holder.Prohibits any individual serving as a principal supervisory inspector of the FAA from being responsible for overseeing the operations of a single air carrier for a continuous period of more than five years. Authorizes appropriations.Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a process by which the FAA air transportation oversight system database is reviewed by a team of FAA employees on a monthly basis to ensure that: (1) any trends in regulatory compliance are identified; and (2) appropriate corrective actions are taken.

Date: 2008-07-15
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary), acting through the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration), to require category X or category 1 airport operators to modify their airport security programs to provide for the installation of airport security camera and video surveillance systems. Requires airport operators to submit their modifications to the Secretary for approval. Prohibits the use of images from such cameras and surveillance systems against an airport employee involved in an employment disciplinary matter, except in a criminal investigation or prosecution of criminal acts.

Date: 2008-07-24
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to: (1) approve a request from the town of Pollock, Louisiana, to close the municipal airport there; and (2) release the town from any restrictions that would prevent the closure of such airport and redevelopment of the facilities to nonaeronautical uses. Requires the town of Pollock, upon the approval of the request to close the airport, to obtain fair market value for the sale of the airport property and transfer all proceeds of the sale to the sponsor of a public airport designated by the Administrator to be used for the development or improvement of such airport.

Date: 2008-09-15
Topic: Transportation (Air Travel)