zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Church Health Plan Act of 2013 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to include qualified church plans, established and maintained for employees or their beneficiaries, by a church or by a convention or association of churches, as qualified health plans that provide essential health benefits packages.

Excludes such plans from participation in American Health Benefits Exchanges established by states.

Allows such plans to: (1) differentiate premiums using methods and criteria consistent with those used to assess charges and payments to other qualified health plans based on PPACA risk adjustment requirements and regulations concerning rates and payments, and (2) develop additional methods and criteria to define and account for the actuarial risk associated with the prohibition against qualified church plans enrolling a larger number and more diverse pool of enrollees as long as such additional methods and criteria are consistent with the risk adjustment methods.

Provides standards for deeming an employer participating in such a plan as an eligible small employer for purposes of the income tax credit for employee health insurance expenses.

Deems an individual receiving minimum essential coverage under such a plan to: (1) satisfy the individual responsibility requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, and (2) qualify for premium tax credits and reductions in cost-sharing if the household income requirements are met.

Date: 2013-06-13
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Health
Freedom to Pray Act - Prohibits the federal government from revoking or withholding federal financial assistance that would otherwise be provided to any recipient on the basis of religious activities that are conducted voluntarily and initiated by participants in a program or activity carried out by such recipient.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to authorize the United States or any state or political subdivision to: (1) sponsor a religious activity, (2) prohibit a recipient of federal financial assistance from ensuring that a religious activity does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of the program or activities carried out by such recipient, (3) require any person to participate in prayer or other religious activity, or (4) compel any employee or agent of a program or activity that is carried out by a recipient of federal financial assistance to participate in an activity if the content of the speech at the activity is contrary to their beliefs.

Date: 2013-07-11
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Stop IRS Overreach Act - Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from asking any taxpayer any question regarding religious, political, or social beliefs.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) any exceptions to such prohibition should identify the specific questions authorized, the class of taxpayers to whom such questions may be asked, and the circumstances under which such questions may be asked; and (2) if the IRS Commissioner determines that asking such questions would aid in the efficient administration of the tax laws, the Commissioner should submit a report to Congress that includes such questions in verbatim form and describes such class of taxpayers and the circumstances under which such questions would be asked.

Date: 2014-02-26
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exemption of political organizations, to revise the definition of "political organization" to mean a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that: (1) is registered as a political committee with the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (2) has been determined to be a political committee in administrative or judicial proceedings; or (3) is organized and operated primarily to accept contributions or make expenditures to influence, or attempt to influence, the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to state or local public office, is not required to register with the FEC, and is required to register with the appropriate state agency as a political committee.

Defines "promotion of social welfare," for purposes of the tax-exemption for social welfare organizations, to include: (1) any political activity in furtherance of American democracy, provided that such activities do not exceed 50% of the organization's total activities; (2) any activities for educating individuals on issues of public importance and on the behavior of public officials, including participation in ballot initiatives and referenda; and (3) certain activities described in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 as not being expenditures for political purposes.                              

Date: 2014-02-27
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exemption of political organizations, to revise the definition of "political organization" to mean a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that: (1) is registered as a political committee with the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (2) has been determined to be a political committee in administrative or judicial proceedings; or (3) is organized and operated primarily to accept contributions or make expenditures to influence, or attempt to influence, the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to state or local public office, is not required to register with the FEC, and is required to register with the appropriate state agency as a political committee.

Defines "promotion of social welfare," for purposes of the tax-exemption for social welfare organizations, to include: (1) any political activity in furtherance of American democracy, provided that such activities do not exceed 50% of the organization's total activities; (2) any activities for educating individuals on issues of public importance and on the behavior of public officials, including participation in ballot initiatives and referenda; and (3) certain activities described in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 as not being expenditures for political purposes. 

                            

Date: 2014-02-27
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
First Amendment Protection Act - Establishes a cause of action that may be brought against a federal executive agency officer or employee who, in the course of an investigation, audit, decision to disclose any record, or decision to grant a license, permit, or recognition of tax exempt status, discriminates against a person's or group's political or religious viewpoint or affiliation in violation of the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.

Defines "record" as any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual or group that: (1) is maintained by an executive agency, including education, financial transactions, medical information, tax information, address, and criminal or employment history; and (2) contains an individual's name or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph.

Permits a person or group aggrieved of such a violation to bring a civil action in federal court against the officer or employee (or former officer or employee) for damages or other legal or equitable relief. Allows the court to include the retirement benefits of such an officer or employee in the amount of any damages awarded.

Authorizes the head of an executive agency, if a court determines that an officer or employee of the agency has violated this Act, to terminate such officer or employee and such officer's or employee's benefits, including retirement benefits, without cause.

Provides for such cause of action and termination authority to apply to conduct that occurred before the enactment of this Act.

Expands the categories of nonprofit organizations authorized to file a pleading with a federal court for a declaratory judgment regarding their qualification for tax-exempt status (including any revocation of or change in qualification) to include: (1) civic leagues or organizations; (2) labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations; and (3) business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards of trade, or professional football leagues.

Date: 2014-04-09
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Free All Speech Act of 2014 - Requires any law that restricts political speech of American citizens to apply with equal force to media corporations (such as the New York Times, the American Broadcasting Company [ABC], the National Broadcasting Company [NBC], and the CBS Television Network).

Prohibits such a law from having any force or effect with respect to American citizens to the extent that its application to a media corporation is found unconstitutional.

Date: 2014-06-03
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Authorizes a military chaplain, if called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain's conscience.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the prohibition against churches and other tax-exempt organizations participating in political campaigns or supporting or opposing candidates for public office. Provides that this repeal shall not invalidate or limit any provision of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Equitable Access to Care and Health Act or the EACH Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the religious conscience exemption under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exempt individuals who rely solely on a religious method of healing and for whom the acceptance of medical health services would be inconsistent with their religious beliefs from the requirement to purchase and maintain minimum essential health care coverage.

Date: 2015-01-30
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act

Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from asking any taxpayer any question regarding religious, political, or social beliefs.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) any exceptions to such prohibition should identify the specific questions authorized, the class of taxpayers to whom such questions may be asked, and the circumstances under which such questions may be asked; and (2) if the IRS Commissioner determines that asking such questions would aid in the efficient administration of the tax laws, the Commissioner should submit a report to Congress that includes such questions in verbatim form and describes such class of taxpayers and the circumstances under which such questions would be asked.

Date: 2015-02-25
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2015

Prohibits the federal government, and any state that receives federal funding for any program that provides child welfare services under part B (Child and Family Services) or part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct), from discriminating or taking an adverse action against a child welfare service provider that declines to provide, facilitate, or refer for a child welfare service that conflicts with the provider's sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Bars such prohibition from applying to SSAct requirements that forbid state entities from denying or delaying adoption or foster care placements on the basis of an adoptive parent's or a child's race, color, or national origin.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to withhold 15% of the federal funds that a state receives for such programs if the state violates this Act.

Allows an aggrieved child welfare service provider to assert such an adverse action violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and to obtain all appropriate relief (including declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs).

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Social welfare
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exemption of political organizations, to revise the definition of "political organization" to mean a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that: (1) is registered as a political committee with the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (2) has been determined to be a political committee in administrative or judicial proceedings; or (3) is organized and operated primarily to accept contributions or make expenditures to influence, or attempt to influence, the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to state or local public office, is not required to register with the FEC, and is required to register with the appropriate state agency as a political committee.

Defines "promotion of social welfare," for purposes of the tax-exemption for social welfare organizations, to include: (1) any political activity in furtherance of American democracy, provided that such activities do not exceed 50% of the organization's total activities; (2) any activities for educating individuals on issues of public importance and on the behavior of public officials, including participation in ballot initiatives and referenda; and (3) certain activities described in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 as not being expenditures for political purposes. 

                            

Date: 2015-04-15
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Equitable Access to Care and Health Act or the EACH Act 

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the religious conscience exemption under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exempt individuals who rely solely on a religious method of healing and for whom the acceptance of medical health services would be inconsistent with their religious beliefs from the requirement to purchase and maintain minimum essential health care coverage. The individual claiming such exemption must provide an attestation that he or she has not received medical health services during the preceding taxable year.

The bill defines "medical health services" to exclude routine dental, vision and hearing services, midwifery services, vaccinations, necessary medical services for children, services required by law or by a third party, and other services provided by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The exemption allowed by this Act does not preempt any state law requiring the provision of medical treatment for children, especially those who are seriously ill.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act of 2015 Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish in the Treasury the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund for the deposit of income, gift, and estate taxes paid by or on behalf of taxpayers: (1) who are designated conscientious objectors opposed to participation in war in any form based upon their sincerely held moral, ethical, or religious beliefs or training (within the meaning of the Military Selective Service Act); and (2) who have certified their beliefs in writing to the Secretary. Requires that: (1) amounts deposited in the Fund be allocated annually to any appropriation not for a military purpose, (2) the Secretary report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the total amount transferred into the Fund during the preceding fiscal year and the purposes for which such amount was allocated, and (3) the privacy of individuals using the Fund be protected.

Expresses the sense of Congress that any revenue increase resulting from the creation of the Fund be allocated in a manner consistent with its purposes.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from using funds to target U.S. citizens for exercising any right guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Date: 2016-04-12
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
This bill prohibits the provision of Department of Education funds to any state or local educational agency that has a policy of denying, or that effectively prevents participation in, constitutional prayer in public schools by individuals on a voluntary basis.

No person shall be required to participate in prayer, or shall influence the form or content of any constitutional prayer, in public schools.

Date: 2016-04-27
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Education
Transparency in Taypayer-Funded [sic] Discrimination Act

This bill amends the Department of Education Organization Act to require the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights to publish, on its website, the names of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that request and IHEs that receive religious exemptions from title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. (Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.)

Additionally, the bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require an IHE that requests or receives a religious exemption from title IX to publish, on its website, certain information with respect to such exemption.

Date: 2016-04-29
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Education
Transparency in Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination Act

This bill amends the Department of Education Organization Act to require the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights to publish, on its website, the names of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that request and IHEs that receive religious exemptions from title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. (Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.)

Additionally, the bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require an IHE that requests or receives a religious exemption from title IX to publish, on its website, certain information with respect to such exemption.

Date: 2016-05-17
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Education
Do No Harm Act

This bill makes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) inapplicable to federal laws (or implementations of laws) that:

 protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, Executive Order 11246 (concerning equal employment opportunity), the Violence Against Women Act, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) rules entitled "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity"; require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. Under current law, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means.

The bill makes RFRA inapplicable to: (1) terms requiring goods, services, functions, or activities to be performed or provided to beneficiaries of government contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or awards; or (2) denials of a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation.

To assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.

Date: 2016-05-18
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Religious Freedom International Reciprocity Enhancement Act or the Religious FIRE Act

This bill prohibits a foreign national of a country that limits the free exercise of religion in that country from making any expenditure in the United States promoting a religion.

An asset consisting of such an expenditure or the proceeds of such an expenditure is subject to U.S. forfeiture.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: International affairs
Protecting Religious Expression Against Censorship and Harassment Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches may not be denied treatment as an entity organized and operated exclusively for a religious purpose or be deemed to have participated in or intervened in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office because of the content, preparation, or presentation of any homily, sermon, teaching, dialectic, or other presentation made during religious services or gatherings.

The bill also: (1) repeals the authority of the Internal Revenue Service to seek an injunction related to flagrant political expenditures of section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, (2) specifies that a member or leader of a religious organization may express personal views on political matters or elections for public office during a regular religious service as long as the views are not disseminated beyond the members and guests assembled together at the service, and (3) specifies that it does not permit any disbursements for electioneering communications or expenditures prohibited by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
No Religious Registry Act

This bill prohibits U.S. government officials from collecting information or utilizing a registry or database to classify on the basis of religious affiliation: (1) U.S. nationals or aliens lawfully present in the United States, or (2) aliens who apply for a visa or seek admission to the United States or on whose behalf a petition under the immigration laws is submitted. The bill also prohibits studies related to the collection of such information or the establishment or utilization of such a registry or database.

Nothing in this bill may be construed to prohibit the collection of information that is provided voluntarily, including information relating to the decennial census.

Date: 2016-11-18
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Education (ED), when reviewing whether there has been a violation of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance) based on an individual's actual or perceived shared Jewish ancestry or Jewish ethnic characteristics, to consider the definition of "anti-Semitism" as part of its assessment of whether the alleged practice was motivated by anti-Semitic intent.

For purposes of this bill, the definition of "anti-Semitism" is the definition set forth by the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism of the Department of State in the Fact Sheet issued on June 8, 2010, as adapted from the Working Definition of Anti-Semitism of the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (now known as the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights).

Date: 2016-12-01
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2016

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the Department of Education, when reviewing whether there has been a violation of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance) based on an individual's actual or perceived shared Jewish ancestry or Jewish ethnic characteristics, to consider the definition of "anti-Semitism" as part of its assessment of whether the alleged practice was motivated by anti-Semitic intent.

For purposes of this bill, the definition of "anti-Semitism" is the definition set forth by the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism of the Department of State in the Fact Sheet issued on June 8, 2010, as adapted from the Working Definition of Anti-Semitism of the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (now known as the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights).

(Sec. 5) Nothing in this bill shall be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Date: 2016-12-01
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exemption of political organizations, to revise the definition of "political organization" to mean a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that: (1) is registered as a political committee with the Federal Election Commission (FEC); (2) has been determined to be a political committee in administrative or judicial proceedings; or (3) is organized and operated primarily to accept contributions or make expenditures to influence, or attempt to influence, the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to state or local public office, is not required to register with the FEC, and is required to register with the appropriate state agency as a political committee.

Defines "promotion of social welfare," for purposes of the tax-exemption for social welfare organizations, to include: (1) any political activity in furtherance of American democracy, provided that such activities do not exceed 50% of the organization's total activities; (2) any activities for educating individuals on issues of public importance and on the behavior of public officials, including participation in ballot initiatives and referenda; and (3) certain activities described in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 as not being expenditures for political purposes. 

                            

Date: 2015-01-28
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
Equitable Access to Care and Health Act or the EACH Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the religious conscience exemption under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exempt individuals who rely solely on a religious method of healing and for whom the acceptance of medical health services would be inconsistent with their religious beliefs from the requirement to purchase and maintain minimum essential health care coverage.

Date: 2015-02-03
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Taxation
This bill requires the amounts apportioned to a state under the national highway performance program and the surface transportation program to be reduced by 5% for: (1) each fiscal year beginning after enactment of this Act in which the state issues a license plate that contains an image of a flag of the Confederate States of America; and (2) each fiscal year beginning with the second fiscal year after enactment of this Act in which the state allows such a license plate issued before the fiscal year beginning after enactment of this Act to be displayed on a motor vehicle registered in the state.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Civil Rights (Freedom of Speech)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Climate Stewardship Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a National Greenhouse Gas Database consisting of: (1) an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by covered entities (specified entities that own or control a source of GHG emissions in the electric power, industrial, and commercial sectors of the U.S. economy that emit more than 10,000 metric tons of GHGs per year); and (2) a registry of GHG emission reductions and increased sequestration, applicable to both covered and noncovered entities.Establishes a program for the market-driven reduction of GHGs by covered entities through the use of tradeable emissions allowances. Requires the Administrator to establish a declining cap on tradeable allowances to reduce GHG emissions over time. Requires covered entities, beginning in 2012, to submit to the Administrator one tradeable allowance for every metric ton of GHGs emitted. Allows tradeable allowances to be sold, exchanged, purchased, retired, borrowed, offset, or otherwise used as authorized by this Act. Imposes civil penalties on covered entities that fail to submit allowances. Establishes the Climate Change Credit Corporation (CCCC) to receive, manage, buy, and sell tradeable allowances. Directs the Administrator to make allocations of allowances to covered sectors and entities, and to the CCCC, providing initial allocations for early action and accelerated participation.Requires the CCCC to establish a program to provide financial support for: (1) technology to assist in compliance with this Act; (2) incentives for GHG emission reductions or net increases in sequestration on agricultural lands; and (3) the restoration of habitat to help fish and wildlife adapt to climate change.Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) report to Congress on the oceanic and coastal impacts of climate change; and (2) assist certain coastal states in preparing persons to adapt to climate change.Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to: (1) establish a program on adaptation technologies as part of the Climate Technology Challenge Program; and (2) perform regional infrastructure cost assessments of the impacts of climate change. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) submit a climate change adaptation plan to Congress; and (2) research the impact of climate change on low-income populations worldwide.Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to provide funding for the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account that may be used by states to develop and implement climate change impact mitigation plans.

Date: 2007-01-22
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring that all gasoline motor vehicle fuel sold or dispensed to consumers in the United States after 2012 contain not less than 10% renewable fuel on an annual average basis.

Date: 2007-01-23
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Clean Air Sustainability Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to revise the definition of a "major source" of hazardous air pollutants to specify that a source's "potential to emit" refers to its maximum capacity to emit a pollutant on the date the source is required to comply with a national emission standard, without regard to any lower subsequent emission levels of that pollutant attributable to compliance with such standard or other factors.

Date: 2007-02-08
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Mercury Emissions Reduction Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate standards for mercury emissions from electric utility steam generating units.

Date: 2007-02-15
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
National Carbon Dioxide Storage Capacity Assessment Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, to develop a methodology for conducting a national assessment of the geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide. Sets forth elements for the Secretary to consider in developing the methodology. Requires the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cooperate with the Secretary to ensure the usefulness and success of the assessment. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide the heads of stakeholder federal agencies, the heads of state land management agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed methodology; (2) convene a committee of subject matter experts to review the methodology for capacity and risk estimation; (3) publish a description of the final methodology and issue a public report that responds to the comments received and the methodology review; (4) complete a national assessment of geological storage capacity for carbon dioxide using the methodology; (5) establish a database on the Internet accessible to the public that provides the results of the assessment and includes the data necessary to rank potential storage sites for capacity and risk; and (6) report to Congress on the findings of the assessment.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Safe Climate Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate: (1) targets for a 2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions each year from 2010-2050; and (2) regulations requiring reductions to meet such targets, including by setting caps on emissions of sources and sectors with the largest emissions or the best opportunities to reduce them, by issuing and authorizing trading of emission allowances, and by imposing penalties for excess emissions.Requires relevant federal agencies to finalize a rule to carry out the National Academies' recommendations for regulatory action needed to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations or explain their reasons for declining to act.Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan for the distribution of emission allowances (including through auctions) and the use of proceeds (to be deposited in a Climate Reinvestment Fund) for specified goals, including mitigating the effects of energy cost increases and climate change.Requires the EPA to ensure that emissions and allowances are accurately tracked, reported, and verified.Authorizes the emission reduction regulations to include: (1) additional requirements for any source or sector; and (2) performance standards, best management practices, and technology-based requirements. Requires such regulations to set standards for the reduction of greenhouse emissions from motor vehicles at least as quickly as the standards adopted by the California Air Resources Board at its September 2004 hearing. Requires the EPA to revise such standards in 2014 and every five years thereafter to further reduce emissions.Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary of Energy to: (1) require, beginning in 2010, an annual increase in the percentage of electric energy generated from renewable sources that is sold at the retail level in the United States and to require such percentage to be at least 20% of the total electricity sold by 2020; and (2) set end-user savings targets for retail electric-energy and natural gas suppliers. Authorizes DOE to: (1) increase the required percentage of end-user savings for years after 2020; and (2) allow suppliers to achieve the targets through a market-based trading system.

Date: 2007-03-20
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Global Warming Education Act - Requires the National Science Foundation to establish a Global Warming Education Program to: (1) broaden the understanding of human induced global warming, possible long and short-term consequences, and potential solutions; (2) apply the latest scientific and technological discoveries to provide learning opportunities to people; and (3) emphasize actionable information to help people understand and to promote implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to energy conservation, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction.Requires such Program to include: (1) a national information campaign to disseminate information on and promote implementation of the new technologies, programs, and incentives; and (2) a competitive grant program to provide grants to states, municipalities, educational institutions, and other organizations to create materials relevant to global warming and climate science, develop climate science K-12 curriculum and supplementary educational materials, or publish global warming and climate science information.

Date: 2007-03-28
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Global Climate Change Security Oversight Act - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit to Congress a National Intelligence Estimate on the anticipated geopolitical effects of global climate change and the implications of such effects on U.S. national security.Requires the Director to prepare the estimate using the mid-range projections of the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to make assessments and recommendation concerning the risks posed by global warming and the security implications, opportunities, and consequences of global warming.Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the projected impact on the military installations, capabilities, and operations of the effects of global climate change as assessed in the estimate and to recommend research and analysis needed to further assess the impacts on the military of global climate change as assessed in the estimate.Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should address the findings of the estimate regarding the impact of global climate change and potential implications of such impact on the Armed Forces and for the size, composition, and capabilities of Armed Forces in the next Quadrennial Defense Review.Requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the potential for: (1) large migration flows in countries of strategic interest or humanitarian concern as a response to changes in climate and the implications for U.S. security interests; and (2) diplomatic opportunities and challenges facing U.S. policy makers as a result of social, economic, or political responses of groups or nations to global changing climate. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to research the impacts of global climate change on military operations, doctrine, organization, training, material, logistics, personnel, and facilities, and the actions needed to address those impacts.

Date: 2007-04-19
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Save Our Climate Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on the carbon content of any taxable fuel sold by a manufacturer, producer, or importer. Sets the amount of such tax at $10 per ton of the carbon content in such fuel. Defines "taxable fuel" as coal (including lignite and peat), petroleum and any petroleum product, and natural gas. Exempts from such tax the sale or in-kind exchange of fuel for deposit in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and certain exports or resales of such fuel.

Date: 2007-04-26
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Taxation
Energy Independence through Bio-diesel Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring that all diesel motor vehicle fuel sold or dispensed to consumers in the United States after 2012 contain not less than 2% biodiesel on an annual average basis.

Date: 2007-05-03
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Biofuels Energy Independence Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make and guarantee loans for biofuel production, distribution, development, and storage. Sets forth loan eligibility requirements. Directs the Secretary to establish a related revolving fund. Authorizes the Secretary to administer a Biofuels Feedstocks Energy Reserve to: (1) provide feedstocks in furtherance of biofuel-based energy production; and (2) support the biofuels energy industry when production is at risk due to feedstock reductions or commodity price increases. Sets forth related provisions respecting commercial commodity purchases, release of commodity stocks, and storage payments.

Date: 2007-05-08
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Boutique Fuel Reduction Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to add as "extreme and unusual circumstances that prevent the distribution of an adequate supply of fuel or fuel additives to consumers" under which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may temporarily waive a control or prohibition on the use of a fuel or fuel additive circumstances that are the result of unexpected problems with equipment necessary for transportation and delivery of fuel or fuel additives. States that EPA shall have no authority, when considering a state implementation plan (SIP) or SIP revision, to approve any fuel included in such plan or revision if the effect of such approval increases the total number of fuels set forth on the published list of approved fuels (currently EPA does not have the authority to approve a fuel if it increases the total number of fuels approved as of September 1, 2004, in all SIPs).Requires notice and opportunity for comment before the Administrator removes a fuel from the list. Requires EPA to remove a fuel from the list if such fuel has ceased to be included in an SIP or is identical to a federal fuel control or prohibition. Repeals provisions prohibiting EPA from reducing the total number of authorized fuels. Requires EPA to publish a revised list reflecting the reduction in the number of fuels. Deletes as a condition under which the Administrator's authority to approve a control or prohibition respecting any new fuel is limited that such new fuel will increase the total number of fuels on the list.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Energy
Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations that, effective beginning on December 31, 2010, require specified marine vessels to use fuel that contains not more than 1,000 parts per million of sulfur in their main and auxiliary engines. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate interim regulations upon determining that compliance with such requirement is not technically feasible by such date. Authorizes the Administrator to provide for an alternative mechanism of compliance for a marine vessel if: (1) the vessel employs a control technology that reduces emissions of sulfur oxides and particulate matter to at least the same degree as the reduction that would be achieved through compliance with the applicable fuel sulfur content limitation; and (2) the emission reductions achieved are in addition to any reductions required to achieve compliance with an applicable engine emission standard.Requires: (1) the Administrator, no later than December 15, 2008, to establish and periodically revise standards for emissions of oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide from newly-manufactured and in-use main and auxiliary engines in oceangoing marine vessels that enter or leave a U.S. port or offshore terminal; and (2) such standards to require, beginning January 1, 2012, that the engines achieve the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable through the application of available technology.Directs the Administrator, upon determining that the maximum level of control required by regulations applicable to on-road, nonroad, and stationary engines or achieved by sources from which control technologies may be transferred, including sources that use advanced aftertreatment technologies, will not be technically achievable by January 1, 2012, to promulgate: (1) standards that require the level of control that will be technically achievable by that date; and (2) additional standards that require either such maximum level of control or the level that will be technically achievable beginning January 1, 2016.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Greenhouse Gas Accountability Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a program to require specified entities (including any significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter and any entity with annual revenues exceeding $10 million that is engaged in the business of automobiles, aerospace and defense, chemicals, construction materials, electric utilities, energy equipment and services, oil, gas, and consumable fuels, metals and mining, paper and forest products, or transportation) to report annually to the Administrator on their GHG emissions. Sets forth program design requirements, including that it be consistent with the standards, protocols, and principles of the Climate Registry and the California Climate Registry.Authorizes an entity to report offsets and sequestration projects to mitigate its GHG emissions.Requires the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) to report on entities' compliance and on whether the regulations are effective in inventorying GHGs. Provides for penalties for noncompliance.Requires the Administrator to establish a public website containing a national GHG emissions database.Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to: (1) revise its regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require that certain annual reports filed by issuers of securities contain specified information concerning GHG emissions; and (2) issue an interpretive release clarifying, for purposes of specified regulations, that U.S. commitments to reduce emissions of global warming pollution under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, May 9, 1992, are considered to be a material effect and that global warming constitutes a known trend.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
Tailpipe Pollution Standards Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue to the governor of each applicable state, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a decision on each request for a waiver of preemption that: (1) has been submitted by the state; and (2) is pending as of the date of enactment of this Act. Requires the Administrator to issue to the governor of the state a decision on whether to grant a waiver of preemption for a request that is submitted after the date of enactment of this Act not later than 180 days after the date on which the Administrator receives the request.

Date: 2007-07-18
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection
FAIR (Foreign Air Impact Regulation) AIR Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to delay the effective date of reclassification of a nonattainment area to a higher classification of nonattainment for failing to meet national ambient air quality standards by applicable deadlines if: (1) the area is adjacent to a foreign country; and (2) the state in which the area is located submits a claim to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the area would have attained the relevant standard by the attainment date but for emissions emanating from outside the United States.Prohibits such reclassification from taking effect unless: (1) the Secretary of State has entered into negotiations with the foreign country involved to develop an air quality improvement plan for the international area encompassing the nonattainment area and submitted that plan to Congress; and (2) taking such plan into consideration, the Administrator has taken appropriate action to improve air quality in the nonattainment area.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Environment (Air Pollution)
Subject: Environmental protection