hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Emergency Centers Establishment Act

Bill: 111-s-3476
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2010-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Military facilities and property

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: 
National Emergency Centers Establishment Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish at least six national emergency centers on military installations to use existing infrastructure to provide: (1) temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster; and (2) centralized locations for the training of first responders and the coordination of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. 

Requires the Secretary to designate: (1) 2 military installations as sites for the establishment of the centers within 60 days of this Act's enactment; and (2) not fewer than 4 more within 18 months of enactment.

Lists minimum requirements for sites for such centers, including that they be capable of: (1) meeting for an extended period the housing, health, transportation, education, public works, humanitarian, and other transition needs of a large number of individuals affected; (2) being scaled up or down to accommodate major disaster preparedness and response drills, operations, and procedures; (3) housing existing permanent structures necessary to meet training and first responders coordination requirements during non-disaster periods; and (4) hosting the infrastructure necessary to rapidly adjust to temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance needs.

Sets forth center location requirements, including requiring the Secretary to give preference to military installations designated as Regional Joint Readiness Centers and to closed or materially affected military installations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3477
Sponsor: Sen. Webb, Jim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2010-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Cooperative and condominium housing
Military personnel and dependents
National symbols
Real estate business

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: 
Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2010 - Prohibits a condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association from adopting or enforcing any policy, or entering into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent an association member from displaying a Service Flag on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use. (A Service Flag, also known as a &quot;blue star banner,&quot; is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense [DOD] for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities.) 
 
Prohibits anything in this Act from being considered to permit any display or use inconsistent with: (1) any DOD regulations regarding rules or customs pertaining to the proper display or use of the Service Flag; or (2) any reasonable restriction pertaining to the time, place, or manner of displaying the flag necessary to protect a substantial interest of the condominium, cooperative, or residential real estate management association.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Remuneration for Ecological and Societal Tolls Occasioned by Reckless Errors Act

Bill: 111-s-3478
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2010-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Civil actions and liability
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Pollution liability
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: 
Remuneration for Ecological and Societal Tolls Occasioned by Reckless Errors Act or RESTORE Act - Repeals specified general limitations on liability (the Limitation of Liability Act) for personal injury or death, or loss or damage to merchandise due to fire, on seagoing vessels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 7/13/2010 CR S5759)
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3479
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2010-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Hereditary and development disorders
Medical research
Nutrition and diet
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Sex and reproductive health

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: 
Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2010 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to establish and implement a birth defects prevention and public awareness program, which includes: (1) a nationwide media campaign to increase awareness among health care providers and at-risk populations about pregnancy and breastfeeding information services; (2) grants for the provision of, or campaigns to increase awareness about, pregnancy and breastfeeding information services; and (3) grants for the conduct or support of surveillance of or research on maternal exposures that may influence the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal exposures that may influence health risks to a breastfed infant, or of networking to facilitate such surveillance or research.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4851-4852)
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3482
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2010-06-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy revenues and royalties
Government trust funds
Land use and conservation
Nevada
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: 
American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to: (1) designate specified federal land in Nevada under the administrative jurisdiction of BLM that is identified as a solar development zone as a solar pilot project area; (2) conduct lease sales and issue leases for commercial solar energy development on such land; and (3) include work requirements and mandatory milestones to ensure that diligent development is carried out under such a lease and to reduce speculative behavior. Prohibits (with exceptions) new easements, special-use permits, or rights-of-way on such land from the date of enactment of this Act until the date of the issuance of a lease for such land.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish the duration of leases issued; (2) include provisions in such a lease requiring the lease holder to furnish a reclamation bond or other form of security and to restore the land or conduct mitigation activities upon completion of authorized activities; (3) establish and ensure compliance with best management practices to ensure the sound, efficient, and environmentally responsible development of solar resources on the land in a manner that would minimize and mitigate impacts to habitat and ecosystem function; and (4) establish royalties, fees, rentals, bonuses, and any other appropriate payments to ensure a fair return to the United States for any lease issued. Sets forth provisions governing royalty rates and proceeds distribution.
 
Establishes in the Treasury a Renewable Energy Mitigation and Fish and Wildlife Fund, which shall be available to the Secretary for providing amounts to states or other interested parties for mitigating impacts of renewable energy on public land and carrying out activities authorized under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. 
 
Directs the Secretary: (1) within Lincoln County, Nevada, to give highest priority consideration to implementation of the solar lease sales provided for under this Act; and (2) to evaluate other solar development proposals in the County not provided for under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4856-4857)
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4856)
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Motor Carrier Protection Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3483
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2010-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Department of Transportation
Government studies and investigations
Licensing and registrations
Life, casualty, property insurance
Motor carriers
Transportation safety and security
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: 
Motor Carrier Protection Act of 2010 - Requires each freight forwarder or freight broker registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to: (1) pay an annual registration renewal fee in an amount determined by the Secretary of Transportation (DOT); (2) provide updated registration information; and (3) submit proof of compliance with applicable surety and insurance requirements. 
 
Requires noncompliant brokers, freight forwarders, or motor carriers to be listed as inactive on all relevant DOT websites.
 
Requires the FMCSA Administrator to issue a distinctive registration number for each activity or service of a person (including motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker) registered to provide one or more such activities or services. Requires a registrant to specify, in writing, the authority under which it is providing required services for each shipment for which it seeks compensation.
 
Revises federal motor carrier registration requirements to prohibit a motor carrier from brokering transportation services unless registered as a broker. Requires registered motor carriers to maintain insurance for property damage when transporting property.
 
Revises and consolidates federal registration and security requirements for freight forwarders and brokers. Prohibits a person from acting as a freight forwarder or broker unless that person: (1) holds a freight forwarder's permit or broker's license issued by the FMCSA; and (2) furnishes a bond or other surety from a provider determined by the FMCSA Administrator to be adequate to insure financial responsibility of at least $100,000.
 
Prohibits a person acting as a broker (other than a non-vessel-operating common carrier), or an ocean freight forwarder providing brokerage as part of an international through movement involving ocean transportation between the United States and a foreign port, from providing interstate brokerage services unless that person: (1) is registered under and in compliance with this Act; and (2) has satisfied financial security requirements. Prescribes civil penalties for violators of such requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4886)
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Secure Federal File Sharing Act

Bill: 111-s-3484
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2010-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: 
Secure Federal File Sharing Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance to: (1) prohibit the download, installation, or use by government employees and contractors of open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software on all federal computers, computer systems, and networks, unless approved in accordance with procedures under this Act; and (2) address the download, installation, or use by government employees and contractors of such software on home or personal computers as it relates to telework and remotely accessing federal computers, computer systems, and networks.

Requires the Director to develop a procedure for receiving requests from heads or chief information officers of agencies for approval for use by government employees and contractors of specific open-network peer-to-peer file sharing software programs that are: (1) necessary for day-to-day business operations, for use in the course of a law enforcement investigation, or to perform official agency business; or (2) instrumental in completing a particular task or project that directly supports the agency's overall mission.

Requires the Director to direct agencies to: (1) establish or update personal use policies to be consistent with the guidance issued under this Act; (2) require contracts to require contractor compliance with that guidance; (3) update their information technology security or ethics training policies to ensure that all employees are aware of the requirements of that guidance and the consequences of engaging in prohibited conduct; and (4) ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent, detect, and remove file sharing software that is prohibited.

Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information relating to any confidential government operation or investigation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2010-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Mobility and Access for America Act

Bill: 111-s-3485
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2010-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: 
Rural Mobility and Access for America Act - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program for the allocation of federal funds for surface transportation program projects in rural states.
 
Defines &quot;rural state&quot; as any of the 50 states that: (1) has a population density of 45 or fewer individuals per square mile of land area; or (2) does not include an urbanized area with a population of more than 500,000 individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the prohibition on collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions regarding compensation of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs other than rates of basic pay, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3486
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2010-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: 
Prohibits collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions concerning rates of basic pay (under current law, concerning compensation) of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (Permits collective bargaining concerning compensation, other than basic rates of pay, with respect to such employees.)

action_date: 2010-09-02
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Prohibits collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions concerning rates of basic pay (under current law, concerning compensation) of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (Permits collective bargaining concerning compensation, other than basic rates of pay, with respect to such employees.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 558.
action_date: 2010-09-02
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/05/2010 without amendment. With written report No. 111-287. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2010-09-02
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/05/2010 without amendment. With written report No. 111-287. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
e-KNOW Act

Bill: 111-s-3487
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2010-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: 
Electric Consumer Right to Know Act or the e-KNOW Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to grant an electric consumer the right to access the consumer's retail electric energy information in an electronic form, in conformity with nationally recognized open standards, free of charge, and in a manner that is timely and convenient and that provides adequate protections for the security of the information and the privacy of the electric consumer.
 
Requires such information to be provided by the consumer's retail electricity provider (or such other entity as may be designated by the authority responsible for regulating the retail sale and delivery of electricity to the consumer). 
 
Identifies the type of retail electric energy information which the consumer has the right to access, including: (1) the consumer's electric energy consumption over a defined time period; and (2) the prices or rates applied to the consumer's electricity usage for such time period.
 
 
Permits a utility providing retail electric energy information to recover in rates the cost of providing the information, if the cost is determined reasonable and prudent by the entity with jurisdiction over metering and retail electric service for the consumer.
 
Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to: (1) issue guidelines that establish minimum national standards for implementation of the electric consumer right to access retail electric energy information; and (2) preserve the integrity of and be guided by actions taken by state and local regulatory authorities to ensure electric consumer access to such information.
 
Empowers the attorney general, official, or agency of the state, as parens patriae, to bring a civil action in federal district court to compel compliance with such standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4940-4941)
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Chetco River Protection Act

Bill: 111-s-3488
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2010-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Oregon
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: 
Chetco River Protection Act - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to make corrections to the segment designations for the Chetco River, Oregon, including revising segment lengths.
 
Withdraws the federal land within the boundaries of a certain segment of the Chetco River from all forms of: (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to terminate the moratorium on deepwater drilling issued by the Secretary of the Interior.

Bill: 111-s-3489
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2010-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of the Interior
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: 
Declares without force or effect: (1) the moratorium on deepwater drilling issued by the Secretary of the Interior set forth in the Minerals Management Service Notice to Lessees No. 2010-N04, dated May 30, 2010; and (2) any suspension of deepwater drilling operations issued in connection with such moratorium.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3491
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2010-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Hospital care
Medicare
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: 
Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2010 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), to require each Medicare participating hospital to implement a hospital-wide staffing plan for nursing services furnished in the hospital.
 
Requires the plan to require that an appropriate number of registered nurses provide direct patient care in each unit and on each shift of the hospital to ensure staffing levels that: (1) address the unique characteristics of the patients and hospital units; and (2) result in the delivery of safe, quality patient care consistent with specified requirements.
 
Requires each participating hospital to establish a hospital nurse staffing committee which shall implement and oversee such plan.
 
Specifies civil monetary and other penalties for violation of the requirements of this Act.
 
Sets forth whistleblower protections against discrimination and retaliation involving patients or employees of the hospital for their grievances, complaints, or involvement in investigations relating to such plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate