hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit.

Bill: 111-s-3876
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Income tax credits
Motor fuels

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to alternative fuel vehicle refueling property, to: (1) increase and extend the tax credit for such property through 2014; (2) expand such credit to include the installation of refueling devices (e.g., chargers or compressors); (3) permit property eligible for such credit to be placed in service with respect to two or more dwelling units; and (4) expand the definition of &quot;qualified clean-fuel vehicle refueling property&quot; for purposes of the tax deduction for clean-fuel vehicles and certain refueling property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7794-7795)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7794)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Wage Theft Prevention Act

Bill: 111-s-3877
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Judicial procedure and administration
Labor standards
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Wage Theft Prevention Act - Amends the Portal-to-Portal Act to toll the statute of limitations for bringing a cause of action for unpaid minimum wages, unpaid overtime compensation, or liquidated damages under the Fair Standards Act and certain other Acts, starting from the time the Secretary of Labor notifies an employer of the initiation of an investigation regarding the cause of action until such employer is notified of its conclusion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Repealing Ineffective and Incomplete Abstinence-Only Program Funding Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3878
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Appropriations
Child health
Family planning and birth control
HIV/AIDS
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Sexually transmitted diseases
Teenage pregnancy

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Repealing Ineffective and Incomplete Abstinence-Only Program Funding Act of 2010 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to: (1) eliminate the abstinence-only education program; (2) rescind unobligated FY2010 program appropriations; and (3) reprogram such rescinded appropriations for the personal responsibility education program (PREP) for FY2011-FY2014.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Sacramento River National Recreation Area Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3879
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
California
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Outdoor recreation
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Sacramento River National Recreation Area Act of 2010 - Establishes the Sacramento River National Recreation Area in California, consisting of specified public land in Tehama and Shasta Counties. Requires the development of a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of the Recreation Area. 
 
Establishes the Sacramento River National Recreation Area Advisory Council to provide advice and make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior related to the development, implementation, and amendment of such plan and to ensure public involvement in the management of such Area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3880
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Family relationships
Fires
Health personnel
Higher education
Law enforcement officers
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the expected family contribution used in determining a student's need for title IV assistance in the case of a student applicant who is eligible for a Pell Grant and whose parent or guardian died as a result of performing service as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.
 
Requires such student to be less than 24 years old and enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of his or her parent's or guardian's death.
 
Gives financial aid administrators the responsibility of verifying that such students are eligible to have their expected family contribution adjusted (or eliminated), and of adjusting (or eliminating) it, unless the Secretary of Education establishes an alternate method of adjusting their expected family contribution.
 
Prohibits the total Pell Grant of a student whose Pell Grant is increased by reason of this Act from being considered in calculating that student's educational assistance benefits under the Public Safety Officer's Benefits program.
 
 Alters the source of the annual Pell Grant increase for such students to require that it be provided only to the extent that funds are specifically provided in advance to such students in an appropriation Act for that award year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3881
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Detention of persons
Evidence and witnesses
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
U.S. and foreign investments
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Justice for Sergei Magnitsky Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of State to publish a list of each individual the Secretary believes: (1) is responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky; (2) conspired to defraud the Russian Federation of taxes on corporate profits through fraudulent transactions and lawsuits against the foreign investment company known as Hermitage and to misappropriate Hermitage-owned entities; or (3) participated in efforts to conceal Mr. Magnitsky's detention, abuse, or death, or the existence of such conspiracy.
 
Makes an alien on such list or a family member ineligible to enter or be admitted to the United States. Revokes any visa issued for such person. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such prohibition if in the U.S. national interest.
 
 Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) instruct domestic financial institutions and agencies to take specified measures if the Secretary makes a money laundering determination relating to such conspiracy; and (2) freeze and prohibit U.S. property transactions of an individual who is on such list or acts as an agent for an individual on the list. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such actions if in the U.S. national interest.
 
States that this Act shall cease to be effective when the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury certify to Congress that: (1) the government of the Russian Federation has conducted a thorough and transparent investigation into Mr. Magnitsky's detention and death, and the related conspiracy: (2) the responsible individuals have been brought to justice according to the Russian Federation's laws and pursuant to its international legal obligations; and (3) the government of the Russian Federation has taken steps to bring its criminal justice and penal systems into compliance with international legal standards, has strengthened statutory protections for individuals who disclose evidence of illegal government activities, and has recognized Sergei Magnitsky's contribution to the fight against corruption and for the rule of law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7796-7797)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7795-7796, S7797)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in Innovation for Education Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3882
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Performance measurement
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Investing in Innovation for Education Act of 2010 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) and nonprofit organizations to support the school reform efforts of public schools and LEAs.
 
Requires each grant applicant to demonstrate that it has partnered with at least one private organization that will provide matching funds.
 
Requires each grant to be used to address at least one of the following areas of school reform: (1) improving the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders and promoting their equitable distribution; (2) strengthening the use of data to improve education; (3) providing high-quality instruction that is based on rigorous standards and measuring students' proficiency using high-quality assessments that are aligned to those standards; (4) turning around the lowest-performing schools; and (5) any other area of school reform the Secretary chooses.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish performance measures for tracking each grantee's progress in improving the academic performance of public elementary and secondary school students, and specified subgroups of those students. Requires grantees to use grant funds to develop or expand strategies to improve high-need students' showing on those performance measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Effective STEM Teaching and Learning Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3883
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Effective STEM Teaching and Learning Act of 2010 - Replaces the Mathematics and Science Partnership program under part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 with a program providing competitive grants to states to improve preschool through grade 12 education in: (1) mathematics or science, or both; and (2) at the state's discretion, technology or engineering, or both. 
 
Requires state grantees to use: (1) up to 20% their grant for certain state-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities, including the development, implementation, or improvement of a comprehensive state STEM plan; and (2) the bulk of their grant for competitive subgrants to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), partnerships between such LEAs and institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations, or educational service agencies proposing to serve such LEAs.
 
Directs subgrantees to use the subgrants to implement high-quality, evidence-based, comprehensive, and coherent STEM programs in high-need schools that include: (1) high-quality professional development for teachers and school leaders; (2) high-quality curriculum and instructional materials that are aligned with state standards; (3) coherent, high-quality assessment systems that are aligned with state standards and assessments, and used to improve instruction and student interventions; and (4) program monitoring.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to reserve a portion of part B funds to award competitive, capacity-building grants to states that do not receive a STEM improvement grant under part B.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Driver Compliance Improvement Act

Bill: 111-s-3884
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Labor standards
Motor carriers
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Commercial Driver Compliance Improvement Act - Requires all commercial motor vehicles involved in interstate commerce and subject to both federal hours-of-service and record of duty status requirements, in order to improve compliance with federal hours-of-service regulations, to be equipped with an electronic on-board recording device meeting performance and design standards and requirements prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation (DOT).
 
Denies the admissibility in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding of recorded information retrieved from an electronic on-board recording device installed in a motor vehicle: (1) for any purpose other than to establish compliance or noncompliance with applicable federal hours-of-service requirements; or (2) unless the motor vehicle owner consents to the retrieval of information, or the information is retrieved by a government motor vehicle safety or law enforcement agency and is not used by any person or entity other than that agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7798-7799)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7797-7798)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Race to the Top Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3885
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Minority education
Performance measurement
Preschool education
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Race to the Top Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states and local educational agencies (LEAs) to implement reforms and innovations designed to improve educational outcomes significantly for all students and reduce achievement gaps significantly among specified student subgroups.
 
Requires each grant applicant to have a comprehensive and coherent plan for doing so that includes, if applicable: (1) improving the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders and promoting their equitable distribution; (2) strengthening the use of data to improve education; (3) implementing internationally benchmarked, college- and career-ready elementary and secondary academic standards; (4) turning around its lowest-performing schools; (5) supporting, or coordinating with, early learning programs for high-need children from birth through third grade; and (6) creating or maintaining successful conditions for high-performing charter schools and other innovative, autonomous public schools.
 
Requires each grantee to establish performance measures that track its progress in implementing its plan, and improving educational outcomes for students and specified student subgroups.
 
Gives grant priority to LEAs with the highest number or percentages of impoverished children and those that serve rural schools.
 
Requires each state grantee to use at least 50% of its grant for subgrants to LEAs that participate in its plan. Allows LEAs to receive a grant and subgrant for the same fiscal year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7800-7801)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7799-7800)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the establishment of a memorial in the District of Columbia to honor and commemorate the accomplishments of Mr. Benjamin Banneker.

Bill: 111-s-3886
Sponsor: Sen. Burris, Roland [D-IL]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: District of Columbia
Monuments and memorials
Science and engineering education

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Authorizes the Washington Interdependence Council of the District of Columbia to establish a memorial in the District to honor and commemorate the accomplishments of Mr. Benjamin Banneker.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for a continuation and expansion of the Wounded Warrior Careers Demonstration program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 111-s-3887
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Employment and training programs
Neurological disorders
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to: (1) continue the Wounded Warrior Careers Demonstration (Careers) program being conducted in collaboration with the Army Wounded Warrior program at three locations pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the Army and the National Organization on Disability; and (2) expand the Careers program to nine additional locations in FY2011. States that the purpose of the Careers program expansion shall be to identify and disseminate best practices related to employment counseling and job placement of severely wounded warriors into civilian communities and careers, and to assess various additional means to support the transition and reintegration of such warriors into such communities and careers. Requires: (1) all locations chosen under the expansion to have a large concentration of severely wounded warriors who are ready for career and employment counseling; and (2) the Careers program to be carried out at least until five years after the enactment of this Act.
 
Allows Careers program services to be provided to severely wounded warriors of other branches of the Armed Forces pursuant to joint agreement. Directs the Secretary to continue to provide for the dissemination to other federal departments and agencies, state and local governments, and appropriate nonprofit organizations of lessons learned and best practices developed under the Careers program on the provision of benefits, services, and support to severely wounded warriors.
 
Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to report on the Careers program to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and specified congressional committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
End Debt Collector Abuse Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-3888
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
 End Debt Collector Abuse Act of 2010 - Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to require a debt collector, in the absence of such information in an initial communication or payment of the debt, to include in a written notice to the consumer the following: (1) the date of the last payment to the creditor on the debt and the debt amount at the time of default; (2) the name and address of the last person to extend credit with respect to the debt; (3) an itemization of the principal, fees, and interest that comprise the debt and any other charges added after the date of the last payment; (4) a description of the rights of the consumer concerning the ceasing of debt collector communication with the consumer and having collection efforts stopped; and (5) the name and contact information of the person responsible for handling complaints on behalf of the debt collector.
 
Revises procedures concerning disputed debts to require a debt collector, upon receipt of a notification that a debt is disputed by the consumer, to undertake a thorough investigation of the substance of the dispute and timely provide specific responsive information and verification of the disputed debt.
 
Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to provide inflation adjustments to damages awarded in cases of noncompliance with fair debt collection practices under the Act.
 
Allows a court, in a civil action alleging violations of fair debt collection practices, to award appropriate relief, including injunctive relief.
 
Deems as an unfair practice a request by a debt collector to a court or law enforcement agency for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of a debtor or any other similar request that a debt collector knows or should know would lead to the issuance of an arrest warrant, in relation to collection of a debt.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7802)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7801-7802, S7802)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the deadline for the submittal of claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay compensation for members and former members of the Armed Forces.

Bill: 111-s-3889
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2010-09-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government liability
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 to extend the period for the submission by members of the Armed Forces of claims for retroactive stop-loss special pay (paid to members whose enlistment or period of obligated service was extended, or whose eligibility for retirement was suspended, by the President in time or war or national emergency) from one to two years after the date on which implementing rules for such payments take effect.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Introduced in Senate