hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Locality Pay Equity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1398
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: 
Locality Pay Equity Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from defining more than one local wage area for prevailing rate employees within a pay locality, except with respect to the pay locality designated as &quot;Rest of United States.&quot;
 
Requires the Director of OPM to ensure that this Act shall not reduce any rate of basic pay for any individual who is serving as a prevailing rate employee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
HELP Separated Children Act

Bill: 112-s-1399
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: 
Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act or the HELP Separated Children Act - Sets forth apprehension procedures for immigration enforcement-related activities engaged in by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and cooperating entities, including: (1) providing the governor, local child welfare agencies, and local law enforcement with advance notice of an enforcement activity, if possible; (2) providing child welfare agencies and community organizations access to detained individuals to help DHS identify detainees who have children; (3) permitting detainees with children to make free phone calls to arrange for such children's care; and (4) requiring that the interests of children be considered in decisions regarding detainee release, detention, or transfer.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) require DHS detention facilities to implement procedures to ensure that child custody and family interests can be considered in any immigration detention action, (2) develop memoranda of understanding with child welfare agencies and community organizations that protect the best interests of children of detained individuals, and (3) provide DHS personnel with appropriate training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4804-4805)
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Marine Mammal Protection Amendment Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1402
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2011-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Licensing and registrations
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: 
Marine Mammal Protection Amendment Act of 2011 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to increase the maximum penalty for knowingly violating the Act's prohibitions against the taking or importation of marine mammals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
IDEA Full Funding Act

Bill: 112-s-1403
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2011-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Inflation and prices
Sales and excise taxes
Special education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: 
IDEA Full Funding Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to reauthorize and make appropriations through FY2021 for the grant program to assist states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
 
Saving Lives by Lowering Tobacco Use Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase excise taxes on cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco. 
 
Imposes an excise tax on smokeless tobacco sold in discrete single-use units.
 
Taxes other tobacco products at a level of tax equivalent to the tax rate for cigarettes on an estimated per use basis.
 
Provides for annual inflation adjustments to excise taxes on tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4806)
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1404
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: 
Medical FSA Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow amounts in a flexible spending arrangement (FSA) that are not spent for medical care to be distributed to the FSA participant as taxable income after the close of a plan year (currently, such unspent amounts are forfeited). Includes such FSAs in the definition of tax-exempt cafeteria plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4806-4807)
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Guy Privat Tape and Lou Nazie Raymonde Toto.

Bill: 112-s-1405
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Provides for the relief of Guy Privat Tape and Lou Nazie Raymonde Toto.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4807)
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4807)
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the United States courthouse under construction at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, California, as the Myron Donovan Crocker United States Courthouse.

Bill: 112-s-1406
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-07-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: California
Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-22
text: 
Designates the U.S. courthouse under construction at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, California, as the &quot;Myron Donovan Crocker United States Courthouse.&quot;

action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 

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

 
Designates the U.S. courthouse under construction at 510 19th Street, Bakersfield, California, as the &quot;Myron Donovan Crocker United States Courthouse.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4915; text as passed Senate: CR S4915)
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4915; text as passed Senate: CR S4915)
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-07-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Air Ambulance Medicare Accreditation and Accountability Act

Bill: 112-s-1407
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-07-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Medicaid
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-22
text: 
Air Ambulance Medicare Accreditation and Accountability Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to condition Medicare payment for air ambulance services upon: (1) provision by the supplier or service provider for appropriate medical oversight by a physician, and (2) accreditation of the air ambulance as level III or higher.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) establish a process for accrediting air ambulances according to three specified levels of accreditation, from lowest to highest; (2) consider certain factors in designating accreditation organizations; (3) establish criteria for use by an accreditation organization to evaluate an air ambulance; and (4) establish certain requirements for the collection of related data.
 
Prohibits reimbursement for air ambulance services under a state plan under SSA title XVII (Medicaid) unless the state develops licensing and regulatory requirements for such services that comply with federal guidelines. 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a revised air ambulance rate structure under the Medicare fee schedule. Requires sole community air ambulance services originating in a rural area to be reimbursed at a higher rate than for services by a non-sole community air ambulance.
 
Requires the Secretary to reduce the update for ambulance services for the failure of suppliers and providers to submit certain quality data to the Secretary .
 
Authorizes the Secretary to arrange with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies to study ground critical care transport.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Life Sciences Jobs and Investment Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1410
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Medical research
Research administration and funding
Small business
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: 
Life Sciences Jobs and Investment Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) an increased research tax credit for qualified initial life sciences research expenses; and (2) certain corporations a tax deduction for dividends received which are reinvested solely in the United States to hire scientists and researchers engaged in life science research, fund life science research at research consortia, eligible small businesses, universities, and federal laboratories, or build or lease new facilities to be used primarily for qualified life sciences research. Terminates such tax incentives after 2016. 
 
Defines "qualified initial life sciences research expenses" as amounts, up to $150 million, attributable to the study of biology, biochemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, microbiology, genetics, or physiology, but excluding sociology or psychology. 
 
Directs the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to take necessary steps to ensure full compliance with the provisions of this Act and to report to Congress on the status of such compliance and related enforcement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act

Bill: 112-s-1411
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: 
Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act - Requires the Public Printer to establish and maintain a website accessible by the public for obtaining electronic copies of all congressionally mandated reports in one place. 
 
Requires each federal agency to provide the Public Printer with an electronic copy of congressionally mandated reports for publication on the website.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1413
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: 
Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow through 2016 a 30% energy tax credit for investment in geothermal energy property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4870)
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4870)
action_date: 2011-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Act

Bill: 112-s-1414
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2011-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Food assistance and relief
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 
Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion Act - Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out a Community-Supported Agriculture Promotion program to promote community-supported agriculture.
 
Provides Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding for the program through FY2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Birth Control Act

Bill: 112-s-1415
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Family planning and birth control
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 
Access to Birth Control Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require pharmacies to comply with certain rules related to contraceptives, including: (1) providing a customer a contraceptive without delay if it is in stock; (2) immediately informing a customer if the contraceptive is not in stock and either transferring the prescription to a pharmacy that has the contraceptive in stock or expediting the ordering of the contraceptive and notifying the customer when it arrives, based on customer preference, except for pharmacies that do not ordinarily stock contraceptives in the normal course of business; and (3) ensuring that pharmacy employees do not take certain actions relating to a request for contraception, including intimidating, threatening, or harassing customers, interfering with or obstructing the delivery of services, intentionally misrepresenting or deceiving customers about the availability of contraception or its mechanism of action, breaching or threatening to breach medical confidentiality, or refusing to return a valid, lawful prescription. 
 
Provides that a pharmacy is not prohibited from refusing to provide a contraceptive to a customer if: (1) it is unlawful to dispense the contraceptive to the customer without a valid, lawful prescription and no such prescription is presented; (2) the customer is unable to pay for the contraceptive; or (3) the employee of the pharmacy refuses to provide the contraceptive on the basis of a professional clinical judgment.
 
Provides that this Act does not preempt state law or any professional obligation of a state board that provides greater protections for customers.
 
Sets forth civil penalties and establishes a a private cause of action for violations of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Medigap Medical Loss Ratio Improvement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1416
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 
Medigap Medical Loss Ratio Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies to increase the minimum loss ratio required of such policies. (A loss ratio is the ratio of total losses paid out in insurance claims, plus adjustment expenses, divided by the total earned insurance premiums.)
 
Prohibits the issuance or renewal of a Medigap policy in any state unless the policy can be expected to return to policyholders in the form of aggregate benefits: (1) at least 85% (currently 75%) of the aggregate amount of premiums collected in the case of group policies, and (2) at least 80% (currently 65%) in the case of individual policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4912)
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicle Jobs Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1417
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Energy efficiency and conservation
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 
Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicle Jobs Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a $4,000 new qualified fuel cell motor vehicle tax credit for motor vehicles weighing not more than 8,500 pounds that are manufactured primarily for use in carrying or towing loads or materials for commercial or industrial purposes (off-highway vehicles); (2) continue the maximum dollar amount of $8,000 for motor vehicles with at least 4 wheels weighing not more than 8,500 pounds that are manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads and highways; (3) allow an enhanced credit for light (not more than 8,500 pounds) and heavy (more than 8,500 pounds) vehicles if such vehicles' fuel cell systems achieve a specified electricity generation efficiency rating; and (4) allow a new energy tax credit, through December 31, 2016, for qualified fuel cell property that is manufactured for use in powering qualified motive property. Defines "qualified motive property" as property which is manufactured primarily for carrying loads or materials for commercial or industrial purposes not on public streets, road, highways, or rails or operated primarily for recreational purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1418
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 
Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act of 2011 - Amends the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 to authorize the use of Emergency Management Assistance Compact grants to: (1) educate emergency response providers by offering training materials and courses relating to the Compact; (2) conduct exercises regarding deployments under the Compact and related procedures; (3) establish a system for tracking resources deployed under the Compact; and (4) conduct after-action assessments, prepare reports, and carry out recommendations in response to large-scale activations, as determined appropriate by Compact administrators.
 
Authorizes appropriations for Compact grants for FY2012-FY2016.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-Cash Smuggling Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1419
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Currency
Department of the Treasury
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: 
Anti-Cash Smuggling Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to require reports concerning means of access to funds or the value of funds belonging or credited to a person (or agent or bailee), including prepaid or stored value cards (but not debit or credit cards), that can be used electronically to: (1) initiate a transfer of funds, (2) obtain currency in place of funds or the value of funds, or (3) purchase goods or services.
 
Requires such reports to be filed only when a person knowingly: (1) transports, is about to transport, or has transported a means of access to funds or the value of funds of more than $10,000 at one time from a place in the United States to or through a place outside the United States, or to a place in the United States from or through a place outside the United States; or (2) receives a means of access to funds or the value of funds transported into the United States from or through a place outside the United States of more than $10,000 at one time.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to apply to a court for a search warrant upon a reasonable belief that: (1) a monetary instrument or a tangible mechanism that constitutes a means of access to funds or the value of funds is being transported; and (2) a required report has not been filed or contains a material omission or misstatement. 
 
Revises penalties and procedures regarding smuggling of cash, monetary instruments, and means of access to funds or the value of funds into or out of the United States.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate