hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1703
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Alternative and renewable resources
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
General energy matters
International organizations and cooperation
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2011 - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to direct the President to establish an interagency working group to coordinate the Quadrennial Energy Review to provide an integrated view of national energy objectives and federal energy policy, including alignment of research programs, incentives, regulations, and partnerships.
 
 Requires the Secretary of Energy, in cooperation with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to report to Congress on the Quadrennial Energy Review, including an integrated view of short-, intermediate-, and long-term objectives for federal energy policy in the context of economic, environmental, and security priorities.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide the Executive Secretariat with the necessary analytical, financial, and administrative support for the conduct of each Quadrennial Energy Review. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-188.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6510-6511)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Strategic Airlift Force Structure Reform Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1704
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Military readiness

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Strategic Airlift Force Structure Reform Act of 2011 - Reduces the minimum inventory of strategic airlift aircraft required to be maintained by the Secretary of the Air Force to 301 aircraft. (Current law requires the Secretary to maintain at least 316 of such aircraft.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6511)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6511)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, as the "Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center".

Bill: 112-s-1705
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Health facilities and institutions
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in Spokane, Washington, as the &quot;Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6512)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6511-6512)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1706
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Department of the Treasury
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Indian lands and resources rights
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Retail and wholesale trades
Sales and excise taxes
Smuggling and trafficking
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act of 2011 or the STOP Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restrict the sale, lease, export or import, or delivery of tobacco production machines to persons lawfully engaged in: (1) the sale, lease, export or import, or delivery of such machines; (2) the manufacture or packaging of tobacco products or processed tobacco; or (3) the application of unique identification markings onto tobacco products or processed tobacco packages. Defines "tobacco production machine" as a machine used to manufacture or package tobacco products or processed tobacco or to apply unique identification markings or other tax-payment indicia to packages of tobacco products or processed tobacco. Extends record keeping requirements to wholesalers and retailers of tobacco products and processed tobacco. 
 
Requires manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to affix a unique identification marking to each package of tobacco products or processed tobacco prior to sale or distribution in the United States or prior to export. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design a system of unique identification markings that does not interfere with state, local, or tribal tax stamps and markings.
 
Requires wholesalers of tobacco products to obtain permits for selling or exporting tobacco products.
 
Establishes new criminal offenses relating to the licensing and distribution of tobacco products or processed tobacco. Increases the civil penalty for tobacco-related infractions from $1,000 to $10,000.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to coordinate with other federal agencies and officials to prevent and reduce tobacco tax evasion and contraband trafficking in tobacco products and processed tobacco.
 
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose a civil penalty for the importation of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes by fraudulent means.
 
Provides for the enforcement of this Act in Indian tribal areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-1707
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Mental health
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act - Prohibits, in any case arising out of the administration of laws and benefits by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), considering any person who is mentally incapacitated, deemed mentally incompetent, or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness from being considered adjudicated as a mental defective for purposes of the right to receive or transport firearms without the order or finding of a judicial authority of competent jurisdiction that such person is a danger to himself or herself or others.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Establishment Act

Bill: 112-s-1708
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Dams and canals
Historic sites and heritage areas
Industrial facilities
Lakes and rivers
Massachusetts
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Rhode Island

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park Establishment Act - Establishes the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island as a unit of the National Park System. 
 
 Requires the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service (NPS), to prepare a general management plan for the Park. Requires the plan to consider ways for using pre-existing or planned visitor facilities and recreational opportunities developed in the John. H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into cooperative agreements with the states, political subdivisions of the states, nonprofits (including Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc.), and private property owners to provide technical assistance and interpretation in the Park and Corridor; and (2) provide financial assistance on a matching basis for activities to protect the Corridor's resources. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-401.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6513)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6512-6513)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Disaster Assistance Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1709
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Credit and credit markets
Disaster relief and insurance
Government lending and loan guarantees
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Small Business Disaster Assistance Act of 2011 - Reduces temporarily, through September 30, 2014, the interest rate on the federal share of certain Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans (to repair, rehabilitate, replace, or refinance property damaged or destroyed by or as a result of a natural or other disaster) made to businesses on or after August 26, 2011. Sets forth temporary rates of: (1) 1% per year, in the case of a business concern unable to obtain credit elsewhere; and (2) 3% per year, in the case of a business concern able to obtain credit elsewhere.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Reciprocal Market Access Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1711
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Free trade and trade barriers
Government studies and investigations
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tariffs
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Reciprocal Market Access Act of 2011 - Prohibits the President from agreeing to the reduction or elimination of the existing rate of duty on any product in order to carry out a trade agreement entered into between the United States and a foreign country until the President certifies to Congress that: (1) the United States has obtained the reduction or elimination of tariff and nontariff barriers and policies and practices of such foreign country with respect to U.S. exports of any product that has the same physical characteristics and uses as the product for which the President seeks to modify its rate of duty, and (2) any violation of the trade agreement is immediately enforceable by withdrawal of the modification of the existing duty on such foreign product until the United States Trade Representative (USTR) certifies to Congress that the United States has obtained the reduction or elimination of the tariff or nontariff barrier or policy or practice of such foreign government.
 
Requires the withdrawal of such a modification in specified circumstances until the USTR makes such a certification to Congress.
 
Directs the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to assess and identify the tariff and nontariff barriers and policies and practices for such products that exist in the foreign country as well as expected opportunities for U.S. exports to such country if such barriers and policies and practices are eliminated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6514-6515)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6514)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Transparency in Judgment Payments Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1712
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government liability
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Transparency in Judgment Payments Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, not later than 30 days after the payment of a final judgment, award, or compromise settlement involving a federal agency, to publish electronically: (1) the agency responsible for the payment; (2) a citation to the law under which the claim was made; (3) the amount to be paid, including any interest and attorney fees; and (4) the court in which such claim was filed and the court case number. 
 
Requires each federal agency to submit annual reports to Congress describing: (1) any civil action filed or pending against such agency or an agency employee, and (2) any settlements entered by, or final judgments entered against, such agency or an agency employee. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
U.S.A. AAA Credit Restoration Act

Bill: 112-s-1713
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Department of the Treasury
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
U.S.A. AAA Credit Restoration Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, on the same day the President submits an annual budget proposal to Congress, to submit to Congress a message on the public debt limit. Requires the Secretary to: (1) include an estimate of the amount that the public debt limit will need to be increased, if necessary, for the next year based on estimates of federal revenues and mandatory and discretionary expenditures; and (2) publish in the Federal Register the amount of the debt limit necessary to accommodate such requirements.
 
Allows the proposed debt limit increase to become law unless Congress disapproves.
 
Sets forth an expedited process for congressional consideration of a joint resolution to disapprove of the Secretary's exercise of authority to increase the debt limit (thereby replacing the current procedure for increasing the debt limit under the congressional budget process).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Dairy Producer Income Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1714
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural trade
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: 
Dairy Producer Income Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to extend the milk income loss contract program. 
 
 Revises payment, feed cost adjustment, and payment quantity (pound) calculations.
 
Eliminates: (1) milk price supports, (2) dairy product price supports, and (3) the dairy export incentive program.
 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct hearings to assess the implications of transitioning federal milk marketing orders from end-product pricing to a competitive pay pricing system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Dairy Pricing Reform and Farmer Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1715
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural trade
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: 
Dairy Pricing Reform and Farmer Protection Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct hearings to assess the implications of transitioning federal milk marketing orders from end-product pricing to a competitive pay pricing system.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a dairy producer margin protection program to protect dairy producer income through the provision of basic margin protection payments and, if purchased by a dairy producer, supplemental margin protection payments when actual dairy producer margins are less than the threshold levels for the payments; and (2) conduct the program from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017.
 
Makes all registering U.S. dairy producers eligible for: (1) the program, and (2) a two-tiered basic margin protection program.
 
Authorizes a producer to purchase supplemental margin protection at the time of program registration. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a dairy market stabilization program for all U.S. dairy producers in order to balance the supply of milk with demand when the total percent production growth in milk products in a federal milk marketing order exceeds the combined percent growth in Class I, II, and III milk products; and (2) conduct the program from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017. 
 
Eliminates the: (1) dairy product price support program, (2) the dairy forward pricing program, (3) the milk income loss contract program, and (4) the dairy export incentive program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Assuring Successful Students through Effective Teaching Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1716
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2011-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Minority education
Special education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: 
Assuring Successful Students through Effective Teaching Act of 2011 - Amends the school improvement program under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to define &quot;highly qualified teachers&quot; as those that have: (1) completed a state-approved traditional or alternative teacher preparation program, where available; or (2) passed a rigorous state-approved teacher performance assessment and obtained full state certification.
 
Defines &quot;effective teachers&quot; as highly qualified teachers that demonstrate certain qualities and have done so for at least three years, as measured by a comprehensive teacher evaluation and support system developed by the relevant local educational agency (LEA).
 
Requires LEAs to ensure that poor, minority, disabled, and limited English proficient students are taught by highly qualified and effective teachers at similar rates and ratios as other students.
 
Requires states to provide additional supports to LEAs that fall short of that goal to assist them in making continuous progress towards it. Includes among those supports: (1) stronger teacher recruitment efforts, (2) efforts to improve teacher retention, and (3) ongoing teacher training.
 
Requires LEAs to ensure that: (1) all their teachers are highly qualified no later than three years after this Act's enactment, (2) that none of their public schools has a disproportionate percentage of teachers neither highly qualified nor effective, and (3) teachers who are not highly qualified are closely mentored and overseen by an effective mentor teacher who is certified and effective in the mentored teacher's subject area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevention of Escapement of Genetically Altered Salmon in the United States Act

Bill: 112-s-1717
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2011-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Fishes
Genetics
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: 
Prevention of Escapement of Genetically Altered Salmon in the United States Act - Prohibits a person from: (1) shipping, transporting, offering for sale, selling, or purchasing genetically altered salmon or other marine fish, or products containing such fish, in interstate or foreign commerce; or (2) having custody, control, or possession of, with the intent to ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, or purchase such fish or fish products, in interstate or foreign commerce.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to enforce penalties for violations of this Act under specified provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
School Food Recovery Act

Bill: 112-s-1719
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: 
School Food Recovery Act - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools and local educational agencies participating in the school lunch program to donate any excess food under such program to tax-exempt food banks or charitable organizations in their localities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6604)
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6604)
action_date: 2011-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate