hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Freedom from Government Competition Act

Bill: 112-s-785
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Freedom from Government Competition Act - Requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, except if: (1) such goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed by such agency; or (2) the head of the agency determines and certifies that federal production or performance is necessary for the national defense or homeland security, that a good or service is so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by government employees, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service.
 
Requires such private sector provision of goods and services to be performed through: (1) the divestiture of federal involvement, (2) the award of a contract using competitive procedures, (3) converting an activity to performance by a qualified firm under at least 51% ownership by an Indian tribe or a Native Hawaiian Organization, or (4) conducting a public-private competitive sourcing analysis in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures and determining that using the private sector is in the best interest of the United States and provides the best value to the taxpayer.
 
Authorizes an agency head to utilize federal employees to provide goods or services previously provided by a private sector entity upon completion of a public-private competitive sourcing analysis and after determining that provision by federal employees provides the best value.
 
Requires the Director to carry out a study, in conjunction with the Comptroller General, to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the appointment and grade of the Chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps.

Bill: 112-s-786
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Requires that an appointee to the position of Chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps be of a rank not less than lieutenant colonel. (Current minimum rank is captain.)
 
Requires an appointee to such position holding a lower grade to be appointed in the regular grade of brigadier general.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial and Economic Literacy Improvement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-787
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Financial literacy
Higher education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Financial and Economic Literacy Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award formula matching grants to states or partnerships between states and experienced nonprofit providers of financial literacy or personal finance education.
 
Requires grantees to use 25% of the grant funds to: (1) develop financial literacy standards and assessments for at least three grade levels, (2) create teacher training programs to embed financial literacy or personal finance education into core academic subjects, and (3) evaluate the impact such education has on students' financial literacy.
 
Requires the remaining grant funds to be used for subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships between LEAs and community organizations, local businesses, or other educational entities to implement such financial literacy activities, including student assessments and teacher training. 
 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or partnerships between IHEs and experienced nonprofit providers of financial literacy or personal finance education for activities that increase student knowledge in consumer, economic, and personal financial concepts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Pay Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-788
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Legal fees and court costs
Racial and ethnic relations
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Fair Pay Act of 2011 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, or differentials based on bona fide factors that the employer demonstrates are job-related or further legitimate business interests.)
 
Prohibits the discharge of, or any other discrimination against, an individual for opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this Act, or for assisting in an investigation or proceeding under it. 
Directs courts, in any action brought under this Act for violation of such prohibition, to allow expert fees as part of the costs awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. Allows any such action to be maintained as a class action. 
Directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to: (1) undertake studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement this Act; and (2) carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance with specified components related to the purposes of this Act. 
Makes conforming amendments relating to congressional and executive branch employees to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2390-2391)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2389)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to express the sense of the Senate that Medicare should not be dismantled and turned into a voucher program.

Bill: 112-s-789
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Health care costs and insurance
Health programs administration and funding
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) Medicare should not be dismantled and turned into a voucher or premium-support program; (2) deficit reduction should not be achieved by simply passing on the costs of health care to Medicare beneficiaries; (3) guaranteed Medicare benefits should be preserved; (4) medical decisions should be made by seniors and their doctors, not insurance companies; and (5) deficit reduction should be achieved by lowering health care costs through delivery system reforms. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-790
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2011 - Expands requirements relating to specific training programs for federal agency supervisors by requiring the head of each federal agency to establish: (1) a program to train supervisors in carrying out their duties, including mentoring and motivating employees, fostering a employee-friendly work environment, and effectively managing employees with unacceptable performance ratings; (2) a program to train supervisors on prohibited personnel practices. employee collective bargaining and union participation rights, and the procedures and processes used to enforce employee rights; and (3) a program under which experienced supervisors mentor new supervisors. 
 
Requires: (1) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to issue guidance to federal agencies on competencies supervisors are expected to meet in order to effectively manage, and be accountable for managing, the performance of employees; and (2) each agency to assess the performance of its supervisors and the overall capacity of its supervisors, based on such guidance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2392-2393)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2391-2392)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to allow the Corps of Engineers to use certain amounts to carry out harbor deepening projects.

Bill: 112-s-793
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to prioritize the use of amounts made available to the Secretary for general investigations to carry out harbor deepening projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting American Taxpayers from Misconduct Act

Bill: 112-s-794
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Life, casualty, property insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Protecting American Taxpayers from Misconduct Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny a tax deduction for any amount paid or incurred for punitive damages in connection with any judgment in, or settlement of, any legal action; and (2) include any amount paid as punitive damages in gross income for income tax purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2395)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2395)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend qualified school construction bonds and qualified zone academy bonds, to treat qualified zone academy bonds as specified tax credit bonds, and to modify the private business contribution requirement for qualified zone academy bonds.

Bill: 112-s-796
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax credits
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2015 the qualified school construction bond program and the national limitation amounts for bonds issued under the qualified zone academy bond (QZAB) program, (2) allow the issuer of a QZAB to receive a direct payment in lieu of the tax credit for interest payments with respect to such bonds, and (3) permit private entities to waive the 10% matching requirement for QZABs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2395-2396)
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-798
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Historical and cultural resources
Licensing and registrations
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act of 2011 - Provides a 90-day amnesty period during which veterans and their family members can register in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record any firearm acquired before October 31, 1968, by a veteran while a member of the Armed Forces stationed outside the continental United States. Grants such an individual limited immunity under the federal criminal code and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the acquisition, possession, transportation, or alteration of such qualifying firearm at or before the time at which the individual registered the qualifying firearm. Extends such immunity to a veteran who attempts to register a qualifying firearm outside of the amnesty period if the veteran surrenders the firearm within 30 days after being notified of potential criminal liability for continued possession.

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) transfer each curio or relic firearm that is forfeited to the United States to the first qualified museum that requests it, and (2) publish information identifying each such firearm which is available to be transferred to a museum. Requires that any firearm transferred to a qualified museum be registered to the transferee.

Makes a prohibition against transfer or possession of a machine-gun inapplicable to a transfer to or by, or possession by, a museum which is open to the public and incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under applicable state law.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-799
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Contracts and agency
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Marketing and advertising
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011 - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to initiate a rulemaking requiring security measures to be carried out by any person (defined in this Act as a &quot;covered entity&quot;) collecting, using, transferring, or storing certain personal information (defined in this Act as &quot;covered information&quot;) concerning over 5,000 individuals during any consecutive 12-month period who is also: (1) a person whom the FTC is directed to prevent from using unfair methods of competition or deceptive practices in or affecting commerce under specified provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act; (2) a common carrier subject to the Communications Act of 1934, notwithstanding specified terms and exceptions; or (3) a nonprofit organization, including certain tax-exempt organizations. Requires each such entity to implement a comprehensive information privacy program.
 
Applies the requirements of this Act to: (1) personally identifiable information; (2) unique identifier information; and (3) any information that is collected, used, or stored in connection with such information in a manner that may reasonably be used to identify a specific individual. Excludes from such measures certain information obtained from public records, shared voluntarily in a forum, reported in the media, or dedicated as workplace contact information.
 
Requires an FTC rulemaking to require each covered entity to: (1) notify individuals of its information use, storage, transfer, and collection practices, and the purposes of such practices; (2) offer mechanisms for opt-out or opt-in consent, as specified, under various circumstances including for unauthorized information use and use by third parties for behavioral advertising or marketing; (3) provide methods to correct inaccuracies; and (4) permit requests to render information personally unidentifiable or to cease unauthorized or marketing use after the entity's bankruptcy or a termination of service. 
 
Lists the restricted purposes for which collected information must be reasonably necessary. Limits the retention of such information.
 
Sets forth the contract provisions necessary to use a service provider or to transfer such information to a third party.
 
Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) enforcement by the FTC and state attorneys general, (2) civil penalties, and (3) safe harbor programs to be administered by nongovernmental organizations. Prohibits any private right of action under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act

Bill: 112-s-800
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Infrastructure development
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act - Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to reauthorize appropriations for FY2012-FY2016 for the safe routes to school program.
 
Revises program requirements to specify children kindergarten through 12th grade as the ones to be benefited by the program.
 
Revises criteria used to determine state apportionment of program funds.
 
Includes projects for other nonmotorized modes of transportation besides walking and bicycling as noninfrastructure-related projects.
 
Authorizes states to set-aside up to 10% of apportioned funds for infrastructure improvements that create safe routes to bus stops located outside of the vicinity of schools.
 
Requires each state that receives an apportionment to carry out an assessment of the economic and geographical distribution of funding to ensure that low-income schools are adequately able to access such funds. Defines &quot;low-income school&quot; to mean a school in which 65% or more of students qualify for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
 
Requires each state receiving an apportionment for a fiscal year to use a sufficient amount of it to fund a full-time position of coordinator for the state safe routes to school program.
 
Prescribes requirements for the treatment of noninfrastructure and infrastructure projects.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive plan for evaluating the effectiveness of safe routes to school, and (2) make grants to an experienced national nonprofit organization to operate a national safe routes to school clearinghouse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Information Technology Investment Management Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-801
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2011-04-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: 
Information Technology Investment Management Act of 2011 - Expands the responsibilities of agency heads with respect to the acquisition of information technology (IT) to require: (1) the development of an IT management and development program; and (2) the posting on agency websites of cost, schedule, and performance information regarding an agency's major IT investments.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure the effective operation of a website that provides monthly updated information on agency investment in IT projects.
 
Requires a Chief Information Officer of an executive department that is primarily responsible for an IT project under review to: (1) take specified actions, including conducting performance reviews and taking corrective actions, after determining that an IT project has significantly or grossly deviated (i.e., a cost, schedule, or performance variance that is at least 20% or 40%, respectively, from the original baseline); and (2) designate, in consultation with the agency head, the most costly and critical major IT investment projects as core IT investment projects.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to develop policy and guidance for agencies in developing programs to recognize excellent employee performance in the acquisition of information systems and information technology for such agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Solvency and Sustainability Act

Bill: 112-s-804
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Disability and paralysis
Inflation and prices
Social Security Administration
Social security and elderly assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: 
Social Security Solvency and Sustainability Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to increase the normal retirement age by specified graduated stages to age 70. 
 
Raises the early retirement age by specified graduated stages to 64 for an individual who attains age 62 after December 31, 2027.
 
Revises requirements for computation of the age increase factor.
 
Revises the formula for the maximum age for delayed retirement credit.
 
Prescribes a formula for progressive indexing of an individual's primary insurance amount. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate