hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Electronic Life Safety and Security Systems Federal Background Check Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1319
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime prevention
Criminal justice information and records
Emergency communications systems
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: 
Electronic Life Safety and Security Systems Federal Background Check Act of 2011 - Directs the Attorney General to establish a method to permit employers in the electronic life safety and security systems installation and monitoring industry to request state and federal fingerprint-based background checks and to provide any resulting relevant criminal history record information about employees and prospective employees.
 
Requires that such method allow employers to: (1) discover if employees or prospective employees have been convicted of a felony or of an offense involving dishonesty or false statement or the use of force against another person during the 10-year period before the background check is conducted; and (2) obtain a background check of state and federal criminal history record information by submitting fingerprints to the Attorney General through the criminal history record repository of the state in which the employer is located. Prohibits such method from duplicating access by an employer where state licensing and regulation of an employee already requires a federal background check.
 
Directs the Attorney General, in establishing such method, to give due consideration to privacy protections and employee rights, including by providing employees an effective means to dispute or seek a correction of the outcome of the background check.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Nuclear Fuel Storage Improvement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1320
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2011-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Government liability
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear power
Public contracts and procurement
Radioactive wastes and releases
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: 
Nuclear Fuel Storage Improvement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to offer to enter into temporary used fuel storage facility agreements in accordance with this Act.
 
Sets a deadline by which a local governmental unit may, with the approval of the state governor, notify the Secretary that it is willing to have a privately owned and operated temporary used fuel storage facility located within its jurisdiction. 
 
Requires the Secretary to pay $1 million per year to up to three such governmental units. 
 
Makes funding available from the Nuclear Waste Fund for compensation and payments.
 
Directs the Secretary to offer to enter into a long-term contract for the storage of used fuel from civilian nuclear power plants with a private owner or operator of an independent used fuel storage facility licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 
 
Authorizes the Secretary, upon request of a contract signatory, to enter into an agreement for a settlement of all claims against the Secretary for failure to dispose of high-level radioactive waste or used nuclear fuel by January 31, 1998.
 
Directs the Secretary to grant priority for the acceptance of fuel produced by a facility that has produced used nuclear fuel, been decommissioned, and shut down permanently.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide for the transportation of accepted used fuel, and (2) use NRC-approved transportation and storage casks. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4297)
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4296-4297)
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1322
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2011-06-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Idaho
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: 
Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2011 - Prohibits any reduction of the apportionment of federal-aid highway funds to Idaho if: (1) it permits a commercial combination vehicle weighing between 105,500 and 129,000 pounds to operate on specified routes of the Interstate System within the state; (2) such vehicle does not exceed state weight limits for operation on state highways; and (3) the vehicle is limited to travel only on certain portions of Interstate Routes 15, 84, and 86.
 
(Under current law, the federal-aid highway funds of a state shall be reduced if it permits a commercial combination vehicle with a weight in excess of federal weight limits to operate on Interstate System highways within the state.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-06-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Lower Mississippi River Area Study Act

Bill: 112-s-1325
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-07-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Lakes and rivers
Louisiana
Mississippi River
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: 
Lower Mississippi River National Historic Site Study Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service (NPS), to complete a special resource study that evaluates the national significance of the Lower Mississippi River area in Louisiana and the suitability and feasibility of designating such area as a unit of the National Park System, to be known as the &quot;Lower Mississippi River National Park.&quot;

action_date: 2012-01-13
text: 
Lower Mississippi River Area Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a special resource study that evaluates the national significance of a specified study area located in Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana, and the suitability and feasibility of designating such area as a unit of the National Park System. 
 
Requires such study to: (1) include cost estimates for the potential acquisition, development, and operation of the study area; and (2) identify alternatives for the management and protection of such area.
 
Allows the Secretary to accept donated funds to carry out this Act.
 
Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 286.
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/17/2011 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 112-125.
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/17/2011 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 112-125.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2011-10-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-224.
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4330-4331)
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to implement the President's request to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Bill: 112-s-1326
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2011-07-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: 
Increases the statutory limit on the public debt from $14.294 trillion to $16.7 trillion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 94.
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Act of March 1, 1933, to transfer certain authority and resources to the Utah Dineh Corporation, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1327
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-07-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Energy revenues and royalties
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Land transfers
Oil and gas
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: 
Directs Utah, by March 31, 2012, to transfer to the Utah Dineh Corporation: (1) all funds, assets, and real property held in trust for the San Juan Navajo Indians pursuant to the Act of March 1, 1933; and (2) all outstanding contracts and obligations entered into by Utah acting as trustee on behalf of the San Juan Navajo Indians in accordance with such Act.
 
Authorizes Utah and the Corporation to enter into an agreement that extends the deadline for such transfer.
 
 Transfers from Utah to the Corporation the payment of specified royalties to promote the educational, health, economic, social, and cultural well-being of all Navajo Indians residing in San Juan County, Utah.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-492.
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-05
text: Introduced in Senate
SKILLS Act

Bill: 112-s-1328
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-07-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Libraries and archives
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries Act or SKILLS Act - Amends part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require the inclusion of effective school library programs in school improvement programs.
 
Defines an &quot;effective school library program&quot; as one that: (1) is staffed by a state sanctioned school librarian; (2) has up-to-date materials and technology, including broadband; (3) includes regular collaboration between teachers and school librarians concerning school reform efforts; and (4) supports the development of digital literacy skills.
 
Replaces the existing program under subpart 4 (Improving Literacy Through School Libraries) of part B of title I of the ESEA with a new program (Improving Literacy and College and Career Readiness Through Effective School Library Programs) awarding competitive three-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop and enhance effective school library programs. Makes LEAs eligible for such grants only if at least 20% of their students are impoverished.
 
Amends part A (Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund) of title II of the ESEA to rename part A the Teacher, School Librarian, and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund. Requires states and LEAs to use funds under the program to train school librarians, and recruit and retain highly effective school librarians.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4395-4397)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4395)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Introduced in Senate
High-Tech JOBS Act

Bill: 112-s-1329
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2011-07-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Manufacturing
Performance measurement
Unemployment
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
High-Tech Job Opportunities Between our Shores Act or High-Tech JOBS Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Labor to make grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities to carry out demonstration and pilot projects that provide education and training programs for jobs in advanced manufacturing.
 
Prescribes requirements for project activities and performance goals and measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Job Creation Tax Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1330
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-07-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employment taxes
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Income tax credits
Small business
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
Small Business Job Creation Tax Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a credit against payroll tax liability for a payroll increase in a quarter over a corresponding quarter in the previous calendar year. Sets the amount of such credit at 20% of such increase for employers that employ fewer than 100 employees and 15% for employers that employ 100 or more employees in any quarter. Limits the total credit amount available for all quarters to $250,000.
 
Directs the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to: (1) notify all employers required to withhold employment taxes of the enactment and applicability of this Act; and (2) report to Congress on enforcement measures taken to prevent and penalize fraud related to the payroll credit allowed by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1331
Sponsor: Sen. Webb, Jim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2011-07-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Delaware
Energy revenues and royalties
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Maryland
North Carolina
Oil and gas
Public transit
Virginia
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to include within the schedule of proposed lease sales in the outer Continental Shelf leasing program for FY2012-FY2017 Lease Sale 220 and any areas off the coast of Virginia included in the Mid-Atlantic planning area as a result of a revision to a specified map under this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide that the Secretary shall not make any tract available for lease within such schedule if the President determines that its lease would conflict with military operations relating to national security.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit: (1) 50% of qualified revenues in the general fund of the Treasury, and (2) 50% in a special account for disbursement to Virginia and for designated state activities.
 
Directs the Secretary to revise a certain Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement map to ensure that the square footage of the leasable area in the Mid-Atlantic planning area is directly proportional to the length of the tidal shoreline of the Mid-Atlantic States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act

Bill: 112-s-1332
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-07-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Economic development
Government studies and investigations
Historical and cultural resources
Lakes and rivers
New York State
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Travel and tourism
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
Hudson River Valley Special Resource Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a study of the Hudson River Valley in the state of New York to evaluate: (1) the national significance of the counties in New York that abut the Hudson River that flows from Rogers Island at Fort Edward to the southernmost boundary of Westchester County, New York (the study area); and (2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Layoff Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1333
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-07-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
Layoff Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth requirements relating to short-time compensation programs to allow employers to reduce the workweek of their employees in lieu of layoffs.
 
Provides for federal financing of state short-time compensation programs. Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) award grants to states that enact such programs; (2) develop model legislative language for use by states in developing, enacting, and implementing such programs; and (3) report to Congress and the President on their implementation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4398-4400)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4397-4398)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1336
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-07-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Criminal justice information and records
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: 
Immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to subject to a fine, up to five years in prison, or both a person who: (1) knowingly and falsely represents that he or she is an attorney or accredited representative authorized to represent aliens in immigration proceedings, including removal proceedings; or (2) knowingly executes an immigration-related scheme to defraud a person, or to receive money or anything of value from any person by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. 
 
 Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Attorney General (DOJ) to: (1) compile and update a list of persons who have provided pro bono representation during the most recent 12-month period to aliens in removal proceedings; and (2) compile, update, and make available to the public a list of individuals, organizations, and practices determined to be prohibited in the provision of representation in immigration proceedings, including individuals that have been convicted of immigration fraud under provisions of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4452-4453)
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4452)
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend existing elective tax treatment for Alaska Native Settlement Trusts.

Bill: 112-s-1337
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2011-07-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Capital gains tax
Federal-Indian relations
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Indian claims
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: 
Makes provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to the tax treatment and information requirements of Alaska Native Settlement Trusts permanent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Capture Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1338
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-07-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business ethics
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Licensing and registrations
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: 
Regulatory Capture Prevention Act of 2011 - Establishes the Office of Regulatory Integrity in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to be headed by an Administrator. Requires the Administrator to investigate and report on the influence of concentrated economic interests on federal agencies that results in: (1) agency action or inaction that fails to advance the mission of the agency or is otherwise inimical to the public interest; (2) regulation, licensing, adjudication, grants, or other agency action that favors a limited number of economic interests or is otherwise inimical to the public interest; (3) enforcement priorities that are not reasonably calculated to accomplish regulatory goals; and (4) a loss of confidence in the integrity of the regulatory process.
 
Grants certain powers to the Administrator to carry out this Act, including access to agency records, subpoena power, direct and prompt access to the head of a relevant agency and access to information and assistance by such agency.
 
Requires the Administrative Conference of the United States to provide the Administrator with written guidance on the principal means by which concentrated economic interests wield influence on federal agencies, the most salient threats to regulatory integrity arising from such influence, and effective measures to minimize regulatory capture. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-20
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-220.
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4453-4454)
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Introduced in Senate