hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, purchase, and sale of pelts of, and handicrafts, garments, and art produced from, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters that are taken for subsistence purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1453
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2011-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Alaska
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Trade restrictions
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: 
Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the transport, purchase, or sale of: (1) any pelt of a Southcentral or Southeast Alaskan otter that is taken for subsistence purposes by any Indian, Aleut, or Eskimo who resides in Alaska and who dwells on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean or the Arctic Ocean; or (2) any handicraft, garment, or art produced from such a pelt, regardless of whether it is traditional or contemporary or altered or not altered significantly.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1454
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2011-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug therapy
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: 
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2011 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Benefits) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend the months of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients. 
 
Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to make eligible for enrollment in Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), solely for the purpose of such drug coverage, every individual whose insurance benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) have ended by reason of a kidney transplant or the end of any requirement for a regular course of dialysis. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to determine a monthly premium rate for such individuals equal to 35% of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over. Prescribes a formula for detemination of a government contribution to such a premium.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5076-5077)
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5076)
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1455
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Coal
Government liability
Government trust funds
Land use and conservation
Mining
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments Act of 2011 - Makes technical amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. 
 
Authorizes a state or Indian tribe that makes a certification in which the Secretary concurs to use funds to conduct an approved abandoned mine reclamation program, subject to payment of reclamation fees.
 
Shields from liability both uncertified and certified states or Indian tribes conducting an approved abandoned mine reclamation program.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Tax Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1456
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alabama
Business investment and capital
Disaster relief and insurance
Gambling
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Louisiana
Mississippi
Securities
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Sports and recreation facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Disaster Tax Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to disaster tax relief provisions, to: (1) provide for an increase in the tax deduction for losses attributable to a federally declared disaster, (2) make permanent expensing provisions for qualified disaster expenses and qualified disaster assistance property and for net operating losses attributable to federally declared disasters, (3) waive specified requirements for the issuance of mortgage revenue bonds in disaster areas, (4) increase the limit for charitable contributions for disaster relief for individuals and corporations, and (5) increase the new markets tax credit for low-income community investments within a disaster area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Made In America Block Grant Program Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1457
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Business investment and capital
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Industrial facilities
Industrial policy and productivity
Manufacturing
Public-private cooperation
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Made in America Block Grant Program Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Made in America Block Grant Program under which the Secretary is authorized to make grants to eligible entities to support the U.S. manufacturing industry. Allows such grants to be used, with respect to small and medium-sized manufacturers, for: (1) retooling or retrofitting, (2) business plan diversification, (3) improving energy or process efficiency, (4) employee training and retraining, (5) the provision of capital and technical expertise, and (6) a revolving loan fund for such manufacturers to finance the costs of such activities. Outlines provisions concerning eligible entities, the allocation of grant funds, and requirements for grant recipients, including the submission of a proposed manufacturing enhancement strategy.
 
Requires: (1) the Secretary, to the degree practicable, to carry out the program through the Hollings Manufacturing Partnership Program; and (2) a manufacturer receiving funds for an activity to only use such funds to carry out such activity in the United States.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee for advice in implementing and evaluating the program. Authorizes the Secretary to review and evaluate recipient performance under the program. Requires the Comptroller General to study the program, and report study results to Congress.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that program amounts should supplement and not supplant other funding provided by federal agencies to support the manufacturing industry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Four Free Bags for Freedom Act

Bill: 112-s-1459
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Four Free Bags for Freedom Act - Prohibits an air carrier from charging a fee for four or fewer bags checked by a member of the Armed Forces traveling on official orders and being deployed on, or returning from, an overseas contingency operation. Limits such prohibition to each bag weighing 80 pounds or less.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to grant the congressional gold medal, collectively, to the First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during World War II.

Bill: 112-s-1460
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Canada
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military facilities and property
Military history
Montana
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of two gold medals to the First Special Service Force (a joint American-Canadian unit), collectively, in recognition of their World War II service.
 
Directs one such gold medal to be given to the Smithsonian Institution and the other to the First Special Service Force Association in Helena, Montana.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicates with proceeds deposited in the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
 
Declares that medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of specified coins and currency provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5193-5194)
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1461
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt traditional large and premium cigars from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and from user fees assessed on tobacco products by the FDA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Success Act

Bill: 112-s-1462
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child care and development
Child health
Community life and organization
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Family services
Government information and archives
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Schools Utilizing Comprehensive and Community Engagement for Success Act or Success Act - Amends part A of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require local educational agencies (LEAs) to work with public and private state and local entities to provide children and families with services that are integrated with services from specialized instructional support personnel and LEA homeless liaisons to address the academic and nonacademic factors that affect student achievement.
 
Amends title V (Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovation Programs) of the ESEA to establish a Parent and Community Outreach and Engagement program. Directs the Secretary of Education to award formula grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to: (1) LEAs to assist their public elementary and secondary schools to hire and maintain Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators; and (2) community-based organizations or institutions of higher education that work in partnership with public schools to connect integrated services and comprehensive supports to students and families to enhance students' social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development.
 
Requires Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators to: (1) build relationships, bridge gaps, and create partnerships among school staff, families, and community members; and (2) provide support and resources to increase family and community engagement in schools.
 
Requires Coordinators to be supervised and evaluated by the principal or headmaster of the school and evaluated annually by a committee composed of school personnel, parents, and at least one community partner.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a nonprofit organization that has effective and extensive experience in providing integrated student supports to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to this Act's grantees and subgrantees; and (2) establish a national clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information on effective parent, family, and community engagement practices and programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1463
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Women's employment
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include lactation (i.e., breastfeeding or the expressing of milk from the breast) as protected conduct under such Act (specifically, an amendment to such Act commonly known as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act). 
 
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to extend the requirement that certain employers provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child to bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity employees or outside salesmen who are exempt from federal labor laws that limit the number of hours in a workweek. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Measuring and Evaluating Trends for Reliability, Integrity, and Continued Success (METRICS) Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1464
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Right of privacy
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Measuring and Evaluating Trends for Reliability, Integrity, and Continued Success (METRICS) Act of 2011 or METRICS Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states, high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), or consortia of high-need LEAs that partner with external entities to improve access to, and the sharing and use of, education data to improve student outcomes.
 
Requires states to use such grants to: (1) implement aligned statewide education longitudinal data systems; (2) define policies and procedures for the collection of, access to, and use of education data; (3) protect the privacy, security, and confidentiality of student and educator data; (4) link education data with workforce data; (5) match teachers with teacher preparation and certification information; (6) standardize education data through the use of openly developed common education data standards; and (7) meet federal reporting requirements.
 
Requires high-need LEAs to use such grants to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to: (1) provide interested parties and the public with access to student education data in a manner that ensures its integrity and respects student and educator privacy; (2) improve the ability of school leaders to use student data to improve schools and classroom instruction; and (3) improve the ability of teachers effectively to use student data through on-going, sustainable, and high-quality training.
 
Defines &quot;aligned statewide education longitudinal data systems&quot; as statewide data systems that house and link the longitudinal data of individual students, including their early childhood, elementary and secondary school, postsecondary education, and workforce data.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to carry out specified national activities to improve the collection, quality, and use of education data.
 
Directs the Secretary to make publicly available, within one year of this Act's enactment, a comprehensive and searchable description of all Department of Education reporting requirements that apply to states, LEAs, or schools. 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Joining Forces for Military Mental Health Act

Bill: 112-s-1465
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: 
Joining Forces for Military Mental Health Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, through community partnerships with private nonprofit organizations, to carry out a three-year pilot program assessing the enhancement of Department of Defense (DOD) efforts in research, treatment, education, and outreach on mental health and substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in members of the National Guard and Reserves and their family members and caregivers.
 
Allows the Secretary, using a competitive or merit-based award process, to award up to five grants to such community partners, provided that the awardee agrees to make matching contributions from nonfederal sources (whether public or private) of at least $3 for each $1 provided under the grant.
 
Requires grant-seeking organizations to submit an application including a description of proposed collaboration initiatives and existing research efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5194-5195)
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5194)
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1467
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2011-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Comprehensive health care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Medical ethics
Religion

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-02
text: 
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty. Declares that such plans are still considered to: (1) be providing the essential health benefits package or preventive health services, (2) be a qualified health plan, and (3) have fulfilled other requirements under PPACA.
 
 
Declares that nothing in PPACA shall be construed to authorize a health plan to require a provider to provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider's religious beliefs or moral convictions. Prohibits a health plan from being considered to have failed to provide timely or other access to items or services or to fulfill any other requirement under PPACA because it has respected the rights of conscience of such a provider.
 
 Prohibits an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange) or other official or entity acting in a governmental capacity in the course of implementing PPACA from discriminating against a health plan, plan sponsor, health care provider, or other person because of an unwillingness to provide coverage of, participate in, or refer for, specific items or services.
 
 Creates a private cause of action for the protection of individual rights created under this Act. Authorizes any person or entity to assert a violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding.
 
 Designates the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints of discrimination based on this Act.
 
 Makes this Act effective as if it were included in PPACA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1468
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2011-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug therapy
Health promotion and preventive care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-08-02
text: 
Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to recognize state-licensed or -registered health care professionals who are certified diabetes educators in an outpatient setting as authorized providers of Medicare diabetes outpatient self-management training services, including as part of telehealth services, under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance).
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study the barriers that exist for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes in accessing diabetes self-management training services under the Medicare program.
 
Directs the Director of the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a series of recommendations on effective outreach methods to educate primary care physicians and the public about the benefits of diabetes self-management training.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate