hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
ExPERT Act

Bill: 112-s-2281
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Genetics
Medical research
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Expanding and Promoting Expertise in Rare Treatments Act of 2012 or EXPERT Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that opportunities exist for consultation with external experts to promote the efficiency of and inform the review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of drugs and biologic products for rare diseases and drugs and biologic products that are genetically targeted.
 
Requires the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to seek the opinion of external experts on topics that may include: (1) rare diseases; (2) the severity of rare diseases; (3) the unmet medical need associated with rare diseases; (4) the willingness and ability of individuals with a rare disease to participate in clinical trials; (5) an assessment of the benefits and risks, including side effects, of current and investigational therapies; (6) the design of clinical trials for rare disease populations and subpopulations; and (7) demographics and the clinical description of patient populations. Authorizes: (1) external experts to request the opportunity to meet with a review division regarding any such topic, and (2) external experts who are consulted to be considered special government employees.
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) create a right for any external expert to obtain access to proprietary information of a sponsor without that sponsor's permission or a legal right for a consultation on any matter, or (2) require the Secretary to meet with any particular expert.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2282
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Water resources funding
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2012 - Amends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to extend through FY2017 the authorization of appropriations for allocations to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects.

action_date: 2012-09-19
text: 

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

 
North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2012 - Amends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to extend through FY2017 the authorization of appropriations for allocations to carry out approved wetlands conservation projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 519.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 112-217.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 112-217.
action_date: 2012-07-25
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-04-24
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-968.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2256-2257)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include procedures for requests from Indian tribes for a major disaster or emergency declaration, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-2283
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Disaster relief and insurance
Federal-Indian relations
Indian lands and resources rights

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the Chief Executive of an affected Indian tribal government (the person recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as the chief elected administrative officer of that government) to submit a request for a declaration by the President that, consistent with requirements of that Act, a major disaster or an emergency exists. 
 
Provides that: (1) in implementing assistance authorized by the President in response to such requests, references to &quot;state&quot; and &quot;governor&quot; shall mean &quot;Indian tribal government&quot; (the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994) and the Chief Executive of an affected Indian tribal government; and (2) nothing in this Act shall prohibit a tribal government from receiving such assistance through a presidential declaration at the request of a state if the President does not make a declaration under this Act for the same incident.
 
Allows any non-federal contribution required to be paid by an Indian tribal government under such Act to be adjusted or waived in accordance with criteria established by the President.
 
Directs the President, in promulgating regulations to carry out this Act, to consider unique conditions that affect the general welfare of the affected federally recognized Indian tribe.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide expensing for small businesses.

Bill: 112-s-2284
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-04-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-16
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an eligible small business to elect to expense the cost of its depreciable assets. Defines "eligible small business" as any trade or business that does not have a net profit in any taxable year of more than $1 million.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Michael Pohle Jr. Campus Emergency Alert Act

Bill: 112-s-2285
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-04-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Crime prevention
Criminal justice information and records
Education programs funding
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-16
text: 
Michael Pohle Jr. Campus Emergency Alert Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the civil penalties applicable to institutions of higher education (IHEs) that fail to properly disclose campus security policies and crime statistics to current students and employees and, upon request, to any applicant for enrollment or employment.
 
Sets a maximum penalty per violation and a limitation on the total amount an IHE can be penalized each year. 
 
Establishes a minimum penalty for each instance an IHE: (1) substantially misrepresents the number, location, or nature of the crimes it is required to report; (2) fails to notify the campus community of a significant emergency or dangerous situation that is an immediate threat to its health or safety, unless notice would compromise efforts to contain it; or (3) fails to provide the campus community with timely reports on crimes that are considered to be a threat to students and employees and are reported to campus security or the local police.
 
Expresses maximum and minimum penalty amounts as percentages of the funds an IHE received from the Department of Education in the previous award year.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a special account in the Treasury where these penalties are to be collected and from which they are to be disbursed for activities promoting campus safety.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-04-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Act

Bill: 112-s-2286
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut
Lakes and rivers
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: 
Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic River Act - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook in Connecticut as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to manage: (1) the river segments in accordance with the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Management Plan, dated June 2011; and (2) coordinate the management responsibilities of the Secretary under this Act relating to such segments with the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee.
 
Makes the provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act prohibiting federal acquisition of lands by condemnation applicable to the designated segments. Limits the authority of the Secretary to acquire lands for the purposes of such segments to acquisition by donation or with the owner's consent and subject to additional management plan criteria.
 
Prohibits the designation made by this Act from being construed as: (1) prohibiting the potential future licensing or re-licensing of the Rainbow Dam and Reservoir (including associated transmission lines and other project works) by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as a federally licensed hydroelectric generation project, or (2) affecting the operations of a hydroelectric facility at the Dam and Reservoir.
 
Bars the Lower Farmington River from being administered as part of the National Park System or being subject to System regulations.
 
Revises the description of a specified designated segment of the Farmington River in Connecticut.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-578.
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2394-2395)
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Communities Committed to College Tax Credit Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2287
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2012-04-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Higher education
Income tax credits
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: 
Communities Committed to College Tax Credit Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 50% of any contribution to a tax-exempt scholarship funding trust established to provide scholarships for individuals with demonstrated financial need to attend institutions of higher education. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2288
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2012-04-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Insurance industry and regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: 
Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2012 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to exclude remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers from administrative cost calculations for purposes of calculating the medical-loss ratio of a health insurance plan. 
 
Defines "independent insurance producer" to mean an insurance agent or broker, insurance consultant, benefit specialist, limited insurance representative, and any other person required to be licensed under the laws of the particular state to sell, solicit, negotiate, service, effect, procure, renew, or bind policies of insurance coverage or offer advice, counsel, opinions, or services related to insurance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Better Pharmaceuticals and Devices for Children Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2289
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-04-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Cancer
Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government information and archives
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: 
Better Pharmaceuticals and Devices for Children Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make provisions extending market exclusivity for conducting pediatric studies permanent. Applies such provisions only to completed pediatric studies that are the subject of a written request by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
 
Requires the Secretary to issue internal standard operating procedures that provide for review by the Pediatric Review Committee of any significant modifications to pediatric study plans or written requests by the Secretary for pediatric studies.
 
Directs the Secretary to make publicly available the medical, statistical, and clinical pharmacology reviews of pediatric studies submitted between January 4, 2002, and September 7, 2007, for which six months of market exclusivity was granted and that resulted in a labeling change. 
 
Establishes a process under which the Secretary may grant an extension to a new drug applicant to defer submission of an assessment of a drug's safety and effectiveness in pediatric populations. 
 
 Sets forth enforcement provisions if a persons fails to submit a required assessment, meet requirements for a deferral, or submit a request for approval of a pediatric formulation.
 
Establishes a procedure for the Secretary and applicant to agree on a pediatric study plan prior to submission of an assessment.
 
Makes the Pediatric Advisory Committee a permanent committee. Extends the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee for the duration of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee.
 
Extends for five years the program for humanitarian exemptions for pediatric medical devices.
 
Reauthorizes through FY2017 a demonstration program to promote pediatric device development.
 
Reauthorizes a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program of research on pediatric therapeutics.
 
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to evaluate the effectiveness of current federal programs in ensuring that medicines used by children are tested in pediatric populations and properly labeled for use in children.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2395)
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Introduced in Senate
International Boundary and Water Commission Reimbursement Act

Bill: 112-s-2290
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2012-04-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Mexico
State and local finance
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: 
International Boundary and Water Commission Reimbursement Act - Authorizes the Commissioner of the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission to reimburse states and local government units for expenses incurred in designing, constructing, and rehabilitating water projects that are under the Commission's jurisdiction and are designed, constructed, or rehabilitated before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2012-04-17
text: Introduced in Senate
National Parent Helpline Act

Bill: 112-s-2293
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Domestic violence and child abuse
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
National Parent Helpline Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award a grant to one or more nonprofit entities to: (1) provide for the establishment and ongoing operation of a national, toll-free telephone parent helpline to give information and assistance to parents to prevent child abuse and strengthen families; and (2) create an Internet website with vital information and resources for parents and caregivers to address a broad spectrum of family issues related to emotional, social, behavioral, and educational well-being of parents and children.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Fairness Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2294
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Alternative and renewable resources
Chesapeake Bay
Delaware
District of Columbia
Farmland
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Maryland
New York State
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Water quality
Watersheds
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Fairness Act of 2012 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance to a Chesapeake Bay state (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia) to: (1) assist in developing water quality goals that reduce losses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (2) assist in developing protocols to confirm producer or owner compliance with water quality laws; and (3) harmonize water quality trading technical guidelines in preparation for interstate trading.
 
 Authorizes the Secretary to provide: (1) financial and technical assistance to a Chesapeake Bay state to assist agricultural producers or owners promote water quality goals or conduct water quality trading preparation activities, and (2) technical assistance to agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forest land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for conservation services.
 
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to set aside certain watershed funds for projects located within the watershed of any water for which the federal government has established a multi-state maximum daily pollutant load, with priority given to projects that address agricultural and silvicultural sources.
 
Directs the Secretary to coordinate with each federal agency owning or operating a facility within the Chesapeake Basin the development of plans that maximize forest cover at the facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Patient Safety and Generic Labeling Improvement Act

Bill: 112-s-2295
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Patient Safety and Generic Labeling Improvement Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the holder of an approved abbreviated new drug application (generic drug approval) to change the labeling of a drug so approved in the same manner authorized by regulation for the holder of an approved new drug application.
 
Allows conforming changes to be ordered to the labeling of the equivalent listed drug and each drug approved under the abbreviated new drug application process that corresponds to such listed drug.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2498)
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2497-2498, S2499-2500)
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act

Bill: 112-s-2296
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Marketing and advertising
School administration
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act - Amends the Higher Education Opportunity Act to prohibit postsecondary educational institutions from using revenues derived from federal educational assistance funds for: (1) advertising and promotion; (2) identifying and attracting prospective students; or (3) other activities the Secretary of Education may proscribe, such as paying for the promotion or sponsorship of education or military-related associations.
 
Excepts from that prohibition activities that are required as a condition of receiving funds under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, specifically authorized under title IV, or otherwise specified by the Secretary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to make any substance containing hydrocodone a schedule II drug.

Bill: 112-s-2297
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove dihydrocodeinone from classification as a schedule III controlled substance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate