hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Student Financial Aid Simplification Act

Bill: 112-hr-6558
Sponsor: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Student Financial Aid Simplification Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to determine students' need and eligibility for title IV assistance, unless they qualify for the simplified needs test or expect no family contribution, by using tax return information regarding those students or their parents that this Act authorizes the Secretary of Education to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Requires those students to submit to the Secretary certain supplementary information not available from the IRS.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide institutions of higher education and states with that tax return information, without charge, for the purposes of processing loan applications and determining need and eligibility for institutional and state financial aid.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose tax return information to the Department of Education regarding taxpayers or their dependents whose need and eligibility for assistance under title IV of the HEA is based in whole or part on their income or their parents' income.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exception from the passive loss rules for investments in high technology research small business pass-thru entities.

Bill: 112-hr-6559
Sponsor: Rep. Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6]
Introduced: 2012-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Business investment and capital
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Research and development
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from passive loss rules any activity of a taxpayer carried on by a high technology research small business pass-thru entity. Defines &quot;high technology research small business pass-thru entity&quot; as any domestic pass-thru entity that: (1) spends a specified percentage of its income on research, (2) is a small business with 250 or fewer employees, and (3) does not have aggregate gross receipts in excess of $150 million. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Local Schools and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6560
Sponsor: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2012-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Securities
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: 
Local Schools and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a second advance refunding of an original tax-exempt private activity bond. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Introduced in House
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6562
Sponsor: Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2012-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Hospital care
Medical education
Medicare
Minority employment
Minority health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: 
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2012 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to distribution of additional resident positions as they affect calculation of payments for direct graduate medical education (DME) costs.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), for each of FY2013-FY2017 (and each succeeding fiscal year if additional residency positions are available to distribute), to increase the otherwise applicable resident limit for each qualifying hospital.
 
Directs the Secretary to determine the total number of additional residency positions available for distribution, in accordance with guidelines for allocating 33% to hospitals already operating over the resident limit, and generally setting the aggregate number of increases in the resident limit to 3,000 in each year.
 
Specifies the process for distributing positions.
 
Directs the National Health Care Workforce Commission established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to study the physician workforce.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study strategies for increasing the diversity of the health profession workforce.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-25
text: Introduced in House
EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6564
Sponsor: Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4]
Introduced: 2012-09-28 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: 
EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2012 - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. (The Board provides scientific advice to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA].)
 
Revises the procedures for providing advice and comments to the Administrator by: (1) including risk or hazard assessments in the regulatory proposals and documents made available to the Board, and (2) requiring advice and comments to be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register. 
Revises the operation of Board member committees and investigative panels to: (1) require that they operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements (including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board) contained in this Act; (2) deny them authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board; and (3) prohibit direct reporting to EPA. 
Adds guidelines for the conduct of Board advisory activities, including concerning: (1) avoidance of making policy determinations or recommendations, (2) communication of uncertainties, (3) dissenting members' views, and (4) periodic reviews to ensure that such activities address the most important scientific issues affecting EPA.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Introduced in House
LIFT HIGHER Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6565
Sponsor: Rep. Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2012-09-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Higher education
Income tax credits
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: 
Leadership Invests in the Future Through Helping Individuals Gain Higher Education and Retraining Act of 2012 or the LIFT HIGHER Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow applicants to a graduate school program an income-based refundable tax credit for expenses in connection with a graduate school program application, including application fees, fees for taking any required test, and amounts paid for study and preparation materials or for tutorial and preparation services for any test required by a graduate program. Limits the amount of such credit in any taxable year to $500 over the aggregate amount of credits allowable for all prior taxable years. 
 -

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Introduced in House
Mass Fatality Planning and Religious Considerations Act

Bill: 112-hr-6566
Sponsor: Rep. Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2012-09-28 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Emergency planning and evacuation
Natural disasters
Public-private cooperation
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: 
Mass Fatality Planning and Religious Considerations Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide guidance to and coordination with appropriate individuals, including representatives from different communities, private sector businesses, and nonprofit and religious organizations, to prepare for and respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster that results in mass fatalities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications.
action_date: 2012-10-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-09-28
text: Introduced in House
State Nutrition Assistance Flexibility Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6567
Sponsor: Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1]
Introduced: 2012-10-02 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Employment and training programs
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local finance
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-02
text: 
State Nutrition Assistance Flexibility Act of 2012 - States that the purpose of this Act is to provide federal financial assistance to the states in the form of a single grant to allow the states flexibility in providing, and financing the provision of, supplemental food and nutrition assistance.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide each qualifying state with a specified quarterly grant for each of FY2013 through FY2022.
 
Requires a state to certify that such supplemental food and nutrition assistance will include specified work and benefits use requirements. 
 
Authorizes states to: (1) set aside funds to be used during periods of unexpectedly high unemployment or program enrollment, and (2) use up to 30% of funds for other welfare-related programs.
 
Prohibits supplemental food and nutrition assistance from being provided to aliens who are not residing legally in the United States.
 
Requires annual state audits.
 
Sets forth federal program authorities and nondiscrimination provisions.
 
Repeals the: (1) the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program); (2) the emergency food assistance program; (3) community food projects; (4) the commodity supplemental food program; (5) the senior farmers' market nutrition program; and (6) the fresh fruit and vegetable program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture .
action_date: 2012-10-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-10-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-10-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-10-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-02
text: Introduced in House
Back to Work Blueprint Act

Bill: 112-hr-6568
Sponsor: Rep. Dold, Robert J. [R-IL-10]
Introduced: 2012-10-05 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: 
Back to Work Blueprint Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to study the feasibility of establishing 10 pilot programs under the Workplace Investment Act of 1988 at one-stop centers in geographically distinct U.S. regions.
 
Prescribes pilot program requirements, including that: (1) participating one-stop centers issue certificates to qualifying unemployed individuals, (2) certificates provide for a reimbursement of $7,000 paid to qualifying employers who agree to hire and provide necessary training to the individual, (3) certificates expire six months after being issued if the individual does not find qualifying employment, and (4) one-stop centers conduct quantitative assessments of the efficacy of the programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: Introduced in House
Survey Savings Accountability Act

Bill: 112-hr-6569
Sponsor: Rep. Tipton, Scott  R. [R-CO-3]
Introduced: 2012-10-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: 
Survey Savings Accountability Act - Prohibits an executive agency from providing to an individual compensation that is (1) included with a survey or mailing to encourage the individual to return the survey or mailing, or (2) in exchange for a response to a survey or mailing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-05
text: Introduced in House
Korean Immigration Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 112-hr-6571
Sponsor: Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1]
Introduced: 2012-10-12 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Asia
Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Immigration status and procedures
North Korea
Racial and ethnic relations
South Korea

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: 
Korean Immigration Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, during the one-year period beginning January 1, 2018, to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins emblematic of the immigration of Koreans into the United States and their significant contributions of Korean Americans to this nation.
 
Requires all surcharges received from coin sales to be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Council on 100th Year Korean Immigration Commemorative Coin Act in order to provide academic scholarships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology.
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Introduced in House
National Heritage Area Authorizations Extension Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6572
Sponsor: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-3]
Introduced: 2012-10-12 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Coal
Conflicts and wars
Dams and canals
Farmland
General agriculture matters
Georgia
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Industrial facilities
Iowa
Lakes and rivers
Land use and conservation
Manufacturing
Massachusetts
Metals
Military history
Mining
Navigation, waterways, harbors
New York State
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
U.S. history
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: 
 National Heritage Area Authorizations Extension Act of 2012 - Extends through FY2016 the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or provide assistance for the: (1) National Coal Heritage Area (West Virginia), (2) Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area, (3) Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (Georgia), (4) Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area (Pennsylvania), (5) Essex National Heritage Area (Massachusetts), (6) South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, (7) America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership (Iowa), (8) Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor, and (9) Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (New York). 
Amends the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area Act of 2000 to extend through FY2016 the authority of the Secretary to provide grants or other assistance for the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania. 
 
Amends the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 to extend through FY2016 the authorization of appropriations for the management action plan respecting the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor in Pennsylvania. 
 
Extends the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) through FY2016. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Introduced in House
Servicemember Mental Health Review Act

Bill: 112-hr-6574
Sponsor: Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]
Introduced: 2012-10-12 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Defense
Disability assistance
Executive agency funding and structure
Health information and medical records
Lawyers and legal services
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
Personnel records
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: 
Servicemember Mental Health Review Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish within each military department a board of review to review determinations previously made that covered individuals separated from the Armed Forces have a mental condition not amounting to disability. Defines &quot;covered individuals&quot; as members and former members of the Armed Forces who have been separated from the Armed Forces since September 11, 2001, because of unfitness for duty because of a mental condition not amounting to disability, including separation on the basis of a personality disorder or adjustment disorder.
 
Requires the Secretary to ensure that covered individuals receive notification of their right to a separation review by the appropriate Mental Health Discharge Board of Review. Requires the establishment of such Boards.
 
 
 Permits a Board to make specified recommendations to the Secretary with respect to a covered individual, including the recharacterization of the separation.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-12
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit veterans who have a service-connected disability rated as total to travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces are entitled to such travel.

Bill: 112-hr-6576
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9]
Introduced: 2012-10-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-16
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to provide transportation on scheduled and unscheduled military flights within the United States and on scheduled overseas flights on a space-available basis for veterans with a service-connected disability rated as total. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-10-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-10-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-16
text: Introduced in House
To amend the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 to improve the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program by providing assistance under such program for certain training programs that are considered less than full-time.

Bill: 112-hr-6577
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6]
Introduced: 2012-10-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-10-19
text: 
Amends the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 to permit retraining assistance under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program to be used by a veteran to pursue a program of education for training on a less than full-time basis if the program consists of at least 16 seat-time hours (or the equivalent). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2012-10-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-10-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-10-19
text: Introduced in House