hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Right-to-Know Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3229
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Treasury
Health care costs and insurance
Insurance industry and regulation
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Marketing and advertising
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: 
Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Right-to-Know Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to issue a white paper with its results from the following activities: (1) review and describe disclosure requirements for long-term care insurance policies under the long-term care insurance model regulation and model act promulgated by NAIC (as adopted as of October 2000 and December 2006), (2) review and describe disclosure requirements for long-term care insurance policies under state laws, (3) review and describe differences in long-term care services among states and develop a standardized definition of long-term care services, and (4) identify and describe key issues to consider in the development of a proposed model form for marketing long-term care insurance policies.
 
Directs the Secretary to request NAIC to: (1) establish a Working Group to develop and issue a model disclosure form for marketing long-term care insurance policies, and (2) amend the model regulation and model act to require the use of such form.
 
Requires the Secretaries of the Treasury and HHS to promulgate regulations requiring issuers of a qualified long-term care insurance contract under certain tax-qualified or Medicaid Partnership policies to use the model form for marketing such contracts.
 
Directs each state to require any issuer of a long-term care insurance policy to use the model form for marketing a policy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Long Term Care Insurance Integrity Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3230
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Health care costs and insurance
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: 
Long Term Care Insurance Integrity Act of 2012 - Requires an insurance issuer that offers a long-term care insurance plan to implement claims dispute resolution procedures that: (1) are designed to expeditiously resolve disputes; (2) provide for alternative means of dispute resolution involving independent third-party review by entities that are mutually acceptable to the issuer and the enrollee, with the reviewer's decision being binding on the issuer; and (3) ensure that an enrollee is eligible to obtain claims review only to the extent and in the manner provided for in the applicable insurance contract. Allows an enrollee to appeal the decision of an independent reviewer to an appropriate state court as provided for under state law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Families for Foster Youth Stamp Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3231
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Judicial procedure and administration
Postal service
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: 
Families for Foster Youth Stamp Act of 2012 - Requires the United States Postal Service, for a period of at least four years, to provide for the issuance and sale of a semipostal in order to increase funding for effective programs targeted at improving permanency outcomes for youth in foster care. 
 
Divides the amount received from such sales equally between: (1) programs and activities under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 that specifically target improvement in permanency outcomes for youth in foster care through adoption, guardianship, or kinship care; and (2) the program for state courts to assess and improve handling of proceedings relating to foster care and adoption. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3518)
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to extend, expand, and improve the qualifying therapeutic discovery project program.

Bill: 112-s-3232
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax credits
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, with respect to the tax credit for the qualifying therapeutic discovery project program, to: (1) extend such credit and credit allocations through 2012; (2) increase the total amount of credits allocable to $2 billion for the 4-year period beginning with 2009; (3) extend from 30 to 90 days the period for review of applications for certification of investments under such program and the time for making payments to applicants; and (4) modify the criteria used by the Secretary of the Treasury for selecting program projects to require the selection of projects that show significant potential (currently, reasonable potential). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3233
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government liability
Legal fees and court costs
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: 
Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2012 - Waives a state's sovereign immunity with respect to the enforcement of uniformed services members' employment or reemployment rights or benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
 
Makes unenforceable agreements between an employer and employee requiring arbitration of disputes arising under USERRA. Provides exceptions. Requires the validity and enforceability of such an agreement to be determined by a court (as opposed to the arbitrator).
 
Provides increased liquidated damages, and authorizes punitive damages, against state or private employer violations of USERRA. Provides a right to a jury trial in such cases.
 
Requires (under current law, authorizes) the award of attorney fees in actions to enforce USERRA.
 
Requires (under current law, authorizes) a court to use equitable relief, including injunctions and restraining orders when appropriate, for USERRA violations.
 
 Requires federal procurement contracts to include a notice that the contractor may have USERRA obligations.
 
Requires a Comptroller General study on the effectiveness of federal education and outreach programs on employer obligations under USERRA. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3518-3519)
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the time period for contributing military death gratuities to Roth IRAs and Coverdell education savings accounts.

Bill: 112-s-3234
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employee benefits and pensions
Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the period in which death gratuities (less amounts contributed to a Coverdell education savings account) and insurance proceeds payable to survivors of members of the Armed Forces or the Uniformed Services may be contributed to a Roth individual retirement account (Roth IRA) from one to three years after receipt of such gratuities or proceeds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
HIRE at HOME Act

Bill: 112-s-3235
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Military education and training
Motor carriers
Nursing
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Helping Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Return to Employment at Home Act or HIRE at HOME Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), as a condition of a grant or contract to a state for certain veterans' employment and training programs, to require the state to demonstrate the consideration of any military training received by a veteran when approving or denying a license or certification as a nursing assistant, certified nursing assistant, commercial driver, emergency medical technician EMT-B or EMT-1, or emergency medical technician-paramedic.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemember Employment Protection Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3236
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Servicemember Employment Protection Act of 2012 - Makes unenforceable any clause of an agreement between an employer and employee requiring arbitration of a dispute arising under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Provides an exception when both parties voluntarily agree to arbitration. Requires any issue as to whether such requirement applies to an arbitration clause to be determined by federal law and the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate to be determined by a court rather than an arbitrator.
 
Protects under USERRA an individual who is absent from employment in order to receive medical or dental treatment for an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
 
Authorizes the suspension, termination, or debarment of federal contractors for repeated failures or refusals to comply with USERRA protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3237
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cancer
Government trust funds
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2012 - Establishes the Commission to Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer to help end breast cancer by January 1, 2020.
 
Directs the Commission to: (1) identify opportunities and ideas within the public and private sectors, basic and applied sciences, and epidemiology that can be turned into real world strategies to prevent breast cancer and breast cancer metastasis; (2) recommend projects to leverage such opportunities and ideas in the areas of the primary prevention of breast cancer and the causes and prevention of breast cancer metastasis; (3) promote ideas that are intellectually compelling and innovative; (4) accelerate potentially transformational scientific advances that are not being prioritized within the federal government and that are unlikely to be achieved by the private sector; (5) identify promising but underdeveloped areas of research that would benefit from a cluster of support from government, industry, and academia to rapidly advance knowledge into practices; (6) create opportunities for transdisciplinary, cross-cutting collaborations; (7) submit its strategic vision within six months after its initial members are appointed; and (8) ensure that its activities are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and laboratories of other government agencies.
 
Directs the President to enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine for an evaluation of the Commission's progress.
 
Establishes the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Fund to carry out this Act.
 
Terminates the Commission on June 1, 2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic in Mansfield, Ohio, as the David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-3238
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Health facilities and institutions
Home and outpatient care
Ohio
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community based outpatient clinic in Mansfield, Ohio, as the &quot;David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic.&quot;

action_date: 2012-06-29
text: 

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

 
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community based outpatient clinic in Mansfield, Ohio, as the &quot;David F. Winder Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2012-06-29
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2012-06-29
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4780)
action_date: 2012-06-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4780)
action_date: 2012-06-29
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4780)
action_date: 2012-06-29
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4780)
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3239
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural trade
Air quality
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Birds
California
Federal preemption
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Livestock
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 - Amends the Egg Products Inspection Act to revise housing and treatment of egg-laying hens and related enforcement provisions.
 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to delegate to the California Department of Food and Agriculture certain enforcement authority with respect to eggs produced, shipped, handled, transported or received in California prior to the date that is 18 years after the date of enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-695.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3634-3636)
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3633-3634)
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3242
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Medicare Hearing Health Care Enhancement Act of 2012 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the definition of Medicare-covered audiology (hearing and balance assessment) services provided by a qualified and legally authorized audiologist to declare that such services are covered without regard to any requirement that: (1) the individual receiving them be under the care of (or referred by) a physician or other health care practitioner, or (2) such services are provided under the supervision of a physician or other health practitioner.
 
Includes audiology services as medical services, as so redefined, under Medicare part B.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Irene and Lee Tax Relief Storm Recovery Act

Bill: 112-s-3243
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Income tax credits
Low- and moderate-income housing
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Irene and Lee Tax Relief Storm Recovery Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an increase in 2012, 2013, and 2014 of the amount of the low-income housing tax credit that may be allocated in states containing counties covered by the natural disaster declaration of the Secretary of Agriculture in 2011 due to damage from Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3244
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
School administration
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: 
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2012 - Amends the Higher Education Opportunity Act to refer to the Secretary of Education's model institution of higher eduction (IHE) financial aid offer form as the standard form. 
 
Requires the standard form to include certain additional items, such as: (1) information concerning work study assistance, including its dependence on the availability of employment opportunities; (2) the disclosure that federal student loans offer generally more favorable terms and repayment options than private education loans; (3) the deadline for and a summary of the financial aid acceptance process; (4) the academic period covered by the offer and whether the aid is based on full-time or part-time enrollment; and (5) the IHE's most recent cohort default rate compared to the national average cohort default rate, if more than 30% of the school's students take out student loans.
 
Requires more detailed information to be included on the form. 
 
Includes among those details, with respect to federal education loans, information: (1) identifying the type and amount of loan recommended for the applicable student; (2) clearly indicating that such loans need to be repaid; (3) disclosing the student's right to borrow less than the recommended amount; and (4) detailing the interest rates, fees, expected monthly repayment amounts, and sums to be paid over the life of such loans.
 
Requires that certain steps be taken to improve the clarity of the form and provide recipients with access to additional information.
 
Directs the Secretary, before finalizing the standard form, to submit it to consumer testing among students, their families, IHEs, secondary school and postsecondary counselors, and nonprofit consumer groups.
 
Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each IHE receiving federal financial assistance under the Act to use the standard form in providing written or electronic financial aid offers to students enrolled in, or accepted for enrollment in, the IHE.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate