hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Family Self-Sufficiency Act

Bill: 112-s-3513
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Elementary and secondary education
Financial literacy
Health care coverage and access
Higher education
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Low- and moderate-income housing
Mental health
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Family Self-Sufficiency Act - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the purpose of the Family-Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program to include the use of both low-income housing assistance under Section 8 of such Act (as in current law) and public housing capital and operating funds under Section 9 in order to enable eligible families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency.
 
Eliminates the budget allocation reserved for public housing agency (PHA) incentive awards.
 
Prescribes and/or revises eligibility requirements for families to participate in local FSS programs and for the eligible entities to administer them.
 
Makes the owner or sponsor of a multifamily property receiving rental assistance under Section 8, as well as a PHA, an eligible entity for administering a local FSS program.
 
Revises the scope of supportive services provided through a local FSS program under a contract of participation between an eligible entity and a leaseholder receiving assistance under Sections 8 or 9 to include: (1) education for attainment of a GED, (2) education in pursuit of a post-secondary degree or certification, (3) health and mental health services as needed, (4) homeownership education and assistance, and (5) financial literacy. Removes training in homemaking and parenting skills from the list of authorized supportive services.
 
Revises requirements for and limitations on rent increases. Requires an eligible entity to place in an interest-bearing escrow account, for each participating family, an amount equal to any increase in rent the family pays. Requires payment of the escrow account funds to the family after the end of the contract of participation, unless the family fails to qualify to receive it.
 
Modifies requirements for the establishment of fees for costs incurred by eligible entities administering FSS programs.
 
Authorizes owners of privately-owned properties, under specified conditions, voluntarily to make local FSS programs available to their tenants by entering into cooperative agreements with local PHAs administering FSS programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5987-5988)
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to repeal a limitation on annual payments under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Bill: 112-s-3514
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Mining
Soil pollution
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
 Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to repeal the $15 million limitation placed upon the total annual payment to certified states or Indian tribes in connection with abandoned mine reclamation. 
 

 
 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect America's Privacy Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3515
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Evidence and witnesses
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Judicial procedure and administration
Right of privacy
Specialized courts
Telephone and wireless communication
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Protect America's Privacy Act of 2012 - Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to prohibit the targeting of a person outside the United States when a significant purpose of the acquisition is to acquire the communications of a particular, known person reasonably believed to be within the United States, except in accordance with FISA title I (Electronic Surveillance).
 
Prohibits receiving into evidence any information obtained in an acquisition against any U.S. person for which a deficiency in the procedures for acquiring such information is identified by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Provides an exception if the government corrects any deficiencies so identified, at that time permitting use or disclosure under such minimization procedures as the Court shall establish for such purposes.
 
Prohibits a communication from being acquired under FISA title VII if the government knows before or at the time of acquisition that the communication is to, or from, a person reasonably believed to be in the United States. Provides exceptions when there is reason to believe that: (1) the communication concerns international terrorist activities directed against the United States or activities in preparation therefor; (2) the target reasonably believed to be outside the United States is an agent of a foreign group engaged in international terrorism or activities in preparation therefor; or (3) the acquisition is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily harm. Requires the government to separately handle or otherwise manage a communication acquired under title VII to, or from, a person reasonably believed to be in the United States so that there shall be no access to the communication, except in accordance with title I or provisions of this paragraph. Allows the access to, and use of, such acquisition for up to seven days if there are conditions similar to the above exceptions. Requires annual audits from the Inspectors General of the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning implementation of, and compliance with, this paragraph.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3516
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Licensing and registrations
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act of 2012 - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a program under which a wireless carrier receiving a license under specified provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 may partition or disaggregate the license in order to make unused spectrum available to small carriers or carriers serving certain rural areas.
 
Defines &quot;small carrier&quot; as a carrier with annual revenue less than $500 million or that provides wireless service to less than 1.5 million customers.
 
Provides carriers receiving such licenses and participating in the program with a three-year extension of licenses granted under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5988)
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Panama-Pacific International Exposition and Panama Canal Commemorative Coins Act

Bill: 112-s-3517
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: California
Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Historic sites and heritage areas
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
New York State
Panama Canal
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Panama-Pacific International Exposition and Panama Canal Commemorative Coins Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue, in commemoration of the centennial of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and the Panama Canal: (1) $5 octagonal gold coins, (2) $5 round gold coins, (3) $1 silver coins, and (4) half-dollar clad coins. 
 
Requires the design of such coins to be a close likeness of the two gold and one half-dollar coins issued by the San Francisco Mint at the opening of the Pan-Pacific Exposition and the medal awarded to every U.S. citizen who worked for a continuous two-year period on the construction of the Panama Canal.
 
 Restricts the issuance of such coins to the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2015.
 
Prescribes the sale price of the coins and coin surcharges. Requires such surcharges to be distributed to: (1) the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society for the design and construction of appropriate exhibitions in the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society; and (2) the National Park Foundation to be used for programs, construction, or preservation work at President Theodore Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, New York.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Trade in Seafood Act

Bill: 112-s-3518
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Seafood
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Fair Trade in Seafood Act - Declares that it shall be a principal objective of the United States in negotiations for a trade agreement to: (1) eliminate or reduce fisheries subsidies provided by foreign countries that unfairly distort markets to the detriment of U.S. commercial fishing interests and perpetuate unsustainable fishing practices, and (2) ensure that any commitments with respect to such subsidies are enforceable under appropriate trade laws.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5988-5989)
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5988)
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Pay for Printing Act

Bill: 112-s-3519
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Congressional tributes
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Pay for Printing Act - Requires the sponsor of a ceremonial or commemorative Senate resolution to reimburse the Government Printing Office (GPO) for the total costs of printing the resolution out of the sponsor's Members' Representative Allowance.
 
Excludes from such requirement a resolution sponsored by at least two-thirds of Senators.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-10
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 501.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Rebuilding Equity Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3520
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Consumer credit
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Housing finance and home ownership
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: 
Rebuilding Equity Act of 2012 - Requires the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (government sponsored enterprises or GSEs) each to establish a voluntary program for eligible borrowers who qualify for the Home Affordable Refinance Program carried out by the GSEs, under which the GSEs shall pay up to $1,000 of the closing costs associated with applying for and receiving refinancing when the borrower agrees to refinance a 30-year mortgage loan into a fully amortizing loan with a term of not longer than 20 years. Requires the subject property to have a loan-to-value ratio of not less than 105%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3522
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-09-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing supply and affordability
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-10
text: 
Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012 - Requires the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (government sponsored enterprises or GSEs), in carrying out the Home Affordable Refinance Program, to adopt specified criteria pertaining to: (1) borrower eligibility, (2) representations and warranties, (3) prohibition on up-front fees, (4) alternative streamlined methods to determine the value of a property, (5) the purchase or guarantee of any new mortgage resulting from the refinancing of an eligible mortgage, and (6) guarantee fees.
 
Requires the GSEs to notify all borrowers with a mortgage owned or guaranteed by a GSE about the Program and its eligibility criteria, and inform borrowers of the website required below.
 
Directs the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to establish a single website where borrowers may: (1) determine their potential eligibility for participation in the Program, (2) see a complete list of and links to qualified lenders, (3) use a mortgage refinance calculator to calculate potential payment savings based on different interest rates, and (4) obtain tips on refinancing their loan. 
 
Directs the Director of FHFA to issue guidance to require the GSEs to make their refinancing guidelines consistent to ease the compliance requirements of qualified lenders, and in particular with respect to loans with less than 80% loan-to-value ratio and closing cost policies of the GSEs, which regulations or guidance shall be put into effect not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Acts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 503.
action_date: 2012-09-10
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-09-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Religious Freedom Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3526
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2012-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Defense
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Marriage and family status
Military facilities and property
Military personnel and dependents
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: 
Military Religious Freedom Act of 2012 - Requires the Armed Forces to accommodate the conscience and sincerely held moral principles and religious beliefs of its members concerning the appropriate and inappropriate expression of human sexuality, and prohibits the Armed Forces from using such conscience, principles, or beliefs (beliefs) as the basis of any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment. Prohibits any member from: (1) directing, ordering, or requiring a chaplain to perform any duty, rite, service, or function that is contrary to his or her beliefs; or (2) discriminating or taking any adverse personnel action against a chaplain for refusing to comply with a direction, order, or requirement that is against his or her beliefs.
 
Prohibits a military installation or other property owned, rented, or under the jurisdiction or control of the Department of Defense (DOD) from being used to officiate, solemnize, or perform a marriage or marriage-like ceremony involving anything other than the union of one man with one woman.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to repeal the authorization to provide office space, a furnishings allowance, congressional franking privileges, and staff assistance to former Speakers of the House of Representatives.

Bill: 112-s-3528
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional leadership
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
House of Representatives

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: 
Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1971 to repeal the authorization to provide former Speakers of the House of Representatives, following expiration of their term, with: (1) a federal furnished office in their congressional district, (2) an allowance equal to the &quot;Members' Representational Allowance&quot; for such office and other related expenses, (3) franked mail and printing privileges, and (4) the availability of the contingent fund of the House for compensation of staff assistance.
 

 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
General Duty Clarification Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3529
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2012-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: 
General Duty Clarification Act of 2012 - Amends the Clean Air Act, with respect to provisions relating to the prevention of accidental releases of hazardous air pollutants, to provide that no entity may be found in violation of such provisions until the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): (1) promulgates final regulations establishing criteria defining the terms &quot;extremely hazardous substance,&quot; &quot;appropriate hazard assessment techniques,&quot; and &quot;design and maintain a safe facility&quot;; and (2) issues guidelines to ensure that enforcement of such provisions is handled by the regional offices of EPA in a uniform and appropriate manner across all regions of the United States.
 
Modifies the definition of &quot;accidental release&quot; to exclude an emission resulting from an intentional act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a process to determine whether individuals claiming certain service in the Philippines during World War II are eligible for certain benefits despite not being on the Missouri List, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-3530
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Life, casualty, property insurance
Military history
Military personnel and dependents
Philippines
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish a process for determining whether individuals who served in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines or in the Philippine Scouts while in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II and who are not included in the Missouri List are eligible for certain benefits relating to their U.S. service. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase, expand, and extend the credit for hydrogen-related alternative fuel vehicle refueling property and to increase the investment credit for more efficient fuel cells.

Bill: 112-s-3531
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy efficiency and conservation
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits
Motor fuels

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures, to: (1) increase the rate of such credit from 30% to 50% for hydrogen-related alternative fuel vehicles, (2) eliminate the dollar limitation on such credit for hydrogen-related vehicles, (3) allow such credit for off-highway motor vehicles designed for carrying or towing loads, and (4) extend such credit through 2016 for property related to hydrogen.
 
Increases the 30% energy tax credit for investment in fuel cell property to: (1) 50% for fuel cell property used in a combined heat and power system having an energy efficiency percentage of 70% or more, and (2) 40% for fuel cell property having an energy efficiency percentage of at least 60% but less than 70%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Church Plan Clarification Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3532
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Federal preemption
Financial services and investments
Income tax deferral
Religion
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
Church Plan Clarification Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to declare that an organization otherwise eligible to participate in a church plan shall not be aggregated with another such organization and treated as a single employer with it unless: (1) one organization provides directly or indirectly at least 80% of the operating funds for the other one during the recipient organization's preceding tax year, and (2) there is a degree of common management or supervision between the organizations.
 
Preempts any state law which would directly or indirectly prohibit or restrict the inclusion in any church plan of an automatic contribution arrangement. 
 
Excludes from gross income amounts attributable to transfers of and mergers of church plans that are maintained by the same church or convention or association of churches.
 
Allows church plans and their supporting organizations to invest plan assets in a group trust (as defined by Internal Revenue Service Revenue Rulings).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6272-6273)
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6272)
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate