hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Advanced Programs Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1179
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-06-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: 
Advanced Programs Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Education to allot grants to states, based on their share of low-income elementary and secondary school students, to cover part or all of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) examination fee low-income students incur.
 
Directs the Secretary to award competitive matching grants to states, local educational agencies (LEAs), or partnerships between a nonprofit organization and a state or LEA for activities that increase: (1) the number of qualified teachers at high-need schools who are teaching AP or IB courses; and (2) the number of students at high-need schools who enroll in, and pass the examination for, such courses.
 
 Gives priority, in awarding the competitive grants, to applicants that: (1) have a statewide or districtwide strategy for increasing the availability of AP or IB courses, and pre-AP or pre-IB courses, in high-need schools; (2) focus on increasing AP or IB courses in English, mathematics, and science; and (3) target schools with high concentrations of low-income students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3693)
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Libyan Assets for Humanitarian Relief Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1180
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Human rights
Libya
Middle East
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Libyan Assets for Humanitarian Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to authorize the President to: (1) confiscate and vest funds and other property of the government of Libya that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and (2) liquidate or sell any of such property. Limits the amount of funds that may be taken.
 
Requires that confiscated and vested funds be deposited in an account for confiscated property (as required to be established by this Act).
 
Authorizes the President to transfer account funds to: (1) executive agencies or other persons to be used for humanitarian relief for the people of Libya, and (2) a U.S.-recognized successor government of Libya.
 
Prohibits fund transfers for weapons purchases or to organizations or persons involved in terrorism or human rights violations.
 
Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) congressional notification, (2) reporting and recordkeeping, (3) confiscation of property, and (4) judicial review.
 
Defines &quot;government of Libya&quot; as the government of Libya on the date of enactment of this Act, including any agency or instrumentality of that government, any entity controlled by that government, and the Central Bank of Libya, while excluding any successor government of Libya.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3729-3732)
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3728-3729)
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
National Future Farmers of America Commemorative Coin Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1181
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education
Currency

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
National Future Farmers of America Commemorative Coin Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold and silver coins in commemoration of the National Future Farmers of America Organization and the 85th anniversary of such Organization.
 
Authorizes the issuance of coins under this Act only for a one year period, beginning on January 1, 2014. 
 
Requires all sales of coins minted under this Act to include a surcharge of $25 per gold coin and $10 per silver coin. 
 
Requires all of the surcharges received from the sale of such coins to be paid to the National FFA Foundation in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the creation of an endowment to enhance and expand programs that encourage the development of leadership skills, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education and the Future Farmers of America.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the further extension or establishment of national monuments in Utah except by express authorization of Congress.

Bill: 112-s-1182
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Monuments and memorials
Utah
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Prohibits any further extension or establishment of national parks and monuments in Utah except by express authorization of Congress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act

Bill: 112-s-1183
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Metals
Soil pollution
Water quality
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national mercury monitoring program that monitors: (1) long-term changes in mercury levels and important ancillary measures in the air, and (2) long-term changes in mercury and methyl mercury levels and important ancillary measures in the water and soil or sediments and in aquatic and terrestrial organisms. 
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) select multiple monitoring sites representing multiple ecoregions that include national parks, wildlife refuges, National Estuarine Research Reserve units, and other sensitive ecological areas in which substantive changes are expected from reductions in domestic mercury emissions; (2) establish and publish standardized measurement protocols for the program; and (3) establish a centralized database for environmental mercury data.
 Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish a Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee to advise the Administrator on the establishment, site selection, measurement, recording protocols, and operation of the program; (2) report on the program every two years and include, every four years, an assessment of the reduction in mercury deposition rates that are required to be achieved in order to prevent adverse human and ecological effects; and (3) make all data obtained under this Act available to the public through a dedicated website and on written request.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3732)
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1184
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Directs that any business determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to have misrepresented its status as a small business owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans in order to increase its contracting opportunities shall be debarred from contracting with the VA for not less than five years (under current law, for a reasonable period as determined by the Secretary).
 
Requires the Secretary to commence the debarment action within 30 days after the misrepresentation determination, and to complete such action within 90 days after such determination. Includes in the debarment all principals in the business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act

Bill: 112-s-1185
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Energy prices
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) link the amount of the volumetric ethanol excise tax credit (VEETC) for calendar quarters beginning after June 30, 2011, to the average price of crude oil in a calendar quarter, (2) modify the rates of the income tax credit for alcohol used as fuel and extend such credit through 2014, (3) extend the alternative fuel refueling property tax credit and the special depreciation allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property, and (4) make permanent the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credit.
 
Modifies the definition of "cellulosic biofuel" for purposes of the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credit and the special depreciation allowance to mean any liquid fuel that is derived solely by or from qualified feedstocks. Defines "qualified feedstocks" as any lignocellulosic or hemicellulosic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis and any cultivated algae, cyanobacteria, or lemna.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3734)
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Arbitration Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1186
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Consumer affairs
Contracts and agency
Evidence and witnesses
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Fair Arbitration Act of 2011 - Requires a contract containing an arbitration clause, in order to be binding on the parties, to: (1) have a heading &quot;ARBITRATION CLAUSE&quot; printed in bold, capital letters; (2) state explicitly whether participation in arbitration is mandatory or optional; (3) identify a source that a consumer or employee can contact for additional information regarding the arbitration program; and (4) provide notice that all parties retain the right to resolve a dispute in a small claims court for a claim of $50,000 or less.
 
Entitles each party under arbitration to: (1) a competent, neutral arbitrator and independent, neutral administration of the dispute; (2) representation by an attorney or other representative at such party's expense; (3) a fair arbitration hearing; (4) a face-to-face hearing; (5) the right to present evidence and cross examine witnesses; (6) a written explanation of the basis for the arbitrator's decision; and (7) the right to opt out of binding arbitration and into the small claims court (for claims of $50,000 or less).
 
Prescribes procedures for complaints by any party of denial of rights by the other party or the arbitrator.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Jason's Law

Bill: 112-s-1187
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Jason's Law - Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to direct the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), with respect to the pilot program to allocate funds to states, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governments, to establish long-term parking facilities for commercial motor vehicles (trucks) on the National Highway System.
 
Requires applications to incorporate one or more specified factors, such as: (1) addressing a safety need through development of additional truck parking capacity for use in hours-of-service compliance, and (2) reducing congestion and improving air quality mitigation.
 
Directs the Secretary to conduct a survey annually: (1) regarding the capacity of each state to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for trucks, and (2) assessing the volume of truck traffic through the state and developing a metrics system to measure the adequacy of the state's parking facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate
All-American Flag Act

Bill: 112-s-1188
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Buy American requirements
National symbols
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: 
 All-American Flag Act - Requires any flags of the United States acquired for use by the federal government to be entirely manufactured in the United States, from articles, materials, or supplies entirely grown, produced, or manufactured in the United States.

action_date: 2011-07-27
text: 
All-American Flag Act - Requires any flags of the United States acquired for use by the federal government to be entirely manufactured in the United States, from articles, materials, or supplies entirely grown, produced, or manufactured in the United States. Allows the head of an executive agency to waive such requirement if its application would cause unreasonable costs or delays or would adversely affect a U.S. company.
 
Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act.
 
Requires this Act to be applied in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4968-4970)
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3773)
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Unfunded Mandates Accountability Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1189
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2011-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Economic performance and conditions
Federal Reserve System
Government information and archives
Judicial review and appeals
Monetary policy
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: 
Unfunded Mandates Accountability Act of 2011 - Amends the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 to: (1) require regulatory impact analyses for rules that do not involve a legislative mandate and for final rules that do not have a prior notice of proposed rulemaking; (2) require federal agencies to prepare and publish in the Federal Register an initial and final regulatory impact analysis prior to promulgating any proposed or final rule that may have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or that may result in the expenditure of $100 million or more in any one year by state, local, and tribal governments; (3) require such agencies to identify and consider regulatory alternatives before promulgating any proposed or final rule and select the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative; (4) define &quot;cost&quot; as the cost of compliance and any reasonably foreseeable indirect cost resulting from agency rulemaking; (5) exempt rules concerning monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee from provisions of such Act relating to regulatory accountability and reform, review of federal mandates, and judicial review; and (6) expand provisions relating to judicial review of regulatory impact analyses.
 
Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require independent regulatory agencies to conduct regulatory impact analyses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-20
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-220.
action_date: 2011-06-23
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-220.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
PROSTATE Act

Bill: 112-s-1190
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cancer
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Minority health
Research administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: 
Prostate Research, Outreach, Screening, Testing, Access, and Treatment Effectiveness Act of 2011 or the PROSTATE Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Interagency Prostate Cancer Coordination and Education Task Force, with duties to include: (1) developing a summary of advances in federal prostate cancer research and compile a list of best practices that warrant broader adoption in health care programs; (2) considering establishing guidance to enable physicians to allow screening of men over age 74; (3) coordinating information on federal research and health care program activities relating to prostate cancer; and (4) submitting recommendations regarding federal research and health care programs.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish and carry out a program to coordinate and intensify prostate cancer research, including by developing advances in diagnostic and prognostic methods and tests, better understanding the etiology of the disease, and establishing clinical registries for prostate cancer and awarding research grants.
 
Establishes in the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a Prostate Cancer Scientific Advisory Board to be responsible for accelerating real-time sharing of the latest research data and accelerating movement of new medicines to patients.
 
Directs the Secretary of VA, the Secretary of Defense (DOD) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish four-year telehealth pilot projects to analyze the clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness associated with telehealth services in a variety of geographic areas that contain high proportions of medically underserved populations and those in rural areas. 
 
Requires the Secretary of VA to develop a national education campaign for prostate cancer.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Naugatuck River Valley National Heritage Area Study Act

Bill: 112-s-1191
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: 
Naugatuck River Valley National Heritage Area Study Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a study on the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Naugatuck River Valley National Heritage Area in Connecticut. Requires submission of the study's results to Congress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-401.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate