hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Bill: 112-s-3607
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2012-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Canada
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Licensing and registrations
Nebraska
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
South Dakota

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: 
 Declares that no presidential permit shall be required for a specified pipeline application filed on May 4, 2012, by TransCanada Corporation to the Department of State for the northern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline from the Canadian border to the South Dakota/Nebraska border. 
 
Considers the final environmental impact statement regarding such pipeline issued by the Secretary of State on August 26, 2011, to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 
States that nothing in this Act affects the ongoing work of the state of Nebraska with regard to the fully intrastate portion of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 533.
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Investment Tax Credit Integrity Act

Bill: 112-s-3610
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Investment Tax Credit Integrity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the energy tax credit, to exclude from the basis of energy property for purposes of determining the amount of such credit, the amount of any antidumping or countervailing duty imposed on such property under the Tariff Act of 1930. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6629)
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Buy Fairly Trade Goods Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3611
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public contracts and procurement
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Buy Fairly Trade Goods Act of 2012 - Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to: (1) prohibit executive agencies from procuring imported merchandise subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order, and (2) require that the terms of a contract or other agreement entered into between an agency and energy provider prohibit the provider from use of such merchandise in the performance of the contract or agreement. Allows the President to waive such requirement if it is in the U.S. national security interests.
 
Requires the Council to ensure that such amendments are consistent with U.S. obligations under any international agreements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Commemorative Coins Reform Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3612
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Executive agency funding and structure
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Commemorative Coins Reform Act of 2012 - Prohibits surcharges generated by the sale of any numismatic item or commemorative coin program from being paid to a non-federal organization, except with respect to sales and production costs. 
 
Requires that surcharges be used to recover all numismatic operation and program costs allocable to the program under which a numismatic item is produced and sold.
 
Requires the transfer of any excess surcharges to the general fund of the Treasury for deficit reduction purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
HAVEN Act

Bill: 112-s-3614
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy efficiency and conservation
Housing and community development funding
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Low- and moderate-income housing
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Housing Assistance for Veterans Act of 2012 or HAVEN Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals. Requires such grants to be used to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of disabled or low-income veterans (at a specified limited or no cost to such veterans). Limits grant amounts to $1 million per organization. Requires the Secretary to direct the oversight of grant fund use. Requires a minimum of 50% matching funds by participating organizations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6629)
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
National Seafood Marketing and Development Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3615
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Food industry and services
Government trust funds
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marketing and advertising
Seafood

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
National Seafood Marketing and Development Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish Regional Seafood Marketing Boards. Designates states eligible to have members appointed to Boards of the: (1) Northeast Atlantic, (2) Mid and South Atlantic, (3) Gulf and Caribbean, (4) Pacific, and (5) West and North Pacific. 
 
Requires the Secretary to solicit nominations for members of each Board from the public and to seek recommendations from the governors of states in the geographical area of each Board.
 
Sets forth the seafood industry expertise requirements for Board members.
 
Requires the establishment of a National Coordinating Committee. 
 
Authorizes each Board to prepare an annual marketing plan, including grant award requirements and plans to coordinate activities with those of other Boards. Permits plans to include marketing activities referencing a particular brand or trade name and addressing projects designed to promote the consumption or purchase of a specific seafood species or group of similar seafood.
 
Directs each Board to make grants to carry out projects consistent with a Board marketing plan. Requires grantees to provide at least 50% of the total estimated cost of the project.
 
Establishes within the U.S. Treasury the National Seafood Marketing and Development Fund to be used by the Secretary to make annual grants to Boards. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Making Adoption Affordable Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3616
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Disability and paralysis
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Making Adoption Affordable Act of 2012 - Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 allowing an increased tax credit for adoption expenses and an increased exclusion from an employee's gross income for amounts paid by an employer for adoption expenses.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate and make permanent: (1) the increase in the tax credit for adoption expenses and the increased exclusion from an employee's gross income for amounts paid by an employer for adoption expenses that were enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (2) the annual inflation adjustments for such increased amounts, and (3) the refundability of the tax credit for adoption expenses. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to take certain actions concerning: (1) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) communications efforts about the adoption tax credit, and (2) documentation of adoption expenses required before initiation of a tax audit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to ensure sufficient sizing of the civilian and contract services workforces of the Department of Defense.

Bill: 112-s-3617
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Instructs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that the civilian and contract services workforces of DOD are sufficiently sized, taking into account military strategy requirements and military end-strength. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit a report that assesses the sufficiency of the sizing of the DOD civilian and contract services workforces. Requires such report to assess whether such sizing is consistent with federal workforce management and sourcing laws. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Jury ACCESS Act

Bill: 112-s-3618
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Federal district courts
Judicial procedure and administration
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Specialized courts

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Jury Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection Act of 2012 or the Jury ACCESS Act - Amends the federal judicial code to prohibit the exclusion of citizens from service as a grand or petit juror in U.S. district courts or the Court of International Trade on account of sexual orientation or gender identity (thereby expanding the current prohibition on exclusion on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Streamlining Services for Older Veterans Act

Bill: 112-s-3619
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adult day care
Aging
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Streamlining Services for Older Veterans Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include status as a veteran among the categories of greatest social need based on noneconomic factors.
 
Requires state and area plans to include information on how the state and area agencies on: (1) aging will engage in outreach to veterans eligible for services under such Act, and (2) effective and efficient procedures for the coordination of services provided under that Act with services provided to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other providers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Seniors' Financial Bill of Rights Act

Bill: 112-s-3621
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2012-09-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Crime victims
Financial literacy
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Lawyers and legal services
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Seniors' Financial Bill of Rights Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) to include financial counseling and legal assistance, particularly with regard to powers of attorney and the duties of agents or attorneys under a power of attorney, and of fiduciaries, among the services provided by Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
 
Makes it a duty of the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Aging to coordinate with other federal agencies any activities and research related to the economic security and financial exploitation of older individuals and to use them to make available to states and local organizations resources, technical assistance, and information to carry out the State Seniors' Financial Bills of Rights, as well as certain other activities.
 
Requires the state OAA plan to include an assurance that the state will establish a State Seniors' Financial Bill of Rights meeting specified criteria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Patients and Hospitals From Price Gouging Act

Bill: 112-s-3622
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-09-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug therapy
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-21
text: 
Protecting Patients and Hospitals From Price Gouging Act - Authorizes the President to issue an executive order declaring a market shortage for six months with regard to one or more vital drugs if the total supply of all clinically interchangeable versions of a drug regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is inadequate to meet the current or projected demand at the user level.
 
Defines a &quot;vital drug&quot; as any drug or biologic used to prevent or treat a serious or life-threatening disease or medical condition, for which there is no other available source with sufficient supply available.
 
Makes it unlawful, when the President issues such an executive order, for any person to sell vital drugs at a price that: (1) is unreasonably excessive, and (2) indicates that the seller is taking unfair advantage of the circumstances related to a market shortage to increase prices unreasonably during that period.
 
Gives the Attorney General authority to enforce penalties under this Act. 
 
Makes any person who sells, or offers to sell, any vital drug during a declared market shortage with the knowledge and intent to charge a price unreasonably excessive under the circumstances guilty of an offense and subject to injunction and penalties. Applies such sanctions, except to a hospital or a physician, in the geographical area where the vital drug market shortage has been declared and to all wholesalers and distributors in the chain of distribution.
 
Sets forth factors for the Attorney General to consider in determining whether an alleged violator's price was unreasonably excessive.
 
Makes a declaration under this Act terminate if: (1) there is enacted a law terminating the market shortage after a national market shortage is declared, or (2) the President issues a proclamation terminating the declaration. Authorizes the President to renew such a market shortage declaration if the severe shortage continues to affect the health and well-being of citizens beyond the initial six-month period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-09-22
text: Introduced in Senate
National Heritage Area Authorizations Extension Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3623
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-09-22 in the Senate
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: 2012-09-21
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: 2012-09-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-09-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Overseas Private Investment Corporation Reauthorization Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3627
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Foreign aid and international relief
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government lending and loan guarantees
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation Reauthorization Act of 2012 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend, until 2015, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) authority to make loans and issue investment insurance and investment guarantees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Breast Cancer Patient Education Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3628
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2012-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Surgery and anesthesia
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: 
Breast Cancer Patient Education Act of 2012 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide for the planning and implementation of an education campaign to inform breast cancer patients anticipating surgery regarding the availability and coverage of breast reconstruction, prostheses, and other options.
 
Requires such campaign to include dissemination of the following information: (1) breast reconstruction is possible at the time of breast cancer surgery or in a delayed fashion; (2) prostheses or breast forms may be available; (3) federal law mandates that both public and private health plans include coverage of breast reconstruction and prostheses; (4) the patient has a right to choose the provider of reconstructive care, including the potential transfer of care to a surgeon that provides breast reconstructive care; and (5) the patient may opt to undergo breast reconstruction in a delayed fashion for personal reasons or after completion of all other breast cancer treatments.
 
Prohibits such campaign from specifying, or being designed to serve as a tool to limit, the health care providers available to patients.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3629
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alaska
Business investment and capital
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Oil and gas
Pipelines

Summary:
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: 
Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 2012 - Amends the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act to redefine the term &quot;Alaska natural gas transportation project&quot; to include in the natural gas pipeline system carrying Alaska natural gas to a market any pipeline segment that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finds could feasibly be incorporated into, and serve as an integrated segment of, that system regardless of whether the segment: (1) is proposed and constructed before the construction of the system, or (2) initially transports Alaska natural gas solely for delivery to consumers within Alaska.
 
Confers upon the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects responsibility for providing federal agencies with comprehensive information about Alaska natural gas transportation projects, including industry developments, market factors, technology, and regulatory issues that could affect such projects.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the accelerated cost recovery system, to redefine the term &quot;Alaska natural gas pipeline&quot; as the natural gas pipeline system: (1) located in the area of Alaska lying north of 64 degrees North latitude, and (2) carrying Alaska natural gas from the area of the United States lying north of 64 degrees North latitude to a market.
 
Removes from qualified enhanced oil recovery costs, with respect to the qualified enhanced oil recovery tax credit, any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year to construct a gas treatment plant which: (1) is located in the area of the United States lying north of 64 degrees North latitude, (2) prepares Alaska natural gas for transportation through a pipeline with a capacity of at least 2 trillion Btu of natural gas per day, and (3) produces carbon dioxide which is injected into hydrocarbon-bearing geological formations. 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate