hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to modify the date as of which certain tribal land of the Lytton Rancheria of California is considered to be held in trust and to provide for the conduct of certain activities on the land.

Bill: 112-s-872
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: California
Gambling
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: 
Amends the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to repeal the declaration that specified land accepted by the Secretary of the Interior for the benefit of the Lytton Rancheria in California shall be deemed to have been held in trust and part of the reservation of the Rancheria prior to October 17, 1988. (The date on the recorded deed is October 16, 2000.) 
 
Allows the Lytton Rancheria to conduct class II gaming activities on the land taken into trust.
 
Prohibits the Lytton Rancheria from expanding the exterior physical measurements of any facility on the Rancheria in use for class II gaming activities.
 
States that, for class III gaming purposes, the land taken into trust shall be treated, for purposes of provisions relating to gaming on lands acquired in trust after October 17, 1988, as if the land was acquired on October 9, 2003, the date on which the Secretary took it into trust. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-489.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2624)
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2624)
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide benefits for children with spina bifida of veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era outside Vietnam, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-873
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2011-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Birth defects
Child health
Conflicts and wars
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Veterans' medical care
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: 
Makes eligible for certain medical services and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a child with spina bifida whose veteran-parent served on active duty during the Vietnam era at a location outside Vietnam where exposure to a herbicide agent during such service was likely, and is determined to have been exposed to such agent during such service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the provision of compensation and pension to surviving spouses of veterans in the months of the deaths of the veterans, to improve housing loan benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-874
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2011-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Housing finance and home ownership
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: 
Entitles a surviving spouse to a benefit for the month of a veteran's death if, at the time of the veteran's death: (1) the veteran was receiving veterans' disability compensation or veteran's pension, or (2) the veteran was not receiving such compensation or pension but had a claim pending for the month of the veteran's death for which benefits would have been payable had the veteran not died. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requesting the return of a check or payment made to a surviving spouse, in the month in which the veteran's death occurs, as additional compensation for a dependent or additional pension as a married veteran.
 
Includes under the VA's presidential memorial certificate program (a program presenting a presidential certificate of appreciation for service in the Armed Forces) an individual who dies during active service.
 
Considers a veteran who is unable to occupy a home because of active-duty status to have satisfied the occupancy requirement relating to housing financed through the VA if the veteran's dependent child is occupying or will occupy the home and the veteran's attorney or a legal guardian of the dependent child makes the VA-required occupancy certification.
 
Authorizes the VA to guarantee a veterans' housing loan regardless of whether such loan is subordinate to a lien created in favor of a public entity that provides assistance in response to a major disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Drinking Water Right to Know Act

Bill: 112-s-875
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: 
Drinking Water Right to Know Act - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require a public water system that detects an unregulated contaminant included in EPA's list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems and included in the national drinking water occurrence data base, to continue to monitor for the detected contaminant for such period, at such frequency, and at such levels of concentration as the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
 
Authorizes the data contained in the national drinking water contaminant occurrence data base to be used by the public. Requires the Administrator to: (1) evaluate the extent to which such data is accessible to and useable by the public; and (2) make such data more accessible to and useable by the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act

Bill: 112-s-876
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: 
Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act - Prohibits a state from prescribing or enforcing any regulation that allows a restricted property-carrying unit (any trailer, semi-trailer, container, or other property-carrying unit longer than 53 feet, except for a fire-fighting unit) to operate on the National Highway System (NHS) (including the Interstate System), unless the operation of such unit is authorized by the state on June 1, 2008, and in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including seasonal operations) on or before that date. 
 
Prohibits a state from allowing the operation of a commercial motor vehicle combination on the NHS (except a vehicle or load that cannot be dismantled or divided easily, and that has been issued a special permit under state law) with more than one property-carrying unit (excluding the truck tractor) whose property-carrying units are more than: (1) the maximum combination trailer, semi-trailer, or other type of length limitation allowed by state law on June 1, 2008; or (2) the length of the property-carrying units of those commercial motor vehicle combinations, by specific configuration, in actual and lawful operation on a regular or periodic basis (including continual seasonal operation) in such state on or before June 1, 2008. 
 Prohibits a state from allowing the operation of a vehicle or combination (other than a longer combination vehicle) exceeding Interstate weight limits on the Interstate System unless its operation was lawful: (1) on July 1, 1956; (2) in the case of the overall gross weight of any group of two or more consecutive axles, on January 4, 1975; or (3) under a special permit pursuant to state (grandfather) law. 
 
Declares that Interstate weight limitations on vehicles and combinations (other than longer combination vehicles) that operate on the Interstate System shall apply to such vehicles and combinations that operate on non-Interstate segments of the NHS, unless: (1) such segments are subject to lower state weight limits; or (2) a state allows the operation of any vehicle or combination on an existing non-Interstate segment of the NHS that could have been lawfully operated on June 1, 2008.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Life Act

Bill: 112-s-877
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Medical ethics

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Protect Life Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to prohibit federal funds from being to used to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services and plans receiving federal funds must keep federal funds segregated from any funds for abortion services.)
 
Requires any qualified health benefit plan offered through an Exchange that includes coverage for abortions to also offer a qualified health benefit plan through the Exchange that is identical in every respect except that it does not cover abortions.
 
Prohibits a federal agency or program and any state or local government that receives federal financial assistance under PPACA from requiring any health plan created or regulated under PPACA to discriminate against any institutional or individual health care entity based on the entity's refusal to undergo training in the performance of induced abortions, require or provide such training, or refer for such training.
 
Creates a cause of action for any violations of the abortion provisions of PPACA. Gives federal courts jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of such provisions by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including injunctions and orders preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of federal financial assistance until the prohibited conduct has ceased. Gives standing to institute an action to affected health care entities and the Attorney General.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints alleging a violation of PPACA abortion provisions.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to ensure that no multistate qualified health plan offered in an Exchange provides coverage of abortion services.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-878
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing finance and home ownership
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to revise the requirements for consideration as rural areas with respect to assistance for farm housing.
 
 States that any area classified as &quot;rural&quot; or a &quot;rural area&quot; before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be &quot;rural&quot; or a &quot;rural area&quot; as a result of data received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 (currently, only the 1990 or 2000) decennial census shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020 (currently, 2010), if, as under current law, such area has a population of between 10,000 and 25,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Muscogee Nation of Florida Federal Recognition Act

Bill: 112-s-880
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Florida
Indian lands and resources rights

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Muscogee Nation of Florida Federal Recognition Act - Extends federal recognition to the Muscogee Nation of Florida (the Nation).
 
Makes the Nation and its members eligible for all services and benefits provided by the federal government to federally recognized Indian tribes. Considers, for the purpose of the delivery of federal services to members, the service area of the Nation to be: (1) the community of Bruce in Walton County, Florida; and (2) an area in Florida in which members reside that is bordered on the west by the Escambia River and on the east by the St. Marks River. 
 
Requires that the constitution and bylaws of the Nation be the constitution and bylaws of the Nation's Tribal Council dated January 21, 2001 (including amendments). Instructs the Secretary of the Interior, upon receipt of a written request of the Tribal Council, to hold a referendum for members to adopt a new constitution and bylaws.
 
Specifies the role and duties of the Tribal Council. 
 
Requires that the membership roll of the Nation be determined in accordance with the membership criteria established by the ordinance of the Nation numbered 04-01-100 and dated February 7, 2004. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-881
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Contracts and agency
Evidence and witnesses
Federal Reserve System
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act of 2011- Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prescribe consumer protection guidelines for rental-purchase transactions, including: (1) the determination of rental-purchase cost; (2) disclosure requirements; (3) prohibitions against confessions of judgment, wage assignments, and waiver of consumer claims or defenses; (4) furnishing of statements of account; (5) point-of-rental disclosures; and (6) rental-purchase advertising disclosures.
 
Declares that an action for civil liability may be brought against a merchant's assignee only if the violation is apparent on the face of a rental-purchase agreement to which it relates, including, but not limited to, a disclosure that can be determined to be incomplete or inaccurate from the face of the agreement. 

Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to promulgate implementing regulations. 

Grants enforcement powers to the Federal Trade Commission and to state attorneys general. 

Subjects to criminal penalties any willful and knowing violation of the information disclosure requirements of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
STOP Act

Bill: 112-s-882
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Medicaid
Medicare
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Stop Trafficking of Pills Act or STOP Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require state Medicaid plans to: (1) identify prescription drugs that present a high-risk of misuse or overutilization, (2) establish a dosage level for each such drug that would be deemed excessive in the absence of evidence of medical necessity, (3) identify Medicaid-eligible individuals who are either receiving a prescription drug at excessive dosage levels or who have been convicted of a drug-related offense, and (4) ensure that they are assigned to a state-established restricted recipient program.
 
Requires a state to establish a Medicaid Lock-in Program to ensure that a high-risk prescription drug user is assigned to: (1) a single and exclusive physician for purposes of receiving any medical assistance related to a prescription drug, and (2) a single and exclusive pharmacy to receive any physician-prescribed drug.
 
Requires a state to establish a Medicaid prescription drug restriction program to ensure that the state claims processing system does not permit a prescription drug to be dispensed to a high-risk prescription drug user more than once every 20 days.
 
Amends part D (Miscellaneous) of SSA title XXVIII (Medicare) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a similar restricted recipient program for high-risk prescription drug users under the Medicare program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor free persons and slaves who fought for independence, liberty, and justice for all during the American Revolution.

Bill: 112-s-883
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
District of Columbia
Europe
Military history
Military personnel and dependents
Monuments and memorials
Racial and ethnic relations
U.S. history
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Authorizes the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. (previously the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation) to establish a memorial on specified federal land in the District of Columbia to honor slaves and free black persons who served as soldiers and sailors or provided civilian assistance during the American Revolution. 

action_date: 2012-01-13
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Authorizes the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. (previously the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation) to establish a memorial on specified federal land in the District of Columbia to honor slaves and free black persons who served as soldiers and sailors or provided civilian assistance during the American Revolution. 
 
Prohibits the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. from using federal funds to establish such memorial. 
 
Repeals P.L. 99-558 and P.L. 100-625 relating to the establishment and approval of the location of a black revolutionary war patriots memorial.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 280.
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/17/2011 without amendment. With written report No. 112-118.
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/17/2011 without amendment. With written report No. 112-118.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-214.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-884
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 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
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce the volumetric ethanol excise tax credit (VEETC) to 20 cents per gallon in 2012 and 15 cents per gallon in 2013; (2) link the amount of such credit to the price of crude oil for calendar quarters beginning after 2013; (3) modify the rates of the income tax credit for alcohol used as fuel and extend such credit through 2016; and (4) extend through 2016 the alternative fuel refueling property tax credit, the cellulosic producers' tax credit, and the special depreciation allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property.
 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to reduce by specified amounts through 2016 the additional duties on ethyl alcohol blends (ethanol) used as fuel.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2688)
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Indian School Bus Route Safety Reauthorization Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-885
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government trust funds
Indian lands and resources rights
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: 
Indian School Bus Route Safety Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to authorize appropriations for FY2012-FY2017 for allocations to states for Indian reservation roads.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2689)
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2688-2689)
action_date: 2011-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate