hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
SLICE Act

Bill: 112-hr-5789
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Department of Agriculture
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Fruit and vegetables
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
School Lunch Improvements for Children's Education Act or SLICE Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to implement an interim or final rule regarding the school lunch and child nutrition programs that: (1) requires the crediting of tomato paste and puree as a vegetable serving based on the volume of tomato paste or puree served, (2) implements science-based sodium reduction targets, and (3) establishes a whole grain requirement.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
To provide for the transfer of the United States Postal Service surplus with respect to certain retirement benefits, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-hr-5790
Sponsor: Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
Amends provisions of federal law relating to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and its employees to: (1) require the transfer of any surplus government contributions to the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) in FY2012-FY2014 for postal employees to USPS for repayment of debt obligations and to make required payments to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund and to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, and (2) authorize USPS to provide nonpostal services. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that if USPS is permitted to offer its employees health benefits under a program separate from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the Postmaster General shall work with employee representatives in exclusive bargaining units to establish such a program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
Emergency Water Supply Restoration Act

Bill: 112-hr-5791
Sponsor: Rep. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Motor vehicles
Pipelines
Water use and supply
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
Emergency Water Supply Restoration Act - Allows state agencies and political subdivisions, when a state of emergency declared by the governor of a state authorizes access to, reconstruction of, repairs to, or restoration of water sources, supplies, or infrastructure in a wilderness area to take all reasonable and necessary means to access, reconstruct, repair, or restore such sources, supplies, or infrastructure. 
 
Prohibits federal agencies from interfering or otherwise impeding such access, reconstruction, repairs, or restoration during a declared state of emergency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-08
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2012-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
Gender Equality Combat Act

Bill: 112-hr-5792
Sponsor: Rep. Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-47]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Military readiness
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
Gender Equality Combat Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to report to the congressional defense committees on the implementation of a termination of the ground combat exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces (DOD policy under which female members are excluded from units and positions below brigade level whose primary mission is to engage in direct combat on the ground).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the election to treat the cost of qualified film and television productions as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account.

Bill: 112-hr-5793
Sponsor: Rep. Dreier, David [R-CA-26]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2013 the taxpayer election to expense qualified film or television production costs in the current taxable year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Fair Debt Collection Practices Clarification Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5794
Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Fair Debt Collection Practices Clarification Act of 2012 - Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to revise the disclaimer of liability for any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any advisory opinion of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
 
Exempts from liability, in addition, acts done or omitted in good faith in compliance with any rule, regulation, or interpretation of the CFPB, or in conformity with any interpretation or approval by a CFPB official or employee duly authorized to issue such interpretations or approvals.
 
Permits a debt collector to leave messages for a consumer regarding the collection of a debt on the consumer's answering machine, voice messaging system, or similar device, including in an initial communication with the consumer, so long as the message complies with regulations prescribed by the CFPB to ensure the preservation of consumer privacy and other rights, including restrictions on communications with third parties.
 
Prohibits a debt collector from initiating a legal action on a debt in an arbitration setting, or requiring the consumer to resolve by arbitration a collection-related dispute on the debt, unless the consumer has agreed in writing to resolution by arbitration after collections activities have been initiated and a legal action or dispute has arisen.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Rebuilding American Manufacturing Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5795
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Rebuilding American Manufacturing Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers engaged in domestic manufacturing in the United States a tax deduction equal to 43% of the lesser of their domestic manufacturing income or their taxable income for the taxable year (thus effectively reducing their income tax rate from 35% to approximately 20%). Limits the amount of such deduction to 25% of such taxpayer's qualifying domestic investment (defined as the sum of the taxpayer's W-2 wages and certain allowable tax deductions, excluding any amounts not properly allocable to the taxpayer's domestic manufacturing gross receipts).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Justice for the American Diplomats Held Hostage in Tehran Act

Bill: 112-hr-5796
Sponsor: Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Civil actions and liability
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign and international banking
Government liability
Government trust funds
International law and treaties
Iran
Middle East

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Justice for the American Diplomats Held Hostage in Tehran Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a common fund to be administered by the class representatives and agents for the former American hostages in Iran and their survivors (case number 1:08-CV-00487 (EGS) of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) in order to pay claims to the American hostages and to family members identified as class members.
 
Finances the fund from: (1) fines and penalties for violations of activities with respect to any government or person by reason of a connection with Iran, and (2) seized or frozen Iranian assets or assets from persons or entities subject to Iran-related sanctions.
 
Sets forth payment priority and amount provisions.
 
States that the United States shall be fully subrogated with respect to payments to all rights of each individual paid under this Act against the government of Iran or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5797
Sponsor: Rep. Cravaack, Chip [R-MN-8]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Hunting and fishing
Lakes and rivers
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Minnesota
Navigation, waterways, harbors

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act of 2012 - Exempts from certain federal vessel licensing and safety inspection requirements uninspected vessels operating on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota.

action_date: 2012-07-31
text: 
Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act of 2012 - Exempts from certain federal vessel licensing and safety inspection requirements owners or operators of vessels operating on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota.

action_date: 2012-08-01
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 31, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Mille Lacs Lake Freedom To Fish Act of 2012 - Exempts from certain federal vessel licensing and safety inspection requirements owners or operators of vessels operating on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5606)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5606)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5797.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5606-5608)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Mr. Cravaack moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 456.
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 112-634.
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 112-634.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2012-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Efficient Export Promotion to Help American Businesses Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5798
Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Efficient Export Promotion to Help American Businesses Act of 2012 - Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988, with respect to assessment of federal agency resources in support of export promotion and financing, to require the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) to: (1) review the proposed annual budget of each federal agency, before it is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the President, to ensure coordination among federal agencies of enforcement, promotion of foreign direct investment, performance outreach, and centralization of information for exporters; and (2) recommend simplification and termination of redundant programs and changes in funding to meet the government-wide strategic plan for trade promotion efforts.
 
Revises contents of a TPCC annual report to Congress to include: (1) an analysis of TPCC and agency export promotion and export financing efforts compared to the export promotion efforts of other countries; (2) an analysis of factors, by state and region, that inhibit U.S. exports, including actions taken to address such factors; (3) a description of industry areas for strategic growth and changes to exports that present strategic threats to U.S. security; (4) a prioritized list of legislative recommendations that the TPCC believes would lead to an increase of U.S. exports and more efficient export promotion; and (5) input and review by the business community before being published on the TPCC and the Department of Commerce websites.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury, upon request of the Secretary of Commerce, to furnish tax information on returns of sole proprietorships with gross receipts from a trade or business of more than $750,000 a year and partnerships to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E833)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5800
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Hospital care
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2012 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require state Medicaid plans to provide that the state will establish and maintain laws to require disclosure of information on hospital charges, to make such information available to the public, and to provide individuals with information about estimated out-of-pocket costs for health care services. 
 
Directs the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to research and report to Congress on: (1) the types of information on the charges and out-of-pocket costs for health care services that individuals find useful in making decisions about where, when, and from whom to receive care; (2) how such types of information vary by whether they have health benefits coverage, and what kinds; and (3) ways in which such information may be available on a timely basis and in easy-to-understand form to individuals facing such decisions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
U.S. LEADS Act

Bill: 112-hr-5801
Sponsor: Rep. Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Economic performance and conditions
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Unshackling Students to Lead, Excel, Act, Develop, and Serve Act of 2012 or U.S. LEADS Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow recent college graduates to defer payment on their student loans under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and Direct Loan (DL) programs without accruing interest when the national unemployment rate exceeds 7% or the unemployment rate for 21-25 year olds exceeds 9%. 
 
Limits that deferral period to a maximum of five years.
 
Makes the deferral available only to graduates aged 21-25 who received their first baccalaureate degree within the four years preceding this Act's enactment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
action_date: 2012-05-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E876-877)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Port Security Equipment Improvement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5802
Sponsor: Rep. Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Homeland security
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Port Security Equipment Improvement Act of 2012 - Authorizes the use of port security grant program funds for the cost of replacing security equipment or facilities that correct Coast Guard-identified vulnerabilities in port security and ensure compliance with Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
Port Security Boots on the Ground Act

Bill: 112-hr-5803
Sponsor: Rep. Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Homeland security
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Port Security Boots on the Ground Act - Authorizes the use of port security grant program funds for overtime and backfill costs for mandated Coast Guard security personnel, except that not more than 50% of funds received by a grantee for a fiscal year may be used for such costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in House