hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation Act

Bill: 112-s-177
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Asia
California
Historic sites and heritage areas
Japan
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Gold Hill-Wakamatsu Preservation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Gold Hill Ranch in Coloma, California, including any interest in the Ranch, by purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds, donation, or exchange. 
 
 Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with public or nonprofit entities to interpret the history of the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony and related pioneer history associated with Japanese immigration to the area. Permits the development of a visitor center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-124.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Prisoner Opportunity, Work, and Education Requirement Act

Bill: 112-s-180
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Federal Prison Industries, Inc.
Foreign labor
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Labor standards
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Prisoner Opportunity, Work, and Education Requirement Act or the POWER Act - Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to require federal prison inmates to: (1) work for not less than 50 hours weekly; and (2) engage in job training and educational and life skills preparation study. 

Requires Federal Prison Industries (a government corporation) to employ inmates in manufacturing activities by subcontracting with private sector contractors. Requires inmate wages earned in a 50-hour work week program to be used for the costs of incarceration, victim restitution, inmate expenses, and related state and local prisoner programs.

Repeals certain provisions restricting the funding of, and purchase of products from, Federal Prison Industries and prohibiting a public private competition for work performed by employees of the Bureau of Prisons and Federal Prison Industries.

Directs the Attorney General to establish the Foreign Labor Substitute Panel to review pilot projects by U.S. companies for the manufacture of goods by federal convicts that would otherwise be manufactured by foreign labor.

Revises federal criminal code provisions to restate the mission, operating objectives, performance standards, and other requirements for Federal Prison Industries.

Requires the Comptroller General to provide for annual independent evaluations of the operations of Federal Prison Industries and to report to Congress on such evaluations (currently, the Board of Directors of Federal Prison Industries is required to report to Congress). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Totalization Agreement Reform Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-181
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Foreign labor
International law and treaties
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
 Social Security Totalization Agreement Reform Act of 2011 or STAR Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide that any agreement to establish a totalization arrangement which is entered into with another country shall enter into force with respect to the United States if (and only if): (1) the President, at least 90 calendar days before the date on which he enters into the agreement, notifies each House of Congress of his intention to enter into it, and promply thereafter publishes notice of such intention in the Federal Register; (2) he transmits the text of such agreement to each House of the Congress; and (3) a joint resolution regarding such agreement has passed both Houses of Congress and been enacted into federal law.
 
Sets forth procedures for the consideration of such a joint resolution.
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Taxpayers From ACORN Act

Bill: 112-s-182
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Community life and organization
Public contracts and procurement
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Protect Taxpayers From ACORN Act - Prohibits any federal contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other form of agreement from being awarded to, any federal funds in any other form from being provided to, or any federal employee or contractor from promoting, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and any ACORN-related affiliate.
 
Requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to carry out provisions of this Act relating to contracts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit taxpayer bailouts of fiscally irresponsible State and local governments.

Bill: 112-s-184
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Federal Reserve System
Government lending and loan guarantees
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase or guarantee obligations of, issue lines of credit to or provide direct or indirect grants-and-aid to, any state, municipal, local, or county government which a nationally recognized statistical rating organization has determined has defaulted on its obligations or is likely to default, without such federal assistance.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from using, directly or indirectly, general fund revenues or borrowed funds to purchase or guarantee any asset or obligation of any such state, municipal, local, or county government.
 
Prohibits the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from directly or indirectly lending against, purchasing, or guaranteeing any asset or obligation of such a state, municipal, local, or county government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Protection Compact Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-185
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
Human trafficking
International law and treaties
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Child Protection Compact Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of State, through the Ambassador-at-Large of the Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, to provide assistance (grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts) for an eligible country with a significant prevalence of trafficking in children that enters into a Child Protection Compact with the United States to support policies and programs to eradicate the trafficking of children.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe and Responsible Redeployment of United States Combat Forces from Afghanistan Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-186
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Congressional oversight
Military operations and strategy

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Safe and Responsible Redeployment of United States Combat Forces from Afghanistan Act of 2011 - States that is U.S. policy to begin the phased redeployment of U.S. combat forces from Afghanistan by July 1, 2011.
 
Requires the President to submit a plan to Congress, by July 31, 2011, for the phased redeployment of U.S. combat forces from Afghanistan, including a completion date for such redeployment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Defense Level Playing Field Act

Bill: 112-s-189
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Military procurement, research, weapons development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Defense Level Playing Field Act - Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD), in evaluating offers to award a contract for the KC-X aerial refueling aircraft program, to consider any unfair advantage that an offeror may possess.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to the congressional defense committees on any such advantage; and (2) take into account the findings of such report in awarding a contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom from Tolls Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-190
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Transportation costs
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Freedom from Tolls Act of 2011 - Prohibits the use of highway funds to impose a toll on any segment of a federal-aid system highway that as of enactment of this Act: (1) has had its construction completed, (2) is not tolled, (3) was constructed with federal assistance, and (4) is in actual operation. Excepts from this prohibition, thus allowing tolls on, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes as well as any highway segment that, as of the date on which a toll is imposed on it, will have the same number of non-toll lanes as were in existence before that date.
 
 
Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to decrease from three to two the number of facilities a state may establish on a highway, bridge, or tunnel on the Interstate System to collect tolls for reconstructing and rehabilitating Interstate highway corridors under the Interstate System reconstruction and rehabilitation pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-191
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency communications systems
Government studies and investigations
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS): (1) to study and report to Congress on the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service communications in emergencies and disaster relief; and (2) in conducting the study, to utilize the expertise of stakeholder entities and organizations, including the amateur radio, emergency response, and disaster communications communities.

action_date: 2011-06-13
text: 
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS): (1) to study and report to Congress on the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service communications in emergencies and disaster relief; and (2) in conducting the study, to utilize the expertise of stakeholder entities and organizations, including the amateur radio, emergency response, and disaster communications communities.
 
Directs the DHS Inspector General to report on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs, including: (1) to what degree the programs provide duplicative or overlapping assistance, (2) the cost of each program, and (3) recommendations for consolidation and elimination of programs to reduce duplication.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 74.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment. With written report No. 112-22.
action_date: 2011-06-13
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment. With written report No. 112-22.
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act

Bill: 112-s-192
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
 Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective as of its enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Act.
 
 Repeals the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of the Act's enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by the Act's health care provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 4.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reduce Federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions.

Bill: 112-s-194
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government trust funds
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the taxpayer election to designate $3 of income tax liability for financing of presidential election campaigns, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S282)
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Support Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-195
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Poverty and welfare assistance
Separation, divorce, custody, support

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Child Support Protection Act of 2011 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to repeal the exclusion from federal matching payments of any amounts expended by a state from child support incentive payments it has received from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). (Thus reinstates federal matching of state spending of child support incentive payments.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S282)
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide for participation in the Exchange of the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, political appointees, and congressional staff.

Bill: 112-s-196
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Members of Congress
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to require any employer contribution made on behalf of the President, Vice President, or any political appointee to be paid only to the issuer of a plan through an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange created under PPACA), and not through the federal employees health benefit program. (Currently, this requirement applies to Members of Congress and congressional staff.)
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-197
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Evidence and witnesses
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Legal fees and court costs
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Medical Care Access Protection Act of 2011 or the MCAP Act - Sets forth provisions regulating lawsuits for health care liability claims related to the provision of health care services.
 
Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions.
 
Requires a court to impose sanctions for the filing of frivolous lawsuits.
 
Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000 from the provider or health care institution, but no more than $500,000 from multiple health care institutions. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility.
 
Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded.
 
Prescribes qualifications for expert witnesses.
 
Requires the court to reduce damages received by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled, unless the payor of such benefits has the right to reimbursement or subrogation under federal or state law.
 
Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer, and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000.
 
 Prohibits a health care provider from being named as a party in a product liability or class action lawsuit for prescribing or dispensing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription drug, biological product, or medical device for an approved indication. 
 
Provides for periodic payments of future damage awards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Redistribution of Unspent Earmarks Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-198
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Appropriations
Government trust funds
Roads and highways
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Redistribution of Unspent Earmarks Act of 2011 - Requires unobligated highway project amounts made available from the Highway Trust Fund through an earmark for FY2008 or a preceding fiscal year to be: (1) returned to the transportation department of the state in which such earmarks were directed to be used, and (2) redistributed by the state for expeditious use for other federally-approved state transportation projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Use It or Lose It Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-199
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Appropriations
Government trust funds
Roads and highways
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Use It or Lose It Act of 2011 - Requires highway project amounts made available from the Highway Trust Fund through an earmark to be obligated within three years after the date such earmarked amounts are first made available.
 
Requires amounts not obligated within three years of the earmark to be: (1) released to the transportation department of the state with jurisdiction over the original recipient of the earmark, and (2) redistributed by the state for expeditious use for other federally-approved state transportation projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical.

Bill: 112-s-200
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Provides for the relief of Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-202
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Federal Reserve System
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011 - Directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2012, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.
 
Repeals specified limitations on such an audit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S282-283)
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate