hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1022
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2011-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: 
 PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 to extend through December 31, 2014, a provision granting roving electronic surveillance authority.
 
Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to extend until December 31, 2014, a provision revising the definition of an &quot;agent of a foreign power&quot; to include any non-U.S. person who engages in international terrorism or preparatory activities (&quot;lone wolf&quot; provision).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 58.
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3109)
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Organ Mountains--Dona Ana County Conservation and Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-1024
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historical and cultural resources
Land transfers
New Mexico
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
 Organ Mountains--Dona Ana County Conservation and Protection Act - Designates specified wilderness areas in New Mexico and administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). 
 
Designates certain BLM land as a potential wilderness area, and upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, as wilderness and as a component of the NWPS and incorporated into the Robledo Mountains Wilderness. 
 
Releases certain public land in Dona Ana County that was not designated as wilderness by this Act from further study for designation as wilderness. 
 
 Establishes certain BLM-managed lands in the county as the Organ Mountains and Desert Peaks National Conservation Areas. Requires the development of separate management plans for such areas.
 
Transfers administrative jurisdiction over certain land from the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to the Secretary of the Interior to become part of Organ Mountains National Conservation Area. 
 
 Requires the Conservation Areas and the designated wilderness areas to be administered as components of the National Landscape Conservation System. 
 
 Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to adjust the boundary of the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. 
 
Closes an identified route excluded from the Potrillo Mountains Wilderness to public access but makes it available for law enforcement uses, including border security. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-03
text: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-226.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Livestock Marketing Fairness Act

Bill: 112-s-1026
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Contracts and agency
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Livestock Marketing Fairness Act - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to prohibit a livestock sale forward contract (with an exception for specified cooperatives) that: (1) does not contain a firm base price that may be equated to a fixed dollar amount on the contract day; (2) is not offered for open public bid; (3) is based on a formula price; or (4) provides for the sale of more than 40 cattle, 30 swine, or other livestock in a quantity as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA).
 
Defines: (1) &quot;firm base price&quot; as a transaction using an external source reference price; (2) &quot;formula price&quot; as any price term that establishes a base from which a purchase price is calculated on the basis of a price that will not be determined or reported until a date after the forward price is established (with specified exclusions); and (3) &quot;forward contract&quot; as a livestock purchase contract that provides for livestock delivery to a packer at a date that is more than seven days after the date on which the contract is entered into, without regard to whether the contract is for a specified lot of livestock or a specified number of livestock over a certain period of time.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3175-3176)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign-Held Debt Transparency and Threat Assessment Act

Bill: 112-s-1028
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
Budget deficits and national debt
China
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Foreign loans and debt

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Foreign-Held Debt Transparency and Threat Assessment Act - Expresses the sense of Congress about the growing federal debt of the United States, the increasing U.S. dependence on foreign creditors like the People's Republic of China, whose holdings could give China a tool with which to manipulate U.S. policymaking (including with respect to Taiwan) and pose a direct threat to the national economy and national security.
 
Directs the President to report quarterly to certain congressional committees on the risks posed by foreign holdings of U.S. debt instruments, and make such report public on the Internet.
 
Directs the President to formulate, report to the appropriate congressional committees, and implement a plan of action to reduce an unsustainable level of risk to an acceptable and sustainable level, in a manner that results in a reduction in federal spending, in any case in which the President makes specified determinations that a foreign country's holdings of U.S. debt instruments pose an unacceptable risk to long-term national security or economic stability of the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
e-KNOW Act

Bill: 112-s-1029
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Electric Consumer Right to Know Act or e-KNOW Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to grant an electric consumer the right to access the consumer's retail electric energy information in an electronic form, free of charge, in conformity with nationally recognized open standards developed by a nationally recognized standards organization, and in a manner that is timely and convenient and that provides adequate protections for the security of the information and the privacy of the electric consumer.
 
Requires such information to be provided by the consumer's retail electricity provider (or such other entity as may be designated by the authority responsible for regulating the retail sale and delivery of electricity to the consumer). 
 
Identifies the type of retail electric energy information which the consumer has the right to access, including: (1) the consumer's electric energy consumption over a defined time period, and (2) the prices or rates applied to the consumer's electricity usage for such time period.
 
Prohibits such access from interfering with or compromising the integrity, security, or privacy of the operations of a utility and the electric consumer, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 
 
Permits a utility providing retail electric energy information to recover in rates the cost of providing the information, if the cost is determined reasonable and prudent by the entity with jurisdiction over metering and retail electric service for the consumer.
 
Directs FERC to: (1) issue guidelines that establish minimum national standards for implementation of the electric consumer right to access retail electric energy information, and (2) be guided by actions taken by state and local regulatory authorities to ensure electric consumer access to such information.
 
Empowers the attorney general, official, or agency of the state, as parens patriae, to bring a civil action in federal district court to compel compliance with such standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3177-3178)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3176-3177)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicaid Improvement and State Empowerment Act

Bill: 112-s-1031
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Adoption and foster care
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Intergovernmental relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local finance
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Medicaid Improvement and State Empowerment Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part B (Taxpayer Provided Pass-Through Funding of Health Care Grants to States for Pregnant Women, Low-Income Children, and Low-Income Families and for Long-Term Care Services and Supports for Low-Income Elderly or Disabled Individuals).
 
Entitles each state that has submitted a plan for each 12-month period to receive a health grant from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide: (1) medical assistance to pregnant women, low-income children, and low-income families with children whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the costs of medical, rehabilitation, and other services necessary to help them attain or retain capability for independence or self-care; and (2) long-term care services and supports for low-income elderly or disabled individuals with insufficient income and resources to meet the costs of services to help them attain or retain such capability.
 
Directs the Secretary to award grants to assist eligible states in implementing state-based medical malpractice reforms. 
 
Terminates funding under SSA titles XIX and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP).
 
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Restores or revives the provisions of law amended or repealed by such Acts as if they had not been enacted. 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a new formula for payments made to or received from states under parts D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) and E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of SSA title IV that are based on the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) applicable to the state under Medicaid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for additional Federal district judgeships.

Bill: 112-s-1032
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Arizona
California
Federal district courts
Judges
New Mexico
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Directs the President to appoint, by and with the Senate's advice and consent, specified additional: (1) permanent district judges for various federal judicial districts in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas; and (2) temporary district judges for various federal districts in such states. Prohibits, for each of the districts in which a temporary district judge is required to be appointed under this Act, filling the first vacancy arising on such a district court 10 years or more after a judge is first confirmed to fill the temporary district judgeship created in that district.
 
Converts to permanent judgeships certain existing temporary judgeships for the district of Arizona, the central district of California, the district of New Mexico, and the eastern district of Texas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the City of Hermiston, Oregon, water recycling and reuse project, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1033
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Oregon
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities to reclaim and reuse water in the City of Hermiston, Oregon. Limits the federal share of project costs to 25% of the total. Prohibits the Secretary from providing funds for project operation and maintenance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-129.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3178)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1034
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commuting
Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Income tax exclusion
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to equalize and increase to $230, with a cost-of-living adjustment after 2011, the tax exclusion for both transportation and parking fringe benefits. Extends such benefits to federal employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1035
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Fires
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) 100% expensing in a current taxable year of the cost of an automated fire sprinkler system, as defined by this Act; and (2) accelerated depreciation (i.e., a 15-year recovery period) of such an automated fire sprinkler systems that is installed in a building where the floor of any occupiable story is greater than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
AbilityOne Improvements Act

Bill: 112-s-1036
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
AbilityOne Improvements Act - Requires lease agreements for providing space to a federal agency to require the federal agency, lessor, or property manager to comply with provisions of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (requiring employment in federal buildings for the blind and for people with significant disabilities) if the lease is for 60% or more of useable space on the property or the federal agency that is to be accommodated under the lease is required to contract under such Act for services being transitioned to the leased space. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3179)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3178-3179)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 with respect to the identification of high priority corridors and the inclusion of certain route segments on the Interstate System, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1037
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Texas
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to include U.S. Route 83 from U.S. Route 281 to U.S. Route 77 as part of the high priority Lower Rio Grande Valley Corridor of the National Highway System in Texas.
 
Declares that the requirement of connection to an existing Interstate System segment shall not apply to segments of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Corridor or to the U.S. Route 59 Corridor from Laredo through Houston to near Texarkana, Texas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1038
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2011-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: 
 PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011 - Amends the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 to extend through June 1, 2015, a provision granting roving electronic surveillance authority.
 
Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to extend until June 1, 2015, a provision revising the definition of an &quot;agent of a foreign power&quot; to include any non-U.S. person who engages in international terrorism or preparatory activities (&quot;lone wolf&quot; provision).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-24
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure tabled in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 13. Record Vote Number: 76.
action_date: 2011-05-24
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3247-3262, S3263-3265)
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 74 - 8. Record Vote Number: 75. (consideration: CR S3219; text CR S3219)
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S3210-3220; S3263-3265)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure (S. 1038) presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S3162; text: S3162)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure by Senator Reid made in Senate. (consideration: CR S3162)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3179)
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to ensure the equitable treatment of swimming pool enclosures outside of hurricane season under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Bill: 112-s-1041
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Building construction
Disaster relief and insurance
Floods and storm protection
Sports and recreation facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: 
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to make any property otherwise in compliance with the national flood insurance program eligible for flood insurance even it has a swimming pool located at ground level or in the space below the lowest floor of a building which is enclosed with non-supporting breakaway walls after November 30 and before June 1 (outside hurricane season).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Patient Empowerment Act

Bill: 112-s-1042
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2011-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Contracts and agency
Federal preemption
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: 
Medicare Patient Empowerment Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow any Medicare beneficiary to enter into a contract with a non-participating (as well as with a participating) physician or practitioner for any item or service covered by Medicare. Allows such beneficiaries to submit a claim for Medicare payment in the amount that would otherwise apply if the claim had been filed by a participating physician or practitioner in the payment area where the physician or practitioner covered by the contract resides.
 
Requires a Medicare beneficiary to agree in writing in such a contract to: (1) pay the physician or practitioner for a Medicare-covered item or service; and (2) submit (in lieu of the physician or practitioner) a claim for Medicare payment. Allows a beneficiary, however, to negotiate, as a term of the contract, for the physician or practitioner to file such claims on the beneficiary's behalf.
 
Preempts state laws from limiting the amount of charges for physician and practitioner services for which Medicare payment is made.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Oil Sands Energy Security Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1043
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: 
Oil Sands Energy Security Act of 2011 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal the requirement that any federal agency procurement contract for an alternative or synthetic fuel, including those from nonconventional petroleum sources, for any mobility-related use (except research or testing) specify that lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel must, on an ongoing basis, be less than or equal to such emissions from equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate