hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program Act

Bill: 112-s-566
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Department of the Interior
Earth sciences
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Natural disasters
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish within the United States Geological Survey (USGS) a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program, consisting of a national volcano watch office and data center, to oversee and coordinate the activities of USGS regional volcano watch and data centers. Sets forth as Program purposes: (1) to monitor and study volcanic activity throughout the United States at a level commensurate with the threat, and (2) to warn and protect people and property from harm.
 
Requires the Secretary to prepare a management plan for the Program, which shall include: (1) annual cost estimates of operating the Program and updating the data collection, monitoring, and analysis systems; (2) annual standards and performance goals; and (3) recommendations for establishing or enhancing partnerships with state agencies or universities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements or partnerships under which state agencies or universities are designated as volcano observatory partners for the Program. Directs the Secretary to coordinate activities under this Act with the heads of relevant federal agencies, including the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).
 
Authorizes the Secretary to establish a competitive grant program to support research and monitoring of volcanic activities in furtherance of this Act.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-39.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1602-1603)
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Education Achievement Program Reauthorization Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-567
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Intergovernmental relations
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Rural Education Achievement Program Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends part B (Rural Education Initiative) of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise the Small, Rural School Achievement program, which gives rural local educational agencies (LEAs) federal formula grants and greater flexibility in the use of state educational funds.
 
Limits eligibility to LEAs whose schools are all designated with a school locale code of Fringe Rural, Distant Rural, or Remote Rural, unless located in an area the state defines as rural.
 
Raises federal grant limits when funds available to implement the program equal or exceed $100 million.
 
Alters LEA eligibility for federal funds under the Rural and Low-Income School program by requiring that: (1) at least 40% of the children ages 5 through 17 that LEAs serve be eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act; and (2) all of their schools be designated with a school locale code of Distant Town, Remote Town, Fringe Rural, Distant Rural, or Remote Rural.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1604-1605)
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1603-1604)
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Community Safety Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-568
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Appropriations
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Motor carriers
National Guard and reserves
State and local finance
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Strengthening Community Safety Act of 2011 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make a grant to an eligible first responder agency for the additional costs incurred as a direct result of one or more of its employees who are reservists being placed on active duty. Defines "eligible first responder agency" as one for which the cost of personnel has increased by not less than 5% as a direct result of such employees being placed on active duty and which is not a for-profit organization. 
 
Prohibits the Administrator from making a grant for costs relating to an employee being placed on active duty if federal funds are used for that employee's pay or benefits. Limits the total amount of grants made to an eligible first responder agency in any fiscal year to $100,000. Terminates the Administrator's authority to make grants three years after this Act's enactment.
 
Authorizes the use of grant funds for: (1) pay or benefits for an individual hired to replace such an employee that are in addition to any pay and benefits that would have been provided to the deployed employee, (2) overtime expenses for an individual who performs tasks that would have been performed by such an employee, and (3) the costs associated with filling a vacancy created by an employee being placed on active duty. Allows a recipient to use grant funds to cover expenses incurred beginning 90 days before deployment until the date the employee returns to fully paid employment status.
 
Amends the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to reduce funding for FY2011 for grants to private operators providing transportation by an over-the-road bus for security improvements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Judicial Fairness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-569
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Federal appellate courts
Federal district courts
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Inflation and prices
Judges
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Federal Judicial Fairness Act of 2011 - Repeals the requirement limiting salary increases for federal judges or Supreme Court justices to those specifically authorized by Act of Congress.
 
Amends the federal judicial code to apply the same automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment to judicial salaries as takes effect under the General Schedule for civilian federal employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (consideration: CR S1606)
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1605-1606)
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloguing the purchases of multiple rifles and shotguns.

Bill: 112-s-570
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Prohibits the use of federal funds to require a person licensed to deal in firearms to report information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the sale of multiple rifles or shotguns to the same person.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-571
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child safety and welfare
Department of Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Preschool education
Right of privacy
Special education
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2011 - Amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act's program of grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for the education of homeless youths to: 
 
 
 raise the minimum allotment for each state; 
 
 elaborate on the functions of each state's Office of the Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youths; 
 
 elaborate on required state procedures for resolving disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless youth; 
 
 ensure that homeless youth do not lose credits earned in other schools and are not segregated into separate schools or programs within schools; 
 
 require states, LEAs, and schools to promote success for homeless youth by holding them to the same achievement standards as other students and removing barriers to their full participation in all classes and school activities; 
 
 list student-centered factors to be considered before an LEA places a homeless youth in a school; 
 
 require such schools to immediately enroll homeless youth despite unpaid fees or missed application or enrollment deadlines; 
 
 protect the privacy of information about a homeless youth's living situation; 
 
 require LEAs to coordinate services provided to homeless and disabled youth; 
 
 add to the duties of, and funding available to, LEA liaisons for homeless youth; 
 
 provide for the enrollment of homeless children in preschool programs; 
 
 require the Secretary of Education to establish or designate a Federal Office of the Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youths; 
 
 authorize the Secretary to award grants or enter into contracts for evaluation, dissemination, and technical assistance activities for educational programs for homeless youth; 
 
 triple authorized FY2012 appropriations from those authorized for FY2009.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1606-1607)
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the prohibition on collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions regarding compensation of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs other than rates of basic pay, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-572
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Prohibits collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions concerning rates of basic pay (under current law, concerning compensation) of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (Permits collective bargaining concerning compensation, other than basic rates of pay, with respect to such employees.)

action_date: 2011-09-06
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Prohibits collective bargaining with respect to matters and questions concerning rates of basic pay (under current law, concerning compensation) of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (Permits collective bargaining concerning compensation, other than basic rates of pay, with respect to such employees.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-06
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 148.
action_date: 2011-09-06
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Murray without amendment. With written report No. 112-68. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2011-09-06
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Murray without amendment. With written report No. 112-68. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2011-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Corps of Engineers Reform Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-573
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Army Corps of Engineers
Congressional oversight
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Hydrology and hydrography
Navigation, waterways, harbors
State and local finance
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: 
Corps of Engineers Reform Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to establish a program to make grants to states to carry out harbor maintenance and deepening projects in accordance with the priorities determined by each participating state. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund a separate State Harbor Maintenance Block Grant Account to fund such grant program. Requires the chief executive officer of a state to designate a state agency to administer the financial assistance received, develop the state plan to be submitted to the Secretary, hold at least one hearing to provide the public an opportunity to comment, and coordinate the implementation of harbor maintenance projects with applicable federal, state, and local agencies. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) coordinate all activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) relating to harbor maintenance activities and to coordinate with similar activities of other federal entities; (2) provide technical assistance to states in carrying out this Act; (2) review state compliance with this Act and with the plan approved for the state and terminate payments to the state for noncompliance; and (3) allot to each participating state, for each fiscal year, an amount equal to the proportion that the amounts collected in the state for deposit in the State Harbor Maintenance Block Grant Account for that fiscal year bears to the total amount of funds in that Account. Provides for a pro rata reduction of allotments in the event of insufficient funds. 
 
Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) annually, a list describing each authorized water resources project of the Corps of Engineers in the Federal Register and on a publicly available website, and (2) a list describing each water resources study or project of the Corps that is no longer authorized. 
 
Establishes a Water Resources Commission to make recommendations for the means by which to prioritize water resources projects of the Corps and prioritize Corps water resources projects that are not being carried out under a continuing authorities program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Debt Buy-Down Act

Bill: 112-s-574
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Government trust funds
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Debt Buy-Down Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers to designate up to 10% of their adjusted income tax liability for the reduction of the public debt.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Public Debt Reduction Trust Fund to hold tax revenues generated by this Act for the reduction of the public debt. 
 
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require a sequestration of federal spending equivalent to the estimated aggregate amount designated by taxpayers under this Act to reduce the public debt. Prohibits any reduction in social security retirement benefits, veterans benefits, or interest payments on federal debt as a result of any such sequestration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Debit Interchange Fee Study Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-575
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Consumer credit
Federal Reserve System
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Retail and wholesale trades
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Debit Interchange Fee Study Act of 2011 - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to extend from 9 months after the date of enactment of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act the rulemaking timelines and effective dates for the proposed debit interchange (swipe) rule of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) that is required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
 
Declares void and without legal effect any regulation proposed or prescribed by the Board pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act before the date that is 6 months after completion of the study required by this Act.
 
Directs specified banking regulatory agencies (study agencies) to study jointly and report to certain congressional committees regarding the impact of regulating debit interchange transaction (swipe) fees and related issues under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Prescribes study contents including the costs and benefits of electronic debit card transactions (EDTs) and alternative forms of payment, including cash, check, and automated clearing house (ACH) for consumers, merchants, issuers, and debit card networks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
FIT Kids Act

Bill: 112-s-576
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child health
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act or FIT Kids Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require annual state and local educational agency report cards to include specified information on school health and physical education programs.
 
Includes the promotion of healthy, active lifestyles by students within ESEA grant programs that support school counseling, smaller learning communities, community learning centers, and parental involvement in their childrens' education.
 
Revises the professional development program for teachers and principals to include training for physical and health education teachers, and training on improving students' health habits and participation in physical activities.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for a study that: (1) assesses the effect health and physical education have on students' ability to learn; and (2) makes recommendations for improving, and measuring improvements to, their health and physical education in schools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1678-1680)
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1678)
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-577
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the identification requirements for the child tax credit to require taxpayers to provide valid identification numbers on their tax returns in addition to the names and identification numbers of each qualifying child.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Repealing Ineffective and Incomplete Abstinence-Only Program Funding Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-578
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Appropriations
Child health
Family planning and birth control
HIV/AIDS
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Sexually transmitted diseases
Teenage pregnancy

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Repealing Ineffective and Incomplete Abstinence-Only Program Funding Act of 2011 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to: (1) eliminate the abstinence-only education program, (2) rescind unobligated FY2010 and 2011 program appropriations, and (3) reprogram such rescinded appropriations for the personal responsibility education program (PREP) for FY2012-FY2014.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate