hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
American Dream Accounts Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2194
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Financial literacy
Higher education
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
American Dream Accounts Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible entities so each can establish and administer American Dream Accounts for a group of at least 30 low-income public school students who, at the time the entities apply for a grant, are attending a grade no higher than ninth grade.
 
Lists as eligible entities: (1) state educational agencies, (2) local educational agencies, (3) charter schools, (4) institutions of higher education (IHEs), (5) nonprofit organizations, (6) entities experienced in educational savings or assisting low-income students attain higher education, and (7) consortia of two or more of these entities.
 
Describes an American Dream Account as a personal online account for low-income students that monitors their progress toward higher education and includes a college savings account that provides some tax-preferred accumulation.
 
Requires American Dream Accounts to provide students with opportunities, either online or in person, to: (1) attain financial literacy; (2) learn about preparing for enrollment in an IHE; and (3) identify their skills or interests, including career interests.
 
Requires grantees, subject to federal privacy laws and regulations, to allow vested stakeholders to have secure Internet access to an American Dream Account, but not the college savings account portion of that Account.
 
Prohibits grantees from using their grant to provide the initial deposit into the college savings account portion of a student's American Dream Account.
 
Prohibits the funds in those college savings accounts from being considered in making federal student financial aid determinations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1735-1736)
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional and Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2195
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Members of Congress
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
 Congressional and Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2012 - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require all individuals required to file annual financial disclosure reports under the Act to include in their reports the amount of any delinquent tax liability owed to the United States or any state or local government entity.
 
Requires the appropriate supervising ethics office to open an inquiry immediately into the tax delinquency of that individual to determine: (1) his or her total delinquent tax liability and reason for such delinquency, (2) whether the individual has a plan to eliminate it, and (3) whether it has reflected poorly on Congress or the employing agency.
 
Prohibits public disclosure of any such delinquent tax liability.
 
Requires such individual to arrange with the relevant payroll office and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to have his or her salary reduced by an amount appropriate to pay the taxes owed to the United States within a reasonable time period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2196
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employment taxes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2012 - Allows access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) beginning in 2014 for persons who would have been entitled to, or could have enrolled in part A (Hospital Insurance) Medicare benefits, or who could have enrolled in part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) Medicare.
 
States that a covered individual who elects to enroll in such program shall enroll as an individual and not as self and family.
 
Bases monthly premiums on adjusted gross income.
 
Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish procedures to ensure that health benefits plans coordinate with state Medicaid programs regarding cost-sharing and other medical assistance for covered individuals enrolled in health benefit plans who are also eligible for medical assistance and enrolled in a state Medicaid program.
 
Requires OPM, at the end of each contract year, to identify high risk individuals and pay to a carrier contracting to provide a health benefits plan to a high risk individual 90% of the benefits paid by the carrier for such individual.
 
Defines &quot;high risk individual&quot; as an enrolled individual who, of all individuals enrolled in a health benefits plan for the contract year, is in the highest 5% in terms of benefits paid by a carrier for the contract year.
 
Exempts health benefits plans from specified insurance requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to incrementally increase the Medicare qualifying age from 65 years to 70 years, by 2034, plus the number of months in a specified age increase factor.
 
Sunsets Medicare, on January 1, 2014, with a transition to FEHBP coverage. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make available to states recommendations with respect to specified requirements for health care entities and individuals under Medicare that will no longer apply but that should be considered on the state level.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness in Disclosure of Evidence Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2197
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Evidence and witnesses
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
Fairness in Disclosure of Evidence Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to require the attorney for the government, in a criminal prosecution, to provide to the defendant any information or evidence that may reasonably appear to be favorable to the defendant regarding the determination of guilt, any preliminary matter before the cour, or the sentence to be imposed (covered information): (1) that is within the possession, custody, or control of the prosecution team; or (2) the existence of which is known, or through due diligence would become known, to that attorney.
 
Directs the government attorney to provide to the defendant any covered information: (1) without delay after arraignment and before the entry of any guilty plea; and (2) as soon as is reasonably practicable upon its becoming known, without regard to whether the defendant has entered or agreed to enter a guilty plea.
 
Authorizes the court, upon motion of the United States which the court may permit to be filed under seal to protect a witness's identity, to issue an order to protect against immediate disclosure if: (1) the covered information is favorable to the defendant solely because it would provide a basis to impeach the credibility of a potential witness, and (2) the United States establishes a reasonable basis to believe that the identity of the potential witness is not already known to any defendant and disclosure would present a threat to anyone's safety.
 
Permits the court, under specified circumstances, to accept a waiver of this Act by a defendant. Prohibits a defendant from waiving a provision of this Act except in open court. 
 
Requires the court to order an appropriate remedy upon determining that the United States has violated the requirement to disclose or to disclose in a timely manner and provides for payment of the defendant's costs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1736-1737)
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Commonsense Contractor Compensation Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2198
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
Commonsense Contractor Compensation Act of 2012 - Limits the amount of compensation payable to employees of government contractors for a fiscal year to the annual amount paid to the President of the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Saving the Family Farm Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2200
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Farmland
Small business
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
Saving the Family Farm Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate of a decedent the adjusted value of any qualified family-owned farm or business (i.e., a qualified farmland or a qualified trade or business) included in the estate. Requires: (1) the decedent to have been a citizen or resident of the United States at the time of death, (2) the decedent and members of the decedent's family to have owned not less than 60% of such farm or business in any 5-year period during the 8-year period prior to the decedent's death, and (3) material participation in the operation of the farm or business by the decedent and members of the decedent's family. 
 
Defines &quot;qualified farmland&quot; as any real property located in the United States that is used as a farm for farming purposes. Defines &quot;qualified trade or business&quot; as any interest in a trade or business that is not an interest in a C corporation and that was acquired from or passed from the decedent to an heir. 
 
Imposes a recapture tax on an heir who disposes of any interest in a qualified family-owned farm or business or who ceases to use qualified farmland for farming purposes after inheriting such property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
American Energy and Job Promotion Act

Bill: 112-s-2201
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
American Energy and Job Promotion Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2014 the date by which specified alternative or renewable energy facilities (i.e., wind, biomass, geothermal or solar energy, landfill gas, trash, qualified hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities) must be placed in service to qualify for the electricity production tax credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1737)
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Preparedness and Resilience Foundation Act

Bill: 112-s-2202
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2012-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Homeland security
Natural disasters
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: 
Preparedness and Resilience Foundation Act - Establishes the Preparedness and Resilience Foundation as a nonprofit, private corporation to support and carry out activities that: (1) promote the resilience of individuals, communities, structures, and systems against natural disasters and terrorist attacks and other human caused disasters; and (2) build and sustain capabilities of the public, private, and civic sectors to work together to prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all such hazards.
 
Directs the Foundation to establish an Endowment Fund for providing endowments for positions that are associated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and dedicated to the Foundation's purpose. Includes among Foundation activities providing for: (1) fellowship programs among state, local, and tribal officials to work and study in association with each other and FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); (2) international exchange programs for voluntary or reciprocal service by officials engaged in preparedness or resilience activities; and (3) programs to improve the collection and analysis of data on preparedness and resilience programs, practices, activities, and events. 
 
Authorizes the FEMA Administrator to: (1) accept any gift or devise of property and any voluntary service provided by the Foundation for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of FEMA; and (2) provide to the Foundation facilities, utilities, and support services as determined to be advantageous to FEMA or DHS programs. 
 
Establishes a committee to incorporate, provide for initial operation of, and appoint the initial Board of Directors of, the Foundation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1738-1740)
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1737-1738)
action_date: 2012-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act

Bill: 112-s-2203
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Sciences and History
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Archaeology and anthropology
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Land transfers
Monuments and memorials
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
New York City
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Racial and ethnic relations
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: 
African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act - Establishes the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York, New York. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), to: (1) acquire for the Museum property that is located adjacent to the National Monument or in any other area of the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in the city other than the location adjacent to the Monument, and (2) construct the Museum on the acquired property. 
 
Establishes within the Department of the Interior the African Burial Ground Advisory Council to: (1) make recommendations to the Secretary on the construction of the Museum, and (2) advise and assist the Secretary on all matters relating to the operation and preservation of the Museum.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Second Amendment Sovereignty Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2205
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2012-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Firearms and explosives
International law and treaties
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: 
Second Amendment Sovereignty Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. sovereignty and the constitutionally protected freedoms of American gun owners must be upheld and not be undermined by a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
 
Prohibits funds from being obligated or expended to use U.S. influence, in connection with negotiations for a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to restrict the rights of U.S. citizens under the second amendment to the Constitution, or to otherwise regulate domestic manufacture, assembly, possession, use, transfer, or purchase of firearms, ammunition, or related items.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
GI Educational Freedom Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2206
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
GI Educational Freedom Act of 2012 - Requires any individual eligible for veterans' educational assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be provided educational and vocational counseling services before the receipt of such educational assistance, unless the individual specifically declines such counseling. Outlines information to be included in such counseling. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make such information available to the public.
 
Repeals the $6 million fiscal year limit for VA contracting for such counseling services.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a system to collect, process, and track complaints submitted by individuals enrolled in VA programs of education to report instances of fraud, waste, and abuse with respect to benefits and services provided by educational institutions. Requires a state approving agency, when considering whether to approve a course of education at an educational institution, to review and take into consideration the complaints processed and tracked by such system. Provides for the confidentiality of such complaints.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
RIGHTS Act

Bill: 112-s-2207
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aging
Aviation and airports
Consumer affairs
Department of Homeland Security
Disability and paralysis
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
Restoring Integrity and Good-Heartedness in Traveler Screening Act or RIGHTS Act - Directs the Office of the Ombudsman of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in addition to its existing duties, to: (1) record complaints from the public regarding TSA screening practices, (2) determine best practices to resolve frequent passenger complaints and assist in training TSA agents regarding such practices, (3) resolve complaints of mistreatment by TSA employees, and (4) field advance notification calls with individuals with medical conditions or disabilities and arrange for airport screening procedures for such individuals that ensure flight safety without causing them undue hardship.
 
Directs the Ombudsman to appoint TSA passenger advocates for each Category X airport (an airport with 100% advance technology x-ray screening at all check points). Requires Office duties to be performed by such passenger advocates under the Ombudsman's superivison.
 
Requires every Category X airport to: (1) have at least one TSA passenger advocate on duty during operating hours, and (2) place clearly visible signs at each gate explaining that a passenger advocate may be summoned (including how to summon one) if passengers believe that a TSA employee has mistreated them on the basis of advanced age or disability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Export Apple Act to permit the export of apples to Canada in bulk bins without certification by the Department of Agriculture.

Bill: 112-s-2208
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural trade
Canada
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
Amends the Export Apple Act to permit apples to be exported to Canada in bulk bins (a quantity of apples weighing more than 100 pounds) without complying with certain inspection and certification requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the value of certain historic property shall be determined using an income approach in determining the taxable estate of a decedent.

Bill: 112-s-2209
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow decedent estates to base the value of qualified historic property on the net earnings of such property for estate and gift tax purposes. Defines "qualified historic property" as any building designated as a national historic landmark for at least 25 years prior to the death of a decedent and originally used for residential or farming purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
No Pay Raise for Congress Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2210
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Inflation and prices
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
No Pay Raise for Congress Act of 2012 - Eliminates automatic cost of living (COLA) adjustments for Members of Congress during FY2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate