hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to authorize educational assistance under the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship program for pursuit of advanced degrees in physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Bill: 112-s-1976
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health personnel
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Military medicine
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-08
text: 
Requires, in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense (DOD), that assistance be available under the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship program for pursuit of a master's and doctoral degree in the disciplines of physical and occupational therapy. 
 
Terminates the availability of assistance for either such discipline when the Secretary certifies that there no longer exists a current or projected shortfall in qualified personnel in that discipline in either the military departments or any major military medical treatment facility specializing in the rehabilitation of wounded Armed Forces members. 
 
Declares that assistance under this Act, if not already terminated, shall expire two years after enactment of this Act, provided that such expiration is not construed to terminate ongoing assistance to persons provided assistance before or as of such date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-12-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8462-8463)
action_date: 2011-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Driver Fatigue Prevention Act

Bill: 112-s-1977
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-12-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Labor standards
Motor carriers
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: 
Driver Fatigue Prevention Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to apply its maximum hours requirements to over-the-road bus drivers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Community College Innovation Act

Bill: 112-s-1978
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2011-12-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Economic performance and conditions
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Higher education
Manufacturing
Unemployment
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: 
Community College Innovation Act - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Education to establish a national demonstration project to increase employment opportunities for workers in qualified industries by establishing partnerships among education entities, state workforce investment systems, and businesses.
 
Defines &quot;qualified industry&quot; to mean an industry or economic sector that has significant demands for training (which may include education) for middle- and high-skill occupations.
 
Directs the Secretary to award competitive two-, three-, or four-year community-based job training grants to eligible entities for: (1) the development and expansion of community college training programs leading to an industry-recognized credential or degree and employment in a qualified industry; and (2) training of adults, incumbent workers, dislocated workers, or out-of-school youth through such programs. 
 
Authorizes the use of such grants to: (1) disseminate training information on high-growth, high-demand occupations in qualified industries through a one-stop delivery system to prospective participants, businesses, and community-based organizations; or (2) refer trained individuals for employment in a qualified industry.
 
Directs the Secretary to award grants to states for projects to modernize, renovate, or repair existing community college facilities.
 
Requires a state in the award of a grant to consider the extent to which the community college's project meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System standards, Energy Star standards, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria, Green Building Initiative environmental design and rating standards (Green Globes), or equivalent program adopted by the state or the state higher education agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Conrad State 30 Improvement Act

Bill: 112-s-1979
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2011-12-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Immigration status and procedures
Medical education
Rural conditions and development
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: 
Conrad State 30 Improvement Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to make the J-1 visa waiver (Conrad state 30/medical services in underserved areas) program permanent.
 
Includes in the priority worker preference allocation for employment-based immigrants alien physicians who have completed service requirements of a state waiver or exemption, plus an additional two years at the waiver-identified location or in a health care shortage area (including alien physicians who completed such service prior to enactment of this Act).
 
Exempts H-1B nonimmigrant aliens seeking to enter the United States to pursue graduate medical education or training from specified entry limitations (including permitting extension of the six-year authorized period of admission under specified circumstances).
 
Increases the number of alien physicians that a state may be allocated from 30 to 35 per fiscal year under specified circumstances.
 
Permits an alien physician, after fulfilling a three-year service period with a health care employer, to apply for employment with a new health care employer in a health care shortage area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-12-12
text: Introduced in Senate
No Budget, No Pay Act

Bill: 112-s-1981
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
No Budget, No Pay Act - Prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. Prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1982
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2011 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a demonstration program awarding grants to eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects that focus on care coordination and service delivery redesign for older individuals with chronic illness or at risk of institutional placement. 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1983
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Europe
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Ireland
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, and (2) increase the per country numerical limitation for family based immigrants from 7% to 15% of the total number of family-sponsored visas. 
 
Amends the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 to eliminate the provision requiring the reduction of annual Chinese (PRC) immigrant visas to offset status adjustments under such Act.
 
Sets forth the following transition period for employment-based second and third preference (EB-2 and EB-3) immigrant visas: (1) for FY2012, 15% of such visas allotted to natives of countries other than the two countries with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2010; (2) for FY2013, 10% of such visas allotted in each category to natives of countries other than the two with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2011; and (3) for FY2014, 10% of such visas allotted in each category to natives of countries other than the two with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2012.
 
Sets forth the following per country distribution rules: (1) for transition period visas, not more than 25% of the total number of EB-2 and EB-3 visas for natives of a single country; and (2) for non-transition period visas, not more than 85% of EB-2 and EB-3 visas for natives of a single country.
 
Includes nationals of Ireland coming to the United States under a treaty of commerce to perform specialty occupation services in the nonimmigrant E-3 visa category.
 
Transfers specified approval authority regarding the temporary admission of certain aliens not otherwise admissible from the Attorney General (DOJ) to the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS). Expands the grounds for such approval.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect our Kids Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1984
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
Protect our Kids Act of 2011 - Establishes the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities to conduct a thorough study on reducing fatalities from child abuse and neglect. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8549)
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Deficit Reduction Implementation Act

Bill: 112-s-1985
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
Deficit Reduction Implementation Act - Authorizes a Senator or Member of the House of Representatives, by February 29, 2012, to introduce a bipartisan deficit reduction bill that: (1) has a specified minimum number of sponsors in the Senate and in the House who caucus with Democrats and who caucus with Republicans; (2) states as its purpose to reduce the deficit by a goal of $4 trillion, but at least $1.5 trillion between FY2012-FY2021; and (3) specifies that it is being introduced pursuant to this Act.
 
Prescribes legislative procedures for considering such a bill.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States in certain land conveyed by the United States in 1950 for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota.

Bill: 112-s-1987
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Land transfers
Minnesota

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to release, without consideration, specified conditions (including the reversionary interest retained by the United States) on the use of certain land conveyed to the state of Minnesota for the establishment of an airport in Cook County, Minnesota.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement Act

Bill: 112-s-1988
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2011-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Outdoor recreation
Property rights

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Supporting Home Owner Rights Enforcement Act - Amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), when deciding whether to issue a hydropower project license, to give equal consideration to private landownership by any nonlicensee and private use of land.
 
Requires a hydropower project licensee, in developing any recreational resource within the project boundary, to consider private landownership by any nonlicensee as a means to encourage and facilitate private investment and increased tourism and recreational use. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the minimum low-income housing tax credit rate for unsubsidized buildings and to provide a minimum 4 percent credit rate for existing buildings.

Bill: 112-s-1989
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Low- and moderate-income housing

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the the minimum low-income housing tax credit rate for new buildings that are not federally subsidized, and (2) establish a minimum 4% low-income housing tax rate for existing buildings that are not federally subsidized. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Transportation Security Administration to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Bill: 112-s-1990
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Department of Homeland Security
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Law enforcement officers
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Transportation safety and security
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act when carrying out certain personnel decisions with respect to the employment of air transportation passenger and property screeners.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8604)
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8603-8604)
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish the National Endowment for the Oceans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1991
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government trust funds
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Research administration and funding
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Establishes in the Treasury a trust fund to be known as the National Endowment for the Oceans (NEO) to: (1) allocate funding to coastal states and affected Indian tribes, (2) make grants to regional ocean and coastal planning bodies, and (3) develop and implement a National Grant Program for Oceans and Coastal Waters.
 
 Directs the Secretary of Commerce to serve as trustee.
 
Requires that funds be allocated by the Secretary only to fund grants for programs and activities to restore, protect, maintain, or understand living marine resources and their habitats and resources in ocean and coastal waters, including baseline scientific research, ocean observing, and other programs and activities carried out in coordination with federal and state agencies, that are consistent with federal environmental laws and that avoid environmental degradation.
 
Directs the Secretary to allocate from the amounts to be distributed among states each fiscal year: (1) 50% equally among coastal states, (2) 25% based on tidal shoreline miles, and (3) 25% based on the coastal population density of a coastal state. Limits the percentage of total funds that a state or territory may receive in any fiscal year.
 
Requires, upon the establishment of a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, that specified interest and investment proceeds from such Fund be transferred to the NEO. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Flexibility for Transit Assistance Act

Bill: 112-s-1992
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Economic performance and conditions
Energy prices
Public transit
Transportation programs funding
Unemployment
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Local Flexibility for Transit Assistance Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to make urbanized area formula grants for the operating costs of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation in an urbanized area with a population over 200,000 to a designated recipient, direct recipient, or subrecipient that provides public transportation in the area operating less than 100 buses in fixed-route service in the area during peak service hours.
 
Authorizes a designated recipient or direct recipient that operates at least 100 buses in fixed-route service during peak service hours in an urbanized area with a population of more than 200,000 to use grant funds for the operating costs of public transportation equipment and facilities in such projects if: (1) the recipients are certified by the Secretary as being in a crisis period; and (2) the recipients' percentage of revenue for the operating costs of public transportation equipment and facilities from non-federal sources (excluding system-generated revenue) is equal to the previous fiscal year's revenue, or the revenue is derived from dedicated sources.
 
Specifies percentage limitations on the use of funds for urbanized areas with populations between 200,000 and 500,000, between 500,000 and 1 million, and over 1 million.
 
Defines &quot;crisis period&quot; to mean that: (1) the unemployment rate within the recipients' service area is 7% or higher for the preceding month, or (2) the national average retail price of regular gasoline during a quarter has increased by more than 10%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Lena Horne Recognition Act

Bill: 112-s-1993
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Congressional tributes
Music
Performing arts
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Lena Horne Recognition Act - Directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration of Lena Horne in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the civil rights movement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate