hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
American Oil for American Families Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2211
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Energy storage, supplies, demand
Forests, forestry, trees
General public lands matters
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
American Oil for American Families Act of 2012 - Bans the export from the United States of petroleum extracted from public lands in the United States (including lands located on the outer Continental Shelf [OCS]), or a petroleum product produced from such petroleum.


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
Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act

Bill: 112-s-2212
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Cultural exchanges and relations
Government liability
International law and treaties
Jurisdiction and venue
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Property rights
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act - Amends the federal judicial code with respect to denial of a foreign state's immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. or state courts (under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act) in cases where rights in property taken in violation of international law are in issue and that property (or any property exchanged for it) is: (1) present in the United States in connection with a commercial activity carried on by the foreign state in the United States; or (2) owned by an agency or instrumentality of the foreign state, and that agency or instrumentality is engaged in a commercial activity in the United States.
 
Prohibits consideration as a commercial activity (excluded from jurisdictional immunity) any activity in the United States of a foreign state, or of any carrier, associated with a temporary exhibition or display if: (1) the work of art (or other object of cultural significance) in question is imported into the United States from any foreign country pursuant to an agreement for its temporary exhibit or display between a foreign state that is its owner or custodian and the United States or cultural or educational institutions within it; and (2) the President has determined, with notice in the Federal Register, that such work is culturally significant and its temporary exhibition or display is in the national interest. (Thus grants jurisdictional immunity to the foreign state and associated carrier for such works.)
 
Denies application of this prohibition to cases in which: (1) the action filed is based upon a claim that the work was taken in Europe in violation of international law by the Nazi government of Germany or governments occupied, assisted, or allied by the Nazi government between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945; (2) the court determines that the activity associated with the exhibition or display is commercial; and (3) that determination is necessary for the court to exercise jurisdiction over the foreign state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1849)
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1848-1849)
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2213
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to authorize a person who is not prohibited from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm under federal law, who is entitled and not prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence or who is carrying a valid state license or permit to carry a concealed weapon, and who is carrying a government-issued photographic identification document, to carry a concealed handgun (which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, other than a machinegun or destructive device) in any state in accordance with the restrictions of that state.
 
Provides that in a state that allows the issuing authority for licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms to impose restrictions on the carrying of firearms by individual license or permit holders, an individual carrying a concealed handgun under this Act shall be permitted to carry it according to the same terms authorized by an unrestricted license or permit issued by such state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to remove restrictions from a parcel of land situated in the Atlantic District, Accomack County, Virginia.

Bill: 112-s-2214
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2012-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: 
Instructs the Secretary of the Interior, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to remove all deed restrictions, including easements and covenants, described in a specified quitclaim deed from the United States to Accomack County, Virginia, relating to a parcel of land consisting of approximately 31.6 acres situated in the Atlantic District of the county. 


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
Rural Energy Savings Program Act

Bill: 112-s-2216
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Consumer credit
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Rural conditions and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: 
Rural Energy Savings Program Act - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Utilities Service, to make interest-free loans to eligible entities (public power districts, public utility districts, or specified electric cooperatives that borrowed and repaid, prepaid, or are paying an electric loan made or guaranteed by the Rural Utilities Service) for loans to consumers to implement energy efficient measures.
 
Provides a special advance for start-up activities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a qualified entity to provide verification and measurement activities and employee technical assistance and training.
 
Directs the Secretary to offer to enter into agreements with eligible entities, or groups of eligible entities, that have specified energy efficiency programs to establish energy efficiency loan demonstration projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural America Preservation Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2217
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Corporate finance and management
Department of Agriculture
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: 
Rural America Preservation Act of 2012 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to cap maximum annual crop year direct and indirect payments to an individual or a legal entity for: (1) covered commodities, at $125,000 (maximum of $75,000 in marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments and $50,000 for other payments); and (2) peanuts, at $125,000 (maximum of $75,000 in marketing loan gains and loan deficiency payments and $50,000 for other payments).
 Provides that an eligible person and spouse in a single farming operation may jointly receive up to twice such amount. 
Revises provisions respecting limitation of benefits to active farmers.
 
Makes foreign individuals and foreign entities ineligible for agricultural program benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1936-1938)
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1935-1936)
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2218
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal officials
Fires

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: 
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to: (1) revise references to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to provide for its establishment within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (rather than within the Department of Commerce) and to change references to the head of FEMA as the Administrator (rather than the Director); (2) authorize the USFA Administrator to appoint a Deputy Administrator (current law requires the Deputy Administrator to be appointed by the President); (3) authorize the USFA Administrator to take such steps as the Administrator considers appropriate to educate the public and overcome public indifference as to individual preparedness (as well as to fire and fire prevention); and (4) authorize appropriations to carry out such Act through FY2017.

action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 

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

 
United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to: (1) revise references to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to provide for its establishment within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (rather than within the Department of Commerce) and to change references to the head of FEMA as the Administrator (rather than the Director), (2) authorize the USFA Administrator to appoint a Deputy Administrator (current law requires the Deputy Administrator to be appointed by the President), (3) authorize the USFA Administrator to take such steps as the Administrator considers appropriate to educate the public and overcome public indifference as to individual preparedness (as well as to fire and fire prevention), and (4) authorize appropriations to carry out such Act through FY2017.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 447.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. With written report No. 112-180.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman without amendment. With written report No. 112-180.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
DISCLOSE Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2219
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Business records
Congressional elections
Corporate finance and management
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Labor-management relations
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: 
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2012 or DISCLOSE Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidates, qualifications, or fitness for office.
 
Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
 
Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA (but only with respect to such accounts).
 
Prescribes disclaimer requirements for public communications that include functional equivalent of express advocacy.
 
Requires any communication transmitted through radio or television to include an individual or organizational disclosure statement, together with: (1) the Top Two Funders List of the persons providing the largest and second largest aggregate payments of $10,000 or more for a radio communication, and (2) the Top Five Funders List of the five persons providing the largest aggregate payments of $10,000 or more for a television communication.
 
Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-770.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1938)
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Momo Krcic.

Bill: 112-s-2220
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Provides for the relief of Momo Krcic.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserving America's Family Farms Act

Bill: 112-s-2221
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural practices and innovations
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Labor standards
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: 
Preserving America's Family Farms Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing or enforcing proposed rule &quot;Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation; Child Labor Violations-Civil Money Penalties&quot; (relating to child labor in agricultural and nonagricultural occupations) issued pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act and published on September 2, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to take certain actions to reduce excessive speculation in energy markets.

Bill: 112-s-2222
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2012-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Commodities markets
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: 
Instructs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to use its authority (including emergency powers) to: (1) to curb immediately the role of excessive speculation in any contract market within its jurisdiction and control that is serving as a platform for the trading of energy futures or swaps; and (2) eliminate excessive speculation, price distortion, sudden or unreasonable fluctuations, unwarranted changes in prices, or other unlawful activity that is causing major market disturbances that prevent the market from accurately reflecting the forces of supply and demand for energy commodities.
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to address the implementation of certain prohibitions under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-2223
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2012-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Financial services and investments
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: 
Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to delay the effective date for specified prohibitions against proprietary trading by banking entities and certain relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds (Volcker Rule) to the later of either 12 months after issuance of final implementing rules, or 2 years after July 21, 2010.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to reauthorize and improve the Rural Energy for America program.

Bill: 112-s-2225
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Rural conditions and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: 
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding the Rural Energy for America Program to: (1) extend the Program through FY2017, (2) make nonprofit organizations eligible for assistance, (3) make assistance available to purchase unique components of renewable energy systems, (4) create a tiered loan and grant application process that reflects project size, (5) prohibit requiring a second meter for on-farm residential portions of rural projects connected to the energy grid, (6) permit the combined amount of a grant and a loan guarantee to cover all eligible activity costs, and (7) limit individual grant amounts for feasibility studies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2003)
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2002-2003)
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from awarding any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other financial assistance under section 103 of the Clean Air Act for any program, project, or activity carried out outside the United States, including the territories and possessions of the United States.

Bill: 112-s-2226
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2012-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Public contracts and procurement
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: 
Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from awarding grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other financial assistance under the national research and development program for the prevention and control of air pollution for any program, project, or activity carried out outside the United States, including its territories and possessions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2227
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax credits
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: 
Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for the health insurance expenses of small employers, to: (1) expand the eligibility of such employers for the credit by allowing them to have up to 50 full-time employees (currently, limited to no more than 25 full-time employees); (2) modify the phaseout of such credit based upon increases in the number of eligible employees and the employer's average annual wages; (3) increase the average annual wage limitation for 2012, 2013, and subsequent years; (4) repeal the requirement that employers make uniform contributions of at least 50% of each employee's premium to qualify for the tax credit; and (5) repeal the limitation on such credit based on the average premium in the small group market in the rating area in which an employee enrolls for coverage. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act

Bill: 112-s-2228
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2012-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: 
Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the city of Yerington, Nevada, all interest of the United States in the federal lands located in Lyon and Mineral Counties, Nevada, identified as City of Yerington Sustainable Development Conveyance Lands in exchange for consideration in an amount that is equal to their fair market value. 
 
Makes the city of Yerington responsible for all survey, appraisal, and other administrative costs associated with the conveyance of such lands. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate