hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Free File Program Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1796
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Free File Program Act of 2011 - Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to continue to operate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File program (free online individual income tax preparation and electronic filing services provided by the private sector technology industry to lower income taxpayers).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to permit as part of certain highway projects the installation of charging infrastructure for plug-in electric drive vehicles.

Bill: 112-s-1797
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Public transit
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Includes as an eligible project under specified federal-aid highway programs the installation of plug-in electric drive vehicle charging infrastructure at fringe and corridor parking facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1798
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Fires
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Iraq
Medical research
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) establish and maintain an open pit burn registry for members of the Armed Forces deployed in a contingency operation in Iraq or Afghanistan who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits used for disposing solid waste, (2) include in such registry information necessary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of such exposure, (3) develop a public information campaign to inform eligible individuals about the registry, and (4) periodically notify such individuals of significant developments in the study and treatment of conditions associated with such exposure.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) contract with an independent scientific organization to develop a report assessing the effectiveness of actions taken to collect and maintain information on the health effects of such exposure, and (2) submit the completed report to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1799
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans Act of 2011 - Includes within authorized preventive health services available to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) immunizations against infectious diseases, including each immunization on the recommended adult immunization schedule established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
 
Requires the inclusion, in an annual report from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on VA preventive health services, of programs conducted to ensure that veterans have received each immunization on such immunization schedule at the appropriate time.
 
Directs the Secretary to develop and implement quality measures and metrics to ensure that veterans receiving VA medical services receive each immunization at the time indicated on the schedule. Requires statistics related to such quality measures and metrics to be included in the annual report described above. Provides deadlines for the establishment and implementation of the measures and metrics.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Parental Consent Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1800
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Child safety and welfare
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Evidence and witnesses
Family relationships
Health programs administration and funding
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Parental Consent Act of 2011 - Prohibits federal funds from being used to establish or implement any universal or mandatory mental health, psychiatric, or socioemotional screening program. 
 
Prohibits federal education funds from being used to pay any local educational agency or other instrument of government that uses the refusal of a parent or legal guardian to provide consent to mental health screening as the basis of a charge of child abuse, child neglect, medical neglect, or education neglect until the agency or instrument demonstrates that it is no longer using such refusal as a basis of such charge.
 
Defines a screening program under this Act as any mental health screening program in which a set of individuals is automatically screened without regard to whether there was a prior indication of a need for mental health treatment, including: (1) any program of state incentive grants to implement recommendations in the July 2003 report of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, the State Early Childhood Comprehensive System, grants for TeenScreen, and the Foundations for Learning Grants; and (2) any student mental health screening program that allows mental health screening of individuals under 18 years of age without the express, written, voluntary, informed consent of the parent or legal guardian of the individual involved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Jobs Tax Extenders Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1801
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Business investment and capital
Capital gains tax
Contracts and agency
Employment taxes
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Sales and excise taxes
Securities
Self-employed
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Small Business Jobs Tax Extenders Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for one year certain tax expenditures for small businesses, including: (1) the 100% exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock, (2) the five-year carryback of tax credit amounts of eligible small businesses, (3) increased expensing and accelerated depreciation allowances, (4) the increased tax deduction for business start-up expenses, and (5) the tax deduction allowed for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals.
 
Exempts from the requirement to purchase health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act an indivdual whose required contribution (determined on an annual basis) for coverage for a month exceeds 5% (currently 8%) of such individual's household income for the taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7129-7131)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7128-7129)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Kids Outdoors Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1802
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Child health
Family services
Hunting and fishing
Intergovernmental relations
Mental health
Nutrition and diet
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Public transit
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
 Healthy Kids Outdoors Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue one cooperative agreement per state to eligible entities to implement and update a five-year Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy for encouraging Americans, especially children, youth, and families, to be physically active outdoors. 
 
Requires each Strategy to provide for subgrants to local partners for the implementation of the strategy through one or more of the program activities relating to outdoor recreation as described in this Act. 
 
Requires eligible entities to provide a 25% match of the funding that they receive under this Act through in-kind contributions or cash. 
 
Directs the President to issue a national strategy for encouraging Americans to be physically active outdoors. 
 
Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a study of national significance on the health impacts of the strategies under this Act. 
 
Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance to grantees and to disseminate best practices that emerge from the state strategies funded by this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7131-7133)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7131)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Permanent Guarantee of Sensible Treatment of Farm Dust Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1803
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Permanent Guarantee of Sensible Treatment of Farm Dust Act of 2011- Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any regulation revising the national primary ambient air quality standard or the national secondary ambient air quality standard applicable to nuisance dust with an aerodynamic diameter greater than 2.5 micrometers under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
 
Exempts nuisance dust from the CAA and excludes nuisance dust from references in such Act to particulate matter, except with respect to geographical areas where such dust is not regulated under state, tribal, or local law if the Administrator finds that: (1) nuisance dust (or any subcategory of nuisance dust) causes substantial adverse public health and welfare effects at ambient concentrations; and (2) the benefits of applying CAA standards and other requirements to such dust outweigh the costs. 
 
Defines "nuisance dust" as particulate matter: (1) generated from natural sources, unpaved roads, agricultural activities, earth moving, or other activities typically conducted in rural areas; or (2) consisting primarily of soil, other natural or biological materials, windblown dust, or some combination thereof.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from rejecting or otherwise determining to be inadequate a State implementation plan in any case in which the State submitting the plan has not been given a reasonable time to develop and submit the plan in accordance with a certain provision of the Clean Air Act.

Bill: 112-s-1805
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Environmental regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from rejecting a state implementation plan (SIP) or determining it to be inadequate, or from requiring compliance with a federal implementation plan for national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards, in any case in which the Administrator has not provided the state submitting the SIP at least two years after the date of promulgation of any final rule establishing an applicable standard intended to reduce the interstate transport of fine particulate matter and ozone to develop and submit an SIP.
 
Prohibits the Administrator from rejecting a SIP during such two-year development period if, as a result of such a rejection, the state would be required to comply with such rule by not later than a year after the date of submission of the SIP.
 
Requires the Administrator to provide in a timely manner to a requesting state any reasonable technical support, clarification, guidance, or data (including integrated planning models and other modeling) regarding the content of any final rule or regulation material to an SIP.
 
Prohibits: (1) the proposed rule entitled &quot;Federal Implementation Plans To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone&quot; from being or becoming effective until at least 18 months after this Act's enactment, or (2) requiring compliance with any standard or requirement under such rule or further regulatory action triggered by such rule until the final rule becomes effective.
 
Requires the Administrator to continue to implement the final rule commonly known as the &quot;Clean Air Interstate Rule'&quot; and the rule establishing federal implementation plans for that rule as promulgated and modified by the Administrator until final action with respect to any federal regulatory mandate becomes effective in accordance with this Act. 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7135-7136)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate overpayments of tax as contributions to the homeless veterans assistance fund.

Bill: 112-s-1806
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government trust funds
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing and community development funding
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish in the Treasury the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund, and (2) allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns a specified portion (not less than $1) of any overpayment of tax to be paid over to such Fund to provide services to homeless veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Research and Development Coordination Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1807
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional oversight
Department of Energy
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Energy Research and Development Coordination Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Energy to submit to Congress, along with the President's annual budget proposal, a comprehensive plan for federal energy research, development, and demonstration programs based on the most recent Quadrennial Energy Review.
 
Requires the plan to be designed to solve problems in energy supply, transmission, and use (including associated environmental problems) in the immediate and short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
 
Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress, along with the annual budget proposal of the Department of Energy (DOE), a detailed description of an energy research, development, and demonstration program to implement the aspects of the comprehensive plan appropriate to the DOE.
 
Establishes a National Energy Research Coordination Council within the DOE to coordinate the development and funding of energy research, development, and demonstration activities for all energy program agencies.
 
Requires the Chairpersons of the Council to establish a consolidated budget proposal each fiscal year to implement the comprehensive plan for federal energy research, development, and demonstration programs.
 
Requires the physical location of the Council to be separate and distinct from DOE headquarters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-188.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7136-7137)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7136)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to toll, during active-duty service abroad in the Armed Forces, the periods of time to file a petition and appear for an interview to remove the conditional basis for permanent resident status, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1808
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to toll, during active-duty service abroad in the Armed Forces, the periods of time for an alien spouse or petitioning spouse to file a petition and appear for an interview to remove the conditional basis for permanent resident status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Viral Hepatitis Testing Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1809
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: 
Viral Hepatitis Testing Act of 2011 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out surveillance, education, and testing programs with respect to hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a national system with respect to HBV and HCV to: (1) determine the prevalence of such infections, (2) carry out testing programs to increase the number of individuals who are aware of their infection, (3) disseminate public information and education programs for the detection and control of such infections, (4) provide referrals for counseling and medical treatment and ensure the provision of follow-up services, and (5) improve the training of health professionals in the treatment of such infections. Directs the Secretary to determine the populations that are considered at high risk.
 
Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to complete the revision of CDC guidelines for screening individuals with HCV, taking into account: (1) the effectiveness issues that have been raised with respect to the current CDC guidelines for screening, (2) the importance of responding to the perception that receiving such screening may be stigmatizing, and (3) whether age-based screening would be effective.
 
Requires the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to: (1) develop HCV screening recommendations, taking into account the guidelines established by CDC and new and improved treatments for HCV; and (2) develop HBV screening recommendations, taking into account the guidelines the CDC recommended in 2008.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7137-7138)
action_date: 2011-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Natomas Basin Flood Protection Improvements Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1810
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: California
Floods and storm protection
Lakes and rivers
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: 
Natomas Basin Flood Protection Improvements Act of 2011 - Modifies the project for flood damage reduction, American and Sacramento Rivers, California, to authorize the Chief of Engineers to construct improvements to flood damage reduction facilities adjacent to those rivers in the vicinity of Sacramento, substantially in accordance with the report of the Chief of Engineers entitled &quot;American River Watershed (Common Features) Project, Natomas Basin, Sacramento and Sutter Counties, California,&quot; dated December 30, 2010, at a specified cost.

Requires the nonfederal interest to receive credit for expenses and in-kind contributions incurred for planning, design, and construction of the project and acquisition of lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, and dredged material disposal areas for the project. Requires such credit to be applied toward the nonfederal share of the project or of any other project for which the nonfederal interest has entered into a cost-sharing agreement with the Secretary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7157)
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7156-7157)
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate