hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Strengthening America's Public Schools Through Promoting Foreign Investment Act

Bill: 112-s-823
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Strengthening America's Public Schools Through Promoting Foreign Investment Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit a lawful alien who enters the United States on a nonimmigrant student visa (including Mexican and Canadian commuter students) to attend a U.S. public secondary school for longer than one year if such alien reimburses the local educational agency for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of providing education at such school for the period of the alien's attendance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Job Creation Through Innovation Act

Bill: 112-s-825
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Manufacturing
Research and development
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Job Creation Through Innovation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase and make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities, (2) allow an increased research tax credit for manufacturers whose domestic production gross receipts are more than 50% of their total receipts, (3) make the research tax credit refundable for businesses with an average number of employees of 500 or fewer, and (4) expand the qualifying advanced energy project credit by allocating in 2011 $5 billion of grants or tax credit amounts to manufacturers of goods and components (other than for assembly of components) in the United States that are used in alternative energy projects.
 
Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 to extend the grant program for investment in renewable energy property, including renewable resources used to produce electricity and fuel cell, solar, wind, geothermal, and microturbine property, in lieu of tax credits, by extending the placed-in-service deadline for such property through 2012. Extends through September 30, 2013, the deadline for submitting grant applications for such program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2514-2516)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2514)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Infrastructure Facilitation and Habitat Conservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-826
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government lending and loan guarantees
Infrastructure development
Land transfers
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Infrastructure Facilitation and Habitat Conservation Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to establish a program to provide loans and loan guarantees to enable state political subdivisions to acquire interests in real property pursuant to habitat conservation plans approved by the Secretary of the Interior under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Requires the Secretary to: (1) submit loan applications for the Secretary of the Interior's review, which shall include a determination that the subdivision has adopted a complementary plan for sustainable infrastructure development that provides for the mitigation of environmental impacts; and (2) give preference to such subdivisions located in biologically rich regions in which rapid growth and development threaten successful implementation of approved habitat conservation plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2516-2517)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2516)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A PLUS Act

Bill: 112-s-827
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Performance measurement
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or A PLUS Act - Allows each state to enter into a five-year performance agreement with the Secretary of Education permitting it to receive federal funds on a consolidated basis that would otherwise be directed toward specific programs furthering the stated purpose of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 
 
Requires each agreement to be approved by a combination of specified state parties, and list the programs for which consolidated funding is requested. Allows states to use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law, but requires them to make certain assurances that they will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, abide by federal civil rights laws, and advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. Allows amendments to the scope of performance agreements.
 
Requires each agreement state to: (1) maintain an accountability system measuring annual student progress toward state proficiency standards, (2) disseminate annually student performance data disaggregated by specified student groups, and (3) keep aggregate spending on elementary and secondary education at no less than 90% of such spending for the school year coinciding with this Act's enactment.
 
 Limits administrative expenses.
 
Requires the inclusion of private schools and teachers in activities funded on a consolidated basis.
 
Directs the Secretary to evaluate each performance agreement midway through its execution. Allows the Secretary to terminate an agreement whose terms are not met for three consecutive school years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-828
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2011 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the Secretary of Energy (DOE), acting through the Office of Energy and Renewable Energy, to act as the lead federal agency for coordinating and disseminating information on existing federal programs and assistance that may be used to help initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects for schools. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) carry out a review of existing programs and financing mechanisms available in or from appropriate federal agencies with jurisdiction over energy financing and facilitation that are currently used or may be used for such purposes; (2) establish a federal cross-departmental collaborative coordination, education, and outreach effort to streamline communication and promote available federal opportunities and assistance for such projects that enables states, local educational agencies, and schools to use existing federal opportunities more effectively and to form partnerships with governors, state energy programs, local educational, financial, and energy officials, state and local officials, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities to support project initiation; (3) provide technical assistance for states, local educational agencies, and schools to help develop and finance projects that meet specified requirements; (4) develop and maintain a single online resource website with contact information for relevant technical assistance and support staff in the Office for states, local educational agencies, and schools to effectively access and use federal opportunities and assistance to develop such projects; and (5) establish a process for recognition of schools that have successfully implemented such projects and are willing to serve as resources for other local educational agencies and schools to assist initiation of similar efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2517-2518)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2517)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-829
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the cap on outpatient physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services of the type furnished by a physician or as an incident to physicians' services.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act

Bill: 112-s-830
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Advisory bodies
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act - Authorizes the Director of the National Academic and Career Innovation Center to award certain planning, implementation, transitional, and supplemental grants to state pathways partnerships to carry out activities that will create and enhance educational and career pathways for high school students to postsecondary schools (including registered apprenticeship programs) and to 21st century careers, particularly in high skill, high demand industries.
 
Requires the state partnerships to be appointed by state governors and include representatives from educational, business, labor, workforce, and economic development entities in their respective states.
 
Establishes the National Academic and Career Innovation Center to: (1) support the efforts of the state partnerships and regional partnerships (which are to receive competitive implementation subgrants from state partnerships) to offer career pathways of proven effectiveness; (2) design and conduct performance evaluations of career pathways activities; and (3) administer, oversee, and evaluate all career pathways grants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Dairy COOL Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-831
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural trade
Food supply, safety, and labeling

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Dairy COOL Act of 2011 - Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to extend mandatory country of origin labeling to dairy products (fluid milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, and other dairy products).
 
Requires a dairy product retailer to designate the product's origin as: (1) each country in which or from the one or more dairy ingredients were produced or originated, and each country in which the product was processed; and (2) if a U.S.-produced dairy product, the state, region, or locality where the product was produced.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2518)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2518)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Success in the Middle Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-833
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Language arts
Research administration and funding
Research and development
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Success in the Middle Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to states, based on their proportion of poor children aged 5 to 17, to: (1) implement state middle grades needs analyses and, on the basis of such analyses, improvement plans that describe what students must master to complete successfully the middle grades and succeed in academically rigorous secondary school coursework; and (2) award competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships of LEAs and institutions of higher education, educational service agencies, or educational nonprofit organizations to implement a comprehensive middle school improvement plan for each eligible school. Favors LEAs, or partnerships that include LEAs, that serve high proportions of poor children and children attending eligible schools.
 
Defines &quot;eligible schools&quot; as those where: (1) a high proportion of middle grade students matriculate to secondary schools with graduation rates below 65%; (2) more than 25% of the students who finish grade six, or the school's earliest middle grade level, exhibit key risk factors for failure; and (3) a majority of middle grade students are not rated proficient on required state assessments in mathematics, reading, or language arts.
 
Permits states to make subgrants to LEAs and partnerships that did not receive a competitive subgrant to assist them in applying for competitive subgrants and developing comprehensive middle school improvement plans. 
 
Provides the Secretary with funding to: (1) contract for studies that identify promising practices for, and review existing research to identify factors that might lead to, the improvement of middle grades education; (2) create a national clearinghouse in best middle grade educational practices and a national database identifying factors that facilitate or impede middle grade student achievement; (3) require certain educational field research designed to enhance the performance of middle grade schools and students; (4) create a research and development center that addresses topics pertinent to the middle grades; and (5) provide grants to entities that partner with states and LEAs to develop, adapt, or replicate effective models for turning around low-performing middle grades.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2520)
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act

Bill: 112-s-834
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal justice information and records
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Higher education
School administration
Sex offenses
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act or Campus SaVE Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each institution of higher education (IHE) participating in a title IV program to include in its annual security report on campus security policy and crime statistics a statement of current policies for reporting crimes or other emergencies in or on noncampus buildings or property (currently, only reporting of crimes on campus is required). Requires such report to include statistics concerning the occurrence of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking incidents reported to campus security authorities or local police.

Requires schools to protect victim confidentiality when reporting criminal threats to the campus community.
 
Directs IHEs to include in their annual security report a statement of policy regarding its programs to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and the procedures it follows when such an offense is reported.
 
Requires such procedures to include: (1) the provision, in writing, to students or employees that report that they have been the victim of such an offense certain information regarding their rights, disciplinary processes, victim services, and safety planning; (2) a description of how the IHE will help enforce any protective order; and (3) information about how the IHE will protect victim confidentiality. 
 
Requires an IHE's policy regarding such offenses to include: (1) education that promotes awareness of the offenses; (2) possible sanctions or protective measures imposed following disciplinary action; (3) procedures victims should follow after such an offense occurs; (4) information about to whom the alleged offense should be reported; (5) institutional disciplinary procedures; and (6) the notification of victims regarding their options for, and assistance in, changing academic, living, transportation, and working situations.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to seek the counsel of the Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the development, and dissemination to IHEs, of best practices for preventing and responding to incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-835
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Civil actions and liability
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the civil penalties for violations of firearms law and the procedures for assessing such penalties. Requires fines to be based upon the nature and severity of the violation, the size of the firearms business involved, and the prior record of the firearm's licensee. Prohibits consideration of the amount of fines or license revocations imposed by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in the retention, promotion, or transfer of such agents.

Revises the definition of &quot;willfully&quot; for purposes of firearms violations and standards for criminal violations of firearms recordkeeping requirements.

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) make preliminary determinations on firearms license applications and notify applicants in writing of a proposed denial; and (2) establish guidelines for ATF inspections, examinations, or investigations of possible firearms violations.

Permits an owner of a firearms business whose license is expired, surrendered, or revoked 60 days to liquidate inventory.

Allows purchasers of existing firearms businesses the right to cure firearms violations attributable to such businesses.

Allows the transfer, possession, and importation of machineguns for industry testing, training, and film production.

Eliminates the requirement of written permission for the use of a handgun for lawful purposes by a minor (under age 18) where a parent or legal guardian is present at all times during such use. 

Prohibits the Attorney General from electronically retrieving inactive firearms licensee information by name or personal identification code.

Directs the Attorney General to authorize the importation of all frames or receivers of rifles, or barrels for firearms other than handguns, if the importation is for repair or replacement purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Transportation Access for All Americans Act

Bill: 112-s-836
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Land use and conservation
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Transportation Access for All Americans Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow accelerated depreciation of applicable leased highway property, and (2) provide for amortization of intangibles relating to such property. Defines &quot;applicable leased highway property&quot; as property subject to a lease between a taxpayer and a governmental entity under which the taxpayer leases a highway and associated improvements, receives a right-of-way on public lands underlying such highway and improvements, and receives a grant of a franchise or other intangible right to receive payments relating to the operation of such highway. Prohibits private activity bond financing of applicable leased highway property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Transportation Equity for All Americans Act

Bill: 112-s-837
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: 
Transportation Equity for All Americans Act - Excludes privatized highway miles (lane and vehicle miles traveled on a privatized highway) from being a factor in calculating the state apportionment of certain federal-aid highway funds (including funds under the Equity bonus program).
 
Defines &quot;privatized highway&quot; as a highway subject to an agreement giving a private entity control over the highway's operation and ownership over collected highway toll revenues.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate