hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-768
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2011-04-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Medicaid
Medicare
Members of Congress
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-07
text: 
Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011 - Declares that, if any regular appropriation bill for a fiscal year does not become law before the beginning of the fiscal year, or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations (continuing resolution) is not in effect: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury shall fully pay principal and interest on the federal debt held by the public; and (2) Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits shall be fully paid and new enrollees shall be accepted.
 
Declares also that, if the defense appropriations bill has not been enacted, the Department of Defense (DOD) shall operate at 90% of the level of funding for the preceding fiscal year, except for funding for overseas contingencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, which shall be funded at 100% of the preceding fiscal year levels. Authorizes DOD to pay all military personnel at the full level of pay.
 
 
Requires federal employees of unfunded agencies to: (1) report for business as normal; and (2) be paid, when funding is provided, at 75% of their salaries for the time worked while under the requirements of this Act. Requires DOD civilian employees based in the United States also to be paid at 75% for the same period.
 
Limits Congress and the Executive Office of the President to operation at 50% of the level of funding for the preceding fiscal year during a period that any agency is not funded.
 
Prohibits Members of Congress and the President from receiving salaries or back pay during the period an agency is not funded.
 
Requires all other non-personnel accounts not funded by a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution to operate at 2/3 of the level of the preceding fiscal year. Dedicates the use of savings from this reduction to reduce the federal budget deficit. Prohibits expenditure of any funds during such a period to: (1) carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (2) pay for any abortion, or (3) be provided to any nongovernmental organization that promotes or performs abortion.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 30.
action_date: 2011-04-07
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-04-07
text: Introduced in Senate
VETS Dogs Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-769
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability and paralysis
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Mammals
Service animals

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act of 2011 or VETS Dogs Act of 2011 - Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) from prohibiting the use of service dogs in or on any VA facility or property or any facility or property that receives VA funding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2350)
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Payroll Fraud Prevention Act

Bill: 112-s-770
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Labor standards
Performance measurement
Personnel records
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Payroll Fraud Prevention Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to require every person (including every employer and enterprise) that employs an employee or non-employee who performs labor or services, including through an entity such as a trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation, to: (1) classify such individuals accurately as employees or non-employees; and (2) notify each new employee and new non-employee of his or her classification as an employee or non-employee, together with information concerning their rights under the law.
 
Makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) discharge or otherwise discriminate against an individual (including an employee) who has opposed any practice, or filed a complaint or instituted any proceeding related to this Act, including with respect to an individual's status as an employee or non-employee; and (2) wrongly classify an employee as a non-employee.
 
Doubles the amount of liquidated damages for maximum hours, minimum wage, and notice of classification violations by an employer. Subjects a person who: (1) violates such requirements (including recordkeeping requirements) to a civil penalty of up to $1,100; or (2) repeatedly or willfully violates such requirements to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a single Web page on the Department of Labor website that summarizes the rights of employees and non-employees under the FLSA and this Act.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to require, as a condition for a federal grant for the administration of state unemployment compensation, for the state's unemployment compensation law to include a provision for: (1) auditing programs that identify employers that have not registered under the state law or that are paying unreported compensation where the effect is to exclude employees from unemployment compensation coverage, and (2) establishing administrative penalties for misclassifying employees or paying unreported unemployment compensation to employees. 
 
Requires any office, administration, or division of the Department of Labor to report any misclassification of an employee by a person subject to the FLSA that it discovers to the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD). Authorizes the WHD to report such information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Gaming Eligibility Act

Bill: 112-s-771
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Gambling
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Tribal Gaming Eligibility Act - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to place restrictions on the conduct of gaming on lands taken into trust for an Indian tribe after October 17, 1988, as part of the settlement of a land claim, initial reservation of a newly recognized tribe, or restoration of lands for a tribe that has its federal recognition restored.
 
 
Prohibits gaming on such lands, with specified exceptions, unless the Secretary of the Interior determines that the land is eligible for gaming and the tribe demonstrates: (1) a substantial, direct, modern connection to the land as of October 17, 1988; and (2) a substantial, direct, aboriginal connection to the land. (The Secretary and the state in which the gaming is proposed can still allow gaming on lands acquired for a tribe after October 17, 1988, if they concur that it is in the best interest of the tribe and its members.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2351)
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2350-2351)
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act

Bill: 112-s-773
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Insurance Fairness for Amputees Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to require a group health plan that provides medical and surgical benefits and also provides benefits for prosthetics and custom orthotics to offer such prosthetics and custom orthotics in the same manner as applicable to medical and surgical benefits. Prohibits separate financial requirements or more restrictive treatment limitations. Requires a health plan that does not provide coverage for benefits outside of a network to ensure that such provider network is adequate to ensure enrollee access to prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and related services provided by appropriately credentialed practitioners and accredited suppliers.
 
Limits coverage for required benefits for prosthetics and custom orthotics to the most appropriate device or component that adequately meets the medical requirements of the patient. Requires benefits to include repair and replacement due to normal wear and tear, irreparable damage, a change in the condition of the patient, or as otherwise determined appropriate by the treating physician.
 
Prohibits any annual or lifetime dollar limitation on benefits for prosthetics and custom orthotics unless such limitation applies in the aggregate to all benefits.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to study the effects of the implementation of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Enduring Support for Defenders of Freedom and Their Families Act

Bill: 112-s-774
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Coast guard
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
National Guard and reserves
Neurological disorders
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Enduring Support for Defenders of Freedom and Their Families Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, during a funding gap impacting the Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to make available to the Secretaries of Defense (DOD) and Homeland Security (Secretaries) amounts necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances to: (1) members of the Armed Forces and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection who perform active service during the funding gap, and (2) DOD and DHS civilian and contractor personnel who provide support to the above personnel.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make available to such Secretaries amounts necessary to continue carrying out programs that provide direct support to members of the Armed Forces and DHS, including family support and medical treatment programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2359-2360)
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-775
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug therapy
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical education
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Tom Lantos Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 2011 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, should continue aggressive work on pulmonary hypertension; and (2) the Director of the Institute should continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, pulmonary hypertension.
 
Requires inclusion of information on the status of pulmonary hypertension research at NIH in biennial reports to Congress. 
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to carry out an educational campaign to increase public awareness of pulmonary hypertension, which may include information on pulmonary hypertension and its symptoms, the incidence and prevalence of pulmonary hypertension, diseases and conditions that can lead to pulmonary hypertension as a secondary diagnosis, the importance of early diagnosis, and the availability of a range of treatment options.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Director of CDC, to carry out an educational campaign to increase awareness of pulmonary hypertension among health care providers, which may include information on: (1) the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension, (2) the importance of early diagnosis, (3) current diagnostic criteria, and (4) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies for the disease. Requires such campaign to target health care providers, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, primary care physicians, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act

Bill: 112-s-776
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Budget process
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act - Requires federal employees who are furloughed as a result of any lapse in appropriations that begins on or about April 9, 2011, to be compensated at their standard rate of compensation for the period of such lapse as soon as practicable after such lapse ends.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Temporary Military Pay Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-777
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Coast guard
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
National Guard and reserves
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Temporary Military Pay Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD), during a funding gap impacting the Armed Forces, to provide pay and allowances to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who perform active service. Authorizes, at the Secretary's discretion, such pay and allowances to DOD civilian and contractor personnel who provide support to such members.
 
Terminates such authority at the end of FY2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act

Bill: 112-s-778
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Department of Health and Human Services
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to state that, except with respect to high-risk or complex medical services requiring direct levels of supervision, if the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires supervision by a physician or non-physician practitioner for Medicare payment for therapeutic hospital outpatient services, that requirement is met if such services are furnished under the physician's or non-physician practitioner's general supervision.
 
Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a process for designating therapeutic hospital outpatient services for which direct supervision may be required for the entire service or direct supervision during the initiation of the service followed by general supervision for the remainder of the service.
 
Declares without force or effect in law regarding Medicare requirements for direct supervision by physicians for therapeutic hospital outpatient services a specified restatement and clarification under the final rulemaking changes to the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system and calendar year 2009 payment rates, which was published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2008.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-780
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accidents
Civil actions and liability
Health care costs and insurance
Life, casualty, property insurance
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2011 - Excludes from annual income, for purposes of eligibility for pensions for veterans and their surviving spouses and children, reimbursements resulting from: (1) any accident; (2) any theft or loss; (3) any casualty loss; (4) medical expenses resulting from any such accident, theft, or loss; and (5) pain and suffering (including insurance settlement payments and general damages awarded by a court) related to such accident, theft, or loss.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to conform the definition of renewable biomass to the definition given the term in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Bill: 112-s-781
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Forests, forestry, trees
Insects
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Amends the Clean Air Act to redefine "renewable biomass" as: (1) materials (including trees, wood, brush, thinnings, and chips) or invasive species from certain National Forest System land and public lands, including slash and other materials, that would not otherwise be used for higher-value manufactured forest products and that are removed to reduce hazardous fuels, to reduce or contain disease or insect infestation, or to restore or maintain ecosystem health or that are removed from a federally approved vegetation management project, and that are harvested in accordance with applicable law and land management plans and specified requirements for old-growth forests; (2) any organic matter, including specified renewable plant material and waste material (including vegetative, animal, food, and yard waste), that is available on a renewable or recurring basis from non-federal land, land belonging to an Indian or Indian tribe that is held in trust by the United States or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States, or any Indian reservation; and (3) residues or byproducts from wood, pulp, or paper product facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide an extension of time for filing individual income tax returns in the case of a Federal Government shutdown.

Bill: 112-s-783
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Extends the deadline for the filing of tax returns for calendar year 2010 if there is a federal government shutdown beginning after April 8, 2011, and before April 19, 2011, until no earlier than the date that is 10 calendar days after the end of such shutdown.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 32.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing a Government Shutdown Act

Bill: 112-s-784
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
Preventing a Government Shutdown Act - Provides for automatic continuing appropriations if a regular appropriation bill for a fiscal year (or if applicable, for each fiscal year in a biennium) does not become law or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2360)
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2336-2337)
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in Senate