hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2265
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care coverage and access
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2012 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide Medicare coverage for screening computed tomography colonography (CTC) as a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test, and (2) exclude screening CTC from the meaning of "imaging services" for which there is a special rule regarding outpatient services department (OPD) fee schedule payments.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a preliminary report to Congress on the status of coverage of CTC as a CRC screening test under Medicare, including the extent to which such coverage as required by this Act has been implemented.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Scott Gardner Act

Bill: 112-s-2266
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal justice information and records
Detention of persons
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Licensing and registrations
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Scott Gardner Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to share immigration information with the Attorney General (DOJ). Requires a joint report from such officials to Congress on improving the performance of federal immigration databases to ensure the prompt entry of immigration information.
 
Requires: (1) the director of each state and local law enforcement agency receiving federal incarceration funds under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to collect and report to the Secretary all immigration and DWI (driving while intoxicated) information collected in the course of normal duties, (2) such information to appear in the wanted person file of the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) database, and (3) state or local detention of an arrested flagged alien pending federal transfer.
 
Amends INA to: (1) require the Secretary to reimburse the costs of training state and local law enforcement employees on federal immigration laws; and (2) authorize the apprehension and detention of an alien for DWI or a similar violation, as long as the alien is deportable on any other grounds or is an illegal alien. 
 
Requires each state motor vehicle administrator to share with the Secretary all information concerning aliens with records of DWI convictions or refusals to take sobriety tests.
 
Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a formula for the allocation of federal detention facilities for aliens.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reauthorize the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area.

Bill: 112-s-2267
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Lakes and rivers
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Amends the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area Act of 1996 to extend, through FY2022, the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or provide assistance for the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in New York.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-578.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
American Parks American Products Act

Bill: 112-s-2268
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Department of the Interior
Government buildings, facilities, and property
National Archives and Records Administration
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Public contracts and procurement
Retail and wholesale trades
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
American Parks American Products Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior or the Archivist of the United States to ensure that the items offered for sale in gift shops or visitor centers in units of the National Park System or of the National Archives and Records Administration, respectively, are U.S.- produced. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2269
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Contracts and agency

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2012 - Prohibits the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act from being construed as prohibiting, banning, or otherwise extending to any voluntary economic coordination, cooperation, agreement, or other association, compact, contract, or covenant entered into by or between any individual or group of individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2270
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
Alternative and renewable resources
Economic performance and conditions
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 regarding the biobased markets program to: (1) extend program funding through FY2017, (2) increase the number of categories of biobased products designated and individual biobased products eligible for preferred purchasing, and (3) provide for a program of biobased product education and promotion activities. 
 
Amends the Rural Energy for America Program to: (1) extend Program funding through FY2017; (2) make nonprofit organizations eligible for assistance; (3) provide loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy system purchases, with a tiered loan and grant application process that reflects project size; and (4) permit the combined amount of a grant and a loan guarantee to cover all eligible activity costs.
 
Extends funding through FY2017 for: (1) biorefinery assistance, (2) the biodiesel fuel education program, (3) biomass research and development, (4) the Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative, (5) the biomass crop assistance program, (6) the forest biomass for energy program, and (7) the community wood energy program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Election Simplification Act

Bill: 112-s-2271
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Small Business Election Simplification Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the subchapter S election for corporate taxpayers, to: (1) extend the deadline for filing such election to the due date (with extensions) of the corporation's tax return, (2) authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to treat a late filing or revocation of an election as timely filed or revoked if there is reasonable cause for failing to make a timely filing or revocation, and (3) allow taxpayers to make a subchapter S election on their current tax return in lieu of filing a separate form for making such election. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2252-2253)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2251-2252)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate a mountain in the State of Alaska as Mount Denali.

Bill: 112-s-2272
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Designates a specified mountain in Alaska as &quot;Mount Denali.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-578.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Talkeetna Ranger Station in Talkeetna, Alaska, as the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station.

Bill: 112-s-2273
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Designates the Talkeetna Ranger Station that is located on B Street in Talkeetna, Alaska, and that is approximately 100 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park, as the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-578.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2253)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a nonprofit corporation to be known as the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.

Bill: 112-s-2274
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
Animal and plant health
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Nutrition and diet
Rural conditions and development
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to: (1) advance USDA's research mission by supporting agricultural research focused on addressing key problems of national and international significance; and (2) foster collaboration with agricultural researchers from the federal government, institutions of higher education, industry, and nonprofit organizations.
 
Directs the Foundation to: (1) award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, scientists and entities to advance Foundation goals; (2) identify and coordinate existing and proposed federal research and development programs relating to Foundation purposes; (3) identify unmet and emerging agricultural research needs; (4) facilitate technology transfer and information release to the agricultural research community; and (5) promote the development of the next generation of agricultural research scientists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
B-CROP Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2275
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act of 2012 or the B-CROP Act of 2012 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to: (1) award grants to eligible entities for the deployment, identification, or adoption of broadband services within eligible rural communities; and (2) reduce the paperwork required of rural broadband program applicants. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to use specified funds for a national competition to create an Internet-accessible rural broadband clearinghouse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Officer Safety Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2276
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Federal district courts
Jurisdiction and venue
Law enforcement officers
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Officer Safety Act of 2012 - Amends the federal judicial code to deem a law enforcement officer who is the defendant in a criminal prosecution to have been acting under the color of his office (thus authorizing removal of the case to U.S. district court) if the officer: (1) protected an individual in the officer's presence from a crime of violence; (2) provided immediate assistance to an individual who suffered, or who was threatened with, bodily harm; or (3) prevented the escape of any individual whom the officer reasonably believed to have committed, or was about to commit, in the officer's presence, a crime of violence that resulted in, or that was likely to result in, death or serious bodily injury.

action_date: 2012-05-23
text: 
Officer Safety Act of 2012 - Amends the federal judicial code to deem a law enforcement officer who is the defendant in a criminal prosecution to have been acting under the color of his office (solely for purposes of determining the propriety of removal of the case to U.S. district court) if the officer: (1) protected an individual in the officer's presence from a crime of violence; (2) provided immediate assistance to an individual who suffered, or who was threatened with, bodily harm; or (3) prevented the escape of any individual whom the officer reasonably believed to have committed, or was about to commit, in the officer's presence, a crime of violence that resulted in, or that was likely to result in, death or serious bodily injury. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 413.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-05-23
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2253-2254)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
National Forest Emergency Response Act

Bill: 112-s-2277
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Ecology
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Insects
Land use and conservation
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
National Forest Emergency Response Act - Declares that the fire hazard and human endangerment in national forests to be designated by the Secretary of Agriculture constitute emergency circumstances. Directs the Secretary to designate (for up to 10 years) at least one national forest in each state that is experiencing conditions that constitute emergency circumstances due to pine beetle infestation, drought, disease, or storm damage and the resulting imminent risk of devastating wildfire that poses significant threat to the economic stability of surrounding areas and the health, safety, and well-being of residents, firefighters, and visitors. 
 
Makes provisions of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act regarding hazardous fuel reduction on federal land (including environmental analysis requirements, the special administrative review process, and the judicial review process) applicable to all Forest Service projects and activities implementing the land and resource management plan developed for the designated national forests during the term of the emergency circumstances, subject to specified modifications by the Secretary. 
 
Requires a project conducted in a designated national forest under this Act that comprises less than 10,000 acres (with exceptions, including components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, any federal land on which the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited by Act of Congress or presidential proclamation, or a congressionally designated wilderness study area) to be considered an action categorically excluded from the requirements for an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. 
 
Prohibits a U.S. court from issuing any restraining order, preliminary injunction, or injunction pending appeal regarding any decision to engage in remedial action or to prepare, advertise, offer, award, or operate a timber sale in a designated forest.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with a state forester to provide forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection services on national forest system land in that state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for an exemption for community banks to certain escrow requirements under the Truth in Lending Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-2278
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Housing finance and home ownership

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Amends the Truth in Lending Act with respect to the requirement that a creditor, in connection with the consummation of a consumer credit transaction secured by a first lien on the consumer's principal dwelling (other than under an open end credit plan or a reverse mortgage) establish an escrow or impound account for the payment of taxes, hazard insurance, and specified other insurance premiums, if any.
 
Directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to exempt from this escrow or impound account requirement any loan secured by a first lien on a consumer's principal dwelling if the loan is held by a smaller insured depository institution having assets of $10 billion or less.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Know Before You Owe Private Student Loan Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2280
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer affairs
Credit and credit markets
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Know Before You Owe Private Student Loan Act of 2012 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a lender, before issuing a private education loan for a student attending an institution of higher education (IHE), to obtain the IHE's certification of: (1) the student's enrollment status, (2) the student's cost of attendance, and (3) the difference between that cost and the student's estimated financial assistance. Eliminates the requirement that such lenders obtain a self-certification form from the private education loan applicant. 
 
Allows a lender to issue such loan without a certification if there is no response from the relevant IHE within 15 business days of the lender's request for the certification. 
 
Requires private educational lenders to: (1) send loan statements to borrowers at least once every three months a student is enrolled at an IHE; (2) notify the relevant IHE, in writing, of the loan amount and the student to whom it applies no later than the date funds are issued; and (3) submit an annual report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) containing information the CFPB requires concerning private student loans.
 
Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require IHEs, before providing lenders with certifications, to determine whether students have exhausted their options for title IV assistance and notify borrowers of: (1) the availability of such assistance; (2) their ability to choose their own private educational lender; (3) the impact of the proposed private education loan on their eligibility for other financial assistance; and (4) their right to accept or reject a private education loan within 30 days of the lender's approval of their application, and to cancel the loan within 3 business days of its consummation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2255-2256)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2254-2255)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate