hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Solar Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1093
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Lighting, heating, cooling

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Solar Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) expand the definitions of &quot;qualified solar electric property expenditure&quot; and &quot;qualified solar water heating property expenditure&quot; to allow a residential energy efficient property tax credit for solar energy property which is either installed in a taxpayer's residence or is located within 50 miles of such residence; and (2) exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, gain from the sale or exchange of electricity generated by solar energy property eligible for such tax credit. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3433)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3432-3433)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating Autism Reauthorization Act

Bill: 112-s-1094
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Disability assistance
Health programs administration and funding
Hereditary and development disorders
Medical research
Mental health
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Combating Autism Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend and reauthorize appropriations through FY2014 for programs established under the Combating Autism Act of 2006, including: (1) the developmental disabilities surveillance and research program; (2) the autism education, early detection, and intervention program; and (3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a progress report on: (1) activities related to autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, and (2) implementation of the Combating Autism Act of 2006.
 
Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2014 for National Institutes of Health (NIH) research on autism spectrum disorders and reviews of centers of excellence.

action_date: 2011-09-12
text: 

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

 
Combating Autism Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend and reauthorize appropriations through FY2014 for programs established under the Combating Autism Act of 2006, including: (1) the developmental disabilities surveillance and research program; (2) the autism education, early detection, and intervention program; and (3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a progress report on: (1) activities related to autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, and (2) implementation of the Combating Autism Act of 2006.
 
Reauthorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2014 for National Institutes of Health (NIH) research on autism spectrum disorders and reviews of centers of excellence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 163.
action_date: 2011-09-12
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-09-12
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-09-07
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Caring for an Aging America Act

Bill: 112-s-1095
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Department of Health and Human Services
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Caring for an Aging America Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include geriatrics and gerontology within the definition of "primary health services" for purposes of the National Health Service Corps.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3433-3434)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Preservation of Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1096
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Preservation of Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend through 2013 the minimum payment amount for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) services for bone mass measurement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3434-3435)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Family and Retirement Health Investment Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1098
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Indian social and development programs
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Military medicine
Minority health
Nutrition and diet
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Prescription drugs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Family and Retirement Health Investment Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health savings accounts (HSAs), to allow: (1) both spouses to make increased catch-up contributions to the same HSA; (2) Medicare Part A beneficiaries to establish and contribute to an HSA; (3) veterans eligible for service-connected disability benefits and individuals eligible for Indian health service assistance to establish an HSA; (4) individuals eligible to receive benefits under certain TRICARE plans to establish an HSA; (5) a carryforward of unused benefits, up to $500, in a flexible spending arrangement; (6) payments from an HSA for prescription and over-the-counter medicine or drugs; (7) the use of HSAs to purchase certain health insurance coverage and long-term care insurance; and (8) payment of certain medical expenses incurred before the establishment of an HSA.
 
Amends the bankruptcy code to treat HSAs as tax-exempt individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for purposes of exempting them from creditor claims.
 
Reauthorizes the use of Medicaid health opportunity accounts.
 
Treats as medical care for purposes of the tax deduction for medical expenses certain exercise equipment and physical fitness programs, nutritional and dietary supplements, and periodic fees paid to a primary physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. 
 
Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that impose annual limitations on deductibles for health plans offered in the small group market. 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1099
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Evidence and witnesses
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Prescription drugs
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011 - Sets conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce. 
 
Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions. 
 
Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility. 
 
Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded. 
 
Allows the introduction of collateral source benefits and the amount paid to secure such benefits as evidence. Prohibits a provider of such benefits from recovering any amount from an award in a health care lawsuit involving injury or wrongful death. 
 
Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000. 
 
Denies punitive damages in the case of products approved, cleared, or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or otherwise considered in compliance with FDA standards. 
 
Provides for periodic payments of future damages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Provider Tax Administrative Simplification Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1101
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Health and Human Services
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Intergovernmental relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Provider Tax Administrative Simplification Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to approve a waiver of the uniform tax requirement (whether or not the tax is broad based), regardless of whether the state concerned satisfies certain requirements, for any state with a provider tax that does not apply to continuing care retirement communities or life care communities that: (1) have no beds certified to provide medical assistance under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, or (2) do not provide services for which Medicaid payment may be made.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3436)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3436)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1102
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 

Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2011

 
Amends federal bankruptcy law to make privately issued student loans dischargeable in bankruptcy. Under current law, student loans (whether issued privately or by a governmental unit) are dischargeable only if excepting the loans from dischargeability would impose undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-20
text: Committee on the Judiciary Senate Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-899.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3436-3437)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3436)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Veteran Transition Assistance Program Audit Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1104
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Veteran Transition Assistance Program Audit Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to enter into a contract for audits of the Transition Assistance Program (a job training, benefits, and transitional services program of the Department of Defense [DOD] in conjunction with other federal agencies for members of the military separated or recently separated from active duty) with a private, unaffiliated organization. Requires such audits at least once every three years. 
 
Directs the contracted organization to measure the effectiveness of the program, identify any necessary improvement measures, and submit a related report to the Secretary of Labor, DOD Secretary, Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Congress. Requires such Secretaries to implement any necessary improvement measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Forestry Conservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1105
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Income tax exclusion
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Community Forestry Conservation Act of 2011 - Provides for the treatment of qualified forest conservation bonds as tax-exempt facility bonds under the Internal Revenue Code. Defines &quot;qualified forest conservation bonds&quot; as bonds issued for certain forestry organizations within 48 months after the enactment of this Act. Requires 95 percent or more of the net proceeds of such bonds to be used for specified forestry project costs, including the acquisition of forest lands subject to a conservation restriction. 
 
Exempts from income tax income, gains, and other tax incidents generated by certain harvesting activity on forest lands purchased with qualified forest conservation bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Troops Act

Bill: 112-s-1106
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Lawyers and legal services
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Justice for Troops Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to provide support to public or private programs designed to connect attorneys who provide pro bono legal assistance with members of the Armed Forces who are in need of such assistance. Limits the total amount of financial support in any fiscal year to $500,000.
 
Directs such financial support to be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated for DOD operation and maintenance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3439)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3438-3439)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1107
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Immunology and vaccination
Medical research
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis data collection efforts to collect information regarding: (1) the prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in the United States; (2) the age of onset; (3) health-related quality of life; (4) health care utilization; (5) the burden of such disease; (6) direct and indirect costs; (7) health disparities, including with respect to age, gender, race, and ethnicity; and (8) comorbidities and the natural history of such disease. Allows such data collection efforts to include: (1) incorporating questions into public health surveys, questionnaires, and other databases in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) the consideration and development of a patient registry.
 
Encourages the Director of the National Institutes of Health to explore the development of a virtual Center of Excellence for Collaborative Discovery in Psoriasis and Comorbid Research or some other mechanism through which public and private sector findings regarding psoriasis and its comorbid conditions can be regularly shared and leveraged.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Families Act

Bill: 112-s-1109
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Asia
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
Philippines
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Military Families Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust the status of an eligible alien to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the alien: (1) applies for adjustment (with a time limit for an alien applying as a family member of a deceased Armed Forces member), (2) is admissible to the United States as an immigrant, and (3) is physically present in the United States.
 
Applies such provision to an alien who is: (1) a parent, spouse, child, son, daughter, or the legal guardian of a child of a living Armed Forces member or of a deceased Armed Forces member who died as a result of service-incurred injury or disease; or (2) the spouse, child, son, or daughter of an alien described in clause (1).
 
Defines &quot;Armed Forces member&quot; as a person who: (1) is, or was at the time of the person's death, a U.S. national or lawfully admitted permanent resident; (2) served honorably on or after October 7, 2001, as a member of the National Guard or the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, or in an active-duty status in the U.S. military; and (3) if separated from service was separated under honorable conditions.
 
Waives specified grounds of inadmissibility and authorizes the waiver of additional grounds of inadmissibility.
 
Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt from worldwide or numerical limitations on immigrant visas the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who were naturalized under the Immigration Act of 1990 or other specified federal law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Fairness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1110
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Economic development
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Small Business Fairness Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to permit a contract between a federal agency and a small business teaming arrangement entity to be deemed awarded for purposes of the small business procurement and services contracting goals established by the head of that agency if the obligations of such entity are performed by a qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small business or a small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or women. 
 
Defines &quot;teaming arrangement entity&quot; as a prime contractor under a contractor team arrangement as defined under specified provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as in effect on October 1, 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3439)
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
BEER Act

Bill: 112-s-1111
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Food industry and services
Sales and excise taxes
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act of 2011 or BEER Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce from $18 to $9 ( the pre-1991 level) the per-barrel tax on beer; and (2) allow a further reduction in such tax for brewers who produce not more than 2 million barrels annually.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Family Leave Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1112
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-05-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: 
Military Family Leave Act of 2011 - Entitles an employed family member of a member of the Armed Forces who receives notification of a call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation, or who is deployed in connection with a contingency operation, to two workweeks of leave per year for each family member who is so called or deployed. Allows such leave to: (1) be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule; and (2) consist of paid or unpaid leave, as the employer considers appropriate.
 
Allows an employer to require certification of entitlement to such leave within a leave request.
 
Provides employment and benefits protection for employees upon their return from such leave. Prohibits an employer from interfering with or otherwise denying the exercise of such leave rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-05-26
text: Introduced in Senate