hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to improve provisions of title 23, United States Code relating to the use of HOV facilities.

Bill: 112-s-3191
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Commuting
Energy efficiency and conservation
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Motor fuels
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
Revises state agency authority with respect to operation of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities. Replaces the exception from general HOV restrictions for low emission and energy-efficient vehicles with one for alternative fuel vehicles and new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. 
 
Authorizes a state agency (including a state transportation department) with jurisdiction over the operation of an HOV facility to permit alternative fuel vehicles and new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles to use HOV lane highways. Requires states to establish procedures for enforcing restrictions on such vehicles operating on HOV lane highways.
 
Requires a state agency which collects tolls on HOV facilities for their use by vehicles not otherwise exempted from HOV restrictions to use excess toll revenues for certain highway projects, giving priority consideration to those for developing alternatives to single occupancy vehicle travel and projects for improving highway safety.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Transportation and states should provide additional incentives (including the use of HOV lanes on state Interstate System highways and routes) for the purchase and use of advanced technology and dedicated alternative fuel vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
SMART Jobs Act

Bill: 112-s-3192
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Foreign labor
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Science and engineering education
User charges and fees
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
Sustaining our Most Advanced Researchers and Technology Jobs Act of 2012 or the SMART Jobs Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an F-4 nonimmigrant visa for an alien who has been accepted and plans to attend an accredited graduate program for a degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) at an institution of higher education in the United States. 
 
Requires an F-4 alien to demonstrate an intent to: (1) return to his or her country of residence upon completion or termination of such qualifying graduate program, or (2) obtain U.S. employment in a STEM field and become a permanent U.S. resident upon completion of the graduate program which was the basis for such nonimmigrant status.
 
States that an F-4 visa shall be valid: (1) during the intended period of graduate study, (2) for an additional one year period if the alien is pursuing an offer of STEM field employment, and (3) for an additional six month period while the alien's application for permanent resident status adjustment is pending.
 
States that an alien shall qualify for permanent resident status adjustment if he or she: (1) has F-4 status and has earned an advanced STEM field degree at an institution of higher education, and (2) is employed full-time in the United States in a STEM field position.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Common Application Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3194
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: 
Small Business Common Application Act of 2012 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and maintain a small business common application and web portal (application and portal) to allow small businesses to submit a single common application for federal assistance provided by any executive agency, including loans and loan guarantees, grants, technical assistance, and counseling services.
 
Establishes in the Economic Development Administration an Executive Committee on a Small Business Common Application, which shall: (1) make recommendations regarding the establishment of the application and portal, (2) monitor their implementation, and (3) make periodic recommendations to the Administrator for their improvement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on certain fishing reels.

Bill: 112-s-3195
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2012-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on certain fishing reels.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
National Womens' High-Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3196
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Credit and credit markets
Intellectual property
Public-private cooperation
Small business
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
National Women's High-Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force Act of 2012 - Establishes the National Women's High-Growth Business Bipartisan Task Force to provide women-owned, start-up and high-growth business advice, research, and policy recommendations to the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Assistant Administrator of the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership, Congress, the President, and other federal departments and agencies.
 
Directs the Task Force, among other things, to review, monitor, and advise on plans and programs developed in the public and private sectors that affect the ability of small businesses owned and controlled by women to obtain capital and credit and to access markets. Requires the Task Force to report annually to the President and the congressional small business committees on the activities of the Task Force.
 
Directs the SBA's Chief Counsel to: (1) semiannually conduct a study of an issue of importance to small businesses owned and controlled by women, and (2) submit each study's results to the Task Force and the small business committees.
 
Amends the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 to repeal provisions establishing the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3282-3283)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3281-3282)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Women's Small Business Ownership Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3197
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Small Business Administration
Small business
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Women's Small Business Ownership Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Office of Women's Business Ownership within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address issues concerning the management, operations, manufacturing, technology, finance, retail and product sales, international trade, government contracting, and other disciplines required for starting, operating, and increasing the business of a small business. Authorizes the SBA Administrator to provide annual training for women's business ownership representatives to enable them to carry out such responsibilities.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to provide financial assistance to qualifying entities to conduct projects designed to provide training and counseling meeting the needs of women business owners, especially socially and economically disadvantaged women business owners. Provides assistance amounts of at least $100,000 and up to $150,000 per year. Directs the Administrator to consult with each association of women's business centers to develop: (1) a training program for the staff of such centers, and (2) recommendations to improve the policies and procedures for governing the general operations and administration of the women's business center program. Outlines application and other requirements for entities to receive assistance to conduct such projects. Directs the Administrator to solicit applications and award grants for the first fiscal year beginning after the enactment of this Act, and every third fiscal year thereafter. Provides for the review and approval of grant applications, as well as conditions for continued funding. Allows for multiple awards to the same entities.
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study: (1) the unique economic issues facing women's business centers located in predominately rural, urban, or insular areas; and (2) SBA oversight of women's business centers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3283-3286)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3281-3282)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Resources for America's Entrepreneurs Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3198
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Small Business Administration
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Strengthening Resources for America's Entrepreneurs Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and submit to Congress a plan for using SBA entrepreneurial development programs (EDPs) to create jobs during FY2013-FY2014.
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) promulgate a rule to develop and implement a consistent data collection process for the EDPs; (2) report annually to Congress on opportunities to foster coordination of, limit duplication among, and improve program delivery for federal EDPs; (3) establish a database of providers of entrepreneurial development services; (4) designate at least one employee in each SBA district office as a community specialist to work with local providers of such services to increase their coordination with federal EDPs; and (5) develop benchmarks for measuring the performance of such specialists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
JOLT Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3199
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Asia
Border security and unlawful immigration
Brazil
Canada
China
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial review and appeals
Latin America
Terrorism
Travel and tourism
User charges and fees
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Jobs Originated through Launching Travel Act of 2012 or the JOLT Act of 2012 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of State (Secretary) to establish a pilot fee-based premium processing service to expedite visa interview appointments. Authorizes the Secretary to collect and set fee amounts.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to admit into the United States a qualifying Canadian citizen over 50 years old and spouse for a period not to exceed 240 days if the person maintains a Canadian residence and owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of such stay. 
 
Directs the Secretary to make publicly available each month data for the previous two years regarding visa appointment availability for each visa processing post to allow applicants to identify periods of low demand.
 
Revises the visa waiver program to: (1) authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate any country as a program country; (2) adjust visa refusal rate criteria, including addition of a 3% maximum overstay rate; and (3) revise probationary and termination provisions.
 
Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to include in the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network individuals who meet security requirements and are employed and sponsored by an international organization which maintains a strong working relationship with the United States. Prohibits enrollment in the Network of a person who is a citizen of a state sponsor of terror as defined in the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010.
 
Directs the Secretary to require U.S. diplomatic and consular missions to: (1) conduct nonimmigrant visa application interviews expeditiously, consistent with national security requirements and in recognition of resource allocation considerations; (2) set a goal of interviewing 80% of all nonimmigrant visa applicants within three weeks of application receipt; and (3) explore expanding visa processing capacity in China and Brazil with the goal of maintaining interview wait times under 15 work days, and in recognition that the first priority of U.S. missions abroad is U.S. citizen protection.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Small Business Administration to submit a regular National Small Business Index to Congress to assess how policies provide incentives or impediments to small business development.

Bill: 112-s-3200
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Energy prices
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations
Public contracts and procurement
Real estate business
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Amends the Small Business Export Development Act to direct the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to submit to the congressional small business committees periodic reports, beginning two years after the enactment of this Act, that rank each state and U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, and the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas on how well their regulations and policies create optimal environments for the creation and development of small businesses. Designates each such report as a National Small Business Climate Index (Index). Outlines factors to be used to achieve such rankings.
 
Requires the Chief Counsel, within one year after the enactment of this Act, to report to such committees on the progress in preparing the first Index.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Graduate Medical Education Reform Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3201
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care costs and insurance
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Medical education
Medicare
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Graduate Medical Education Reform Act of 2012 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and implement procedures under which, beginning in FY2017, the amount of payments that a hospital would otherwise receive for indirect graduate medical education (GME) costs for discharges during a fiscal year is adjusted based on the hospital's performance on measures of patient care priorities.
 
Requires the Secretary to specify measures of patient care priorities, including the extent of training provided in: (1) the delivery of services categorized as evaluation and management codes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, (2) a variety of settings and systems, (3) the coordination of patient care across settings, (4) the relevant cost and value of various diagnostic and treatment options, (5) interprofessionality and multidisciplinary care teams, (6) methods for identifying system errors and implementing system solutions, and (7) the use of health information technology.
 
Requires such measures of patient care to be: (1) adopted or endorsed by an accrediting organization, and (2) consensus-based. Allows such measures to include any submitted by teaching hospitals, medical schools, and other stakeholders.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress and the National Health Care Workforce Commission on the GME payments hospitals receive under Medicare.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3286)
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Health Care Protection Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3203
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Military Health Care Protection Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) career military personnel and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20-30 year career, and (2) those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member's retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money.
 
Prohibits any cost-sharing requirement under the Department of Defense (DOD) pharmacy benefits program, as well as deductibles under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), from being increased by a percentage greater than that year's percentage increase in retired pay. Prohibits CHAMPUS inpatient charges from exceeding 25% of their total cost or $708 per day. Prohibits, beginning with FY2013, the maximum annual limit on charges under CHAMPUS from being increased by a percentage greater than that year's percentage increase in retired pay.
 
Prohibits former members of the Armed Forces who are entitled to retired pay, as well as dependents of members who died while on active duty or from an injury, illness, or disease incurred while on active duty, from being charged an enrollment fee for CHAMPUS coverage or from being subject to denial of claims for coverage based on failure to enroll.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to address fee disclosure requirements under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-3204
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Consumer affairs
Financial services and investments
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act with respect to mandatory fee disclosures on automated teller machines (ATMs) operated by a person other than a financial institution holding a consumer's account. 
 
Repeals the requirement that such a fee disclosure appear in a prominent and conspicuous location on or at the ATM. Limits such requirement to appearance of a fee disclosure on the ATM screen.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Ex-PATRIOT Act

Bill: 112-s-3205
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Citizenship and naturalization
Congressional oversight
Immigration status and procedures
Income tax rates
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Expatriation Prevention by Abolishing Tax-Related Incentives for Offshore Tenancy or the Ex-PATRIOT Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 30% tax and withholding on capital gains income realized by a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for periods aggregating 183 days or more or an expatriate who has renounced his or her U.S. citizenship for tax avoidance purposes (specified expatriate).
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) render a specified expatriate inadmissible to the United States, and (2) prohibit any waiver of such inadmissibility. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security (DHS), to develop a policy for granting a waiver of inadmissibility to a specified expatriate who satisfies a tax liability related to such expatriate's renunciation of of U.S. citizenship.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the Paralympic Team and the authorization of appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to United States Paralympics, Inc., and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-3206
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2012-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Athletes
Disability assistance
Olympic games
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: 
Extends through FY2018 the authorization of appropriations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for: (1) payment of a monthly assistance allowance to disabled veterans training or competing for the U.S. Paralympic Team, and (2) assistance to the United States Paralympics, Inc., to plan, develop, manage, and implement a sports program for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate