hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1811
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commuting
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: 
Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act of 2011 - Prohibits a state from imposing an income tax on the compensation of a nonresident individual for any period in which such individual is not physically present in or working in such state or from deeming such nonresident individual to be present in or working in such state on the grounds that: (1) such individual is present at or working at home for convenience, or (2) such individual's work at home fails any convenience of the employer test or any similar test.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Improvement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1812
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2011-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alaska
Oil and gas
Pipelines

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: 
Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2004 to include in the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Project (carrying Alaska natural gas to the Canadian border) any pipeline segment that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finds could feasibly be incorporated into and serve as an integrated segment of that system, regardless of whether it: (1) is proposed and constructed before construction of the entire system, or (2) initially transports natural gas solely for delivery to customers within Alaska.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
National Disaster Medical System Act

Bill: 112-s-1814
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health programs administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: 
National Disaster Medical System Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) authorize appropriations for providing for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the operations of the National Disaster Medical System for FY2012-FY2016, and (2) authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to determine and pay claims for reimbursement for health-related social services, other human services, and auxiliary services to respond to the needs of victims of a a public health emergency directly or by contract providing for payment in advance or by way of reimbursement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Cross State Air Pollution Act

Bill: 112-s-1815
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2011-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: 
Cross State Air Pollution Act - Enacts into law the final rule entitled &quot;Federal Implementation Plans: Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone and Correction of SIP Approvals.&quot;
 
Makes such rule effective on: (1) January 1, 2012, for phase I sulfur dioxide and annual nitrogen oxide reductions; (2) May 1, 2012, for ozone season nitrogen oxide reductions; and (3) January 1, 2015, for phase II sulfur dioxide reductions. 
 
Requires compliance with such rule by: (1) April 1, 2014, and annually thereafter for phase I sulfur dioxide and annual nitrogen oxide reductions and ozone season nitrogen oxide reductions; and (2) April 1, 2016, and annually thereafter for phase II sulfur dioxide reductions. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7157)
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to modify a provision relating to minimum penalties for repeat offenders for driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence.

Bill: 112-s-1816
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Licensing and registrations
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: 
Amends the federal-aid highway program to modify the minimum penalties states are required to impose on motorists convicted multiple times for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol.
 
Requires repeat offenders to have: (1) all their driving privileges suspended (currently, a driver's license suspension) for at least one year; or (2) a combination of suspension of unlimited driving privileges for one year, allowing for reinstatement of limited driving privileges, subject to restrictions and limited exemptions as established under state law, if an ignition interlock device is installed for at least one year on each of the motor vehicles they own or operate.
 
Eliminates the current alternative of a combination of suspension of all driving privileges for the first 45 days of the suspension period followed by a reinstatement of limited driving privileges for the purpose of getting to and from work, school, or an alcohol treatment program if an ignition interlock device is installed on each of the motor vehicles owned or operated, or both, by the individual.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Telecommunications Jobs Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1817
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Telecommunications Jobs Act of 2011 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish procedural requirements for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concerning: (1) the issuance of proposed rulemaking notices, including the time periods for comments and replies and any necessary findings, background information, or performance measures that must be contained in such notices; (2) the circumstances under which the FCC is authorized to adopt or amend a rule; and (3) the disclosure of closed meetings held by a bipartisan majority of FCC Commissioners. 
 
 Requires the FCC, before adopting or amending a rule that may have an economically significant impact, to: (1) analyze the specified market failure, actual consumer harm, burden of existing regulation, or failure of public institutions that warrants the rule or amendment; and (2) determine that the benefits justify its costs. 
 
 Directs the FCC to establish rules for: (1) Commissioners' deliberations including procedures for initiating agenda items and approving orders; and (2) the publication of the status of open rulemakings and all proposed orders, decisions, reports, or actions on circulation for review. 
 
 Prohibits the FCC, without providing an opportunity for public review, from relying on unpublished reports to Congress or ex parte FCC communications or filings under specified circumstances. 
 
 Directs the FCC to publish on its website and in other required formats: (1) each order, decision, report, or action within seven days of its adoption; and (2) an anticipated release schedule for all statistical reports and reports to Congress. 
 
 Sets forth standards that restrict the FCC's authority to conditionally approve line and license transfers and other transactions. Prohibits the FCC from considering a voluntary commitment of a party to such transfer or transaction unless the FCC could adopt that commitment as a condition under such standards. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Aerotropolis Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1818
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Railroads
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Aerotropolis Act of 2011 - Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to extend the eligibility for projects of national and regional significance under the surface transportation grant program to certain aerotropolis transportation system projects.
 
Defines &quot;aerotropolis transportation system&quot; as a planned and coordinated multimodal freight and passenger transportation network that provides efficient, sustainable, and intermodal connectivity to a defined region of economic significance centered around a major airport.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Services for America's Seniors Act

Bill: 112-s-1819
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adult day care
Advisory bodies
Aging
Family services
Health programs administration and funding
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Strengthening Services for America's Seniors Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize the Assistant Secretary for Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants to states to establish a program to assess the needs of family caregivers for targeted support services.
 
Allows Aging and Disability Resource Centers to carry out an assessment program with respect to informal caregivers and care recipients. 
 
Establishes an Advisory Committee to Assess, Coordinate, and Improve Legal Assistance Activities for older Americans.
 
Makes it a duty of the Administration on Aging to reserve and provide specified amounts for FY2012 and subsequent fiscal years for the funding of the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC).
 
Authorizes the use of such amounts to enable NORC to: (1) collaborate and participate with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in providing training for state survey agencies with an agreement in effect under the Medicare program; or (2) work with the CMS Administrator, in the case of states without such an agency, to improve the investigative processes used by the center to address complaints by residents of long-term care facilities.
 
Requires the state to ensure that representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman shall have access to review all records concerning a resident.
 
Declares a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and any representative of the Office, a &quot;health oversight agency,&quot; so that release of residents' individually identified health information to the Ombudsman or a representative is not precluded (by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 [HIPAA]) in certain cases.
 
Imposes confidentiality requirements upon the Ombudsman and each representative of the Office with respect to communications with individuals seeking assistance under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7189-7191)
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Outreach Act

Bill: 112-s-1820
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Defense spending
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
National Guard Outreach Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to assist a state National Guard in providing pre- and post-deployment outreach, reintegration, and readjustment program services to: (1) reserve component Armed Forces members residing in the state or National Guard members of the state regardless of place of residence who are ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation and such members upon returning from such active duty, (2) veterans, and (3) dependents of such members and veterans.
 
 
Requires: (1) supported programs to use direct person-to-person outreach and other relevant activities ensuring that eligible persons receive all the available services and support; and (2) a decision to commit, obligate, or expend funds with or to a specific National Guard to be based on certain merit-based or competitive procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the exhumation and transfer of remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces buried in Tripoli, Libya.

Bill: 112-s-1822
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Africa
Cemeteries and funerals
Congressional oversight
Libya
Middle East
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to take all necessary steps to: (1) exhume the remains of 13 deceased U.S. sailors buried in or near Protestant Cemetery and Tripoli Castle in Tripoli, Libya; (2) transfer such remains for laboratory identification; (3) in the case of identified remains, transport such remains to a veterans cemetery located near the closest living family member of the deceased (or to another cemetery, as determined by the Secretary); (4) in the case of identified remains, provide a military funeral and burial; and (5) in the case of remains that cannot be identified, transport such remains to Arlington National Cemetery for interment at the Tomb of the Unknowns.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1823
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011 - Provides employment and reemployment rights for certain individuals ordered to full-time National Guard duty. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7191-7192)
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act

Bill: 112-s-1824
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to change the thresholds for total assets and for class of equity security holders of record which trigger the requirement for a securities issuer to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Increases the total assets threshold from $1 million to $10 million, and the class of equity security holders of record threshold from 500-750 to 2,000 persons.
 
Declares that, with respect to such registration requirement, the definition of &quot;held of record&quot; does not include securities held by persons who received them pursuant to an employee compensation plan in transactions exempted from specified registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (exempt transactions). (Thus exempts securities held such persons from registration requirements.) 
 
Directs the SEC to: (1) revise the definition of &quot;held of record&quot; in accordance with this Act, and (2) adopt safe harbor provisions issuers can follow to determine whether holders of securities have received securities pursuant to an employee compensation plan in an exempt transaction. 
Requires termination of the registration of a class of security of a bank or bank holding company, and subjects to automatic suspension the related duty to file supplementary and periodic information with the SEC, if the number of holders of record of such class of security is reduced to less than 1,200 persons. 
Excludes from the identity of municipal advisor (subject to registration requirements) any person appointed to or volunteering on a board, commission, committee, or similar function of a municipal entity. Exempts also from registration requirements any banks, including agencies or branches of a foreign bank. 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-482.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-465.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-444.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the American Military Retirees Association, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1825
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Federally chartered organizations
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Grants a federal charter to the American Military Retirees Association.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
STARTUP Act

Bill: 112-s-1826
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Business investment and capital
Executive agency funding and structure
Self-employed
Small Business Administration
Small business
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Startup Technical Assistance for Reemployment Training and Unemployment Prevention Act or the STARTUP Act - Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 to authorize states to establish a self-employment assistance program (a program to provide unemployed individuals with an allowance in lieu of extended unemployment compensation to establish a business and become self-employed). Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to allow individuals receiving emergency unemployment compensation to participate in a self-employment assistance program. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to: (1) award grants to states for self-employment assistance programs; (2) develop model language that may be used by states in enacting such programs and provide technical assistance to states in establishing, improving, and administering such programs; (3) establish reporting requirement for states that have established such programs; and (4) report to Congress on the effectiveness of such programs. 
 
Amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to repeal the program for investment in microentrepreneurs. Limits and rescinds funding for the Loan Modernization and Accounting System established by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Directs the Administrator of SBA to terminate the Special Purpose Counseling Grant program under the Small Business Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7192-7193)
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Trade Prosecutor Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1827
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Free trade and trade barriers
Manufacturing
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Small business
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Trade Prosecutor Act of 2011 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish within the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) a Trade Enforcement Division. 
 
Establishes the position of Deputy United States Trade Representative for Trade Enforcement to head the Trade Enforcement Division. Requires the Deputy to ensure that our trading partners comply with trade agreements to which this country is a party.
 
Establishes within the Trade Enforcement Division an Office of Trade Assistance for Small Business to provide technical and legal assistance and advice to certain small businesses that enables them to prepare and file petitions for a USTR response to violations of trade agreements by foreign governments.
 
Establishes within the Office of the USTR the position of Chief Manufacturing Negotiator. Requires the Chief Manufacturing Negotiator to act as a vigorous advocate on behalf of this country's manufacturing interests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Increasing Small Business Lending Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1828
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-11-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Government lending and loan guarantees
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Small business
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: 
Increasing Small Business Lending Act of 2011 - Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to extend small business loan fee reductions and eliminations and small business loan guarantees under such Act to one year after the enactment of this Act.
 
Makes uniform between the Small Business Administration (SBA) section 7(a) loan program and the SBA local development business loan program the office space leasing policy, allowing up to 50% of a facility to be leased on either a new or existing building.
 
Allows the SBA Administrator to pool (combine for sale on the secondary market) SBA-guaranteed loans having various interest rates. (Currently, the SBA may pool only SBA-guaranteed loans having the same interest rate.) Requires interest rates on trust certificates representing shares of pooled loans to be the weighted average interest rate of such loans. Requires the SBA to provide to intermediary lenders at least one alternative interest rate other than the Wall Street prime rate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7193)
action_date: 2011-11-08
text: Introduced in Senate