hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Salamander Community Conservation Act

Bill: 112-s-3446
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Reptiles
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Salamander Community Conservation Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to make the Act's provisions regarding the determination of endangered or threatened species inapplicable to: (1) the Austin blind salamander, (2) the Georgetown salamander, (3) the Jollyville Plateau salamander, or (4) the Salado salamander.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Disability Pension Fairness Act

Bill: 112-s-3447
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Employee benefits and pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Disability Pension Fairness Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974 (ERISA), with respect to single-employer plan guaranteed benefits, to revise the prohibition against reduction of the maximum monthly disability benefit payable to a plan participant solely on account of his or her age in the case of a benefit payable by reason of a disability that occurs on or before termination of the plan.
 
Extends this prohibition with respect to a disability occuring after plan termination as well, without regard to whether the disability was or would have been covered under the terms of the plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-3448
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Mammals
North Carolina
Seashores and lakeshores
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, Currituck County, and the state of North Carolina to provide for the management of free-roaming wild horses in and around the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. 
 
 Requires that such agreement: (1) allow a herd of no more than 130 free-roaming wild horses in and around the Refuge; (2) provide for cost-effective management of such horses; and (3) provide for the introduction of a small number of free-roaming wild horses from the herd at Cape Lookout National Seashore as is necessary to maintain the genetic viability of the herd in and around the Refuge; and (4) specify that the Corolla Wild Horse Fund shall pay certain costs associated with the health, maintenance, removal, and placement of such horses. 
 
Bars the Secretary from excluding free-roaming wild horses from any part of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge unless: (1) it is found that the presence of such horses on a part of the Refuge threatens the survival of an endangered species for which such land is designated as critical habitat, (2) such finding is based on a peer-reviewed scientific assessment, and (3) a period of public notice and comment is provided on such finding. 
 
Prohibits the removal of any horse from the Seashore for introduction at the Refuge, except with the approval of the Foundation for Shackleford Horses Inc. and consistent with the memorandum of understanding between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Foundation and the management plan for the Shackleford Banks Horse Herd. 
 
Prohibits anything in this Act from creating liability of the United States for any damages caused by the free-roaming wild horses to any person or property. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
China Fair Trade Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3449
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Asia
Building construction
Buy American requirements
China
Congressional oversight
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Manufacturing
Metals
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
China Fair Trade Act of 2012 - Amends the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 to provide that certain exceptions and waivers to the prohibition on the procurement of the products of a country that is not a party to the Agreement on Government Procurement shall not apply with respect to the procurements of products or services of the People's Republic of China.
 
Amends the Buy American Act to declare that certain exceptions to the Act requiring only U.S. materials be used for public use shall not apply to the procurement of Chinese-made products until China becomes a party to the Agreement.
 
Declares that certain exceptions to Buy American requirements shall not apply to the procurement of Chinese products by the Department of Defense (DOD) until China becomes a party to such Agreement.
 
Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to declare that certain exceptions to Buy American requirements under such Act shall not apply to the procurement of Chinese steel and products until China becomes a party to the Agreement.
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to report to Congress on the productive capacity of the major industrial sectors in China.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to report to Congress on: (1) Chinese policies and the subsidies China provides in the development and exportation of renewable energy products and technologies, and (2) the impact such policies and subsidies have on U.S. manufacturers of such products and technologies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-3450
Sponsor: Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Coal
Department of the Interior
Energy revenues and royalties
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government liability
Land use and conservation
Mining
Property rights
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior, before December 31, 2013, from issuing or approving any proposed or final regulation under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 that would: (1) adversely impact employment in coal mines in the United States; (2) cause a reduction in revenue received by the federal government or any state, tribal, or local government, by reducing through regulation the quantity of coal in the United States that is available for mining; (3) reduce the quantity of coal available for domestic consumption or for export; (4) designate any area as unsuitable for surface coal mining and reclamation operations; or (5) expose the United States to liability for taking the value of privately owned coal through regulation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to exempt certain air taxi services from taxes on transportation by air.

Bill: 112-s-3451
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Sales and excise taxes
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain on-demand flights (flights for which the departure time, departure location, and arrival location are specifically negotiated with the customer) from the excise tax on transportation of persons and property by air.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3452
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2012 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%.
 
Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Empowers state Attorneys General to enforce this Act.
 
Revises requirements for a periodic statement for each billing cycle with respect to where the total finance charge exceeds 50 cents for a monthly or longer billing cycle, or the pro rata part of 50 cents for a billing cycle shorter than monthly. Requires inclusion of the fee and interest rate, displayed as &quot;FAIR,&quot; instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5490-5491)
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5489-5490)
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3453
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2012-07-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Inflation and prices
Labor standards
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: 
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to: (1) $8.10 an hour on the first day of the third month after the enactment of this Act; (2) $8.95 an hour after one year; (3) $9.80 an hour after two years; and (4) the amount determined by the Secretary of Labor (based on increases in the Consumer Price Index) after three years, and annually thereafter.
 
Increases the federal minimum wage for tipped employees to $3.00 an hour for one year on the first day of the third month after the enactment of this Act. Provides a formula for subsequent annual adjustments of the wage increase to ensure that it remains equal to 70% of the wage in effect under FLSA for other employees.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor, 60 days before any increase in the minimum wage, to publish it in the Federal Register and on the Department of Labor's website. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5492)
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5491-5492)
action_date: 2012-07-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Government Customer Service Improvement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3455
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2012-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: 
Government Customer Service Improvement Act of 2012 - Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) develop performance measures to determine whether federal agencies are providing high-quality, timely, customer service and improving delivery service, (2) develop customer service and service delivery standards for such agencies, and (3) include achievements in meeting such performance measures and standards in agency performance updates.
 
Requires the head of each federal agency to designate an agency employee to be its service improvement officer, who shall issue guidelines to implement customer service standards and publish customer service contact information.
 
Directs the OMB Deputy Director of Management to establish a two-year Service Improvement Unit Pilot Program to provide assistance to agencies that do not meet such customer service standards and performance measures.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to: (1) report to Congress and the Comptroller General (GAO) on information submitted by each federal agency on its employees who are retiring, and (2) establish a timetable for the completion of its retirement systems modernization project.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Protection Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3456
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Pornography
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: 
Child Protection Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 20 years for transporting, receiving, distributing, selling, or possessing pornographic images of a child under the age of 12.
 
Requires a U.S. district court to issue a protective order prohibiting harassment or intimidation of a minor victim or witness if the court finds evidence that the conduct at issue is reasonably likely to adversely affect the willingness of the minor witness or victim to testify or otherwise participate in a federal criminal case or investigation.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that such guidelines provide an additional penalty for sex trafficking of children and other child abuse crimes.
 
Allows the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to issue an administrative subpoena for the investigation of unregistered sex offenders by the U.S. Marshals Service.
 
Amends the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 to: (1) double the amount that the Attorney General may award a non-law enforcement agency entity annually to establish and conduct training courses for National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program task force members and other law enforcement officials, (2) require the Attorney General to designate a senior official at the Department of Justice (DOJ) with experience in investigating or prosecuting child exploitation cases as the National Coordinator for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction to be responsible for coordinating the development of the National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, (3) authorize appropriations for carrying out such strategy for FY2014-FY2018, (4) delete a requirement that the National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System identify high-priority suspects based on the volume of suspected criminal activity, and (5) require the Attorney General to report within 90 days after enactment of this Act on the status of the establishment of such System.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3458
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-07-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: 
Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to require the licensing of ammunition dealers.
 
Prohibits any person except a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer from: (1) selling ammunition, with an exception for a sale of ammunition to a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer; or (2) engaging in the business of importing or manufacturing ammunition, or in the course of such business, from shipping, transporting, or receiving ammunition. Prohibits a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer from: (1) transferring ammunition to a person without verifying the person's identity by examining a valid identification document containing a photograph of such person; or (2) selling or delivering any ammunition (currently, any armor-piercing ammunition) to any person unless the licensee notes in his records the person's name, age, and place of residence, if the person is an individual, or the person's identity and principal and local places of business, if the person is a business entity.
 
Applies prohibitions applicable to the shipping or transport of firearms, and record-keeping requirements applicable to the importation, production, shipment, receipt, sale, or other disposition of firearms, to ammunition. 
 
Requires each licensee to: (1) prepare a report of multiple sales or other dispositions whenever the licensee sells or otherwise disposes of more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition to an unlicensed person at one time or during any five consecutive business days; and (2) forward such report to the specified office and to the department of state police, the state law enforcement agency, or the local law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the sale took place by the close of business on the day the multiple sale occurs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-07-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Energy High-End Computing Improvement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3459
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2012-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Department of Energy
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: 
Department of Energy High-End Computing Improvement Act of 2012 - Renames the Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 as the Department of Energy High-End Computing Act of 2012.
 
Defines &quot;exascale computing&quot; as computing through the use of a computing machine that performs near or above 10 to the 18th power floating point operations per second.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) conduct a research program to develop exascale computing machines to promote DOE missions; (2) coordinate the development of such machines across all applicable DOE agencies; and (3) implement the program through an integration of application, computer science, and computer hardware architecture using public-private partnerships to ensure that exascale computing machines are capable of solving DOE target applications and scientific problems.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2013-FY2015.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5734-5735)
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5734)
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Startup Innovation Credit Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3460
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2012-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes
Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Research and development
Small business
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: 
Startup Innovation Credit Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a qualified small business, other than a tax-exempt organization, to use a portion of its tax credit for increasing research expenditures as an offset against its payroll tax liability under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Defines "qualified small business" as a corporation, partnership, or S corporation if the gross receipts of such entity for the taxable year are less than $5 million and such entity did not have gross receipts for any period preceding the 5-year period ending with such taxable year. Limits the amount of the payroll tax credit portion to $250,000 in any taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5735)
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate