hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-419
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Missouri River
Montana
North Dakota
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: 
Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the project entitled the &quot;Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System&quot; in accordance with the plans described in the &quot;Dry-Redwater Regional Water System Feasibility Study&quot; if the Secretary determines that the project is feasible. 
 
Directs the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement to provide federal assistance for the planning, design, and construction of the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority for specified counties in Montana and North Dakota. 
 
Limits the federal share of planning, design, and construction of the System to 75% of the total cost. Delineates the components of System facilities for which federal funds may be expended. Prohibits federal funds from being used for the System's operation, maintenance, or replacement.
 
Directs the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration to make available to the System a quantity of power required, up to one and a half megawatt capacity, to meet the System's pumping and incidental operation requirements between May 1 and October 31 of each year from the water intake facilities and through all pumping stations, water treatment facilities, reservoirs, storage tanks, and pipelines up to the point of delivery of water by the water supply system to all storage reservoirs and tanks and each entity that distributes water at retail to individual users. Makes the System eligible to receive such power only if it operates on a nonprofit basis and is constructed pursuant to the cooperative agreement. Sets forth provisions regarding the purchase of additional power, the Authority's responsibility for power charges and non-federal delivery costs, and the System's responsibility for non-federal transmission and distribution system delivery and service arrangements and for funding any transmission upgrades required to the integrated system necessary to deliver power to the System.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-63.
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-420
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: 
Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2011 - Amends part B (Child-Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth.
 
Prescribes program implementation guidelines, including: (1) application requirements, (2) training, (3) screening, (4) educational requirements, (5) federal and nonfederal share of funds for the program, (6) considerations in awarding grants, and (7) use of funds.
 
Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a state or political subdivision.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline Service or website to provide information to individuals interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care.
 
Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Powering America's Lithium Production Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-421
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2011-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Manufacturing
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: 
Powering America's Lithium Production Act of 2011 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to provide grants to eligible entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of domestic industrial processes that are designed to enhance domestic lithium production for use in advanced battery technologies.
 
Defines an "eligible entity" as: (1) a private partnership or other entity that is organized in accordance with federal law and engaged in lithium production for use in advanced battery technologies; (2) a public entity, such as a state, tribal, or local governmental entity; or (3) a consortium of such entities.
 
Requires such eligible entities to use such grants to develop or enhance: (1) domestic industrial processes that increase lithium production, processing, or recycling for use in advanced lithium batteries; or (2) industrial process associated with new formulations of lithium feedstock for use in such batteries.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-117.
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Passenger Vehicle Loss Disclosure Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-422
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Insurance industry and regulation
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Passenger Vehicle Loss Disclosure Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to require all insurers and self-insurers of passenger motor vehicles to disclose to the public, in a commercially reasonable, electronically accessible manner, for each passenger motor vehicle declared or determined to be a total loss: (1) the vehicle identification number and odometer reading, (2) the date of and primary reason for the total loss determination, and (3) whether the airbags deployed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide authority for retroactive effective date for awards of disability compensation in connection with applications that are fully-developed at submittal, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-423
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide an effective date of an award of disability compensation, in the case of a veteran who submits a fully-developed claim, of up to one year before the date of receipt of such claim.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-424
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase to 6% the rate of increase in the fee schedule for ground ambulance services furnished between January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2018, in rural and urban areas. 
 
Extends to January 1, 2018, the increase in the base rate of the fee schedule the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is required to make for a trip in the case of ground ambulance services furnished on or after July 1, 2004, for which the transportation originates in a qualified low population density rural area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-425
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) enhance and expand infrastructure and activities to track the epidemiology of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; and (2) incorporate information obtained through such activities into a National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System. Requires the Secretary to ensure that the System is designed in a manner that facilitates further research on neurological diseases.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide for the collection and storage of information on the incidence and prevalence of neurological diseases in the United States and other information on neurological diseases, such as demographics information, risk factors, or diagnosis and progression markers. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide for the collection and storage of information relevant to analysis on neurological diseases, such as information concerning the epidemiology, natural history, prevention, detection, management, and treatment of the diseases and the development of outcomes measures; and (2) address issues identified through consultations with individuals with appropriate expertise.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities to carry out activities under this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) make information and analysis in the System available to federal agencies and to the public, including researchers; and (2) ensure that privacy and security protections applicable to the System are at least as stringent as federal privacy and security law under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
DIPLOMA Act

Bill: 112-s-426
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Community life and organization
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Developing Innovative Partnerships and Learning Opportunities that Motivate Achievement Act or DIPLOMA Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award renewable five-year grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local consortia that include a local educational agency (LEA) and other community partners to: (1) ensure the academic, physical, social, emotional, and civic development of disadvantaged youth; and (2) strengthen their families and communities.
 
Requires each state grantee to develop and implement a state child and youth strategy that assesses children's needs and the assets within the state that can be mobilized, coordinated, and integrated to achieve quantifiable progress toward goals that include ensuring that: (1) children are ready for school; (2) students are engaged and achieving in school; (3) students are physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally healthy; (4) schools and neighborhoods are safe and provide a positive climate for learning; (5) families are supportive and engaged in their children's education; (6) students are ready for postsecondary education and 21st Century careers; and (7) students are contributing to their communities.
 
Directs the consortia to develop and implement a local child and youth strategy that integrates multiple private and public services into a comprehensive, coordinated continuum of services directed toward achieving quantifiable progress toward such goals. 
 
Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants directly to local consortia if appropriated funds fall below a specified amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Sloan Hills Withdrawal Act

Bill: 112-s-427
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Mining
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Sloan Hills Withdrawal Act - Withdraws certain land located in the Sloan Hills area of Clark County, Nevada, from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-39.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1061-1062)
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1061)
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish the Office of the Inspector General of the Senate.

Bill: 112-s-428
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Establishes the Office of the Inspector General (IG) of the Senate.
 
Requires the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate to appoint the first IG.
 
Limits the IG to an initial five-year term, and two additional terms if reappointed.
 
Requires the IG to: (1) audit and investigate Senate programs and operations; (2) review legislation and regulations relating to Senate programs and operations, and make recommendations concerning their impact on the economy and efficiency in the administration of such programs and operations or the prevention and detection of fraud and abuse in them; and (3) keep the Committee on Rules and Administration and the Committee on Appropriations informed concerning fraud and other serious problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to such administration, and recommend corrective action.
 
Requires the Office to establish a publicly available website for posting its reports and audits, including a direct homepage link for individuals to report fraud, waste, and abuse without being required to disclose personally identifying information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Cleaning Up Congress by Providing Accountability for Congressional Foreign Travel Act

Bill: 112-s-429
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2011-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Aviation and airports
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Currency
Members of Congress
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: 
Cleaning Up Congress by Providing Accountability for Congressional Foreign Travel Act - Amends the Mutual Security Act of 1954 to revise requirements with respect to the availability, use, and reporting of foreign currency by Members and employees of Congress.
 
Requires a review by current authorizing officials of specified travel-related information before approval or denial of any foreign travel authorization or appropriated dollar expenditures in connection with it.
 
 Requires each Member or employee provided a per diem to: (1) take necessary actions to reduce costs incurred for such travel, and (2) return to the appropriate chamber any unexpended per diem at the conclusion of the travel, which shall be used for deficit reduction.
 
Prohibits, unless authorized by the appropriate chamber, the receipt of federal funds (including foreign currencies made available under this Act) by any Member of either chamber who is retiring or has been defeated for re-election in a primary. Applies such foreign travel restrictions also to Member's employees, elected officers of both chambers, and committee employees whose employment will terminate at the end of a Congress. Exempts from such restrictions travel to a military installation or a theater of operations of the Armed Forces. Allows a Member or employee to obtain a waiver of such travel restrictions by the authorizing officials.
 
Requires the chair of each congressional committee and joint committee to prepare and forward to the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate a consolidated report specifying foreign travel taken by committee Members or employees,which shall be made available on the official public websites of the Clerk and of the Secretary.
 
Authorizes the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence or the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in his or her discretion, to omit from the consolidated report any information that would identify the foreign countries in which Members and employees of that Committee traveled.
 
Prescribes and/or revises requirements for Member and employee travel reports.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to study the amount of appropriated funds for official foreign travel by Members, officers, and employees of both chambers, and make recommendations for determining the funding level for such travel which will promote transparency and cost savings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-10
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the naturalization requirements related to physical presence in the United States for alien translators granted special immigrant status, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-430
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2011-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Foreign labor
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-02
text: 
Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, with respect to naturalization of an Afghan or Iraqi translator who is a lawful permanent resident, to count a period of absence from the United States working as a translator for the United States or a U.S. contractor in Afghanistan or Iraq towards the accumulation of the required U.S. physical presence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 112-s-431
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Commemorative events and holidays
Crimes against children
Currency
Department of Justice
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Monuments and memorials
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-02
text: 
United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Marshals Service, to mint and issue $5 gold and $1 silver coins emblematic of the 225 years of exemplary and unparalleled achievements of the U.S. Marshals Service.
 
Requires all such coin sales to include a surcharge of: (1) $35 per $5 coin; and (2) $10 per $1 coin. Requires distribution of the first $5 million to the U.S. Marshals Service National Museum for the preservation, maintenance, and display of artifacts and documents of the U.S. Marshals Service. Requires distribution of one-third of the remainder each to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund in support of the National Law Enforcement Museum and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of the $5 gold coins.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate