hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act

Bill: 112-s-2160
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2012-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Credit and credit markets
Department of the Treasury
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve System
National Credit Union Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: 
Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act - Amends the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 to require a federal financial institutions regulatory agency to make a final examination report to a financial institution within 60 days of the later of: (1) the exit interview for an examination of the institution, or (2) the provision of additional information by the institution relating to the examination.
 
Sets a deadline for the exit interview if a financial institution is not subject to a resident examiner program.
 
Sets forth examination standards for financial institutions.
 
Prohibits federal financial institutions regulatory agencies from requiring a well capitalized financial institution to raise additional capital in lieu of an action prohibited by the examination standards.
 
 Establishes in the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council an Office of Examination Ombudsman.
 
Grants a financial institution the right to appeal a material supervisory determination contained in a final report of examination.
 
Requires the Ombudsman to determine the merits of the appeal on the record, after an opportunity for a hearing before an independent administrative law judge.
 
Declares the decision by the Ombudsman on an appeal to: (1) be the final agency action, and (2) bind the agency whose supervisory determination was the subject of the appeal and the financial institution making the appeal.
 
Amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to require: (1) the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to establish an independent intra-agency appellate process in connection with the regulatory appeals process; and (2) appropriate safeguards to protect an insured depository institution or insured credit union from retaliation by the CFPB, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board, or any other federal banking agency for exercising its rights. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the credit for certain plug-in vehicles.

Bill: 112-s-2161
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for the purchase of a qualified plug-in electric vehicle, to: (1) extend such credit through 2016, (2) increase the per vehicle credit amount based upon battery capacity, and (3) allow such credit for vehicles with alternative electrical energy storage devices. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Project Rebuild Act

Bill: 112-s-2162
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Appropriations
Disaster relief and insurance
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Land use and conservation
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Unemployment
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: 
Project Rebuild Act - Appropriates funds for assistance to eligible entities, including state and local governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations, businesses or eligible consortia, for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed-upon properties and for stabilization of affected neighborhoods (Project Rebuild).
 
Allows such grantees to give priority emphasis and consideration to areas that have lost occupiable housing stock within three years of the enactment of this Act due to the effects of presidentially declared disasters.
 
Allows the use of funds to: (1) establish financing mechanisms for the purchase and redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed-upon properties; (2) purchase and rehabilitate such properties; (3) establish and operate land banks for them, as well as for properties demolished or severely damaged by presidentially declared disasters; (4) demolish blighted structures (except public housing); and (5) redevelop abandoned, foreclosed, demolished, or vacant properties.
 
Requires each state to receive at least $20 million of formula funds, all of which shall be used with respect to low and moderate-income individuals and families.
 
Requires each state and local government grantee to establish procedures to create preferences for development of affordable rental housing.
 
Allows a grantee to use up to 10% to create jobs by establishing and operating a program to maintain eligible neighborhood properties.
 
 Subjects amounts appropriated, revenues generated, and amounts otherwise made available under this Act to: (1) the requirement of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors on federally-assisted projects be paid wages at the locally prevailing rates (Davis-Bacon Act); and (2) the Secretary's authority to waive such wage rate and certain employment protection requirements with respect to grants to Indian tribes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-05-08
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-677.
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1424-1425)
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Upper Mississippi CARP Act

Bill: 112-s-2164
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Congressional oversight
Dams and canals
Fishes
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Minnesota
Mississippi River
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: 
Upper Mississippi Conservation and River Protection Act of 2012 or the Upper Mississippi CARP Act - Directs the Chief of Engineers to: (1) study the feasibility of temporarily closing the lock at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, or implementing control measures at the lock, including permanently closing the lock, modifying lock operations, or using an alternative technology barrier, to manage the threat of Asian carp traveling up the Mississippi River in Minnesota; and (2) assess the potential impacts, including environmental and economic impacts, of temporarily closing the lock or continuing to operate it and of implementing the control measures or not implementing such measures.
 
Authorizes the Chief to close the lock upon determining that closure is justified based on the assessment of potential impacts. Requires the Chief to close the lock upon determining that a live adult Asian carp has been captured above Lock and Dam 2 or that a juvenile Asian carp has been captured above Lock and Dam 4. Allows the Chief to reopen the lock upon determining that adequate measures are in place to manage the threat.
 
Directs the Council on Environmental Quality to incorporate the Upper Mississippi River and tributaries, the Minnesota River, and the St. Croix River into the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework of the Council.
 
 Expresses the sense of Congress that federal agencies researching Asian carp control technologies should partner with state and local shareholders, giving priority to collaborative partnerships in which such shareholders contribute to the cost of the research.
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act

Bill: 112-s-2166
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2012-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Executive agency funding and structure
Rural conditions and development
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: 
Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act - Calls for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the types of technical assistance to enable small public water systems to comply with national primary drinking water regulations that are the most beneficial to small and rural communities, based on their input.
 
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to: (1) authorize appropriations to the Administrator of EPA for FY2012-FY2017 for such assistance; and (2) allow the Administrator to use such funds to provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations that provide to small public water systems onsite technical assistance, circuit-rider technical assistance programs, onsite and regional training, assistance with implementing source water protection plans, and assistance with implementation monitoring plans, rules, regulations, and water security enhancements. Directs the Administrator to give preference to nonprofit organizations that are determined to be the most qualified and experienced and that the small community water systems find to be the most beneficial and effective.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
American Jobs in American Forests Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2167
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Employee hiring
Foreign labor
State and local government operations
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: 
American Jobs in American Forests Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Labor, as a component of the H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) labor certification process, to take specified actions to recruit U.S. workers before petitioning to hire H-2B workers. 
 
 Requires a prospective H-2B employer to submit a separate petition for each state in which the employer plans to employ H-2B non-immigrants for a period of at least seven days. 
Prohibits the Secretary from granting a temporary labor certification to a prospective H-2B employer until the Director of the state workforce agency has determined that: (1) employer recruitment requirements have been met, and (2) U.S. nationals are not qualified or available to fill such employment opportunities.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
RESPECT Act

Bill: 112-s-2168
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: 
Re-empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradesworkers Act or RESPECT Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to revise the definition of &quot;supervisor&quot; in the following ways: (1) require the individual to have authority over employees for a majority of the individual's worktime, and (2) remove authority to assign other employees and to responsibly direct employees as conditions for being considered a supervisor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2169
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2012-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: 
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to be appointed by the President (currently, by the Attorney General), with the advice and consent of the Senate.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1461)
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2172
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: 
Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 - Amends the Small Business Act with respect to the procurement program for women-owned small businesses (providing a federal procurement contracting preference to such businesses) to: (1) remove the requirement that the woman or women owning such business be economically disadvantaged, (2) remove contract award price limits, and (3) allow a contracting officer to award a sole source contract to such a business under the same conditions as such a contract may be awarded to a qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small business.
 
Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) periodically conduct a study to identify any U.S. industry in which women are underrepresented; and (2) every five years, report study results to the congressional small business committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1462)
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1462)
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
National Right-to-Work Act

Bill: 112-s-2173
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2012-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Labor-management relations
Railroads
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: 
National Right-to-Work Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to repeal those provisions that permit employers, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that is a union security agreement, to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment (including provisions permitting railroad carriers to require, pursuant to such an agreement, payroll deduction of union dues or fees as a condition of employment). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 333.
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to exempt natural gas vehicles from certain maximum fuel economy increase standards, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-2174
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2012-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy efficiency and conservation
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: 
Exempts natural gas automobiles from the maximum fuel economy increase standards for dual fueled automobiles for model years 1993-2019.
 
 Revises the definition of a &quot;dedicated automobile&quot; (i.e., an automobile that operates only on alternative fuel) to prohibit the inclusion of a reserve gasoline tank for incidental or emergency use in the event of alternative fuel depletion from detracting from the dedicated nature of such an automobile.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Due Process and Military Detention Amendments Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2175
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2012-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Due process and equal protection
Military law
Military operations and strategy
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: 
Due Process and Military Detention Amendments Act of 2012 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 to provide that, in the case of a person detained in the United States pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force, disposition under the law of war shall only mean transfer for trial and proceedings by a court established under article III of the Constitution. Requires such trial and proceedings to have all due process provided under the Constitution.
 
Repeals the requirement of detention in military custody pending disposition under the law of war for individuals determined to be a member or part of al Qaeda or an associated force who has participated in planning or carrying out an attack or attempted attack against the United States or its coalition partners.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Nuclear Waste Fund Relief and Rebate Act

Bill: 112-s-2176
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2012-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Licensing and registrations
Nevada
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Public utilities and utility rates
Radioactive wastes and releases

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: 
 Nuclear Waste Fund Relief and Rebate Act - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to direct the President to publish in the Federal Register a notice certifying that the Yucca Mountain site (Nevada) is the selected site for the development of a repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
 
Declares that, if the President fails to publish the certification or revokes it, each entity: (1) that is required to make a payment to the Nuclear Waste Fund shall not be required to make any additional payment; and (2) that has made a payment shall receive a refund, 75% of which shall be used for rebates to the entity's ratepayers, and 25% shall be used to carry out upgrades to the entity's nuclear power facilities to enhance the storage and security of materials used to generate nuclear power.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy to initiate by January 1, 2017, the transportation to the Yucca Mountain site of defense waste from each state in which it is located.
 
Imposes penalties on the Secretary for failure to initiate such transportation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
NATO Enhancement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2177
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2012-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Collective security
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Georgia (Republic)
Greece
International law and treaties
Macedonia
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
Montenegro
Nuclear weapons
Russia
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: 
NATO Enhancement Act of 2012 - Designates Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina as eligible to receive assistance under the NATO Participation Act of 1994. 
 
Authorizes FY2012 appropriations for security assistance to: (1) Bosnia and Herzegovina, (2) Montenegro, (3) Georgia, (4) the Republic of Macedonia, and (5) Ukraine.
 
Directs the President to establish and update bilateral programs to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Montenegro achieve full North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance (NATO) membership. States that such programs shall not inhibit security cooperation with nations previously designated as eligible to receive security assistance but no longer expressing an intent to join NATO.
 
Gives priority to the provision and delivery of excess defense articles to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Montenegro.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Tax Credit for Early Educators Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2180
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child care and development
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: 
Tax Credit for Early Educators Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an individual taxpayer who is employed in a position involving regular contact with students in an early childhood school or education program and whose position involves the formulation or implementation of educational programs for such school or program a $3,000 tax credit, adjusted for inflation after 2012; (2) extend until 2017 the tax deduction for certain expenses of eligible educators (currently, elementary and secondary school teachers) and expand the definition of "eligible educators" to include teachers, instructors, counselors, or aides in a preschool or early childhood program; and (3) eliminate the income-based reduction in the tax credit for employer-provided dependent care services (thus allowing a full 35% credit for employment-related expenses incurred for the care of a dependent). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1542-1543)
action_date: 2012-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate