hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Nationwide Network of Support for Veterans and Their Families Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1846
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Federally chartered organizations
Military personnel and dependents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Nationwide Network of Support for Veterans and Their Families Act of 2011 - Establishes the National Veterans Support Foundation to, among other things: (1) analyze and organize resources that list and describe organizations, programs, events, and other activities that provide assistance specifically to veterans; (2) provide support and help align and scale resources that support veterans and their families; and (3) encourage and promote participation by private organizations in activities that serve and support veterans. Requires the Foundation to establish a direct community reintegration support program to award grants to create or expand community-based veterans reintegration and support programs. Prohibits the Foundation from accepting any federal funds. Requires annual Foundation audits and reports to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Our Disabled Heroes Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1847
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Protect Our Disabled Heroes Act of 2011 - Provides criminal penalties against any person who solicits, contracts for, charges, or receives any fee or compensation from a veteran, other than that currently permitted under law, for: (1) advice on how to file a benefits claim; or (2) the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim before the date on which a notice of disagreement is filed in a proceeding on the claim.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act

Bill: 112-s-1849
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Rural Health of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and transmit to Congress a five-year strategic plan for improving access to, and the quality of, health care services for veterans in rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Spouses of Heroes Education Act

Bill: 112-s-1852
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Spouses of Heroes Education Act - Entitles to post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance the spouse (under current law, only the child) of a person who, on or after September 11, 2001, dies in the line of duty while serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces. Terminates such spouse's entitlement on the earlier of: (1) 15 years after the date on which the member died, and (2) the date of the spouse's remarriage.
 
Requires an individual entitled to such assistance and also to veterans' educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill to elect a single coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Postal Service Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1853
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Alcoholic beverages
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Marketing and advertising
Performance measurement
Postal service
Research and development
Retail and wholesale trades
Rural conditions and development
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Postal Service Protection Act of 2011 - Sets forth rules for the recalculation of annuities for employees of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and for the redetermination of surplus or supplemental liabilities under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Prescribes the "average pay" to be used in calculating annuities and surplus amounts. 
 
Authorizes the transfer of surplus postal retirement contributions in FY2010 to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, the Postal Service Fund, and the Employees' Compensation Fund under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and to USPS for payment of its debt obligations.
 
Eliminates the requirement for pre-funding of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. 
 
Sets forth criteria for the closing or consolidation of postal facilities.
 
Allows USPS to provide any nonpostal service or product in a manner consistent with the public interest. 
 
Provides for the mailing of wine and beer sent by a licensed winery or brewery in accordance with the laws of the state, territory, or district where the addressee or agent takes delivery.
 
Establishes in USPS the position of the Chief Innovation Officer who shall have proven expertise and success in the postal and shipping industry and in innovation, marketing, technology, and management. Establishes a Postal Innovation Advisory Commission. Requires the Postmaster General to report to Congress on a comprehensive strategy for maximizing USPS revenue through innovative postal and nonpostal products and services.
 
Prohibits USPS from reducing the frequency of mail delivery to fewer than six days each week or from increasing the expected delivery time for market-dominant products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Surge Capacity Act

Bill: 112-s-1854
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Medicaid
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Medical Surge Capacity Act - Amends title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive or modify certain requirements with respect to health care items and services furnished by a health care provider in a geographical area in which, and in a period during which, one (current law requires both) of the following exists: (1) an emergency or disaster declared by the President pursuant to the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or (2) a public health emergency declared by the Secretary.
 
Allows the Secretary to deem an emergency area to include a geographical area into which individuals from the emergency area are evacuated and receiving care.
 
Extends the limitation on the duration of waivers of certain actions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and certain sanctions and penalties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) from 72 to 96 hours beginning upon implementation of a hospital disaster protocol.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit Federal funding for lawsuits seeking to invalidate specific State laws that support the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.

Bill: 112-s-1856
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Alabama
Arizona
Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Georgia
Immigration status and procedures
Indiana
Intergovernmental relations
Missouri
Oklahoma
South Carolina
State and local government operations
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Prohibits federal funds from being used by a federal agency or instrumentality to participate in a lawsuit to overturn, enjoin, or otherwise invalidate specified immigration-related laws in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, Utah, Indiana, Alabama, South Carolina, or Georgia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

Bill: 112-s-1857
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, and (2) increase the per country numerical limitation for family based immigrants. 
 
Amends the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 to eliminate the provision requiring the reduction of annual Chinese immigrant visas to offset status adjustments under such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Solar Jobs Creation Act

Bill: 112-s-1858
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Manufacturing
Sports and recreation facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Solar Jobs Creation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow for periods ending before January 1, 2017, a 30% energy tax credit for equipment used to fabricate solar energy property; and (2) allow the energy tax credit for property that uses solar energy to heat swimming pools not located at single-family residences. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide that section 3330a, 3330b, and 3330c of title 5, United States Code, relating to administrative and judicial redress and remedies for preference eligibles, shall apply with respect to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration.

Bill: 112-s-1859
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2011-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Aviation and airports
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Transportation safety and security
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: 
Includes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as agencies for purposes of federal employment provisions relating to administrative and judicial redress for veteran preference eligibles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced:  CR S7385)
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7384-7385)
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify prohibitions for any United Nations entity that admits Palestine as a member state.

Bill: 112-s-1860
Sponsor: Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN]
Introduced: 2011-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Foreign aid and international relief
Middle East
Palestinians
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-14
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that any effort by the President to provide funds to any United Nations (U.N.) agency that admits Palestine as a member state would be a violation of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 or the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Pathways Back to Work Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1861
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2011-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Government trust funds
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
Unemployment
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: 
Pathways Back to Work Act of 2011 - Establishes in the Treasury the Pathways Back to Work Fund, with an initial appropriation of $5 billion.
 
Requires the Secretary of Labor to make certain Fund allocations to states with approved plans, qualifying outlying areas (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau), and Native American program grantees to provide: (1) subsidized employment to unemployed, low-income adults; and (2) summer and year-round employment opportunities to low-income youth.
 
Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants to local entities for work-based training and other work-related and educational strategies and activities of demonstrated effectiveness to provide unemployed, low-income adults and low-income youths with skills that will lead to employment.
 
Subjects activities funded under this Act to federal labor standards and nondiscrimination protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Stillbirth and SUID Prevention, Education, and Awareness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1862
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child health
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Genetics
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex and reproductive health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: 
Stillbirth and SUID Prevention, Education, and Awareness 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 award grants for: (1) improving state comprehensive death scene investigations for sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) and sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), and (2) increasing the rate of comprehensive and standardized autopsies for such deaths.
 
Requires the Director to: (1) develop national guidelines for a standard autopsy protocol for such deaths, and (2) commission a study on the benefits and appropriateness of genetic testing for infant and early childhood deaths that remain unexplained after investigation and autopsy.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to: (1) award grants for death scene investigation training specific for SUID and SUDC, (2) establish a population-based case registry for SUID and SUDC deaths, (3) conduct a needs assessment for investigations and determinations of such deaths, and (4) develop public education and prevention programs to reduce stillbirths and address the racial and ethnic disparities in occurrence.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to: (1) award grants for child death review programs and prevention strategies; (2) establish a public health awareness and education campaign on SUID and SUDC; and (3) award grants for support services to families who have experienced SUID, SUDC, or stillbirth.
 
Provides for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths. 
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a task force to develop a national research plan to determine the causes of, and how to prevent, stillbirths.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1863
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal-Indian relations
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government trust funds
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits
Infrastructure development
Manufacturing
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Roads and highways
Sales and excise taxes
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: 
New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow an extension through 2016 of the tax credit for alternative fuel motor vehicles powered by compressed or liquefied natural gas and make Indian tribal governments eligible for such credit, (2) allow an offset against regular and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liabilities of tax credits for such vehicles and allow the transferability of such credits, (3) increase the tax credit for the purchase of such vehicles, (4) allow a new business-related tax credit for the production of such vehicles, and (5) extend through 2016 the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures for property servicing such vehicles and allow an increased tax credit rate for such property.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to provide funding to improve the performance and efficiency and integration of natural gas-powered motor vehicles and heavy-duty on-road vehicles. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to manufacturers of light and heavy duty natural gas vehicles for the development of engines that reduce emissions, improve performance and efficiency, and lower cost.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress the the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should further streamline the process for certification of natural gas vehicle retrofit kits to promote energy security while still fulfilling the mission of the Clean Air Act. 
 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to allocate funds for vehicles that are repowered or converted to operate on an alternative fuel.
 
Allocates a federal share for the cost of acquiring vehicle-related equipment or facilities for complying with the Clean Air Act. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish and administer a program to encourage the development of natural gas fueling infrastructure to be used by transit agencies. 
 
Replaces excise tax rates for liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas with the sum of the Highway Trust Fund and the Natural Gas Transportation Incentives financing rates. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2012.

Bill: 112-s-1864
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Floods and storm protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: 
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the National Flood Insurance Program from September 30, 2010, through September 30, 2012.
 
Continues through December 31, 2011, the authority of the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the President's approval, to issue up to $20.725 billion in notes and obligations to finance the Program. Amends the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 to repeal the termination of such authority as of November 18, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Patient Access to Medical Innovation Act

Bill: 112-s-1865
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical ethics
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: 
Patient Access to Medical Innovation Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend for five years and revise the program for humanitarian exemptions for pediatric medical devices. Removes provisions requiring the device to have been approved on or after September 27, 2007. Eliminates the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an annual distribution number setting the maximum number of devices that could be distributed under the exemption. Sets such number as the number of devices needed to treat, diagnose, or cure a population of 4,000 individuals in the United States. (Currently, this is the maximum number the Secretary may set.) 
 
Eliminates the limitation on the number of waivers the Secretary may grant from conflict of interest provisions pertaining to service on an advisory committee. Requires the Secretary to ensure that each determination to waive such provisions considers the scope and magnitude of the financial interest at issue with the public health need for the expertise of the member on the committee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate