hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Defend and Save Social Security Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3533
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Inflation and prices
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
Defend and Save Social Security Act of 2012 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to: (1) increase the normal retirement age by specified graduated stages to 67 by 2019 and to 70 after December 31, 2030, and the early retirement age to 63 by 2019 and to 64 after December 31, 2022; (2) revise requirements for computation of the age increase factor; and (3) modify the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to 1% below the general COLA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
American Victims of Terrorism Justice Act

Bill: 112-s-3534
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
American Victims of Terrorism Justice Act - Amends the federal criminal code to extend from 4 to 10 years the limitation period for bringing certain actions for civil damages resulting from an act of international terrorism.
 
Requires this Act to apply to: (1) proceedings pending or commenced on or after the enactment of this Act; and (2) civil actions brought under specified provisions of the federal criminal code for recovery of damages from international terrorism, provided that such actions are filed within six years after enactment of this Act.
 
Permits any private civil action arising from a violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1991 to be refiled within 90 days after enactment of this Act if the action: (1) was dismissed as time barred prior to the enactment of this Act, and (2) would have been timely filed pursuant to this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act

Bill: 112-s-3535
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Educational facilities and institutions
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health facilities and institutions
Lighting, heating, cooling
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of retrofitting buildings owned by such organizations with energy-efficiency improvements.
 
Directs the Secretary, in determining whether to award a grant, to apply performance-based criteria, which shall give priority to applications based on: (1) the cost-effectiveness of the energy-efficiency improvement; and (2) an effective plan for evaluation, measurement, and verification of energy savings. Limits each grant award to: (1) an amount equal to 50% of the energy-efficiency improvement, and (2) $200,000. 
 
 Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY2013-FY2016 and makes offsetting reductions in authorizations for energy sustainability and efficiency grants under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
VOW to Hire Heroes Extension Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3536
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: American Samoa
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Employment taxes
Government trust funds
Guam
Income tax credits
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Social security and elderly assistance
Unemployment
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Virgin Islands
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: 
VOW to Hire Heroes Extension Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through 2016 the work opportunity tax credit for hiring veterans, (2) revise tax credit eligibility requirements for documenting the status of veterans and their receipt of unemployment compensation, and (3) extend the payroll tax offset for such credit to certain for-profit employers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Boating Capacity Standards Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3537
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Coast guard
Department of Homeland Security
Marine and inland water transportation
Outdoor recreation
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Boating Capacity Standards Act of 2012 - Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) establish maximum passenger capacity and maximum weight capacity standards for recreational vessels, and (2) require manufacturers and operators of passenger vessels to permanently display in a legible manner and clearly visible to vessel passengers such maximum capacity requirements and a notice of the need to balance vessel weight to avoid capsizing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
MITECH Act

Bill: 112-s-3539
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Medicaid Information Technology to Enhance Community Health Act of 2012 or MITECH Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend payments to encourage the adoption and use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology to qualified safety net clinics (QSNCs).
 
Defines a QSNC as a clinic or network of clinics operated by a private non-profit or public entity at least 30% percent of whose patient volume is attributable to needy individuals.
 
Defines a &quot;QSNC-based&quot; individual as one who furnishes substantially all of his or her professional services in a QSNC and through use of the clinic's facilities and equipment, including qualified EHRs.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a procedure through which a QSNC may demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology in order to receive incentive payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6342)
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Reduction in Federal Advertising Budgets Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3540
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Marketing and advertising
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Reduction in Federal Advertising Budgets Act of 2012 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue a directive limiting agency expenditures for advertising in FY2013 to not more than 50% of the amount of such expenditures during FY2012. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 to revise the census data and population requirements for areas to be considered as rural areas for purposes of such Act.

Bill: 112-s-3541
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Housing and community development funding
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend certain requirements for consideration as a rural area with respect to assistance for farm housing.
 
 Declares that any area classified as &quot;rural&quot; or a &quot;rural area&quot; before October 1, 1990, and determined not to be one as a result of data received from or after the 2010 decennial census, and any area deemed to be a &quot;rural area&quot; for purposes of the Act under any other provision of law at any time between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020, if that area has a population of between 10,000 and 35,000 (currently, between 10,000 and 25,000), is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
North Texas Zebra Mussel Barrier Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3543
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Texas
Water use and supply
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
North Texas Zebra Mussel Barrier Act of 2012 - Makes the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 and provisions of the federal criminal code prohibiting importation of injurious animals inapplicable to any water transfer by the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Greater Texoma Utility Authority using only closed conveyance systems from the Lake Texoma raw water intake structure to treatment facilities at which all zebra mussels are extirpated and removed from the transferred water.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Delphi Pensions Restoration Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3544
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial crises and stabilization
Government trust funds
Motor vehicles
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Delphi Pensions Restoration Act of 2012 - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to require transfer to the Delphi Retired Employees Fund of all proceeds from the sale or transfer, after enactment of this Act, of any stock, warrant, or financial instrument acquired by the Secretary of the Treasury in connection with providing financial assistance to the General Motors Corporation (GM).
 
Establishes the Delphi Retired Employees Fund in the Treasury for payments to eligible employees separated from Delphi Corporation who participated in a now terminated Delphi-sponsored defined benefit plan, but who are not covered by any agreement between GM and participants in another defined benefit plan under which GM pays covered participants nonforfeitable benefits equal to the amount they would have been entitled to receive under the plan but for the plan's termination.
 
Makes the Fund available to pay each eligible separated employee an amount equal to such nonforfeitable benefits, reduced by any amounts already paid the employee by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) under the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Farmer Bankruptcy Tax Clarification Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3545
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Bankruptcy
Farmland
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Family Farmer Bankruptcy Tax Clarification Act of 2012 - Amends chapter 12 (Debt Adjustment of a Family Farmer or Fisherman with Regular Annual Income) of federal bankruptcy law to revise the exclusion from the requirement of full payment under a discharged debtor's plan of any claim owed to a governmental unit arising as a result of the sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposition of a farm asset used in the debtor's farming operation (in which case the claim is treated as unsecured and not entitled to priority payment).
 
Requires the debtor's plan to provide for: (1) the treatment as a non-priority unsecured claim of any claim owed to a governmental unit by the debtor or the estate arising as a result of the sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposition of a farm asset; but also (2) the payment of that claim. Repeals the precondition that such treatment may be made only if the debtor receives a discharge in bankruptcy. 
 
Authorizes a governmental unit to file postpetition claims relating to the disposition of farm assets.
 
Authorizes the trustee or the debtor, also, to file such postpetition claims (including a claim for a tax for which a return is due) if the governmental unit has not filed by a specified deadline.
 
Authorizes modification of the bankruptcy plan after its confirmation in order to provide for the payment of a non-priority unsecured claim presented by a governmental unit that arose after the petition filing date.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6343)
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6342-6343)
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize a provision to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages.

Bill: 112-s-3546
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Indian social and development programs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize appropriations, for FY2013-FY2017, for a grant program to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages. 
 

action_date: 2012-12-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize appropriations, for FY2013-FY2017, for a grant program to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 562.
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-3547
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Mammals
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act - Amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit any person from importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, purchasing, breeding, possessing, or owning any prohibited wildlife species (current law prohibits importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing such a species in interstate or foreign commerce). Includes among exemptions to such prohibition the: (1) breeding of such species by authorized persons; and (2) transportation, possession, or ownership of such species by authorized persons.
 
Defines &quot;breeding&quot; as facilitating the reproduction of prohibited wildlife species (any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species) for commercial use. 
 
Removes from the list of persons authorized to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, breed, possess, own, or purchase such species a person that is licensed or registered, and inspected, by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or any other federal agency with respect to such species. Includes in such list: (1) a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; (2) a wildlife sanctuary that cares for such species, is a tax exempt corporation, does not commercially trade in or propagate such species, does not allow direct contact between the public and animals, and does not allow the transport and display of such species off-site; and (3) a person that is in possession of animals of such species that were born before the date of this Act's enactment and that are registered with APHIS within six months after such regulations are promulgated.
 
Establishes civil and criminal penalties and forfeiture requirements for violations of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6343-6344)
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3548
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: District of Columbia
Monuments and memorials
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act of 2012 - Amends the Native American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994 to authorize the construction of the National Native American Veterans' Memorial on the property of the National Museum of the American Indian. (Currently, its location is restricted to the interior structure of the Museum.)
 
Authorizes the Museum to participate in the selection of the Memorial's design, on more than a consultative basis, with the National Congress of American Indians.
 
Makes the Museum and the National Congress of American Indians responsible for accepting contributions for, and paying the expenses of, establishing the Memorial. (Currently, the National Congress of American Indians is solely responsible for those duties.)

action_date: 2012-12-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act of 2012 - Amends the Native American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994 to authorize the construction of the National Native American Veterans' Memorial on the property of the National Museum of the American Indian. (Currently, its location is restricted to the interior structure of the Museum.)
 
Authorizes the Museum to participate in the selection of the Memorial's design, on more than a consultative basis, with the National Congress of American Indians.
 
Makes the Museum and the National Congress of American Indians responsible for accepting contributions for, and paying the expenses of, establishing the Memorial. (Currently, the National Congress of American Indians is solely responsible for those duties.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 563.
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Akaka without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6344)
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Waterfront Brownfields Revitalization Act

Bill: 112-s-3549
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2012-09-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Economic development
Executive agency funding and structure
Floods and storm protection
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Land use and conservation
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: 
Waterfront Brownfields Revitalization Act - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a grant program for reuse planning, site characterization and assessment, or remediation at waterfront brownfields sites, including the integration of activities related to the design and implementation of water quality improvements, low impact development approaches, green infrastructure, remediation and management of sediments, or flood damage prevention associated with brownfields remediation and reuse.
 
Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations to facilitate waterfront brownfields revitalization.
 
Directs the Administrator to report on the implementation of the brownfield site characterization and assessment grant program authorized by CERCLA.
 
Authorizes funding for brownfields revitalization for FY2013-FY2017.
 
Requires the Administrator to establish and serve as chairperson of a task force on waterfront brownfields revitalization that shall identify: (1) funding and technical assistance resources for such revitalization, (2) barriers to and solutions for revitalization, and (3) methods to coordinate interagency revitalization efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Introduced in Senate