hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1766
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-7]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Local Disaster Contracting Fairness Act of 2011- Prohibits the head of an executive agency from entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts unless the agreement specifies that: (1) all of the work under the contract will be performed by the prime contractor or one or more subcontractors at one tier under the contract; (2) any work performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors, except to the extent that local subcontractors are not available to perform any such work; (3) the prime contractor will act as the project manager or construction manager for the contract; and (4) the prime contractor has primary responsibility for managing all work under the contract and will be paid a certain percentage of the overall value of the contract as sole compensation for assuming the risk associated with such responsibility. 
 
Requires the agency head, in entering into an agreement for debris removal or demolition services in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts, to give preference in the source selection process to each offeror who certifies that any work that is to be performed under the contract by subcontractors will be performed by local subcontractors. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform     .
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow expenses relating to all home schools to be qualified education expenses for purposes of a Coverdell education savings account.

Bill: 112-hr-1767
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-7]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the Coverdell education savings accounts to allow home school education expenses, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-hr-1768
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-7]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts, and (2) an annual inflation adjustment after 2010 to the contribution limit amount for such accounts.
 
Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 relating to Coverdell education savings accounts, including an increase in the contribution limit amount for such accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Drug Free Families Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1769
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-7]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Drug Free Families Act of 2011 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require state TANF programs to implement a program to test TANF applicants and recipients for illegal drug use.
 
Requires state TANF programs to deny assistance to individuals who test positive for illegal drugs and individuals convicted of drug-related crimes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1770
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-7]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business records
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government information and archives
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation. 
 
Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Justice Integrity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1771
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Judicial procedure and administration
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Justice Integrity Act of 2011 - Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish a pilot program in 10 U.S. districts to promote fairness and the perception of fairness in the federal criminal justice system and to determine whether legislation is required, and (2) designate a U.S. attorney in each of the districts to implement a plan for carrying out such pilot program.

Requires each U.S. attorney designated to implement a pilot program to appoint an advisory group consisting of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other individuals and entities who play an important role in the criminal justice system. Requires each advisory group to: (1) collect and analyze data on the race and ethnicity of defendants at each stage of a criminal proceeding, (2) seek to determine causes of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice process, and (3) submit to the U.S. attorney a report and proposed plan for addressing such disparities. Requires each U.S. attorney to annually evaluate the efficacy of a plan submitted by an advisory group. 

Requires the Attorney General to: (1) prepare a comprehensive report on all advisory group plans and submit such report and plans to Congress, and (2) exercise continuing oversight of the criminal justice system to reduce unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities and improve such system. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
action_date: 2011-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1772
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-17]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Government information and archives
Motor carriers
Research administration and funding
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to make distracted driving prevention incentive grants for each fiscal year to states that enact laws that prohibit, with certain exceptions, and establish fines for texting and/or handheld cellphone use while driving.
 
Requires a state that receives a grant to allocate: (1) at least 50% to educate and advertise to the public about the dangers of texting or using a cellphone while driving as well as to enforce the distracted driving law; and (2) up to 50% for other traffic safety improvement projects.
 
Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to administer a distracted driving national education program with at least two high-visibility education and advertising campaigns.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a research program to study distracted driving by passenger and commercial vehicle drivers.
 
Directs the the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report to Congress on existing and developing wireless communications technology that may be used to reduce problems associated with distracted driving.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) issue regulations on the use of electronic or wireless devices, including cell phones and other distracting devices, by operators of commercial motor vehicles and school buses; and (2) prohibit their use in circumstances where it interferes with the driver's safe operation of the vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2011-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Made in America Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1773
Sponsor: Rep. Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Income tax rates
Industrial policy and productivity
Research and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Made in America Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) increase to 20% the rate of the alternative simplified tax credit for research expenses and repeal the taxpayer election to take an alternative incremental credit for such expenses; (3) make permanent the increased expensing allowance for depreciable business property; and (4) reduce to 30% the maximum income tax rate for corporations, including personal service corporations.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct studies of: (1) the impact of workplace employee health care facilities on employee health and and productivity, and (2) the best practices for encouraging college graduates from rural areas to return to those areas after graduation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Older Driver and Pedestrian Safety and Roadway Enhancement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1776
Sponsor: Rep. Altmire, Jason [D-PA-4]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aging
Department of Transportation
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Pedestrians and bicycling
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Older Driver and Pedestrian Safety and Roadway Enhancement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to implement a roadway safety enhancement program for older drivers and pedestrians to: (1) improve roadway safety infrastructure in states that is consistent with recommendations of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the &quot;Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians,&quot; and (2) achieve significant reductions in roadway fatalities and serious injuries among drivers and pedestrians 65 years old or older on all public roads.
 
Sets forth project eligibility requirements and project identification and selection priorities.
 
Requires the Secretary to finalize revision of the Handbook for publication.
 
Amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) to repeal its program for roadway safety improvements for older drivers and pedestrians.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) appoint a Special Assistant for Older Driver and Pedestrian Safety within the Office of the Secretary; and (2) establish national goals for increasing driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety for persons 65 years old or older.
 
Requires the Secretary to revise the manual on uniform traffic control devices to include a standard for a minimum level of retroreflectivity for pavement markings on all public roads.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Construction Quality Assurance Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1778
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-14]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business ethics
General Services Administration
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Construction Quality Assurance Act of 2011 - Requires each solicitation by an executive agency for the procurement of construction in excess of $1 million to require each bidder to submit the name, business location, and nature of work of each subcontractor with whom such bidder will subcontract for work in excess of $100,000. Deems to be non-responsive, and prohibits consideration of, any bidder that fails to list such subcontractors. 
 
Prohibits a contractor from substituting another subcontractor for a listed subcontractor, permitting any subcontract to be voluntarily assigned or transferred, or subcontracting work for which the contractor listed itself, except with the consent of the contracting officer for good cause. 
Sets forth: (1) examples of good cause and procedures required for substitution requests; and (2) penalties for violations of substitution prohibitions, including suspension or debarment from federal contracts for multiple violations. 
 
 
Requires revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform     .
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E829-830)
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Federal Hiring Freeze Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1779
Sponsor: Rep. Marino, Tom [R-PA-10]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Federal Hiring Freeze Act of 2011 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from appointing an individual to any position in such agency during a fiscal year for which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projects that there will be a federal budget deficit. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition under specified circumstances, including the existence of a state of war or other vital national security concern or the need to make appointments to law enforcement positions or to the United States Postal Service (USPS).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy     .
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1780
Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Access Board
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Motor carriers
Pedestrians and bicycling
Public transit
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
 Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 - Requires each state to have in effect within two years a law, or each state department of transportation and metropolitan planning organization (MPO) an explicit policy statement, that requires all federally-funded transportation projects, with certain exceptions, to accommodate the safety and convenience of all users in accordance with certain complete streets principles.
 
Defines &quot;complete streets principles&quot; as federal, state, local, or regional level transportation laws, policies, or principles which ensure that the safety and convenience of all users of a transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, children, older individuals, motorists, freight vehicles, and individuals with disabilities, are accommodated in all phases of project planning and development. 
 
Allows such law or policy to make project-specific exemptions from such principles only if: (1) affected roadways prohibit specified users by law from using them, the cost of a compliance project would be excessively disproportionate to the need, or the population, employment densities, traffic volumes, or level of transit service around a roadway is so low that the expected roadway users will not include pedestrians, public transportation, freight vehicles, or bicyclists; and (2) all such exemptions are properly approved.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a method for evaluating compliance by state departments of transportation and MPOs with complete streets principles. 
 
Requires the Access Board to issue final standards for accessibility of new construction and alterations of pedestrian facilities for public rights-of-way.
 
Requires the Secretary to conduct research regarding complete streets to: (1) assist states, MPOs, and local jurisdictions in developing and implementing complete streets-compliant plans, projects, procedures, policies, and training programs; and (2) establish benchmarks for, and provide technical guidance on, implementing complete streets policies and principles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
To implement the recommendations of the report of the Government Accountability Office entitled "Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue".

Bill: 112-hr-1782
Sponsor: Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11]
Introduced: 2011-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), not later than 150 days after the enactment of this Act, to coordinate with the heads of federal agencies to: (1) use available administrative authority to eliminate, consolidate, or streamline federal programs and agencies with duplicative and overlapping missions as identified in the March 2011 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled &quot;Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue&quot; and apply any savings towards deficit reduction; (2) report to Congress any legislative changes required to further eliminate, consolidate, or streamline such programs and agencies; (3) determine the total cost savings to each agency from the implementation of this Act; and (4) rescind from appropriate accounts the greater of $5 billion or the total amount of such cost savings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-05-05
text: Introduced in House