hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require that not less than 10 percent of the amounts made available for certain high-speed rail projects be expended through small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-hr-2974
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Railroads
Small business
Transportation programs funding
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Requires at least 10% of funds made available for high-speed rail corridor planning and development projects to be expended through small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (disadvantaged business enterprises). Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), however, if this requirement will prevent the satisfactory completion of a project because of a lack of competitive bids by disadvantaged business enterprises, to reduce the percentage for the project to the extent necessary to ensure its satisfactory completion. 
 
Requires the Secretary to establish minimum uniform criteria for recipients of high-speed rail corridor project funds to use in certifying small business concerns as disadvantaged business enterprises.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal government should continue to encourage participation by veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracting and procurement opportunities and federally-funded projects, including the small business programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other federal agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Castle Clinton National Monument and Battery Castle Clinton National Monument and Battery Conservancy Partnership Act

Bill: 112-hr-2975
Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-8]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Monuments and memorials
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
New York City
Performing arts
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Castle Clinton National Monument and Battery Castle Clinton National Monument and Battery Conservancy Partnership Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service (NPS), to enter into one or more agreements with the Battery Conservancy of New York City, New York, (or a successor not-for-profit organization) to design, construct, maintain, and operate the performance facility and associated structures and fixtures proposed for the Castle Clinton National Monument in New York City. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to retain and use any funds that are received from the Conservancy in accordance with this Act for the operation, maintenance, enhancement, or interpretation of the Monument. 
 
Allows the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Conservancy for interpretive and educational programming related to the Monument.
 
Provides for the facility to be under U.S. ownership. Prohibits the Conservancy at any time from having any ownership interest, leasehold interest, or other right or interest in such facility.
 
Requires the facility to be administered by NPS as part of the Monument. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Help Emergency Responders Operate Emergency Systems Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2976
Sponsor: Rep. Rothman, Steven R. [D-NJ-9]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Department of Homeland Security
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government trust funds
Licensing and registrations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Help Emergency Responders Operate Emergency Systems Act of 2011 or the HEROES Act of 2011 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to increase the electromagnetic spectrum allocation for public safety services by 10 megahertz within a specified range and reduce such allocation for commercial use by the same amount. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to license certain paired bands to the public safety broadband licensee (PSBL).
 
Directs the FCC to establish rules to: (1) permit the PSBL to authorize public safety services providers to construct and operate a wireless public safety broadband network in the PSBL's spectrum, and (2) authorize the shared use of public safety broadband spectrum and network infrastructure by non-public safety services and the use of public safety broadband spectrum by emergency response providers.
 
Requires: (1) the FCC to develop a public safety agency statement of requirements enabling nationwide interoperability and roaming across communications systems, and (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish standards for meeting such requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a grant program (a maximum 80% federal share of the costs for each project) to assist public safety entities in constructing a nationwide interoperable broadband network in the 700 megahertz band; (2) administer a program to reimburse up to 50% of network maintenance, operation, and improvement expenses; and (3) establish a narrowbanding compliance assistance program.
 
Requires: (1) the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to reallocate for commercial use spectrum from a specified range, and (2) the FCC to establish rules for pairing spectrum within specified ranges and to auction licenses for such paired spectrum.
 
Extends to September 30, 2020, the FCC's authority to grant a license or permit under applicable competitive bidding provisions.
 
Prohibits a bidder from being deemed ineligible for or excluded from an auction on account of its size or the amount of its other spectrum holdings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Currency Optimization, Innovation, and National Savings Act

Bill: 112-hr-2977
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Currency
General Native American affairs matters
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Currency Optimization, Innovation, and National Savings Act - Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board) to sequester all $1 coins bearing the design common to those $1 coins minted and issued from 1979-1981 and again in 1999.
 
Allows the release of such sequestered coins to collectible coin dealers and countries that have adopted the U.S. dollar as their base unit of exchange.
 
Directs the Federal Reserve Board to: (1) undertake efforts to improve, and remove barriers to, the circulation of the all other $1 coins; and (2) work with the U.S. Mint, consumer groups, media outlets, and schools to publicize the Presidential $1 Coin Program.
 
Declares it U.S. policy that after consumers and retailers are comfortable using and able to obtain adequate supplies of $1 coins, such $1 coins should replace $1 Federal Reserve notes as the only $1 monetary unit issued and circulated by the Federal Reserve System.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Protecting American Jobs Act

Bill: 112-hr-2978
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Protecting American Jobs Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to repeal the authority of the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to issue, and prosecute before the Board, complaints with respect to unfair labor practices.
 
Repeals the prohibition against: (1) review of an administrative law judge's report by any person other than a Board member or legal assistant; and (2) advice to or consultation with the Board by an administrative law judge with respect to exceptions taken to his or her findings, rulings, or recommendations.
 
Limits the Board's rulemaking authority to rules concerning the internal functions of the Board. Prohibits the Board from promulgating rules that affect the substantive rights of a person, employer, employee, or labor organization.
 
Revises Board powers to grant it the authority to investigate unfair labor practices, but repeals its power to prevent any person from engaging in them.
 
Repeals the Board's power to issue a complaint against a person charging an unfair labor practice. Allows an aggrieved party to bring a civil action for relief (including injunctions) in U.S. district court or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in cases where it appears that a person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in an unfair labor practice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Natural Disaster Emergency Mortgage Relief Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2979
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Disaster relief and insurance
Housing finance and home ownership
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Natural Disaster Emergency Mortgage Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to allow temporary deferral of mortgage loan payments, without penalty and without adverse treatment of the consumer, during a 30-, 60-, or 90-day period in which a consumer's principal residence has been severely impacted by a natural disaster in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Stop Excessive Taxpayer Payments to Government Contractors Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2980
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-21]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Stop Excessive Taxpayer Payments to Government Contractors Act of 2011 - Limits the amount of compensation payable to employees of government contractors to the rate payable for level I of the Executive Schedule.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform     .
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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: 2011-09-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in House
Restoring Protection to Victims of Persecution Act

Bill: 112-hr-2981
Sponsor: Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13]
Introduced: 2011-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Immigration status and procedures
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: 
Restoring Protection to Victims of Persecution Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the one-year deadline for application for U.S. asylum.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1678)
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
Human Trafficking Reporting Act

Bill: 112-hr-2982
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]
Introduced: 2011-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Human trafficking
Law enforcement administration and funding
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: 
Human Trafficking Reporting Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include severe forms of trafficking in persons among &quot;part 1 violent crimes&quot; required to be reported by states for the Uniform Crime Reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of Bureau of Justice Assistance Grants and Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2984
Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2011-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Maine
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: 
Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness Act of 2011- Designates specified lands in Maine within the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as the Cross Island Wilderness, and within the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, to be known as the Maine Coastal Islands Wilderness, as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-09-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
Veteran's I.D. Card Act

Bill: 112-hr-2985
Sponsor: Rep. Akin, W. Todd [R-MO-2]
Introduced: 2011-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: 
Veteran's I.D. Card Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue a veteran's identification card to any veteran who requests such card and is neither entitled to military retired pay nor enrolled in the VA system of patient enrollment. Requires such card, among other things, to: (1) display their name and photograph, and (2) serve as proof that the veteran honorably served in the Armed Forces and has a DD-214 form or other official document in their personnel file that describes their military service. Directs the Secretary to charge a card fee. States that such card shall not serve as proof of entitlement to any benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-20
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-10-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
Community Partners Neighborhood Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2986
Sponsor: Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2011-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Fires
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing finance and home ownership
Law enforcement officers
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: 
Community Partners Neighborhood Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends the National Housing Act to provide: (1) a 50% discount for teachers and public safety officers purchasing certain eligible asset properties for use as their primary residence during FY2012-FY2022, and (2) a $100 downpayment on any related insured mortgage.
 
Authorizes such sales directly to a qualifying individual or to a unit of local government or a nonprofit organization for resale to such individual.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should consult with the heads of other federal agencies that own or hold properties appropriate for use as housing to determine the possibility and effectiveness of including such properties in programs that make housing available for law enforcement officers, teachers, or fire fighters.
 
 Makes a public safety officer or teacher eligible to purchase any property owned or held by the Secretary pursuant to: (1) foreclosure of any HUD-insured mortgage; or (2) assignment of the mortgage, deed in lieu of foreclosure, conveyance of title, or any other acquisition of the property or mortgage in connection with the payment of insurance benefits by the Secretary.
 
Directs the Secretary to revise the Good Neighbor Next Door Initiative to provide that the subordinate mortgage on the property of a mortgagor who purchased it under the Initiative shall be released in any case in which the mortgagor loses his or her employment position as a law enforcement officer, teacher, firefighter, or emergency medical technician as a result of any reductions in force or other reason other than dismissal for cause.
 
Directs the Secretary of HUD, in making any real estate owned by HUD available for purchase, to provide a preference for purchase by public safety officers and teachers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
American Export Promotion and Job Creation Act

Bill: 112-hr-2987
Sponsor: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28]
Introduced: 2011-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: 
American Export Promotion and Job Creation Act - Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to revise the duties of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC). 
 
Requires the TPCC to review the proposed annual budget of each federal agency, before it is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the President, when (as required by current law) assessing the appropriate levels and allocation of resources among such agencies in support of export promotion and export financing.
 
Requires the governmentwide strategic plan for federal trade promotion efforts, in conducting the review of current federal programs designed to promote the sale of U.S. exports and developing a plan to bring such activities into line with specified priorities, to take into account recommendations from a representative number of U.S. exporters, particularly small business and medium-sized businesses, and representatives of U.S. workers.
 
Directs the President to issue an executive order and necessary regulations to provide the TPCC chairperson with the authority to ensure that the TPCC carries out each of its duties and develops and implements the strategic plan.
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) conduct at least once every five years a global assessment of overseas markets to determine those with the greatest potential for increasing U.S. exports, and (2) redeploy U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service personnel and other resources on the basis of that assessment.
 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require each chief of mission to a foreign country to develop an approved plan for effective diplomacy to remove or reduce obstacles to exports of U.S. goods and services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-09-21
text: Introduced in House