hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Upstate Works Act

Bill: 112-s-1895
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Agricultural practices and innovations
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Income tax credits
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Manufacturing
Public contracts and procurement
Rural conditions and development
Securities
Small business
State and local finance
Telephone and wireless communication
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
Upstate Works Act - Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to: (1) direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to provide grants to states to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to small and medium-sized manufacturers to finance the cost of reequipping, expanding, or establishing manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce clean energy technology and energy efficient products or of reducing the energy intensity or greenhouse gas production of a manufacturing facility; and (2) include as an activity of Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology (known as the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers) the establishment of a clean energy manufacturing supply chain initiative.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 50% tax credit for investment in value-added agricultural property.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to assist eligible consortia of businesses that serve counties with populations of no more than a million residents in improving job skills necessary for employment in specific industries. 
Extends the authorization of appropriations for loans and loan guarantees to extend access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas through FY2017. 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the Build America Bond program, to: (1) extend until December 31, 2012, the authority to issue such bonds and the authority for payments to issuers of such bonds, (2) reduce the percentage rate of payments to issuers in 2011 and 2012, (3) allow refundings of currently issued bonds, and (4) allow the use of Build America bonds to fund capital expenditures for levees and flood control projects.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Gettysburg National Military Park Expansion Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1897
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Military history
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pennsylvania
Property rights
Railroads

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
Gettysburg National Military Park Expansion Act of 2011 - Requires the inclusion of the Gettysburg Train Station in Gettysburg National Military Park, including land located in close proximity to the Train Station that is in the Borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the property that is adjacent to Plum Run in Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire only by purchase from a willing seller publicly owned property that is within the area of the Train Station, if efforts to acquire such property without cost have been exhausted. Prohibits the acquisition by eminent domain of property that is within such area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-578.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7711)
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain property from the United States to the Maniilaq Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska.

Bill: 112-s-1898
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Health facilities and institutions
Land transfers
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convey specified property, including all land appurtenances, in Kotzebue, Alaska, to the Maniilaq Association for use in connection with health and social services programs. 
 
Shields the Maniilaq Association from liability for soil, surface water, groundwater, or other contamination resulting from the disposal, release, or presence of environmental contamination, including oil or petroleum products, or hazardous substances on any of the property as of the date of conveyance. 
 
Accords to the Secretary any easement or access to the conveyed property that is determined necessary to satisfy any retained obligation and liability. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-635.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
HEAL Act

Bill: 112-s-1899
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Arkansas
Crime victims
Military personnel and dependents
Terrorism
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
Honoring Ezeagwula and Long Act or the HEAL Act - Requires that Armed Forces members who were killed or wounded in the attack that occurred at a recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas, on June 1, 2009, be treated as having been killed or wounded in a combat zone as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States for the purposes of all applicable federal laws, regulations, and policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1900
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Medicare
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals Preservation Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2011, and before October 1, 2014, to revise the criteria and payment formula for "subsection (d) hospitals" which are urban Medicare-dependent hospitals.
 
(Generally a subsection (d) hospital is an acute care hospital particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
American Family Farm and Ranchland Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1901
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Farmland
Land use and conservation
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
American Family Farm and Ranchland Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $5 million the limitation on the estate tax exclusion for land subject to a qualified conservation easement and to increase the percentage of the value of such land that is excludable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
New Philadelphia, Illinois, Study Act

Bill: 112-s-1902
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Illinois
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
New Philadelphia, Illinois, Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the New Philadelphia archaeological site and the land surrounding it in Illinois (the study area). 
 
Requires the Secretary to evaluate the national significance of the study area and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7711-7712)
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7711)
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act

Bill: 112-s-1903
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Congressional officers and employees
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Legislative rules and procedure
Licensing and registrations
Members of Congress
Public participation and lobbying
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Commodity Exchange Act to direct both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to prohibit purchase or sale of either securities, security-based swaps, or commodities for future delivery or swap by a person in possession of material nonpublic information regarding pending or prospective legislative action if the information was obtained: (1) knowingly from a Member or employee of Congress, (2) by reason of being a Member or employee of Congress, or (3) from other federal employees and derived from their federal employment. Makes it an element of the prohibited activity, also, that the Member or employee of Congress or the federal employee acted with the intent to assist another person, directly or indirectly, to use the information to buy or sell the securities of such publicly traded company based on such information.
 
Amends the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit a Member, officer, or employee of the Senate from disclosing material nonpublic information relating to any pending or prospective legislative action relating to any publicly-traded company or to any commodity if such person acts with intent to assist another person, directly or indirectly, to use the information to buy or sell the securities of that publicly traded company based on such information.
 
Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require formal disclosure of certain securities and commodities futures transactions to either the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate.
 
Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to subject to its registration, reporting, and disclosure requirements, as well as requirements for identification of clients and covered legislative and executive officials, all political intelligence activities, contacts, firms, and consultants. Requires the Comptroller General to include political intelligence activities, contacts, firms, and consultants in its annual compliance audits and reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-344.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Specialty Crop Insurance Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1905
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to revise crop insurance provisions regarding approval of advance payments for a portion of specialty crop research and development costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Cabin Fee Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1906
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alaska
Forests, forestry, trees
Housing finance and home ownership
Judicial review and appeals
Licensing and registrations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Cabin Fee Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to set an annual fee for, and requires the payment of such fee to the United States by, an authorized owner of a privately built and owned recreational cabin located on National Forest System land. 
 
Reduces such fee to $100 annually if access to a cabin is significantly impaired, either by natural causes or governmental actions, such that the cabin is rendered unsafe or unable to be occupied. 
 
 Requires payment of a transfer fee to the United States upon the transfer of a cabin between private parties for consideration. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-642.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
PCAOB Enforcement Transparency Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1907
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Corporate finance and management
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
PCAOB Enforcement Transparency Act of 2011 - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to make Public Company Accounting Oversight Board disciplinary proceedings public unless the Board, on its own motion or after considering the motion of a party, orders otherwise.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7832)
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7831-7832)
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the employment tax treatment and reporting of wages paid by professional employer organization, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1908
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Contracts and agency
Employment taxes
Licensing and registrations
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
User charges and fees
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat professional employer organizations (PEOs), certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as employers for employment tax purposes (thus allowing such PEOs to pay wages and collect and remit payroll taxes on behalf of an employer). 
 
Sets forth IRS certification requirements for PEOs, including financial review and reporting requirements. Requires a PEO to post a bond each year, up to $1 million, to guarantee payment of employment taxes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of Buy Back America Bonds.

Bill: 112-s-1909
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to establish and administer a new series of U.S. savings bonds to be known as &quot;Buy Back America Bonds,&quot; to be used first solely to reduce the amount of foreign-held public debt, and then to reduce other public debt.
 
 Sets the redemption date of a Buy Back America Bond at 10 years from the date of issue and its maturity date at 20 years from such date. Requires annual anniversary interest payments, which shall not be includible in gross income under the Internal Revenue Code.
 
Requires such bonds to be issued at face value and in denominations of at least $25. 
 
Allows redemption of such a Bond before 10 years if during any fiscal year during which it is outstanding: (1) the federal budget deficit is less than 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), or (2) the public debt is less than 10% of GDP.
 
Limits the holding of a Buy Back America Bond to: (1) U.S. citizens or residents; (2) domestic partnerships, or domestic corporations (not more than 1% of the ownership interest of which is held, directly or indirectly, by a person who is not a U.S. person); or (3) estates or trusts which are U.S. persons, unless there is a trust beneficiary who is not a U.S. person.
 
Permits a Bond to be purchased by or transferred to an individual who provides a valid Social Security account number, not including a taxpayer identification number (TIN) provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7833)
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7832-7833)
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1911
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health personnel
Income tax deferral
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow sponsors of certain deferred compensation plans to elect to include length of service award plans for bona fide volunteers providing firefighting and fire prevention services, emergency medical services, ambulance services, and emergency rescue services.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations exempting a length of service award program from treatment as an employee pension benefit plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7834)
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the Department of Energy from subordinating its position in energy loan guarantees to outside investors.

Bill: 112-s-1912
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Financial services and investments
Government lending and loan guarantees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from issuing any loan guarantee under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that, in any circumstances at the time of, or subsequent to, the issuance of the loan guarantee, makes the Secretary subordinate to other financing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Basic Airline Services to Improve Customer Satisfaction Act

Bill: 112-s-1913
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Basic Airline Services to Improve Customer Satisfaction Act - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prescribe regulations to require commercial air carriers to allow each air passenger who has purchased a ticket, and without paying a charge in addition to the ticket price, to: (1) check one bag; (2) carry on one personal item and one carry-on bag; and (3) once on board the aircraft have access to a seat, potable water, and bathroom facilities.
 
Imposes a civil penalty on air carriers that fail to comply with such regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Cut Energy Bills at Home Act

Bill: 112-s-1914
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: 
Cut Energy Bills at Home Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a tax credit for the cost of a qualified whole home energy efficiency retrofit for the purpose of reducing the energy use of the taxpayer's principal residence. Limits the amount of such credit to the lesser of $5,000 or 30% of the qualified home energy efficiency expenditures paid by the taxpayer to reduce residential energy use. Sets forth requirements for a qualified whole home energy efficiency retrofit, including design, testing, and documentation requirements. Terminates such credit after 2016.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a review process for home energy efficiency retrofits, including an estimate of usage of the tax credit and an analysis of the average actual energy use reductions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7834)
action_date: 2011-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate