hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3378
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2012-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Commerce
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
National Science Foundation
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2012 - Establishes a national forensic science research program to improve, expand, and coordinate federal research in forensic sciences. 
 
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to develop a report identifying the most critical forensic science disciplines that require further research to strengthen the scientific foundation in those disciplines and making recommendations. 
 
Establishes a National Forensic Science Coordinating Office at the NSF to coordinate among federal agencies: (1) the development of a unified federal research strategy to enhance the validity and reliability of forensic science disciplines; (2) the development of a five-year roadmap, updated triennially, for the unified strategy; and (3) any necessary programs, policies, and budgets to support implementation of the roadmap. 
 
Directs NSF to create a merit-reviewed, competitive forensic science research grants program to improve the foundation and practice of forensic science in the United States, based on recommendations in the unified strategy.
 
Requires NSF to: (1) establish two forensic science research centers to conduct research consistent with the unified strategy, (2) award a grant of up to $10 million to each center, and (3) conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the grants program every four years.
 
Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to identify or coordinate the development of forensic science standards to enhance the validity and reliability of forensic science activities. 
 
Requires NIST to establish a Forensic Science Advisory Committee to provide advice to federal agencies, NIST, and the Department of Justice. 
 
Instructs the Attorney General to promote the adoption of the standards developed under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduce: CR S4952-4954)
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4952)
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Refiner Relief Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3379
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2012-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Small Refiner Relief Act of 2012 - Defines "small business refiner" for purposes of administering any law under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) jurisdiction to mean, with respect to any taxable year, a refiner of crude oil: (1) with respect to which not more than 1,500 individuals are engaged in the business's refinery operations on any day during such year, and (2) the average daily domestic refinery run or average retained production of which for all facilities of the taxpayer during any calendar year did not exceed 205,000 barrels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Victory for Veterans Stamp Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3380
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive agency funding and structure
Postal service
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Victory for Veterans Stamp Act of 2012 - Directs the Postal Service to issue a special stamp, to be called the Victory for Veterans Stamp, at a cost of 25 cents each. Makes such Stamp invalid for postage.
 
Requires Stamp sale proceeds to be used as follows: (1) one-third for funding Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) veterans' vocational rehabilitation programs, (2) one-third to the general fund of the Treasury for deficit reduction, and (3) one-third for the Postal Service for modernization and fiscal administration.
 
Requires such Stamp to be made available to the public within six months after the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3382
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2012-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Government information and archives
Government liability
Judicial procedure and administration
Judicial review and appeals
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2012 - Defines a &quot;covered civil action&quot; as a civil action seeking to compel agency action and alleging that an agency is unlawfully withholding or unreasonably delaying an agency action relating to a regulatory action that would affect: (1) the rights of private persons other than the person bringing the action; or (2) a state, local, or tribal government. Defines a &quot;covered settlement agreement&quot; as: (1) a consent decree or settlement agreement entered into a covered civil action, and (2) any other consent decree or settlement agreement that requires agency action relating to such a regulatory action. 
 
Requires an agency against which a covered civil action is brought to publish the complaint in a readily accessible manner and to provide interested parties an opportunity to intervene and to conduct settlement negotiations through mediation.
 
Requires an agency seeking to enter a covered settlement agreement to publish such agreement in the Federal Register and online not later than 60 days before it is filed with the court. Provides for public comment and public hearings on such agreement.
 
Requires the Attorney General or an agency head, if an agency is litigating a matter independently, to certify to the court that the Attorney General or the agency head approves of any proposed covered settlement agreement that includes terms that: (1) convert into a duty a discretionary authority of an agency to propose, promulgate, revise, or amend regulations; (2) commit an agency to expend funds that have not been appropriated and budgeted; (3) commit an agency to seek a particular appropriation or budget authorization; (4) divest an agency of discretion committed to it by statute or the Constitution; or (5) otherwise afford any relief that the court could not enter under its own authority.
 
Requires a court to grant de novo review of a covered settlement agreement if an agency files a motion to modify such agreement on the basis that its terms are no longer fully in the public interest due to the agency's obligations to fulfill other duties or due to changed facts and circumstances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4958-4960)
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reject the final 5-year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for fiscal years 2012 through 2017 of the Administration and replace the plan with a 5-year plan that is more in line with the energy and economic needs of the United States.

Bill: 112-s-3383
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2012-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Deems the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2010-2015, issued by the Secretary of the Interior, to be the final oil and gas leasing program for the period FY2012-FY2017.
 
Considers the Secretary to have issued a final environmental impact statement to the FY2012-FY2017 leasing program in accordance with certain requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 
 
Excludes Lease Sales 214, 232, and 239, from the FY2012-FY2017 final oil and gas leasing program.
 
Declares that this Act does not affect restrictions on oil and gas leasing under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Extension Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3384
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-07-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural trade
Atmospheric science and weather
Disaster relief and insurance
Government trust funds

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Extension Act of 2012 - Extends through FY2012: (1) the supplemental agricultural disaster assistance program; (2) the supplemental revenue assistance payments (SURE) program; (3) the livestock indemnity program; (4) the livestock forage disaster program; (5) the emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish; (6) the tree assistance program; and (7) the Agricultural Disaster Relief Trust Fund. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act

Bill: 112-s-3385
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Economic development
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government trust funds
Indian social and development programs
Rural conditions and development
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: 
Authorized Rural Water Projects Completion Act - Establishes in the Treasury a Reclamation Rural Water Construction Fund, into which the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit for each of FY2013-FY2029 a specified amount of revenues that would otherwise be deposited in the reclamation fund established by the Reclamation Act of 1902.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to use amounts from the Fund to complete construction of rural water projects: (1) that were authorized to be carried out on or before this Act's enactment, or (2) for which the Secretary completed a feasibility report by September 30, 2012, that recommends construction and for which an Act of Congress enacted after this Act's enactment has authorized construction. Prohibits the Secretary from using amounts from the Fund to pay for project operation and maintenance costs.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from expending amounts from the Fund until the date on which the Secretary develops: (1) programmatic goals that would enable the completion of construction of the authorized rural water projects as expeditiously as possible and that reflect the goals and priorities identified in the laws authorizing the projects and the goals of the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act; and (2) funding prioritization criteria that takes into account specified information, including an evaluation of the need for potable water supplies in the affected rural and tribal communities, the completion status of a project, and the financial needs of the affected communities.
 
Terminates the Fund on September 30, 2034.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-588.
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the "Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building".

Bill: 112-s-3386
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military personnel and dependents
Pennsylvania
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 7th Street in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the "Sergeant Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Team USA Made in America Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3387
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Sports and Recreation
Subjects: Athletes
Buy American requirements
Olympic games

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: 
Team USA Made in America Act of 2012 - Requires the U.S. Olympic Committee to adopt a policy with respect to uniforms to be worn by athletes during ceremonies that are part of the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, or the Pan-American Games that requires it to: (1) purchase or otherwise obtain only uniforms, including accessories (such as ties, belts, shoes, and hats), that meet the standards of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for labeling as &quot;Made in USA&quot;; or (2) make publicly available a detailed justification of the reasons the Committee obtained uniforms that do not meet that requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act

Bill: 112-s-3388
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2012-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: 
 Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to require owners or operators of publicly owned treatment works to: (1) institute monitoring systems to provide timely alerts of sewer overflows, (2) notify the public not later than 24 hours after receiving knowledge of such overflows in areas where human health is potentially affected, (3) notify public health authorities and other affected entities immediately of an overflow that may imminently and substantially endanger human health, (4) report each overflow on discharge monitoring reports to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the state, and (5) annually report to the Administrator or the state on the total number of overflows in a calendar year.
 
Makes specified exceptions to notification and reporting requirements for backups into single-family residences and for overflows that occur in the course of treatment works maintenance, respectively.
 
Requires annual summary reports by states to the Administrator.
 
Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations, including to establish overflow assessment guidance and develop communications measures to provide notification under this Act. 
 
Makes the monitoring systems eligible for state water pollution control revolving fund assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting American Trade Secrets and Innovation Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3389
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2012-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business ethics
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Crimes against property
Evidence and witnesses
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Jurisdiction and venue
Product development and innovation
Trade secrets and economic espionage

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: 
Protecting American Trade Secrets and Innovation Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to authorize a person who is aggrieved by an act of economic espionage, theft of a trade secret, or misappropriation of a trade secret that is related to or included in a product that is produced for or placed in interstate or foreign commerce to bring a civil action under this Act (current law authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action to obtain injunctive relief against any violation of provisions regarding the protection of trade secrets).
 
Requires a complaint filed in such an action to: (1) describe with specificity the reasonable measures taken to protect the secrecy of the alleged trade secrets in dispute, and (2) include a sworn representation by the party asserting the claim that the dispute involves either substantial need for nationwide service of process or misappropriation of trade secrets from the United States to another country.
 
Authorizes the court, in a civil action, upon ex parte application and if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that issuing the order is necessary to prevent irreparable harm, to issue an order providing for: (1) the seizure of any property (including computers) used or intended to be used to commit or facilitate the commission of the alleged violation, and (2) the preservation of evidence.
 
Sets forth provisions regarding the scope of such an order, rights of a party injured by a seizure under such an order, and remedies with respect to civil actions brought under this Act. Establishes a three-year limitations period, beginning when the misappropriation is discovered or should have been discovered.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5086-5087)
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5086)
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Miami-Dade County certain Federal land in the State of Florida for the purpose of building a fire station.

Bill: 112-s-3390
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2012-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agricultural research
Fires
Florida
Horticulture and plants
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to Miami-Dade County, Florida, federally owned land comprising the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in the county for the purpose of building a fire station. 
 
Directs the County to pay specified costs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
TEST Act

Bill: 112-s-3391
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2012-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Licensing and registrations
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: 
Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act or the TEST Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise sanctions for laboratories that intentionally refer proficiency testing samples required for certification to another laboratory for analysis by: (1) giving the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretion to substitute intermediate sanctions for such violations instead of the two-year prohibition against ownership or operation which would otherwise apply, and (2) making the one-year certificate revocation for such a laboratory optional rather than mandatory.

action_date: 2012-09-19
text: 

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

 
Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act or the TEST Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise sanctions for laboratories that intentionally refer proficiency testing samples required for certification to another laboratory for analysis by: (1) giving the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretion to substitute intermediate sanctions for such violations instead of the two-year prohibition against ownership or operation which would otherwise apply, and (2) making the one-year certificate revocation for such a laboratory optional rather than mandatory.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 520.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Harkin without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Outsourcing Accountability Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3392
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2012-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Business records
Corporate finance and management
Financial services and investments
Foreign and international corporations
Securities
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: 
Outsourcing Accountability Act of 2012 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require registered securities issuers to disclose annually to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and to shareholders: (1) the total number of employees domiciled in the United States and employed by the issuer or any consolidated subsidiary of it; (2) the total number of such employees domiciled in any country other than the United States and employed by the issuer or any consolidated subsidiary, listed by number in each country; and (3) the percentage increase or decrease in such numbers required to be disclosed from the previous reporting year.
 
Exempts from such requirements an issuer that is an emerging growth company. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate