hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Teacher and Principal Improvement Act

Bill: 112-s-1567
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2011-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Indian social and development programs
Licensing and registrations
Performance measurement
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: 
Teacher and Principal Improvement Act - Creates a new title II (Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) consisting of a part A (Teacher and Principal Training and Recruitment Fund) and part B (Teacher Incentive Fund).
 
Moves teacher liability and internet safety provisions to title IX of the ESEA.
 
Authorize appropriations for title II through FY2016. Reserves at least 20% of such funding for the part B program, after the Secretary of Education reserves funds for certain national activities under part A.
 
Allocates part A grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) pursuant to a formula that apportions: (1) 20% of the funding to states and LEAs on the basis of their share of students aged 5-17 on the national and state level, respectively; and (2) 80% of such funding on the basis of their share of impoverished students in that age group.
 
Requires states to use 98.5% of those funds for subgrants to LEAs, with the remainder being used for specified state activities.
 
Lists the projects which the subgrants may fund, including: (1) teacher and principal recruitment, training, and retention efforts; (2) teacher and principal evaluation systems that are based in significant part on student achievement; (3) model instructional programs in the core academic subjects; and (4) measures that improve students' access to school library materials, postsecondary level coursework, and extended learning opportunities.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide technical assistance to part A grantees and subgrantees, (2) evaluate part A activities, and (3) award competitive matching grants to national nonprofit organizations for teacher or principal training programs.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive matching grants under part B to states, LEAs, or partnerships between those entities and profit or nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, improve, or expand, performance-based compensation systems for teachers and principals.
 
Favors grant applicants that focus on teachers and principals serving in high-need schools.
 
Directs the Secretary to arrange for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of part B programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5641-5646)
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
State Innovation Pilot Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1568
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2011-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Education
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Indian social and development programs
Intergovernmental relations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: 
State Innovation Pilot Act of 2011 - Amends part D (Waivers) of title IX (General Provisions) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise the process by which states, LEAs, and Indian tribes obtain waivers of the Act's statutory and regulatory requirements.
 
Requires waiver requests by states, LEAs, or Indian tribes to include a plan that describes how: (1) the waiver will improve instruction and student achievement in accordance with the state's college and career ready academic content and achievement standards; (2) the plan will be evaluated regularly and improved continuously; (3) they will review implementation of the college and career readiness standards; (4) they will identify, support, and intervene in underperforming schools; and (5) they will maintain and improve transparency in reporting to parents and the public on student achievement and school performance.
 
Requires the Secretary of Education to approve requests that meet such requirements and do not involve certain specified statutory or regulatory requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a multidisciplinary peer review team to review a waiver request if the Secretary requests their input or intends to disapprove the request. Requires peer reviewers to review waiver requests in their totality, in deference to state and local judgment, and with the goal of promoting state and local innovation.
 
Gives the Secretary a limited amount of time to decide on a waiver request. Gives requesters opportunities to revise their requests.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from imposing conditions on a waiver that require the state, LEA, or Indian tribe to adopt or drop specific standards or assessment systems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5641-5646)
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Tutoring for Students Act

Bill: 112-s-1570
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2011-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: 
Tutoring for Students Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require states to: (1) reserve 10% of the school improvement funds they receive under part A of title I of the ESEA; and (2) reallocate 97% of the reserved funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide, or arrange for the provision of, high-quality academic tutoring to impoverished students.
 
Requires states to determine which of their LEAs will participate in the program, but requires the inclusion of their lowest performing LEAs. 
 
Allocates the reserve funds among participating LEAs in proportion to their respective share of school improvement funds.
 
Requires states to develop processes for selecting, evaluating, and, if necessary, removing providers of academic tutoring. 
 
Requires providers to have a record of increasing student academic achievement and a capacity to do so in a manner that is consistent with the applicable LEA's instructional program and state academic content and achievement standards. 
 
Removes providers that fail for two consecutive years to improve the academic proficiency of impoverished students.
 
Requires states to maintain an updated list of approved providers, by school district, from which parents may choose.
 
Requires providers of academic tutoring to keep parents and LEAs apprised of a student's progress, and employ tutors that meet state-determined qualifications.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to conduct a national evaluation to determine the value of such tutoring and document best practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5688)
action_date: 2011-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1574
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Land transfers
Outdoor recreation
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: 
Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2011 - Designates the Agua Tibia proposed wilderness additions in Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County, California, as wilderness and incorporates them into the Agua Tibia Wilderness. 
 
Designates the Beauty Mountain wilderness additions in San Diego County, California, as wilderness and incorporates them into the Beauty Mountain Wilderness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5727-5728)
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy-Efficient Cool Roof Jobs Act

Bill: 112-s-1575
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Business investment and capital
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: 
Energy-Efficient Cool Roof Jobs Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify any qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property as 20-year property for depreciation purposes. Defines "qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property" as any roof system that: (1) is placed in service above conditioned or semi-heated space on an eligible commercial building during the period between the enactment of this Act and December 31, 2013, (2) has a slope equal to or less than 2:12, (3) replaces an existing roof system, and (4) includes insulation meeting specified standards and a primary roof covering that has a cool roof surface.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Assessing Progress in Haiti Act

Bill: 112-s-1576
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Foreign aid and international relief
Haiti
Immigration status and procedures
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Multilateral development programs
Natural disasters
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
United Nations
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: 
Assessing Progress in Haiti Act - Directs the President to report to Congress on the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction, and development efforts in Haiti, including efforts to prevent the spread of cholera and treat persons infected with the disease.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
GROWTH Act

Bill: 112-s-1577
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: 
Greater Research Opportunities with Tax Help Act or GROWTH Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from 14% to 20% the rate of the tax credit for increasing research activities, (2) modify rules for calculating such credit, and (3) make such credit permanent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
End Unnecessary Mailers Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1578
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2011-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: 
End Unnecessary Mailers Act of 2011 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to give community water systems for which there were no violations of the maximum contaminant level for any regulated contaminant during the year the option to: (1) mail the annual consumer confidence report on the level of contaminants in the drinking water purveyed by that system to each customer (required under current law); or (2) make such report available on the system's website and, upon request, by mail. Requires a system that elects the latter to provide customers notice, in the manner elected by the customers to pay their bill, of such report's availability and that the system has remained in compliance with maximum contaminant levels.
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Basic Allowance for Housing Equity Act

Bill: 112-s-1579
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
 National Guard Basic Allowance for Housing Equity Act - Prohibits reducing the rate of basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Army or Air National Guard upon the transition of the member from active duty to full-time National Guard duty, or from full-time National Guard duty to active duty, when the transition occurs without a break in active service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Public Safety and Sacred Sites from the Utah Prairie Dog Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1580
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Mammals
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Protecting Public Safety and Sacred Sites from the Utah Prairie Dog Act of 2011 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to amend the special rule concerning takings of the Utah prarie dog to permit the taking of such prairie dog under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in any airport or cemetery in such prairie dog's range in which a state demonstrates that: (1) the prairie dog's entry or existence causes a threat to public health and safety or to the sanctity of a burial site, and (2) all practicable measures to eliminate that threat have been carried out without success. 
 
Defines &quot;practicable measures&quot; as: (1) the construction of fences around such areas, and (2) translocation of the prairie dogs by methods used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Fighting for American Industry's Right to Enforcement Against Duty Evasion Act

Bill: 112-s-1581
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Customs enforcement
Department of the Treasury
Government information and archives
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Fighting for American Industry's Right to Enforcement Against Duty Evasion Act or FAIR Enforcement Against Duty Evasion Act of 2011 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to eliminate the option of an importer to post a bond or security in lieu of a cash deposit for each entry of merchandise exported into the United States by a new exporter (shipper) and producer that is the subject of a review by the administering authority as to whether antidumping or countervailing duties shall be imposed on such merchandise.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe minimum standards to require customs brokers to implement, and customers (importers) to comply with, reasonable procedures for collecting information to identify U.S. and non-U.S. customers seeking to import merchandise into the United States.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress recommendations for: (1) determining the most effective way to require foreign nationals to provide customs brokers and federal agencies with accurate information, comparable to that required of U.S. nationals, on the identity of foreign nationals seeking to import merchandise into the United States; and (2) establishing a system for such brokers and agencies to review information maintained by relevant federal agencies to verify the identity of foreign nationals and U.S. nationals who seek to import merchandise into the United States.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement certain modifications to the importer of record database.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Storm Shelter Tax Relief Act

Bill: 112-s-1583
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Building construction
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Executive agency funding and structure
Income tax deductions
Natural disasters
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Storm Shelter Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction, up to $2,500 in a taxable year, for the cost (including labor) of purchasing, constructing, and installing a qualified storm shelter. Terminates such deduction after 2012.
 
Rescinds unobligated funds from the Community Development Fund authorized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2010 and the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5774-5776)
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Drug Safety and Accountability Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1584
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Business records
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: 
Drug Safety and Accountability Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require each registered drug producer to have in effect and implement a quality management plan to ensure the quality and safety of: (1) each drug, (2) each active and inactive ingredient of each drug, and (3) materials used in the manufacture of each active ingredient. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to order an establishment to promptly revise its quality management plan in response to a significant threat to public health.
 
Requires each registered drug producer to report on each producer, manufacturer, distributor, and shipper involved in the production of a drug or the production or transport of the active ingredients of a drug. Requires the Secretary to develop and maintain information systems to track and assess every establishment that is involved in the manufacturing, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug or active ingredient of a drug.
 
Deems a drug to be adulterated if it was produced in an establishment that does not comply with the requirements of this Act.
 
Gives the Secretary authority to: (1) order an immediate cessation of distribution, or a recall, of a drug; and (2) administer oaths and issue subpoenas.
 
Revises provisions regarding civil penalties for FFDCA violations related to drugs for human use, including to consider each day a violation continues to be a separate violation.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to share information subject to a trade secret exemption with: (1) other federal, state, or local agencies, foreign government agencies, and relevant international organizations; and (2) the public, as necessary to protect the public health.
 
Sets forth whistleblower protection provisions.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Democracy Promotion Act

Bill: 112-s-1585
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-09-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Foreign aid and international relief
Health promotion and preventive care
International organizations and cooperation
Public participation and lobbying
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Global Democracy Promotion Act - Declares that foreign nongovernmental organizations: (1) shall not be ineligible for assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 solely on the basis of health or medical services (including counseling and referral services) provided by them with non-U.S. government funds if such services do not violate the laws of the country in which they are being provided and would not violate U.S. federal law if provided in the United States, and (2) shall not be subject to requirements relating to the use of non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying activities other than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations receiving such assistance.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-09-20
text: Introduced in Senate