hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Recovering Missing Children Act

Bill: 112-s-246
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Recovering Missing Children Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the disclosure of tax returns and return information to officers and employees of state or local law enforcement agencies who are partnering with a federal agency in investigations of missing or exploited child cases and who are personally and directly engaged in such investigations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act

Bill: 112-s-247
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Maryland
New York State
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act - Establishes in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System.
 
Establishes in Auburn, New York, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park also as a unit of the National Park System.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities for the historic preservation, restoration, interpretation, and maintenance of such historical parks. Requires the Secretary to complete a general management plan for them.
 
 

action_date: 2012-01-13
text: 
Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act - Establishes in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
Establishes in Auburn, New York, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park also as a unit of the National Park System.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities for the historic preservation, restoration, interpretation, and maintenance of such historical parks. Requires the Secretary to complete a general management plan for them.
 

 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 267.
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/17/2011 with amendments. With written report No. 112-105.
action_date: 2012-01-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/17/2011 with amendments. With written report No. 112-105.
action_date: 2011-11-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-124.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S415-417)
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S414-415)
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering States to Innovate Act

Bill: 112-s-248
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Empowering States to Innovate Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to: (1) allow states to apply for waivers of certain health insurance coverage requirements in such Act (including requirements for the establishment of qualified health plans and health insurance exchanges) for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014 (currently, January 1, 2017), and (2) require the waiver application process to begin not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-02-07
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-02-07
text: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S417)
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S417)
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that Act shall not apply to any gray wolf (Canis lupus).

Bill: 112-s-249
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Mammals
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that such Act shall not apply to any gray wolf (canis lupus).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the provision of Federal funds to State and local governments for payment of obligations, to prohibit the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from financially assisting State and local governments, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-251
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Federal Reserve System
Government lending and loan guarantees
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase or guarantee obligations of, issue lines of credit to, or provide direct or indirect grants-and-aid to any state, municipal, local, or county government which, on or after January 26, 2011, has defaulted on its obligations, is at risk of defaulting, or is likely to default, without such federal assistance.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from using, directly or indirectly, general fund revenues or borrowed funds to purchase or guarantee any asset or obligation of any such state, municipal, local, or county government.
 
Prohibits the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from: (1) providing or extending to, or authorizing with respect to, such a state, municipal, local, or county government, or other entity with taxing authority or bonding authority, any funds, loan guarantees, credits, or any other financial instrument or other authority, including bond purchases; or (2) otherwise assisting such a government entity under any Board authority.
 
Waives the application of this Act for federal assistance provided in response to a natural disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Highway Fairness and Reform Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-252
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government trust funds
Motor carriers
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Highway Fairness and Reform Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), beginning with FY2011, to carry out a direct federal-aid highway program to permit a state governor or chief executive officer, at least 90 days before the beginning of a fiscal year, to elect to: (1) waive the state's right to receive apportioned or allocated funds under the federal-aid highway program, and (2) receive instead a prorated amount of the taxes appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund (other than from the Mass Transit Account) which are attributable to highway users in the state. Requires a pro rata reduction of such tax-equivalent amount in order to fund contract authority for programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
 
 
Requires the Secretary to accept a state's election if: (1) the state has an interstate maintenance program; (2) it submits a plan describing the purposes, projects, and uses to which such amounts will be put and the federal-aid highway programmatic requirements the state elects to continue; (3) the state agrees to obligate program amounts exclusively for projects that would be eligible for surface transportation program funding; and (4) it continues to suballocate surface transportation program funds to urbanized and other areas using certain formulae and rules.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and to designate memorials to the service of men and women of the United States in World War I.

Bill: 112-s-253
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Sciences and History
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
District of Columbia
Executive agency funding and structure
Military history
Missouri
Monuments and memorials
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Establishes the World War I Centennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I; (2) encourage private organizations and state and local governments to organize and participate in such activities; (3) facilitate and coordinate such activities throughout the United States; (4) serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about centennial events and plans; and (5) develop commemoration recommendations for Congress and the President.
 
Designates: (1) the Liberty Memorial of Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Museum and Memorial; and (2) the District of Columbia War Memorial in Washington, D.C., as the District of Columbia and National World War I Memorial (Memorial).
 
Authorizes the World War I Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work at the Memorial Site.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S423-424)
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-254
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime victims
Crimes against women
Evidence and witnesses
Law enforcement administration and funding
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: 
Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2011 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require government entities, in order to be entitled to justice system improvement grants to combat violent crimes against women under such Act, to: (1) incur the full out-of-pocket cost of forensic medical exams for victims of sexual assault (current law), and (2) coordinate with regional health care providers to notify sexual assault victims of the availability of free exams. Repeals a provision deeming a government entity to have incurred the full out-of-pocket cost of such an exam if it reimburses the victim for the cost of such exam.
 
Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to revise the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program to: (1) require the annual reports to the Attorney General by state and local governments receiving Program grants to include a specific breakdown of the number of sexual assault cases that are in a backlog for DNA case work and the percentage of grant amounts allocated to reducing the backlog; (2) direct the Attorney General to compile and publish, annually, a list of states and local governments receiving grants that have failed to provide such information, and (3) prohibit the Attorney General from awarding to such a state or local government for the next fiscal year a grant amount greater than 50% of the amount such government would have received otherwise.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to use dynamic economic modeling in addition to static economic modeling in the preparation of budgetary estimates of proposed changes in Federal revenue law.

Bill: 112-s-255
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Congressional agencies
Economic performance and conditions
Joint Committee on Taxation
Monetary policy
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
Expresses the sense of Congress that it is necessary to ensure that Congress is presented with reliable information from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation as to the dynamic macroeconomic feedback effects to changes in federal law and the probable behavioral responses of taxpayers, businesses, and other parties to such changes. 
 
Requires the Joint Committee and CBO, using among other methods dynamic estimating techniques, to prepare fiscal estimates of each proposed change in federal revenue law on the basis of assumptions that estimate the probable behavioral responses of personal and business taxpayers and other relevant entities to such change and its dynamic macroeconomic feedback effects. Applies such requirement only to proposed changes that, pursuant to static fiscal estimates, have a fiscal impact exceeding $250 million in any fiscal year.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
American Opportunity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-256
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Income tax credits
Manufacturing
Securities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
American Opportunity Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 25% of a qualified equity investment in a qualified small business entity. Defines &quot;qualified small business entity&quot; as a domestic corporation or partnership that: (1) is a small business headquarted in the United States, (2) is engaged in a high technology trade or business, (3) has been in existence for less than five years as of the date of the qualified equity investment, and (4) employs less than 100 full-time employees, more than 50% of whom perform substantially all of their services in the United States. Limits the dollar amount of such credit to $500 million for each of calendar years 2011 through 2015.
 
Requires: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations on the allocations of such credit to a small business entity, and (2) the Comptroller General to audit the investment tax credit program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S483)
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-257
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Small Business Administration
Small business
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assign an SBA employee to coordinate SBA programs and activities relating to broadband and emerging information technology (BEIT). Requires the Administrator to provide SBA employees BEIT training in order to assist small businesses in the use of such technologies. Requires reports from the coordinator to the congressional small business committees on coordinator activities and on federal programs that provide BEIT assistance to small businesses.
 
Includes accessing and using BEIT as an authorized activity of small business development centers.
 
Authorizes the use of capital provided under certain SBA loans for the purchase of equipment for BEIT.
 
Directs the Administrator to report on ways to assist with the development of broadband and wireless technology that would benefit small businesses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S484-485)
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S483-484)
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act

Bill: 112-s-258
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Earth sciences
Energy prices
Gulf of Mexico
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny to taxpayers with gross revenues in excess of $100 million in a taxable year (applicable large taxpayers): (1) the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, (2) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses, (3) the exemption from restrictions on the deductibility of passive losses, (4) the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells, and (5) the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, natural gas, or primary products thereof.
 
Requires applicable large taxpayers to amortize their geological and geophysical expenditures over a seven-year period.
 
Imposes on producers of taxable crude oil or natural gas a 13% excise tax on the removal price of such oil and natural gas produced from lands on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. Allows a nonrefundable credit against such tax for royalties paid under federal law with respect to the production of such crude oil and natural gas.
 
Denies a foreign tax credit to any large integrated oil company that is subject to a levy of a foreign country or possession of the United States and receives an economic benefit from such country or possession (dual capacity taxpayer) if such country or possession does not impose a generally applicable income tax.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public and payment of social security benefits in the event that the debt limit is reached.

Bill: 112-s-259
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Securities
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
Declares that, in the event the debt of the federal government reaches the statutory limit, the authority of the Department of the Treasury to pay with legal tender the principal and interest on debt held by the public, and the authority of the Commissioner of Social Security to pay monthly old-age, survivors', and disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act, shall take priority over all other obligations incurred by the government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation.

Bill: 112-s-260
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
Repeals certain provisions which require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military retired pay or would be entitled to such pay, except for being under 60 years of age.
 
Prohibits recoupment by the Secretary of Defense (DOD) of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund.
 
Repeals the optional authority of (and instead requires) the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay an annuity to a member's dependent children when there is no eligible surviving spouse. Directs the Secretary concerned to restore annuity eligibility to a surviving spouse who earlier agreed to transfer such eligibility to a surviving child or children of a member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employees' Compensation Reform Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-261
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: 
Federal Employees' Compensation Reform Act of 2011 - Requires federal employees, including postal employees, who are receiving total or partial disability benefits under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to convert to the federal retirement system when such employees reach retirement age as defined by the Social Security Act and are otherwise eligible for an annuity under the the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-246.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S485-486)
action_date: 2011-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate