hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Responsible Arctic Energy Development Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-203
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air quality
Alaska
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Aquatic ecology
Arctic Ocean
Arctic and polar regions
Atmospheric science and weather
Birds
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Hydrology and hydrography
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
Reptiles
Research and development
Transportation safety and security
Water quality
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Responsible Arctic Energy Development Act of 2011 - Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in collaboration with other federal agencies, to direct research and take action to improve oil spill prevention, response, and recovery in Arctic waters. 
 
Amends the Oil Polllution Act of 1990 to require the NOAA Administrator and the Commandant of the Coast Guard to use amounts made available under this Act for research and related activities in advance of energy exploration and production in the Arctic.
 
Requires the Coast Guard to assess and take action to reduce the risk of, and improve U.S. response to, a maritime disaster in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
 
Sets forth additional Interagency Committee Coordinating Committee on Oil Pollution Research functions, including requiring the Committee to request the National Research Council to conduct an oil spill risk assessment and make recommendations that will enhance safety and lessen the potential adverse environmental impacts of industrial activities in Arctic waters. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Resources for Oil Spill Research and Prevention Act

Bill: 112-s-204
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accidents
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government trust funds
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Resources for Oil Spill Research and Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate by 3 cents a barrel for domestic crude oil and by 7 cents a barrel for any other crude oil; and (2) repeal the termination date of such financing rate.
 
Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to expand the allowable uses of Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund amounts to include: (1) payment of costs incurred by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Coast Guard, and other federal agencies to maintain research, prevention, and response capabilities with respect to discharges of oil; (2) payment of costs to carry out environmental assessment studies; and (3) grants to affected states, institutions of higher education, and other entities for research relating to discharges of oil on the Outer Continental Shelf.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Alaska Adjacent Zone Safe Oil Transport and Revenue Sharing Act

Bill: 112-s-205
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alaska
Arctic Ocean
Arctic and polar regions
Budget deficits and national debt
Energy revenues and royalties
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Alaska Adjacent Zone Safe Oil Transport and Revenue Sharing Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) require oil produced from federal leases in certain Arctic waters, except in preproduction phases (including explorations), to be transported by pipeline to onshore facilities; and (2) provide for, and issue appropriate permits for, the transportation of oil from such leases in preproduction phases (including exploration) by means other than pipeline. 
 
Requires that the state of Alaska receive 37.5% of: (1) any bonus bid paid for leasing rights for any area in the Alaska Adjacent Zone; and (2) specified post-leasing revenues including lease rental payments and lease royalty payments, as well as royalty proceeds from a sale of royalties taken in kind.
 
Sets forth an allocation scheme under which the Secretary of the Interior is directed to pay: (1) 20% of any allocable state share directly to coastal political subdivisions, (2) 33% of any allocable state share to certain Regional Corporations, and (3) 7% of any allocable state share directly to Indian tribes.
 
Instructs the Secretary to distribute 6.25% of certain federal royalty revenues into: (1) a specified land and water conservation fund to provide financial assistance to states, and (2) direct federal deficit reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
SOAR Act

Bill: 112-s-206
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Congressional oversight
District of Columbia
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act 2011or SOAR Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award five-year grants on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations to carry out a program to provide expanded school choice opportunities to students who are District of Columbia (DC) residents and who come from households: (1) receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; or (2) with incomes not exceeding 185% of the poverty line, except in certain grandfathered circumstances.
 
Prescribes special rules for funding opportunity scholarships for DC students.
 
Prescribes requirements for schools participating in such grant programs. Requires each participating school to administer a nationally norm-referenced standardized test in reading and mathematics to each enrolled student receiving an opportunity scholarship.
 
Repeals the DC School Choice Incentive Act of 2003 (title III of division C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004). Deems this Act as the reauthorization of the opportunity scholarship program under such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-02-16
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-195.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S283-287)
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S283)
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the 100 percent exclusion for gain on certain small business stock.

Bill: 112-s-208
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Income tax exclusion
Securities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2012 the 100% exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale of certain small business stock.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S289-290)
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the use of funds to transfer individuals detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and certain other enemy belligerents to the United States.

Bill: 112-s-209
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Caribbean area
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Cuba
Defense spending
Latin America
Law enforcement administration and funding
Military facilities and property
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Prohibits the use of federal funds to transfer to the United States any individual who is: (1) detained by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; or (2) a foreign national who is captured or detained outside the United States as an enemy belligerent, and in the custody or control of the Department of Defense (DOD).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop the OverPrinting (STOP) Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-210
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional operations and organization
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Stop the OverPrinting (STOP) Act of 2011 - Requires the Public Printer to make bills and resolutions available for the use of offices of Members of Congress only in an electronic format accessible through the Internet.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act

Bill: 112-s-211
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require: (1) biennial (currently, annual) budget resolutions; (2) biennial appropriations Acts; and (3) biennial government strategic and performance plans.
 
Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on such period; and (2) report the findings to the House and Senate Budget Committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom Fuels Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-212
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Aviation and airports
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Motor fuels
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Freedom Fuels Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of liquid transportation fuel, including jet fuel, that: (1) meets requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 relating to the procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels; (2) uses a feedstock produced within a state; and (3) is refined, manufactured, or produced in a state.
 
Prohibits any contract options that extend the overall contract period beyond 10 years.
 
Requires a report from the Secretary to Congress on performance under each contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize and request the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Captain Emil Kapaun of the United States Army for acts of valor during the Korean War.

Bill: 112-s-213
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents
North Korea
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Authorizes and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Captain Emil Kapaun for acts of valor during the Korean War.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Big Oil Bailout Prevention Unlimited Liability Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-214
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accidents
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Big Oil Bailout Prevention Unlimited Liability Act of 2011 - Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to make the party responsible for an offshore facility, except a deepwater port, from which oil is discharged into or upon navigable waters or adjoining shorelines liable for all discharge removal costs and damages for each incident (under current law such party is liable for the total of all removal costs plus $75 million).
 
Makes this Act effective on April 15, 2010.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Big Oil Bailout Prevention Trust Fund Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-215
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Budget process
Government trust funds
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
State and local finance
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Big Oil Bailout Prevention Trust Fund Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate: (1) the $1 billion per incident limitation on expenditures from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for cleanup of oil spills, and (2) restrictions on the borrowing authority of such Trust Fund.
 
Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to direct the President to promulgate regulations to allow advance payments from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to states and localities to prepare for and mitigate substantial threats from the discharge of oil.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-217
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Secret Ballot Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice for: (1) an employer to recognize or bargain collectively with a labor organization that has not been selected by a majority of the employees in a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and (2) a labor organization to cause or attempt to cause an employer to recognize or bargain collectively with a representative that has not been selected in such manner.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-218
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Evidence and witnesses
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Prescription drugs
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011 - Sets conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce. 
 
Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions. 
 
Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility. 
 
Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a decreasing percentage based on the increasing value of the amount awarded. 
 
Allows the introduction of collateral source benefits and the amount paid to secure such benefits as evidence. Prohibits a provider of such benefits from recovering any amount from an award in a health care lawsuit involving injury or wrongful death. 
 
Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000. 
 
Denies punitive damages in the case of products approved, cleared, or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or otherwise considered in compliance with FDA standards. 
 
Provides for periodic payments of future damages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act

Bill: 112-s-219
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require all election-related designations, statements, and reports required to be filed under the Act to be filed directly with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-25
text: Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-770.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection, and Jobs Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-220
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Ecology
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Oregon
Rural conditions and development
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection, and Jobs Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Chief of the Forest Service, in a covered area of Oregon to seek to: (1) conserve and restore forest and watershed health and other ecosystems; (2) reduce the risk of, and increase the resistance and resiliency of the land to, uncharacteristic disturbances; (3) allow for characteristic natural disturbances; and (4) harvest wood to maintain adequate levels of industry infrastructure to accomplish such goals. Defines &quot;covered area&quot; as area selected by the Secretary that is within Oregon and that is not within the area covered by the Record of Decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, dated April 1994.
 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) implement covered area ecological restoration projects to help achieve the above goals, and (2) offer, and promptly implement, covered area mechanical treatment projects emphasizing sawtimber as a byproduct.
 
Requires each vegetation management project to protect and restore aquatic and riparian-dependent resources. 
 
Establishes the Eastside Forest Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel to advise the Secretary, collaborative groups, and the public about the development and implementation of goals to improve forest and watershed health and related social and economic goals.
 
Requires the Secretary to develop a strategy to assist in the implementation of projects needed to accomplish the purposes of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-39.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S340)
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the health insurance costs tax credit, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-221
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax credits
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Trade adjustment assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through June 30, 2012, the increased 80% tax credit for health insurance costs (including advance payments) for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) pension recipients.
 
Makes TAA recipients who are in a break in training under a training program, or who are receiving unemployment compensation, eligible for such tax credit for the period through June 30, 2012. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to extend through June 30, 2012, the TAA pre-certification period rule disregarding any 63-day lapse in creditable health care coverage for TAA workers.
 
Extends the continued eligibility for the credit for qualifying family members and certain qualified TAA-eligible individuals and PBGC pension recipients for COBRA premium assistance through June 30, 2012.
 
Extends through June 30, 2012, coverage under an employee benefit plan funded by a voluntary employees' beneficiary association established pursuant to an order of a bankruptcy court, or by agreement with an authorized representative.
 
Expands for the two-year period beginning after the enactment of this Act the continuous tax levy on payments to vendors for goods and services leased to the federal government to include payments for all property sold or leased to the federal government. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate