hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Whaling Convention Amendments Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5898
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2012-06-05 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Department of Commerce
Indian lands and resources rights
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: 
Whaling Convention Amendments Act of 2012 - Amends the Whaling Convention Act of 1949 to require the Secretary of Commerce to authorize aboriginal subsistence whaling if it: (1) is for subsistence purposes (including the sale of authentic native articles of handicrafts and clothing); (2) does not include the striking, taking, or killing of calves or any whale accompanied by a calf; and (3) is not accomplished in a wasteful manner.
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish catch limits for the Alaska Native aboriginal subsistence hunt of bowhead whales for any year or set of years if: (1) the International Whaling Commission has failed to adopt applicable catch limits; and (2) the biological status of the affected bowhead stock or stocks is such that, based on the most recent review of their status by the Scientific Committee of the Commission, the aboriginal subsistence needs statement submitted to the Commission by the United States for that year or set of years is sustainable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Zenon Kolenda and Orysya Bilyanska Kolenda.

Bill: 112-hr-5899
Sponsor: Rep. Buerkle, Ann Marie [R-NY-25]
Introduced: 2012-06-05 in the House
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Provides for the relief of Zenon Kolenda and Orysya Bilyanska Kolenda.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-05
text: Introduced in House
To modify the training requirements for certain fire departments applying for Federal grants.

Bill: 112-hr-5900
Sponsor: Rep. Lankford, James [R-OK-5]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Fires
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Allows any fire department with a service area that comprises all territory, population, and housing units in rural areas or outside a city or town with a population of less than 20,000 people to apply for a federal grant for which it would otherwise be eligible regardless of whether it has completed the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.
 
Requires any such department that receives a grant to complete such training by the end of the period covered by the grant award. Allows the department to claim the cost of such training as an allowable cost under the grant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
Catching Up To 1968 Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5901
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [D-IL-2]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Government information and archives
Inflation and prices
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Catching Up To 1968 Act of 2012 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase to $10.00 an hour (adjusted annually based on increases in the Consumer Price Index) the federal minimum wage for employees. 
 
Increases to $5.50 an hour (adjusted annually as necessary) the federal minimum wage for tipped employees.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor, 60 days before any increase in the minimum wage, to publish the increase in the Federal Register and on the Department of Labor's website.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
To establish a Congressional Advisory Commission on the Implementation of United States Policy under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Bill: 112-hr-5902
Sponsor: Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Asia
China
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Cultural exchanges and relations
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Human rights
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Political movements and philosophies
Rule of law and government transparency
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Taiwan
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Establishes the Congressional Advisory Commission on the Implementation of United States Policy under the Taiwan Relations Act. 
 
Requires the Commission to: (1) assess the sufficiency of U.S. defense articles and services for Taiwan; (2) review U.S. operational planning, policy reviews, and other preparations since 2000 to implement the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances provided to Taiwan in 1982; (3) identify threats to the security, social, or economic systems of Taiwan and assess U.S. capability to resist such threats; (4) evaluate U.S. measures since 2000 to enhance commercial, cultural, and other relations with Taiwan; (5) review U.S. measures since 2000 regarding human rights on Taiwan; (6) recommend policy options to assist Taiwan broaden its international space, including Taiwan's ability to participate meaningfully in the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations, and to ensure that Taiwan's future will be determined peacefully, taking into account China's strategies to undermine Taiwan's freedom of action; and (7) recommend U.S. policy options to advance toward normalization of the relationship with the government of Taiwan.
 
Terminates the Commission 60 days after the report required by this Act is submitted to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat recipients of the Korea Defense Service Medal as war veterans for purposes of determining whether contributions to posts and organizations of war veterans are charitable contributions.

Bill: 112-hr-5903
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Transfer and inheritance taxes
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for charitable contributions to a post or organization of war veterans, to treat recipients of the Korea Defense Service Medal as war veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act

Bill: 112-hr-5904
Sponsor: Rep. Lungren, Daniel E. [R-CA-3]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Government liability
International law and treaties
Jurisdiction and venue
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act - Amends the federal judicial code to include among the exceptions to U.S. jurisdictional immunity of foreign states any statutory or common law tort claim arising out of an act of extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, hostage taking, terrorism, or the provision of material support or resources for such an act, or any claim for contribution or indemnity relating to a claim arising out of such an act. 
 
Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) impose liability on, and grant U.S. district courts personal jurisdiction over, any person who aids, abets, provides material support or resources to, or conspires with a person who commits an act of international terrorism that injures a U.S. national; (2) repeal provisions prohibiting civil actions against foreign states or foreign officials for damages related to acts of terrorism; and (3) extend from 4 to 15 years the limitation period for bringing an action for civil damages resulting from an act of international terrorism and allow previously time-barred cases that would have been timely filed under such extended limitation period to be refiled within 90 days of the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in House
International Violence Against Women Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5905
Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child health
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Domestic violence and child abuse
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement officers
Lawyers and legal services
Marriage and family status
Military education and training
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Sex offenses
United Nations
Violent crime
Women's education
Women's employment
Women's health
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
International Violence Against Women Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of State to designate an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. 
 
Directs the Secretary to develop a comprehensive strategy to identify countries with significant levels of violence against women and girls that have the government or nongovernmental organizational capacity to implement gender-based violence prevention and response program activities. Authorizes assistance for such countries and urges that 10% of such assistance go to community-based and women's nongovernmental organizations in recipient countries.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide guidance to the Secretary of Defense (DOD) on how to: (1) incorporate training on prevention and response into the basic training curricula of foreign military forces and judicial officials, and (2) ensure that U.S. assistance to units involved in regional or multilateral peacekeeping operations includes such training. 
 
Directs the Secretary and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to ensure that: (1) assistance made available for humanitarian relief, conflict mitigation, and post-conflict reconstruction prevents and responds to violence against women and girls; and (2) assistance made available for disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation provides protection in demobilization and transit centers and essential medical care and psychosocial support. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) identify critical or widespread incidents of violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict; (2) determine emergency response measures; and (3) brief Congress, upon request, on the implementation of such emergency response measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical devices.

Bill: 112-hr-5906
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Health technology, devices, supplies
Income tax deductions
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the excise tax on medical devices; (2) exclude from the gross receipts of major integrated oil companies (defined as companies with an average daily worldwide production of crude oil of at least 500,000 barrels and gross receipts in excess of $1 billion), for purposes of the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities, receipts from the production, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof; and (3) prohibit the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method by major integrated oil companies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
Yosemite National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5907
Sponsor: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-20]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Yosemite National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the approximately 1,575 acres of identified land that is adjacent to Yosemite National Park in California for addition to the Park. 
 
Permits an acquisition of such land to be made by donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange and revises the boundary of the Park to reflect the acquisition. 
 
Requires the Secretary to administer any acquired land as part of the Park. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
Purchasing American Generates Employment Act

Bill: 112-hr-5908
Sponsor: Rep. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Materials
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Purchasing American Generates Employment Act - Prohibits a federal department or agency from using funds to procure any article or item of paper or paper products that are not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States. Allows an exemption from such requirement: (1) if a department or agency head determines that satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity of such paper or paper products cannot be procured as and when needed at U.S. market prices; (2) for procurements outside the United States in support of combat or contingency operations or by vessels in foreign waters; and (3) for items purchased for resale in commissaries, exchanges, or certain facilities operated by the Department of Defense (DOD).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5911
Sponsor: Rep. Sullivan, John [R-OK-1]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Building construction
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to exclude from the definition of &quot;abatement&quot; any renovation, remodeling, or other activity: (1) the primary purpose of which is to repair, restore, or remodel target housing, public buildings constructed before 1978, or commercial buildings; and (2) that incidentally results in a reduction or elimination of lead-based paint hazards.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), no later than one year prior to proposing any renovation and remodeling regulation, to study the extent to which persons engaged in such activities: (1) are exposed to lead, and (2) disturb lead and create a lead-based paint hazard. Exempts from any such regulation an emergency renovation that is carried out in response to an event that is an act of God as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), that presents a risk to the public health or safety, or that threatens to cause significant damage to equipment or property if not attended to immediately. Prohibits such a regulation from requiring post-abatement clearance testing. 
 
 Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to permit an owner of a residential dwelling that is target housing, who resides in such dwelling, to authorize a contractor to forego compliance with such a regulation if the owner submits a certification stating that: (1) the renovation or remodeling project is to be carried out at such dwelling, (2) no pregnant woman or child under the age of six resides or will reside in such housing, and (3) the owner acknowledges that such contractor will be exempt from the requirements of such regulation. Prohibits the Administrator from holding a contractor responsible for a misrepresentation made by the owner of such dwelling unless the contractor has actual knowledge of such a misrepresentation. 
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) recognize a qualifying test kit for use under such Act, and (2) suspend enforcement of any regulation relating to renovation and remodeling of target housing and commercial buildings constructed after January 1, 1960, and public buildings constructed between January 1, 1960, and January 1, 1978, until a specified period after the Administrator recognizes such a test kit. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the use of public funds for political party conventions.

Bill: 112-hr-5912
Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government trust funds
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions providing for the use of funds from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for presidential nominating conventions. Requires that any amount which is returned by the national committee of a major or minor party to the Treasury from an account established under the Fund to make payments for conventions to be used solely for deficit reduction. 

action_date: 2012-09-19
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions providing for the use of funds from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for presidential nominating conventions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 310 - 95 (Roll no. 586). (text: CR H6113)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 310 - 95 (Roll no. 586).(text: CR H6113)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6120-6121)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5912.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6113-6115)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Mr. Lungren, Daniel E. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-09-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Elections.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act

Bill: 112-hr-5914
Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
District of Columbia
Iraq
Kuwait
Middle East
Military history
Monuments and memorials
Saudi Arabia

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act - Authorizes the National Desert Storm Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia to commemorate and honor those who, as members of the Armed Forces, served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield.
 
Prohibits the use of federal funds to pay any expense to establish the commemorative work.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
Research Fairness Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-5915
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Marketing and advertising
Service industries
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Research Fairness Act of 2012 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to extend certain employee exemptions from minimum wage and maximum hour requirements to marketing research participants and mystery shoppers.
 
Defines &quot;mystery shopper&quot; as any individual meeting certain requirements who is engaged to measure or evaluate a customer's experience, or some aspect of it, either at a defined location, or while using or purporting to use a specified product or service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in House