hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Pilot's Bill of Rights

Bill: 112-s-3268
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Aviation and airports
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Judicial review and appeals
Licensing and registrations
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Pilot's Bill of Rights - Requires National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) proceedings for the review of decisions of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deny, amend, modify, suspend, or revoke an airman's certificate to be conducted, to the extent practicable, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence.
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) advise the subject of an investigation involving the approval, denial, suspension, modification, or revocation of an airman certificate of specified information pertinent to the investigation; and (2) provide him or her with access to relevant air traffic data.
 
Allows an individual to elect to file an appeal of a certificate denial, a punitive civil action, or an emergency order of revocation in the U.S. district court in which individual resides, in which the action in question occurred, or the district court for the District of Columbia. Allows an adversely affected individual who elects not to file an appeal in a federal district court to file such appeal with the NTSB.
 
Directs the Administrator to begin a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Improvement Program to improve the system of providing airmen with pertinent and timely information before a flight in the national airspace system.
 
Makes Flight Service Station briefings and other air traffic services performed by Lockheed Martin or any other government contractor available to airmen under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
 
Requires the Administrator to review the FAA system for the medical certification of airmen in order to: (1) revise the medical application form, (2) align medical qualification policies with present-day qualified medical judgment and practices, and (3) publish objective medical standards to advise the public of the criteria determining an airman's medical certificate eligibility.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 422.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide that no United States assistance may be provided to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed.

Bill: 112-s-3269
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Foreign aid and international relief
Health personnel
Human rights
Pakistan
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Sanctions
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Prohibits any direct U.S. assistance to the government of Pakistan unless the President certifies to Congress that: (1) Dr. Shakil Afridi has been released from prison in Pakistan and any criminal charges brought against Dr. Afridi, including treason, have been dropped; and (2) if necessary to ensure his freedom, Dr. Afridi has been allowed to leave Pakistan.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 423.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider the resources of individuals applying for pension that were recently disposed of by the individuals for less than fair market value when determining the eligibility of such individuals for such pension, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-3270
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2012-06-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: 
Provides that if a veteran eligible for a pension for service or for a non-service-connected disability, or the spouse of such veteran, disposes of a resource that was part of such veteran's estate for less than its fair market value within three years before applying for such pension, then the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall deny or discontinue the pension payment for months beginning on the date of such disposition and ending when the uncompensated value of such resource is reached. Provides the same denial or discontinuance in the case of a veteran eligible for an increased pension payment on account of a child, unless the Secretary determines that such denial or discontinuance would work an undue hardship.
 
Applies the same denial or discontinuance, with the same undue hardship exception, in the case of: (1) a veteran's surviving spouse who disposes of a covered resource for less than fair market value within such period, and (2) an increased pension for such spouse on account of a child.
 
Requires the Secretary, at the time a veteran, surviving spouse, or child applies for such a pension, to: (1) inform the individual of such requirements, and (2) obtain information to determine whether a period of ineligibility for such payments will be required.
 
Requires annual reports from the Secretary, through 2023, on the administration of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3271
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care costs and insurance
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2012 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of whether they have enrolled in Medicare part B, as well as Medicare Advantage and Medicaid enrollees with the right to guaranteed issue of a supplemental insurance (Medigap) policy.
 
Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII to permit enrollment of individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in Medicare Advantage. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3840-3841)
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Youth Summer Jobs Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3273
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Employment and training programs
Government trust funds
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Youth Summer Jobs Act of 2012 - Establishes in the Treasury the Youth Summer Employment Success Fund, consisting of $2 billion of discretionary federal funds permanently rescinded in this Act.
 
Rescinds permanently $15 billion in unobligated discretionary federal funds for each of FY2012 and FY2013.
 
Requires the Secretary of Labor to make certain Fund allocations to states with approved modification plans, qualifying outlying areas (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau), and Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian program grantees to provide summer employment opportunities youth aged 16-24.
 
Subjects activities funded under this Act to federal labor standards and nondiscrimination requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3274
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) U.S. ability to attract inbound investment is directly linked to U.S. long-term economic prosperity, competitiveness, and security; (2) Congress and federal departments and agencies should consider potential impact upon U.S. ability to attract foreign direct investment when evaluating proposed legislation or regulatory policy; and (3) it is a top national priority to enhance U.S. competitiveness, prosperity, and security by removing unnecessary barriers to inward global investment and the U.S. jobs it creates and promoting policies to ensure the United States remains the premier destination for global companies to invest, hire, innovate, and manufacture their products.
 
Amends the Foreign Direct Investment and International Financial Data Improvements Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an interagency review of U.S. laws and policies on foreign direct investment in the United States and develop recommendations to make the United States more competitive in attracting and retaining strong investment flows from abroad.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act

Bill: 112-s-3275
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Corporate finance and management
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships as corporations, to expand the definition of "qualifying income" for such partnerships to include income and gains from renewable and alternative fuels (in addition to fossil fuels), including renewable energy facilities used in the production of electricity, biodiesel, alcohol used as fuels, and renewable fuels used to reduce or replace fossil fuels present in transportation fuels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3842)
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3841-3842)
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Educator and American Community Housing Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3278
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
First responders and emergency personnel
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health personnel
Housing and community development funding
Housing supply and affordability
Law enforcement officers
Rural conditions and development
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Rural Educator and American Community Housing Act of 2012 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide grants, loan guarantees, or other financial mechanisms to eligible educators, medical providers, and public safety officers to carry out a qualified project in a qualified community.
 
Defines a &quot;qualified project&quot; as: (1) the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of qualified housing for such eligible individuals; (2) the payment of interest on bonds or other financing instruments (except refinancing instruments) issued for such activities; or (3) the repayment of a loan used for such construction and so forth, or to purchase or lease real property for qualified housing purposes. 
 
Defines a &quot;qualified community&quot; as any open country, or any place, town, village, or city that is not part of or associated with an urban area and that has a population between 2,500 to 10,000, and is not accessible by a motor vehicle.
 
Authorizes the State Director of Rural Development for a state to evaluate for the Secretary any application for a qualified project in the state. Requires the Secretary to take the evaluation into consideration in determining whether to provide such assistance.
 
Requires the Secretary to give priority to: (1) a state education agency (SEA) or local educational agency (LEA), (2) a state or local housing authority, (3) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, (4) a tribally designated housing entity, (5) a local government, or (6) a consortium of any such entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3279
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Customs enforcement
Government buildings, facilities, and property
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into agreements with persons for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide customs and immigration services at a land border port of entry, subject to payment of a fee to reimburse the CBP for providing such services.
 
Directs the Administrator of General Services to establish procedures for evaluating proposals submitted by persons to: (1) enter into cost-sharing or reimbursement agreements with the General Services Administration (GSA) for the construction or maintenance of infrastructure at a land border port of entry, and (2) provide GSA an unconditional gift of property for use in the construction or maintenance of such infrastructure.
 
Prescribes minimum requirements for such procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Companionship Exemption Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-3280
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult day care
Aging
Disability and paralysis
Labor standards
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Companionship Exemption Protection Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, with respect to the exemption from minimum wage and maximum hour requirements of domestic service employment to provide companionship services for individuals who because of age or infirmity are unable to care for themselves, to provide detailed definitions of &quot;companionship services&quot; and &quot;domestic service employment.&quot; Excludes from companionship services those relating to the care and protection of the aged or infirm which require and are performed by trained medical personnel.
 
Extends the exemption to third-party employment of an employee to provide companionship services to such individuals, including non-medical in-home care or household work related to their care. Defines &quot;third-party employment&quot; to mean employees who provide companionship services while employed by an employer or agency other than the family or household using their services, whether or not such an employee is assigned to more than one household or family in the same workweek when providing such services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to terminate the Federal authorization of the National Veterans Business Development Corporation.

Bill: 112-s-3281
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Federally chartered organizations
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: 
Repeals the federal charter for (thereby terminating) the National Veterans Business Development Corporation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3842-3843)
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3842)
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-3282
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: 
Extends through 2014 (under current law, through 2013) the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education. Requires the Committee, to the maximum extent possible, to include: (1) veterans who served on active duty and were deployed in connection with a contingency operation; (2) at least one veteran currently enrolled in and receiving assistance under a veterans' educational assistance program; and (3) at least one representative each from the American Council on Education, an organization that represents veterans, and a state approving agency.
 
Requires the Committee, at least semiannually, to report to Congress on the administration of veterans' educational assistance benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Ending Housing Discrimination Against Servicemembers and Veterans Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-3283
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2012-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Housing discrimination
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Real estate business
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: 
Ending Housing Discrimination Against Servicemembers and Veterans Act of 2012 - Amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination against servicemembers or veterans with respect to: (1) the sale or rental of housing, (2) residential real estate-related transactions, and (3) the provision of brokerage services.
 
Prohibits religious organizations engaging in housing transactions from giving preferences to persons of the same religion in cases where membership in such religion is restricted to persons who are not members of the uniformed services.
 
Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to impose a fine, imprisonment, or both on persons who violate prohibitions on housing discrimination under such Act against members of the uniformed services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4180-4181)
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
South Carolina Offshore Drilling Act

Bill: 112-s-3284
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2012-06-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Energy revenues and royalties
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
South Carolina
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: 
South Carolina Offshore Drilling Act - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to include in a specified schedule of proposed lease sales under the outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing program for FY2012-FY2017 any areas located within the administrative boundaries of South Carolina that lie more than 50 miles off its coast. 
 
Authorizes the governor of South Carolina to petition the Secretary to make available for leasing any portion of the area within the state's administrative boundaries that is between 10 and 50 miles off the coast.
 
Instructs the Secretary to: (1) approve such a petition within 90 days after receipt, and (2) initiate a new five-year OCS oil and gas leasing program to replace the OCS oil and gas leasing program in effect on the approval date. 
 
Authorizes such governor to petition the Secretary to prohibit the leasing of areas within the administrative boundaries of the state that are between 50 and 100 miles off the coast.
 
Allocates to a coastal state 37.5% of: (1) any bonus bid paid for leasing rights in an OCS area if the Secretary has approved the state's request to allow leasing in that area; (2) lease rental payments, lease royalty payments, and royalty proceeds from a sale of royalties taken in kind by the Secretary; and (3) any other revenues from a specified bidding system. 
 
Instructs the Secretary to: (1) pay 20% of the allocable share of each coastal state directly to certain of its coastal political subdivisions, (2) distribute a certain conservation royalty into the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and (3) distribute 50% of federal royalty revenues from areas leased under this Act into direct federal deficit reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-06-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to products of the Russian Federation.

Bill: 112-s-3285
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-06-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Normal trade relations, most-favored-nation treatment
Russia

Summary:
action_date: 2012-06-12
text: 
Authorizes the President to extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of the Russian Federation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-06-12
text: Introduced in Senate