hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1753
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Transportation safety and security
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2011 - Requires an individual or entity that operates a website that provides access to international travel services to provide to consumers information regarding the health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on such website, including: (1) information compiled by the Department of State that includes country-specific travel warnings and alerts; and (2) information on the availability of on site health and safety services at a destination, including the hours and days such services are available, or a disclaimer that such destination does not provide certain health and safety services or that information regarding such services is not available. Requires a website operator that does not possess information on a destination's health and safety services to request it from that destination.
 
Grants the website operator immunity from liability relating to inaccurate or incomplete information if such information was provided by the destination and the operator published it without knowledge that it was inaccurate or incomplete.
 
Treats a violation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require the Secretary of State to: (1) collect and include in the database on overseas deaths of U.S. citizens from non-natural causes information on the name and address of the property where a death occurred, and (2) update the database not less frequently than once each month (currently, every six months) and to report such updated information to Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6877-6878)
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6877)
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Transmission for Rural Communities Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1754
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax exclusion
Rural conditions and development
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
Clean Transmission for Rural Communities Act of 2010 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) the issuance of clean renewable energy bonds to interconnect energy facilities to high-voltage transmission lines, and (2) the issuance of tax-exempt facility bonds to finance a qualified electric transmission facility. Defines &quot;qualified electric transmission facility&quot; as a state-owned electric transmission facility which operates primarily to interconnect one or more renewable energy facilities to a high-voltage transmission line. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for coverage under the beneficiary travel program of the Department of Veterans Affairs of certain disabled veterans for travel for certain special disabilities rehabilitation, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1755
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Neurological disorders
Transportation costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
Authorizes payment under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiary travel program of travel expenses in connection with medical examination, treatment, or care of a veteran with vision impairment, a spinal cord injury or disorder, or double or multiple amputations whose travel is in connection with inpatient care in a VA special disabilities rehabilitation program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
HUBZone Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1756
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Economic development
Government information and archives
Public contracts and procurement
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
HUBZone Protection Act of 2011
 - 
Amends the Small Business Act to revise the definition of "redesignated area" for HUBZone designation purposes to extend the time period during which a census tract or nonmetropolitan county that loses its HUBZone status due to the 2010 census may be so designated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Energy Infrastructure for Rural Communities Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1757
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Government lending and loan guarantees
Oil and gas
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
Clean Energy Infrastructure for Rural Communities Act of 2011 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make electric loans for transmission facilities primarily for interconnecting renewable energy facilities to a high-voltage transmission line. Revokes the requirement that the rate of an electric loan for renewable energy be equal to the average tax-exempt municipal bond rate of similar maturities.
 
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to: (1) authorize the Secretary to make and insure loans to improve the economic and environmental climate by encouraging the development and construction of infrastructure to provide access to natural gas in rural communities, and (2) define &quot;natural gas&quot; as unmixed natural gas or any mixture of natural and artificial gas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Landowner Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1758
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Dams and canals
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Navigation, waterways, harbors

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
Landowner Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Power Act to prohibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from requiring removal or modification of any existing nonconforming structure or encroachment within the project boundary, except one built in bad faith, whenever it issues, denies, approves, or modifies a mandatory shoreline management plan required under a FERC license.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1760
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against children
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to: (1) double the term of imprisonment and triple the fine for the prohibited distribution of a schedule II or schedule III controlled substance by the operator of a pill mill, (2) increase the penalties for such operator distribution of a controlled substance to a person under age 21 from twice to thrice the maximum punishment or term of supervised release authorized, and (3) exclude such operator distribution from the applicability of provisions authorizing an alternative fine of not more than twice the gross profits or other proceeds derived by a defendant from a drug offense. 
 
Defines: (1) &quot;pill mill&quot; to include a doctor's office, clinic, or health care facility that routinely prescribes or dispenses controlled substances outside the scope of the prevailing standards of medical practice in the community in relation to the prescribing or dispensing of controlled prescription drugs or that routinely violates such Act in relation to the prescribing or dispensing of controlled prescription drugs; and (2) &quot;operator of a pill mill&quot; to include any practicing physician affiliated with a pill mill or any owner, director, officer, or partner of a pill mill.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that such prohibited operator distribution is a violation for which certain property is subject to forfeiture. Requires the proceeds from disposition of such property to be used for controlled substance monitoring programs in the states and for block grants to states for community mental health services and for prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
 
Changes the classification of specified quantities of dihydrocodeinone from a schedule III to a schedule II controlled substance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the exception to the treatment of consolidated groups under the personal holding company rules.

Bill: 112-s-1761
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to personal holding company rules, to repeal certain exceptions to the treatment of consolidated groups of corporations under such rules. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1762
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2011-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Public contracts and procurement
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: 
Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011 - Repeals the provision of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 requiring federal, state, and local governmental entities to withhold 3% of payments due to vendors providing goods and services to such entities.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include social security benefits that are excluded from gross income in the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for the tax credit for coverage under a qualified health plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Make It in America Tax Credit Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1764
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2011-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Electric power generation and transmission
Employee hiring
Energy efficiency and conservation
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: 
Make It in America Tax Credit Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the qualifying advanced energy project credit by allocating $5 billion of grants or tax credit amounts in 2011 to manufacturers in the United States of goods and components that are used in alternative energy projects (other than for assembly of components). Limits the credit percentage with respect to such allocation amount to not more than 30%.
 
Makes a qualifying biobased product eligible for the qualifying advanced energy project tax credit. Defines &quot;qualifying biobased product&quot; as a product that may be used as a petrochemical alternative and that has a biobased content of not less than 25 % or the minimum content level as established under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. 
 
Renames the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit as the Make It in America Credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Consolidation of Grants to Strengthen the Healthcare System's Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act

Bill: 112-s-1765
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2011-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Crime victims
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Medical research
Research administration and funding
Sex offenses
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: 
Consolidation of Grants to Strengthen the Healthcare System's Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize, revise, and consolidate grant programs that address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by developing or enhancing and implementing: (1) interdisciplinary training for health professionals, public health staff, and allied health professionals; (2) education programs for health profession students to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (3) comprehensive statewide strategies to improve the response of clinics, public health facilities, hospitals, and other health settings to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6922-6923)
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act

Bill: 112-s-1766
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Fires
Higher education
Minority education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: 
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), fraternities, and sororities for up to half the cost of installing approved fire suppression systems in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities.
 
Gives grant priority to applicants that demonstrate the greatest financial need.
 
Reserves the following portions of grant funds made available for each fiscal year: (1) at least 10% for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and IHEs that are eligible for Institutional Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (2) at least 10% for social fraternities and sororities.
 
Provides that any application for assistance under this Act, any negative determination on the part of the Secretary with respect to such application, or any statement of reasons for the determination, shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity (except a proceeding to enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary and a grantee under this Act). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act

Bill: 112-s-1767
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2011-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: 
Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) to prohibit a person from extending any consumer credit through the use by the consumer of a check or other negotiable instrument sent by the creditor to solicit an extension of consumer credit, unless the consumer has requested it in writing.
 
States that a nonnegotiable instrument that has the appearance of a negotiable instrument in connection with a solicitation for an extension of credit is not an application or request for purposes of this Act.
 
Shields a consumer from liability for: (1) the principal amount of a negotiable instrument sent in violation of this Act; or (2) any interest, fee, or penalty charged in connection with such negotiable instrument.
 
 Prohibits any information relating to the liability of a consumer alleged by a creditor to have been established through a negotiable instrument sent in violation of this Act from being either reported to or received by any consumer reporting agency, or from being included in any consumer report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard, Reserve, 'Gray Area' Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1768
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2011-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: 
National Guard, Reserve, &quot;Gray Area&quot; Retiree, and Surviving Spouses Space-available Travel Equity Act of 2011 - Authorizes space-available travel on military aircraft for members of the reserves.
 
Authorizes such travel for a member or former member of the reserves who is entitled to retired pay but for attaining the required age (generally, 60).
 
Authorizes travel on a space-available basis to unremarried widows and widowers of retired members entitled to retired pay or of members who died in the line of duty or as the result of a line-of-duty condition.
 
Authorizes such travel for certain dependents of members described above, if accompanying the member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6923)
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6923)
action_date: 2011-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Every Child Deserves a Family Act

Bill: 112-s-1770
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Congressional oversight
Marriage and family status
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: 
Every Child Deserves a Family Act - Prohibits an entity that receives federal assistance and is involved in adoption or foster care placements from discriminating against prospective adoptive or foster parents solely on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status or on the basis of the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child involved.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in order to ensure compliance with, and ensure understanding of the legal, practice, and culture changes required by this Act in making foster care and adoption placement decisions, to provide specified technical assistance to all entities covered by this Act.
 
Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of whether states have substantially complied with this Act in eliminating policies, practices, or statutes that deny adoption rights on the basis of these criteria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Patricia Donahue, individually and in her capacity as administratrix of the estate of Michael J. Donahue; Michael T. Donahue; Shawn Donahue; and Thomas Donahue.

Bill: 112-s-1771
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Provides for the relief of Patricia Donahue, individually and in her capacity as administratrix of the estate of Michael J. Donahue; Michael T. Donahue; Shawn Donahue; and Thomas Donahue.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Patricia Macarelli, in her capacity as administratrix of the estate of Edward Brian Halloran.

Bill: 112-s-1772
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2011-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Provides for the relief of Patricia Macarelli, in her capacity as administratrix of the estate of Edward Brian Halloran.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1774
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2011-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Ecology
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Montana
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pedestrians and bicycling
Roads and highways
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: 
Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2011- Establishes the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Management Area in Montana. 
 
Designates specified land within the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana as wilderness and as additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). 
 
 Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare a comprehensive management strategy for the prevention, control, and eradication of noxious weeds in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Lewis and Clark National Forest. 
 
Authorizes such Secretary to conduct a study for improving nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including mountain bicycling, on land within the District that is not designated as wilderness. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-642.
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate