hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Regulation Moratorium and Jobs Preservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1438
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Census and government statistics
Civil actions and liability
Judicial review and appeals
Small business
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Regulation Moratorium and Jobs Preservation Act of 2011 - Prohibits any federal agency from taking any significant regulatory action until the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a monthly unemployment rate equal to or less than 7.7%. 
 
Defines as &quot;significant&quot; any regulatory action that is likely to: (1) have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, small entities, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with another agency's action; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy issues.
 
Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition if the President notifies Congress that a waiver is necessary on the basis of national security or a national emergency. Allows judicial review of all claims under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Ready Schools Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1439
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child care and development
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Language arts
Preschool education
School administration
Special education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Ready Schools Act of 2011 - Amends part A of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies to describe how they will assist each of their elementary schools that receive school improvement funds in conducting a ready school needs review at least once every three years.
 
 Requires schools to use that review in developing and implementing policies and procedures that create a school environment and classroom practices that: (1) help each child reach state and grade level expectations, including state academic content and achievement standards; and (2) support successful transitions for children.
 
Requires the review to assess a school's needs for: (1) developmentally appropriate curricula, classroom materials, teaching practices, instructional assessments, and accommodations; (2) services and supports for disabled and limited English proficient children; (3) family and community engagement policies and practices; (4) building and maintaining a school climate that supports positive development and learning; (5) school staff leadership and support; and (6) outreach to, and collaboration with, early childhood education and service providers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5067)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Investment for Unique Populations in Hawaii and Alaska Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1441
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Employment and training programs
Hawaii
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Workforce Investment for Unique Populations in Hawaii and Alaska Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to provide assistance to the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Incorporated, Alaska, and the University of Hawaii Maui College, Hawaii, to improve job training and other workforce investment activities for the unique populations who reside in Alaska and Hawaii.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5020)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5020)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
No Budget, No Pay Act

Bill: 112-s-1442
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional operations and organization
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
No Budget, No Pay Act - Prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President) if both Houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year, nor until both Houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution. Prohibits any retroactive pay for such a period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Asia-South Pacific Trade Preferences Act

Bill: 112-s-1443
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Cambodia
East Timor
Kiribati
Laos
Maldives
Nepal
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tariffs
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Asia-South Pacific Trade Preferences Act - Authorizes the President to designate an Asia or South Pacific country as a beneficiary Asia or South Pacific country eligible for preferential treatment under this Act if that country meets: (1) certain requirements under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, including establishing a market-based economy and the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the elimination of trade barriers to the United States; and (2) certain eligibility criteria for designation as a least-developed beneficiary developing country under the Trade Act of 1974.
 
Lists the following countries eligible for designation as a &quot;Asia or South Pacific country&quot;: (1) Afghanistan, (2) Bangladesh, (3) Bhutan, (4) Cambodia, (5) Kiribati, (6) Lao People's Democratic Republic, (7) Maldives, (8) Nepal, (9) Samoa, (10) Solomon Islands, (11) Timor-Leste (East Timor), (12) Tuvalu, and (13) Vanuatu.
 
Authorizes the President to provide duty-free treatment of certain import-sensitive articles (watches, electronic articles, steel articles, footwear and certain other apparel, and glass products) meeting rules of origin requirements if: (1) the article is the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary Asia or South Pacific country; and (2) the President determines, after receiving advice of the International Trade Commission (ITC), that the article is not import-sensitive in the context of imports from beneficiary Asia or South Pacific countries.
 
Prescribes the rules of origin for the articles for the duty-free treatment. 
Grants duty-free treatment of certain textile and apparel articles imported directly into the customs territory of the United States from a beneficiary Asia or South Pacific country.
 
Establishes limitations on such preferential treatment.
 
Prescribes requirements for handloomed, handmade, folklore articles or ethnic printed fabrics.
 
Prescribes a special rule to extend such preferential treatment through December 31, 2019, for textile and apparel articles that are wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary or former beneficiary Asia or South Pacific countries, or both, regardless of the country or origin of the yarn or fabric used to make such articles.
 
Terminates the extension of preferential treatment to a beneficiary Asia or South Pacific country after December 31, 2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5021-5022)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5020-5021)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1444
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
National symbols

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011 - Requires the head of an executive agency to: (1) pay the cost of presenting a U.S. flag for an individual who was an agency employee and died of injuries incurred while serving as a federal employee, (2) furnish such flag upon the request of the employee's next of kin or any other individual as determined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and (3) provide notice to agency employees of the flag benefit provided by this Act. Allows an exemption from the requirements of this Act if an agency head determines that fulfilling such requirements would endanger U.S. national security or require the disclosure of classified information, or that the employee is not entitled to death benefits due to willful misconduct.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5023)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5022-5023)
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1445
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Motor vehicles
Product safety and quality
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2011 - Makes it unlawful for a rental company, unless the defect or noncompliance has already been remedied, to rent, lease, or sell a covered vehicle on or after the earlier of: (1) the receipt by the company of a Secretary of Transportation (DOT) ordered notification from the manufacturer that the vehicle or equipment is defective or is noncompliant with federal motor vehicle safety standards; or (2) when the vehicle or equipment manufacturer gives notice to owners, purchasers, and dealers that the vehicle or equipment contains a defect or is noncompliant.
 
Requires a rental company that receives a notification of a vehicle or equipment defect or noncompliance during the vehicle rental or lease period to: (1) contact the renter or lessee and any authorized driver of the covered vehicle about the defect or noncompliance; and (2) offer to provide them, at no additional cost, with a comparable alternative vehicle until the defect or noncompliance has been remedied.
 
Treats violations of the requirements of this Act as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act. Subjects persons who violate such requirements to certain penalties.
 
Requires the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to report to Congress on: (1) sales of motor vehicles to rental companies without standard safety features, and (2) sales by rental companies of covered vehicles known to include safety defects before they are recalled.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
State Transportation Flexibility Act

Bill: 112-s-1446
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government trust funds
Intergovernmental relations
Public transit
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
State Transportation Flexibility Act - Allows a state to elect not to participate in the federal-aid highway program, including any federal highway program under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), beginning in FY2011, to carry out a direct federal-aid highway program to permit a state legislature, at least 90 days before the beginning of a fiscal year, to elect to: (1) waive the state's right to receive apportioned or allocated funds under the federal-aid highway program, and (2) receive a prorated amount of taxes appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund (other than for the Mass Transit Account) which are attributable to highway users in the state. Requires a pro rata reduction of such tax-equivalent amount in order to fund contract authority for programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
 
Requires the state making an election to: (1) agree to maintain the Interstate System in accordance with the current Interstate System program; (2) submit a plan describing the purposes, projects, and uses to which such amounts will be put and the federal-aid highway programmatic requirements the state elects to continue; and (3) agree to obligate program amounts exclusively for projects that would be eligible for surface transportation program funding.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a similar alternative funding program for public transportation programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Teen Act

Bill: 112-s-1447
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Child safety and welfare
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal justice information and records
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Sex offenses
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
Stop Abuse for Every Teen Act or SAFE Teen Act - Amends title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include dating violence prevention among the drug and violence prevention efforts funded under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program.
 
Authorizes local educational agencies (LEAs) to use program funds for peer support groups that provide an emotionally safe and confidential setting for youth to learn and practice healthy relationship skills under the supervision of school personnel or community organizations specializing in domestic and sexual violence prevention. Allows perpetrators of dating violence to participate in such groups, but not in the same groups as victims of such violence.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to use program funds to: (1) develop and disseminate innovative and high-quality healthy relationship skill-building programs as a way to reduce unhealthy or abusive teen relationships; and (2) disseminate information on dating violence education and prevention, and data on the incidence of dating violence in the school environment and relevant behavioral indicators of exposure to violence.
 
Directs the Secretary to collect and publicly disseminate data on the incidence of dating violence, sexual violence, emotional abuse, and relevant behavioral indicators of exposure to such types of violence, among individuals aged 11 through 19.
 
Requires states to provide technical assistance to LEAs and schools in their efforts to prevent and appropriately respond to incidents of dating violence.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to use program funds to establish a Teen Dating Violence Prevention Innovation Fund to replicate, refine, and test model strategies and projects directed to youth to prevent and respond to dating violence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Consumer Product Safety Flexibility Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1448
Sponsor: Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR]
Introduced: 2011-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Motor vehicles
Pedestrians and bicycling
Product safety and quality
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: 
 Consumer Product Safety Flexibility Act of 2011 - Amends the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 to apply the limit on lead content in children's products only to products manufactured after the effective date of the limit.
 
Exempts off-highway vehicles from the limit on lead content in children's products. Exempts bicycles from such lead limit and applies an alternate limit for the metal component part of the products.
 
Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a final rule on safety standards pertaining to all-terrain vehicles within one year of enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Commercial Truck Safety Act

Bill: 112-s-1450
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: 
Commercial Truck Safety Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to improve commercial motor vehicle safety on Interstate System (IS) highways.
 
Directs the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to establish a demonstration program under which a state governor may request from the Secretary a three-year waiver for covered trucks (six-axle trucks with a maximum gross weight of up to 100,000 pounds) to operate on the state's IS highways.
 
Requires a state, as a condition for receiving a waiver, to: (1) collect data on the waiver's effects, particularly on accident rates involving heavier trucks; and (2) establish a safety committee to review such data.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5072-5073)
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Billfish Conservation Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1451
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Fishes
Hawaii
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Trade restrictions
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: 
Billfish Conservation Act of 2011 - Prohibits any person from offering billfish or billfish products for sale, selling them, or having custody, control, or possession of them for purposes of offering them for sale or selling them.
 
Treats a violation of this Act as an act prohibited by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Subjects a person to a maximum civil penalty of $100,000 for each violation, with each day of a continuing violation constituting a separate offense. Exempts the state of Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Area, except that billfish may be sold under such exemption only in Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Area.
 
Defines "billfish" as any of the following: (1) blue marlin, (2) striped marlin, (3) black marlin, (4) sailfish, (5) shortbill spearfish, (6) white marlin, (7) roundscale spearfish, (8) Mediterranean spearfish, or (9) longbill spearfish. Excludes swordfish from such definition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Main Street Fairness Act

Bill: 112-s-1452
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2011-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Judicial review and appeals
Retail and wholesale trades
Sales and excise taxes
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax reform and tax simplification

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: 
Main Street Fairness Act - Grants the consent of Congress to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (Agreement), the multistate agreement on sales and use tax collection and administration adopted on November 12, 2002.
 
Authorizes each state that is a party to the Agreement (member state), after 10 states (comprising at least 20% of the total population of all states imposing a sales tax) have petitioned for and have become member states, to require all remote sellers not qualifying for the small seller exception to collect and remit sales and use taxes on remote sales owed to each such member state under the terms of the Agreement. Terminates such authority if the requirements of this Act cease to be satisfied or an amendment adopted to the Agreement after the enactment of this Act is inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.
 
Allows any person affected by the Agreement to petition the Governing Board established by the Agreement for a determination of any issue arising under the Agreement. Provides for judicial review of Governing Board determinations by the United States Court of Federal Claims and grants such Court exclusive jurisdiction over actions for judicial review.
 
Sets forth minimum requirements for simplifying the administration of multistate sales and use taxation under the Agreement. 
 
Provides for judicial review of any civil action challenging the constitutionality of this Act by a panel of three judges of a U.S. District Court. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that each member state under the Agreement should work with other member states to prevent double taxation where a foreign country has imposed a transaction tax on a digital good or service. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5073-5076)
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5073)
action_date: 2011-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate