hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act

Bill: 112-s-579
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Health promotion and preventive care
Iraq
Mental health
Middle East
Military medicine
Military operations and strategy
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Individual Ready Reserve Component Suicide Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that each of the following individuals receive, at least once every 90 days, a telephone call from properly-trained DOD personnel to determine their emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns: (1) members of the Individual Ready Reserve who deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency operation, (2) a member of a reserve component who the Secretary determines is an individual mobilization augmentee who has so deployed, or (3) a member of the inactive National Guard.
 
Requires the person making the call to refer a member identified as being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical treatment facility or accredited TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program) provider for immediate evaluation and necessary treatment. Directs the Secretary to refer such member to a private provider upon determining that such provider will ensure that the member will receive treatment and assistance without delay.
 
Requires annual reports from the Secretary to Congress on the number of members so referred, as well as their health and career status, and any situations that may be impeding the counseling calls from reaching all appropriate members.
 
Requires a one-time report from the Comptroller General to Congress on suicide among such members.
 
Directs the Secretary to develop, evaluate, and more widely disseminate programs that promote: (1) connectivity between members of the Armed Forces and their family, peers, and immediate chain of command; and (2) suicide risk identification and response, with particular emphasis on members of reserve components.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Representation for Farmers Act

Bill: 112-s-580
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Representation for Farmers Act - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to modify the provision governing the composition of the membership of the Science Advisory Board to provide for the appointment of up to three Board members based on a recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Care Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-581
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child care and development
Child safety and welfare
Crimes against children
Criminal justice information and records
Personnel records
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Child Care Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states that receive funds under such Act to: (1) require and conduct criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers; (2) prohibit the employment of a child care staff member who refuses to consent to a criminal background check, makes a false statement in connection with such background check, is registered as a sex offender, or is a convicted felon involving certain crimes; and (3) provide criminal background checks to child care providers upon request. Imposes a financial penalty on states that fail to comply substantially with the requirements of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-582
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Inflation and prices
Legislative rules and procedure
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Social Security Protection Act of 2011 - Makes it out of order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any legislation that: (1) increases the retirement age or the early retirement age for individuals receiving benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act on or after the enactment of this Act; (2) reduces cost-of-living increases for them; (3) reduces benefit payment amounts for them; or (4) creates private retirement accounts for any of the OSADI benefits they receive.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-583
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (thus permitting direct payment under the Medicare program for clinical social worker services provided to SNF residents).
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1680-1681)
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act

Bill: 112-s-584
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Education programs funding
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Policy sciences
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work.
 
Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high social work educational debt, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines. Requires such study to assess the professional capacity of the social work workforce to serve and respond successfully to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities in certain areas, including aging and child welfare. 
 
Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits such report within 18 months of its first meeting.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to award: (1) workplace improvement grants to eligible entities and individuals to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions; and (2) research grants, education and training grants, and community-based programs of excellence grants.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national social work entity to serve as a coordinating center and clearinghouse for information on activities funded under the grants, and (2) develop a multi-media outreach campaign and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-585
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Adult education and literacy
Advisory bodies
Child care and development
Child health
Community life and organization
Crime prevention
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Family relationships
Health care coverage and access
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Mental health
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Preschool education
Public-private cooperation
School administration

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2011 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to: (1) consortia composed of one or more local educational agencies (LEAs) and one or more community-based, nonprofit, or other public or private entities to assist public elementary or secondary schools to function as full-service community schools; and (2) state collaboratives to support the development of full-service community school programs. 
 
Requires such schools to: (1) participate in community-based efforts to coordinate and integrate educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships; and (2) provide access to such services to students, families, and the community.
 
Gives local grant priority to consortia that: (1) will serve at least one full-service community school eligible for a schoolwide program under the Act, or include an LEA serving only small or rural schools; and (2) will be connected to a consortium comprising a broad representation of stakeholders or one that has a history of effectiveness.
 
Establishes a Full-Service Community Schools Advisory Committee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-586
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Library of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to apply whistleblower rights and protections to legislative branch employees, including those of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or the Library of Congress.
 
Prescribes for violation of this Act the same remedy as would be appropriate if awarded with respect to a prohibited federal personnel practice in the executive branch.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1681-1682)
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
FRAC Act

Bill: 112-s-587
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Oil and gas
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act or the FRAC Act - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to repeal the exemption from restrictions on underground injection of fluids or propping agents granted to hydraulic fracturing operations relating to oil and gas production activities under such Act. 
 
Requires: (1) state underground injection programs to direct a person conducting hydraulic fracturing operations to disclose to the state (or the Administrator if the Administrator has primary enforcement responsibility in such state) the chemicals intended for use in underground injections before the commencement of such operations and the chemicals actually used after the end of such operations; and (2) a state or the Administrator to make such disclosure available to the public.
 
Requires the applicable person using hydraulic fracturing, when a medical emergency exists and the proprietary chemical formula of a chemical used in such hydraulic fracturing is necessary for medical treatment, to disclose such formula or the specific chemical identity of a trade secret chemical to the state, the Administrator, or the treating physician or nurse upon request, regardless of the existence of a written statement of need or a confidentiality agreement. Authorizes such person to require the execution of such statement and agreement as soon as practicable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-04-12
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held with the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-901.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Marcellus Shale On-the-Job Training Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-588
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs
New York State
Ohio
Oil and gas
Pennsylvania
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Marcellus Shale On-the-Job Training Act of 2011 - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to require the Secretary of Labor to make discretionary grants to local areas for adult on-the-job training or dislocated worker on-the-job training at worksites directly related to the exploration for, production of, and transportation of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Faster Action Safety Team Emergency Response Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-589
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
First responders and emergency personnel
Government information and archives
Oil and gas
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Faster Action Safety Team Emergency Response Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Labor to promulgate regulations relating to response teams. Defines a &quot;response team&quot; as a team of individuals established by an operator on an onshore oil or gas well who: (1) are familiar with the well operations and equipment, (2) participate in response training at least annually, (3) are trained in basic first aid and CPR, and (4) will be available with respect to the well involved by ground transportation not later than three hours after requested. 
 
Prescribes requirements for such regulations. Declares that such regulations shall: (1) not be construed to waive operator training requirements applicable to existing response teams, and (2) require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish and update (every five years) criteria to certify the qualifications of response teams. 
 
Requires such regulations to: (1) require the operator of a well to have an employee knowledgeable in responding to emergency situations present at the well at all times during the exploration or drilling phase or before the completion phase and to make available a certified response team during such phases and the production phase; and (2) ensure to make available to such an operator, to comply with such requirement, a well response team, a multi-employer composite response team, a commercial response team provided through contract or by another operator, or a state-sponsored response team.
 
Requires such regulations to require that a well operator: (1) contact local first responders within 30 minutes of the commencement of an emergency situation; (2) contact OSHA, the appropriate state environmental agency, and the National Response Center within one hour of such commencement; and (3) provide communication technology within a reasonable distance of the well that enables the operator to comply with regulations promulgated by the Secretary.
 
Requires such regulations to require an operator to: (1) provide annual training to local first responders on well hazards and proper emergency response techniques, and (2) file a report annually with OSHA that provides detailed information on the response team assigned to each of the operator's wells and affirmatively states that the operator is in compliance with this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands.

Bill: 112-s-590
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Conveys to the government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands submerged lands surrounding such Islands and extending three geographical miles outward from their coastlines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-39.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1682)
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Security in Energy and Manufacturing Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-591
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Income tax credits
Manufacturing
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: 
Security in Energy and Manufacturing Act of 2011 or the SEAM Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the qualifying advanced energy project credit by allocating in 2011 $5 billion of grants or tax credit amounts to manufacturers of goods and components (other than for assembly of components) in the United States that are used in alternative energy projects.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Maritime Liability Fairness Act

Bill: 112-s-592
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-03-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Civil actions and liability
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Pollution liability
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: 
Maritime Liability Fairness Act - Declares that, in any civil action for damages arising out of a maritime tort case, punitive damages may be assessed without regard to the amount of compensatory damages assessed in the action. (Thus, removes the cap ratio of 1:1 on punitive-to-compensatory damages established in the 
Exxon Shipping Co. v Baker 
case for the award of punitive damages.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the tax rate for excise tax on investment income of private foundations.

Bill: 112-s-593
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-03-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Financial services and investments
Sales and excise taxes
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce from 2% to 1.39% the excise tax rate on the net investment income of tax-exempt private foundations, and (2) repeal the 1% reduction in such tax rate for private foundations that meet certain distribution requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Oil Spill Victims Redress Act

Bill: 112-s-594
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-03-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Federal preemption
Jurisdiction and venue
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: 
Oil Spill Victims Redress Act - Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to: (1) require all claims against each responsible party for removal costs or damages under such Act to be presented first to the responsible party or guarantor of the source of the discharge or threat; (2) authorize a state court to award damages or other relief to any person for claims under state law against any responsible party or other person; (3) provide that a civil action brought in state court with respect to a discharge of oil into or on the navigable waters, adjoining shorelines, or the state's exclusive economic zone is not within the original jurisdiction of the U.S. district courts, and is therefore not removable, unless a federal claim is pleaded in addition to claims arising under state law or the action is otherwise removable based on diversity of citizenship; and (4) provide that nothing in such Act shall affect or preempt the authority of any state from imposing on any responsible party or other person any additional liability or requirement with respect to the discharge of oil occurring within the state, pollution by oil having effects within the state, or any removal activities in connection with such discharge.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-03-16
text: Introduced in Senate