hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Confidence in Long-Term Care Insurance Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-159
Sponsor: Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Marketing and advertising
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Confidence in Long-Term Care Insurance Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to: (1) conduct reviews every five years of the national and state-specific markets for long-term care (LTC) insurance policies; (2) issue a white paper on disclosure requirements for LTC insurance policies, standardized definitions for LTC services, and issues related to the development of a proposed form for marketing LTC insurance policies; (3) establish a Working Group to develop a model disclosure form for marketing LTC insurance policies; and (4) incorporate such form into the Model Act and regulation.
 
Sets forth requirements related to the use of the proposed model disclosure form for marketing LTC insurance policies, including requiring states to require issuers to use such forms.
 
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to reauthorize through FY2015 the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. Requires the Clearinghouse to establish an Internet directory of information regarding LTC insurance ("to be known as LTC Insurance Compare). 
 
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require a state Medicaid plan to provide for the annual submission of data relating to functional criteria for the receipt of nursing facility services under the plan.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply Medicaid partnership required model provisions to all tax-qualified LTC insurance contracts. 
 
Outlines a process for secretarial review of model provisions adopted by NAIC with respect to their application to tax-qualified LTC policies and Medicaid partnership policies to determine if updating such provisions would improve consumer protections for insured individuals.
 
Applies 2006 NAIC model regulations to Medicaid partnerships. (Currently, 2000 NAIC model regulations apply). Sets forth additional requirements applicable to such policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-160
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child care and development
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rates and maximum allowable amount of the tax credit for employer-provided child care facilities; (2) increase the eligibility threshold amount and rate of the household and dependent care tax credit and make such credit refundable; (3) allow a new $2,000 tax credit for child care providers who hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child care, or a related degree and who provide at least 1,200 hours of child care services in a taxable year; and (4) increase the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Pinnacles National Park Act

Bill: 112-s-161
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Birds
California
Endangered and threatened species
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Pinnacles National Park Act - Establishes Pinnacles National Park in California to: (1) preserve and interpret the Park's ecosystems and the history of Native Americans, settlers, and explorers, and (2) interpret the recovery program for the California Condor. 
 
Abolishes Pinnacles National Monument and includes the land and any interests comprising the Monument in the Park. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands or interests within the Park's boundaries and approximately 18,200 acres of land in San Benito County, California, known as the Rock Springs Ranch Tract. 
 
Redesignates the Pinnacles Wilderness as the Hain Wilderness. 
 
Designates specified lands comprising approximately 2,715 acres as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System and includes such lands in the Hain Wilderness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-124.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Full Faith and Credit Act

Bill: 112-s-163
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Full Faith and Credit Act - Requires the authority of the Department of the Treasury to pay the principal and interest on debt held by the public to take priority over all other obligations incurred by the government in the event the federal debt reaches the statutory limit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 2.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-164
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Employment taxes
Public contracts and procurement
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
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.
 
Rescinds permanently $39 billion of appropriated but unobligated discretionary funds. Exempts unobligated funds of the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine and identify from which appropriation accounts such rescissions shall apply and report to the Secretary of the Treasury and Congress on such rescissions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-165
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Medical ethics

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to codify provisions that prohibit the federal government and any state or local government that receives federal financial assistance from subjecting any health professional, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, an accountable care organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan to discrimination on the basis that the entity refuses to participate in abortion-related activities. 
 
 
Creates a cause of action for any violation of the abortion discrimination provisions. Gives federal courts jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of such provisions by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including injunctions and orders preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of federal financial assistance until the prohibited conduct has ceased. Gives standing to institute an action to affected health care entities and the Attorney General.
 
 Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints alleging a violation of abortion discrimination provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-166
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Food assistance and relief
Income tax deductions
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act of 2011- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify the tax deduction for charitable contributions of food inventory by limiting the reduction in such deduction to the amount by which the fair market valuation of the contributed food exceeds twice the basis of such food; and (2) make such deduction permanent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Custody Protection Act

Bill: 112-s-167
Sponsor: Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Child health
Civil actions and liability
Family relationships
Separation, divorce, custody, support
Teenage pregnancy

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit knowingly transporting a minor child across a state line to obtain an abortion (deems such transporting to be a de facto abridgment of the right of a parent under any law in the minor's state of residence that requires parental involvement in the minor's abortion decision). Makes an exception for an abortion necessary to save the life of the minor. 
 
Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution or civil action under this Act that a defendant reasonably believed that before the minor obtained the abortion, the required parental consent or notification or judicial authorization took place.
 
Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year on anyone who has committed an act of incest with a minor and knowingly transports such minor across a state line to obtain an abortion. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Voter Fraud Prevention Act

Bill: 112-s-168
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Voter Fraud Prevention Act - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prescribe standards for paid distribution of voter registration application forms and registration requirements for organizations.
 
Prohibits any individual from distributing, for compensation, a voter registration application form for federal elections in a state if the individual: (1) has been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law; (2) does not sign and print legibly the individual's name on the form; (3) does not provide identifying information to the proper election official; or (4) does not certify, under penalty of perjury, that he or she has not received financial compensation based on the number of voter registration application forms submitted by the individual to an election official upon completion by the applicant, and that the information provided by the individual is accurate to the best of the individual's knowledge. 
 
Excepts from this prohibition the distribution of a voter registration application form by an individual who is not compensated directly or indirectly for it.
 
Establishes criminal penalties for: (1) individuals not meeting such standards; and (2) anyone who employs such an individual knowingly, or who should reasonably be expected to know the individual is ineligible.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit appropriated funds from being used in contravention of section 642(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

Bill: 112-s-169
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Citizenship and naturalization
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Prohibits the use of community oriented policing services funds in contravention of provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 that restrict a government entity or official from preventing any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the responsible federal immigration agency information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Helping Responsible Homeowners Act

Bill: 112-s-170
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Housing finance and home ownership
Interest, dividends, interest rates
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Helping Responsible Homeowners Act - Directs the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (government-sponsored enterprises or GSEs) each to carry out a one-year program providing for the refinancing of qualified single-family housing mortgages it owns through a refinancing mortgage (and for the purchase of and securitization of such refinancing mortgages) in accordance with this Act and the policies and procedures of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
 
Defines a qualified mortgage as one that: (1) is an existing first mortgage for purchase of, or refinancing another first mortgage on, a one- to four-family dwelling, including a condominium or a share in a cooperative ownership housing association, that is occupied by the mortgagor as principal residence; (2) is owned or guaranteed by the particular GSE; and (3) the mortgagor is current on payments due under the mortgage. 
 
Specifies the terms and conditions of a refinancing mortgage, including a 40-year term to maturity and a prohibition on borrower fees. Requires waiver or forgiveness of all fees and penalties related to any default or delinquency on the original mortgage.
 
Prohibits the GSEs from charging a mortgagee any up-front fee beyond the standard guarantee fee for the refinancing of the qualified mortgage. Makes ineligible for purchase or guarantee by either GSE of any new mortgage originated by a servicer or creditor holding a second lien on a qualified mortgage who refuses to resubordinate that lien, and thereby prevents the refinancing of the qualified mortgage. 
 
Directs the GSEs to require each servicer of a mortgage owned or guaranteed by the GSE to inform each mortgage borrower of the refinancing program authorized and established under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-09-14
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-382.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S228)
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-171
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: California
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Western States Trail Study Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-172
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Government studies and investigations
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Western States Trail Study Act of 2011 - Amends the National Trails System Act to require the Western States Trail, a trail of approximately 100 miles from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California, along which are conducted the Western States Trail Ride and the Western States Endurance Run, to be studied for designation as a national scenic trail. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Sacramento River National Recreation Area Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-173
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
California
Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Sacramento River National Recreation Area Act of 2011 - Establishes the Sacramento River National Recreation Area in California, consisting of specified public land in Tehama and Shasta Counties. Requires the development of a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of the Recreation Area. 
 
Establishes the Sacramento River National Recreation Area Advisory Council to provide advice and make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior related to the development, implementation, and amendment of such plan and to ensure public involvement in the management of such Area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Violence Against Children Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-175
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child safety and welfare
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Domestic violence and child abuse
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Violence Against Children Act of 2011 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance to state, local, or Indian tribal governments in the criminal investigation or prosecution of felonies against individuals under 18 years of age; and (2) award grants to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution of crimes against children and to provide education, prevention, intervention, and victims' assistance services for such crimes.

Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) require states to use a certain percentage of funds received under such Act to improve their parole systems; and (2) allow the use of school security grants for the placement of surveillance equipment in schools and the establishment of hotlines or tiplines for reporting potentially dangerous students and situations. Establishes an interagency task force to develop advisory school safety guidelines.

Requires states receiving grants under this Act to use the National Incident-Based Reporting System to report crimes against children. 

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop model training and caseload standards for child guardians in child abuse and neglect cases. 

Mynisha's Law - Authorizes a local government, city, county, tribal government, or a group of counties (located in one or more states) to apply to the Attorney General for designation as a High Intensity Gang Activity Area. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish criteria for reviewing such applications; and (2) establish an Interagency Gang Prevention Task Force to coordinate federal assistance to such Areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Common Sense Concealed Firearms Permit Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-176
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Common Sense Concealed Firearms Permit Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to direct each state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms to establish a process through which a resident must obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Requires a state to: (1) ensure that a local law enforcement agency participates in the process; and (2) require that an applicant be a legal resident of the United States, be not less than 21 years of age, demonstrate good cause for requesting the permit, and demonstrate that he or she is worthy of the public trust to carry a concealed firearm in public.
 
 Requires any such process that allows an agency other than a law enforcement agency to issue such permits to require: (1) a local law enforcement agency to submit to the agency responsible a written report that describes whether the applicant meets the state's standards to carry a concealed firearm, and (2) the agency responsible to maintain such report in the applicant's file.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate