hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
MILC Continuation Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2126
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2012-02-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: 
MILC Continuation Act of 2012 - Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to extend, for one year, the milk income loss contract program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate
State Witness Protection Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2127
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-02-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Assault and harassment offenses
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Evidence and witnesses
Judicial procedure and administration
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: 
State Witness Protection Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties on any person who kills, or attempts to kill, a witness in a state or local judicial proceeding, who uses physical force or the threat of force against such a witness, or who offers such witness anything of value with the intent to: (1) influence, delay, or prevent the testimony or attendance of such witness at a state or local judicial proceeding; (2) prevent the production of a record or document in a state or local judicial proceeding; (3) cause or induce any person to withhold testimony or evidence, destroy evidence, evade legal process, or be absent from a state or local judicial proceeding; (4) hinder, delay, or prevent any person from providing information to a state or local law enforcement officer or judge; or (5) retaliate against any person for attending a state or local judicial proceeding or providing information to a law enforcement officer.
 
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend guidelines to increase the sentencing range for obstruction of justice if such crime involved threatening, harming, or bribing a witness or the destruction of evidence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting the Health Care of Veterans Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2128
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-02-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: 
Protecting the Health Care of Veterans Act of 2012 - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exclude veterans' medical care accounts from the maximum 2% permissible reduction in budget authority pursuant to a sequestration order.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Reforming and Consolidating Government Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2129
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-02-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: 
Reforming and Consolidating Government Act of 2012 - Defines "efficiency-enhancing plan," for purposes of executive authority to reorganize federal agencies, as a reorganization plan that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) determines will or is likely to result in a decrease in the number of agencies or cost savings in performing the functions that are the subject of the plan.
 
Expands executive authority to reorganize federal agencies by allowing: (1) the creation of a new executive department or the abolition or renaming of an existing department, (2) the consolidation of two or more departments, and (3) the creation of a new agency that is not a component or part of an existing executive department.
 
Allows a provision in a reorganization plan to take effect only if such plan is transmitted to Congress within two years of the enactment of this Act and is an efficiency-enhancing plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-21
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-531.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Conservation Corps Authorization Act

Bill: 112-s-2130
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2012-02-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Land use and conservation
Temporary and part-time employment
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: 
Veterans Conservation Corps Authorization Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a veteran conservation corps (corps) to: (1) provide training and employment to unemployed veterans not enrolled in any other federal training program, (2) assist veterans in their transition from military service to civilian life, and (3) assist the government in maintaining federal land and water. Directs the Secretary to employ such veterans for a one-year period, with an option for employment for an additional one-year period.
 
Allows the Secretary to establish a corps program for the short-term employment of veterans attending institutions of higher education.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide to such veterans any education or training necessary to carry out assigned work projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-02-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reauthorize the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area, and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

Bill: 112-s-2131
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Industrial facilities
Metals
Pennsylvania

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: 
 Amends the Steel Industry American Heritage Area Act of 1996 to extend, through FY2022, the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or provide other assistance for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania. 
 
 Amends the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area Act of 2000 to extend, through FY2022, the authority of the Secretary to provide grants or other assistance for the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area in Pennsylvania. 
 
Amends the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal Heritage Corridor Act of 1988 to extend through FY2022: (1) the authorization of appropriations for the management action plan respecting the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor in Pennsylvania, and (2) the authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance for the Corridor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-401.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership Reauthorization Act

Bill: 112-s-2133
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2012-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Farmland
Historic sites and heritage areas
Iowa

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: 
America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership Reauthorization Act - Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend the Secretary of Agriculture's (USDA) authority to make grants or provide assistance to the America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership (Iowa).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-401.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act

Bill: 112-s-2134
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2012-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Aviation and airports
Mammals
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Service animals
Transportation costs
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: 
Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to classify military working dogs as canine members of the Armed Forces. Requires that such dogs no longer be classified as equipment.
 
Provides that if a dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the military facility where the dog is located, the dog may transferred to the 341st Training Squadron or to another location for adoption. Authorizes the acceptance of the donation of frequent traveler miles to facilitate the adoption of a dog.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a system to provide for the lifetime veterinary care of retired, adopted dogs. Requires the Secretary to administer the system under a contract awarded by the Secretary to a private non-profit entity. Requires such care to meet standards that the Secretary shall establish and periodically update. Requires any costs of the operation and administration of the system and of any veterinary care provided under the system to be covered by such combination of the following as the Secretary and the non-profit entity jointly consider appropriate: (1) contributions from the non-profit entity, (2) payments for such care by owners or guardians of such dogs, and (3) other appropriate non-federal sources of funds. Prohibits the use of federal funds to provide care or operate the system, except for funds used to establish or administer the system, establish standards of care, or prescribe related regulations.
 
Directs the Secretary to create a decoration or other appropriate recognition to recognize dogs that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Care and Resources Education Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2135
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2012-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child care and development
Consumer affairs
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: 
Child Care and Resources Education Act of 2012 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve at least $1 million of annual child care and development block grant appropriations for operation of a national toll-free hotline and website to develop and disseminate child care consumer education information for parents and help them access safe, affordable, and quality child care in their community. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to increase the maximum amount of leverage permitted under title III of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-2136
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2012-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Government lending and loan guarantees
Securities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: 
Authorizes the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make $4 billion in guarantees of debentures of small business investment companies (SBICs) for programs under title III of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (the Act).
 
Amends the Act to increase from $225 million to $350 million the maximum amount of outstanding leverage to be made available by the SBA to two or more commonly-controlled SBICs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the issuance of a waiver for commissioning or enlistment in the Armed Forces for any individual convicted of a felony sexual offense.

Bill: 112-s-2137
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2012-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: 
Prohibits providing a waiver for commissioning or enlistment in the Armed Forces for any individual convicted under federal or state law of the felony offense of rape, sexual abuse, sexual assault, incest, or any other sexual offense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2012-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Corps of Engineers Project Delivery Flexibility Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2138
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2012-02-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Appropriations
Army Corps of Engineers
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Floods and storm protection
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Performance measurement
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: 
Corps of Engineers Project Delivery Flexibility Act of 2012 - Directs the Chief of Engineers to establish a pilot program to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and project delivery efficiency of non-federal sponsors as the lead project delivery team for authorized Corps of Engineers civil works flood control and navigation construction projects.
 
Directs the Chief, in carrying out such program, to: (1) identify at least 12 congressionally authorized Corps flood control and navigation construction projects that have received federal funds and experienced delays or missed scheduled deadlines in the five fiscal years prior to this Act's enactment and that have an unobligated funding balance in the Corps Construction Account; (2) enter into a project partnership agreement with a non-federal sponsor to provide full project management control for the design and construction of such a project; and (3) develop a detailed project management plan for each project under the pilot program that outlines the scope, budget, design, and construction resource requirements necessary for project execution by the non-federal sponsor.
 
Conditions the receipt of federal funding under this Act on: (1) a project being federally owned, and (2) the non-federal sponsor establishing to oversee the execution of the project management plan a project delivery team consisting of a project manager and a Corps official who shall provide technical assistance and guidance on compliance with Corps engineering manuals and regulations.
 
Rescinds a specified amount of discretionary appropriations for FY2008-FY2011 that remain unobligated and makes such amount available for use under this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1148-1150)
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Business Incubator Promotion Act

Bill: 112-s-2140
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2012-02-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Economic development
Economic performance and conditions
Employment and training programs
Small business
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: 
Business Incubator Promotion Act - Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act to include among the Act's goals encouraging distressed communities to support the formation of business incubators to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in economically distressed areas. 
 
Defines &quot;business incubator&quot; as an entity established to foster the startup of businesses or accelerate the growth of fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with resources and services to produce viable businesses that can help create jobs and restore vitality to distressed areas, excluding an entity organized primarily as for-profit venture.
 
Modifies criteria for the eligibility of an area for grants under such Act for public works and economic development or economic adjustment projects to require an area to have had an unemployment rate of at least 1% greater than the national average for the most recent 12-month (currently, 24-month) period for which data are available. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) increase the federal share for public works and economic development project grants based upon an area's unemployment rate or per capita income compared to the national average, and (2) reduce or waive the non-federal or local share required for participation in such grant assistance for a special need area in cases of severe economic distress.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide competitive grants for: (1) the development and implementation of feasibility studies and plans for the creation or expansion of business incubators, and (2) the temporary support of operations of business incubators that is essential to self-sustainability. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to make it unlawful for a packer to own, feed, or control livestock intended for slaughter.

Bill: 112-s-2141
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2012-02-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Livestock
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to prohibit livestock packers from owning, controlling, or feeding livestock to such an extent that the producer no longer materially participates in the management of the operation, with exceptions for: (1) animals held for not more than seven days before slaughter; (2) certain cooperatives that own, control or feed livestock and provide such livestock for slaughter; (3) packers that are not required to report price and quantity information on each reporting day; or (4) packers that own one livestock processing plant.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1150)
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1150)
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Working Families Flexibility Act

Bill: 112-s-2142
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-02-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Judicial review and appeals
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Library of Congress
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: 
Working Families Flexibility Act - Authorizes an employee to request from an employer a temporary or permanent change in the terms or conditions of the employee's employment if the request relates to: (1) the number of hours the employee is required to work, (2) the times when the employee is required to work or be on call for work, (3) where the employee is required to work, or (4) the amount of notification the employee receives of work schedule assignments. Sets forth certain employer duties with respect to such requests.
 
Makes it unlawful for an employer to interfere with any rights provided to an employee under this Act. Authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor for any violations of such rights. Provides for the investigation and assessment of civil penalties or the award of relief for alleged violations, including the review in federal courts of appeal of orders of the Secretary.
 
Requires the Secretary and certain federal agency administrative officers to provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding compliance with this Act.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor to issue guidance on compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act that provides a flexible work environment through changes in employee terms and conditions of employment provided in this Act.
 
Applies the requirements of this Act to certain classes of employees, including employees of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Library of Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify that paper which is commonly recycled does not constitute a qualified energy resource under the section 45 credit for renewable electricity production.

Bill: 112-s-2143
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2012-02-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude paper that is commonly recycled from the definition of municipal solid waste for purposes of the tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable resources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-02-29
text: Introduced in Senate