hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Connecting Rural America Act

Bill: 112-s-2298
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Connecting Rural America Act - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the rural broadband loan program. Limits grants to not more than 50% of a project's development costs, with a waiver for up to 75% of such costs.
 
Provides higher grant rates for communities that are small, remote, high poverty, and working with specified stakeholders.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers Rights Enforcement Improvement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2299
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government studies and investigations
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Servicemembers Rights Enforcement Improvement Act of 2012 - Amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (the Act) concerning the protection of servicemembers against default judgments to require a plaintiff, before filing an affidavit, to conduct a diligent and reasonable investigation to determine whether or not the defendant is in military service, including a search of available records of the Department of Defense (DOD) and any other available information.
 
Makes a private right of action for a violation of the Act retroactive to December 19, 2003.
 
Allows a veteran on whose behalf a complaint of a violation of employment or reemployment rights is made by the Attorney General (AG) to intervene in such action, and to obtain appropriate relief. Requires the AG, within 60 days after receiving a referral of an unsuccessful attempt to resolve a complaint relating to a state or private employer, to notify the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted of either the decision to commence such an action or of when such decision is expected to be made. Requires, in the latter case, such decision to be made within an additional 30 days. Requires the AG to commence such an action when there is reasonable cause to believe that a state or private employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such employment and reemployment rights and benefits, and that the pattern or practice is intended to deny the full exercise of such rights and benefits.
 
Provides the Special Counsel with subpoena power to require the attendance and testimony of, and production of documents from, federal employees, to be enforced through the Merit Systems Protection Board.
 
Authorizes the AG to issue and serve a civil investigative demand for the production of documentary material relevant to an investigation under the Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-567.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2501-2502)
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2500-2501)
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to allow for a reasonable compliance deadline for certain States subject to the Cross State Air Pollution Rule.

Bill: 112-s-2300
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2012-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: 
Prohibits requiring a state that was not required to reduce emissions or levels of ozone, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides under the Clean Air Interstate Rule to comply with any requirement under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule before January 1, 2017.
 
Defines: (1) the &quot;Clean Air Interstate Rule&quot; as the final rule promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entitled &quot;Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Clean Air Interstate Rule); Revisions to the Acid Rain Program; Revisions to the NOX SIP Call&quot;; and (2) the &quot;Cross-State Air Pollution Rule&quot; as the final rule entitled &quot;Federal Implementation Plans: Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone and Correction of SIP Approvals&quot; and revisions to that final rule entitled &quot;Revisions to Federal Implementation Plans To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Tanning Transparency and Notification Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2301
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cancer
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government studies and investigations
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Tanning Transparency and Notification Act of 2012 - Directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA) to carry out the recommendations made in the report submitted under the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 regarding the labeling of indoor tanning devices to provide information to consumers about the health risks posed by such devices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2547-2548)
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on certain ski boots, cross country ski footwear, and snowboard boots.

Bill: 112-s-2302
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on certain ski boots, cross country ski footwear, and snowboard boots.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2303
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic performance and conditions
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Poverty and welfare assistance
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act of 2012 - Requires the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to amend the rules concerning the factors FEMA considers when evaluating a governor's request for a major disaster declaration to provide that, with respect to the evaluation of the need for public assistance: (1) specific weighted valuations shall be assigned to the estimated cost of the assistance (10%), localized impacts (40%), insurance coverage in force (10%), hazard mitigation (10%), recent multiple disasters (10%), programs of other federal assistance (10%), and economic circumstances (10%); and (2) FEMA shall consider the economic circumstances of both the local economy of the affected area (including the local assessable tax base and local sales tax, median income, and poverty rate) and the state economy (including the unemployment rate).
 
Requires such rules to provide that, with respect to the evaluation of the severity, magnitude, and impact of the disaster and the evaluation of the need for assistance to individuals: (1) specific weighted valuations shall be assigned to concentration of damages (20%), trauma (20%), special populations (20%), voluntary agency assistance (10%), insurance (20%), average amount of individual assistance by state (5%), and economic considerations (5%); and (2) FEMA shall consider the economic circumstances of the affected area (including the local assessable tax base and local sales tax, median income, and poverty rate).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2549)
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2548-2549)
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Chiropractors Equity Act

Bill: 112-s-2304
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Contracts and agency
Health personnel
Medicare
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Chiropractors Equity Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow chiropractors to provide items and services through private contracts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of carded hair of Kashmir (cashmere) goats, of yarn count less than 19.35 metric, not put up for retail sale.

Bill: 112-s-2305
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of carded hair of Kashmir (cashmere) goats, of yarn count less than 19.35 metric, not put up for retail sale.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on fine animal hair of Kashmir (cashmere) goats, processed beyond the degreased or carbonized condition.

Bill: 112-s-2306
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on fine animal hair of Kashmir (cashmere) goats, processed beyond the degreased or carbonized condition.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of carded cashmere of 19.35 metric yarn count or higher.

Bill: 112-s-2307
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of carded cashmere of 19.35 metric yarn count or higher.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of combed cashmere or yarn of camel hair.

Bill: 112-s-2308
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of combed cashmere or yarn of camel hair.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair, carded or combed.

Bill: 112-s-2309
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair, carded or combed.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on woven fabrics containing 85 percent or more by weight of vicuna hair.

Bill: 112-s-2310
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on woven fabrics containing 85 percent or more by weight of vicuna hair.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on waste of camel hair.

Bill: 112-s-2311
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on waste of camel hair.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair, not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition.

Bill: 112-s-2312
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair, not processed in any manner beyond the degreased or carbonized condition.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair, processed beyond the degreased or carbonized condition.

Bill: 112-s-2313
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on camel hair, processed beyond the degreased or carbonized condition.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on noils of camel hair.

Bill: 112-s-2314
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on noils of camel hair.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of carded camel hair.

Bill: 112-s-2315
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend the temporary suspension of duty on yarn of carded camel hair.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Salt Pond Visitor Center at the Cape Cod National Seashore as the "Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Salt Pond Visitor Center", and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-2316
Sponsor: Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
House of Representatives
Massachusetts
Members of Congress
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Seashores and lakeshores
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Designates the Salt Pond Visitor Center at Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, Massachusetts, as the &quot;Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Salt Pond Visitor Center&quot;. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 112-578.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2549-2551)
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Invasive Species Act

Bill: 112-s-2317
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Fishes
Great Lakes
Hydrology and hydrography
Illinois
Indiana
Lakes and rivers
Marine and inland water transportation
Mississippi River
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Stop Invasive Species Act - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to: (1) expedite a feasibility study under the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 on the range of options and technologies available to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species (including Asian carp) between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and other aquatic pathways; and (2) if the project is justified, proceed directly to project preconstruction engineering and design.
 
Requires the report on the study to focus on: (1) such prevention as the permanent hydrological separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins, and (2) specified watersheds of rivers and tributaries in Illinois and Indiana associated with the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).
 
Defines &quot;hydrological separation&quot; as a physical separation on the CAWS that would disconnect the Mississippi River watershed from the Lake Michigan watershed and prevent the transfer of all aquatic species between such bodies of water.
 
Requires, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, an interim report to Congress on milestones that will be met prior to final completion of the study. Requires the final report to be completed within 18 months.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2319
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency communications systems
Government information and archives
Natural disasters
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modernize and implement the integrated U.S. public alert and warning system to ensure that under all conditions the President, federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by a natural disaster, war, act of terrorism, other man-made disaster, or other hazard to public safety.
 
Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the system; (2) include in such system the capability to adapt the distribution and content of communications on the basis of geographic location, risks, and multiple communication systems and technologies and to alert, warn, and provide equivalent information to individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency; (3) ensure that specified training, tests, and exercises for such system are conducted; (4) conduct public education efforts and a general market awareness campaign about the system; and (5) ensure system coordination with the National Terrorism Advisory System.
 
Requires the system to: (1) incorporate multiple communications technologies; (2) be designed to adapt to and incorporate future technologies for communicating directly with the public, to provide alerts to the largest portion of the affected population feasible, and to improve the ability of remote areas to receive alerts; and (3) provide redundant alert mechanisms.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to conduct pilot programs for the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of using a variety of methods for achieving system requirements.
 
Directs the Administrator to establish a subcommittee to the National Advisory Council to be known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee to develop and submit recommendations for the continuation and improvement of the system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Remembering America's Forgotten Veterans Cemetery Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2320
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2012-04-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Cemeteries and funerals
Philippines
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: 
Remembering America's Forgotten Veterans Cemetery Act of 2012 - Treats Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Republic of the Philippines as a permanent military cemetery in a foreign country for purposes of the purview of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Directs the Commission to restore, operate, and maintain such Cemetery in cooperation with the government of the Republic of the Philippines.
 
Subjects such requirement to the availability of appropriations for such purpose.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-04-19
text: Introduced in Senate