hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation Act

Bill: 112-s-929
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Language arts
Performance measurement
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
 Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation Act or LEARN Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to states for comprehensive planning to improve the literacy of children from birth through grade 12.
 
Directs the Secretary to award grants to states to implement their comprehensive literacy plans for such children through: (1) competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or early childhood education programs to carry out certain high quality early literacy initiatives for children from birth through kindergarten entry; (2) competitive subgrants to LEAs for certain initiatives to improve the literacy of students in kindergarten through grade 12, provided such LEAs have jurisdiction over a significant number or percentage of underperforming schools or have a high number or percentage of underperforming or impoverished students; and (3) state activities that include providing technical assistance to subgrantees, coordinating literacy programs and resources throughout the state, disseminating information on promising literacy programs, and enhancing the credentials of literacy instructors.
 
Gives subgrant priority to applicants serving a high number or percentage of impoverished children and, for those serving students from kindergarten through grade 12, a high number or percentage of students reading and writing below grade level.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) contract with an independent organization for a five-year national evaluation of the implementation and effect of the literacy initiatives supported by this Act, and (2) provide technical assistance and information on literacy instruction to educational entities.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to withhold this Act's funding from states and subgrantees, and states to withhold funding from subgrantees, whose initiatives are not making significant progress in improving student literacy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Art and Collectibles Capital Gains Tax Treatment Parity Act

Bill: 112-s-930
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Capital gains tax
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Literature
Music
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Art and Collectibles Capital Gains Tax Treatment Parity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) eliminate the 28% capital gains tax rate for collectibles, thus allowing gain from the sale of collectibles (including art works) to be taxed at the 15% tax rate applicable to other investment property; and (2) allow the creator of a literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly property a fair market value tax deduction for the donation of such property to a tax-exempt organization, if properly appraised and donated no sooner than 18 months after its creation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the rules relating to fractional charitable donations of tangible personal property.

Bill: 112-s-931
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the tax deduction for donations of fractional interests in tangible personal property to: (1) permit donors to claim an increased deduction based upon the market value of subsequent gifts of fractional interests, (2) extend to 20 years the period in which donors of fractional interests must contribute their entire interest in donated property, and (3) require donors of fractional interests greater than $1 million to attach a statement of value obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to their tax returns. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
SERVE Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-932
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fires
Income tax credits
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts Act of 2011 or the SERVE Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a $1,000 refundable tax credit for individuals who are bona fide volunteer members of a qualified volunteer fire department who provide firefighting, ambulance, or emergency medical services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-933
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health personnel
Income tax exclusion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions allowing a tax exclusion for benefits paid to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers by states and local government by: (1) increasing the amount of benefits excludible, and (2) extending such tax exclusion through 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to make a technical correction relating to stainless steel single-piece exhaust gas manifolds.

Bill: 112-s-934
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to revise the article description relating to certain imported stainless steel single-piece exhaust gas manifolds.
 
Requires the liquidation or reliquidation (refund of duties) of such articles entered into the United States: (1) on or after January 1, 2010, and before the 15th day after enactment of this Act; and (2) with respect to which there would have been no duty or a reduced duty if the amendment made by this Act applied to such articles. Requires amounts owed by the United States to be paid, without interest, to an importer not later than 90 days after the liquidation or reliquidation of an entry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-935
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Veterans Outreach Enhancement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year program of outreach to veterans to increase: (1) their access and use of federal, state, and local programs providing compensation and other benefits for service in the Armed Forces; and (2) their awareness of and eligibility for such programs. Allows the Secretary, under the program, to enter into agreements with other federal and state agencies and specified authorities and commissions to carry out projects to further such purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-116.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
American Infrastructure Investment Fund Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-936
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Aviation and airports
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Department of Transportation
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Government lending and loan guarantees
Infrastructure development
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Pipelines
Public transit
Railroads
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Transportation programs funding
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
American Infrastructure Investment Fund Act of 2011 - Establishes the American Infrastructure Investment Fund in the Department of Transportation (DOT) to: (1) invest in infrastructure projects that increase or otherwise improve U.S. economic output, productivity, or competitive commercial advantage; (2) provide funding for projects that face significant funding barriers because of the need to combine resources across multiple jurisdictions or modes of transportation; and (3) improve the efficiency or throughput, the safety, and the environmental sustainability of a national or regional transportation network.
 
Requires the Fund to publish: (1) a detailed description of its strategy in an Investment Prospectus, and (2) its Operating Guidance for the Fund's management.
 
Requires the President to appoint the Fund's Executive Director, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as well as a Fund Advisory Committee. 
 
Authorizes the Fund to provide direct loans and loan guarantees to eligible recipients for activities related to the planning, preparation, or design of an eligible project proposal.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish: (1) a competitive national infrastructure investment grant program, and (2) an oversight program to monitor the effective and efficient use of funds authorized under this Act.
 
Sets forth the federal share of net project costs at 80%.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-937
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Electric power generation and transmission
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to repeal the requirement that any federal agency procurement contract for an alternative or synthetic fuel, including those from nonconventional petroleum sources, for any mobility-related use (except research or testing) specify that lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuel must, on an ongoing basis, be less than or equal to such emissions from equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources.
 
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to: (1) require the Secretary of Energy to report to certain congressional committees the reasons for any delayed approval of an application for a loan guarantee for a substitute natural gas, chemical feedstock, or liquid transportation fuel project; and (2) make certain substitute natural gas production facilities eligible for loan guarantees.
 
Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an algae-based fuel incentive when calculating the applicable volume of renewable fuel for each calendar year, to consider each gallon of renewable biomass produced from algae to be equal to three gallons of renewable fuel if the algae-based fuel was produced using carbon dioxide captured in a manner that prevented its uncontrolled release into the atmosphere during a separate energy production process.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD), the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to enter into multiyear procurement contracts for alternative fuels, subject to certain requirements. 
 
Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the permitting authority, when establishing the best available control technology for a major emitting facility that is an electric generating facility located in a region in which demand for electricity has increased significantly due to the volume of electric vehicles, to take into account the extent to which emissions of a pollutant have been reduced as a result of the increased use of such vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-06-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-107.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-938
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Energy research
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Motor vehicles
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive program to provide between three and seven grants of up to $3 million in each of three years to advance research and development and to demonstrate technologies, including plug-in hybrid technology, for advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles (vehicles with a gross weight between 14,000 and 33,000 pounds that are fueled, in part, by a rechargeable energy storage system). Requires grant recipients to: (1) conduct research and demonstrate advanced hybrid technology by producing or retrofitting advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles, and (2) demonstrate advanced manufacturing processes and technologies by producing or retrofitting 50 advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles.
 
Requires the Secretary: (1) to conduct research into alternative power train designs for use in advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles; and (2) acting through the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Laboratories and Technology Centers, to establish a pilot program to research and test the effects on the domestic electric power grid of the widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles, including those that are advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles.
 
Amends the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 to direct the Secretary to conduct an applied research program on energy storage systems to support vehicles with a gross weight over 16,000 pounds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2841)
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-939
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Infrastructure development
Securities
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
 Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act of 2011 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from state volume caps private facility bonds for sewage and water supply facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Transportation Infrastructure Grants and Economic Reinvestment Act

Bill: 112-s-942
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Infrastructure development
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Public transit
Railroads
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: 
Transportation Infrastructure Grants and Economic Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish a national infrastructure investment program to provide competitive grants (of $10-$500 million), secured loans, and loan guarantees to a state, local government, or transit agency for eligible transportation projects (including highway or bridge, public transportation, passenger or freight rail transportation, and port infrastructure projects) that would have a significant beneficial impact on a state, metropolitan area, region, or the United States. 
 
Requires the Secretary to give grant priority to eligible projects that require a contribution of federal funds to complete an overall financing package for such projects. 
 
Sets aside at least 20% of funds for grants for eligible projects located in rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
WIN for Children and Families Act

Bill: 112-s-943
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2011-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Gambling
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: 
Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act of 2011 or WIN for Children and Families Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require a state to which a state family assistance grant is made to maintain policies and practices necessary to prevent the use of state TANF assistance in any transaction in a liquor store, casino or gambling establishment, or strip club.
 
Establishes administrative penalties for states which have not reported on their implementation of or enforced such policies and practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Detaining Terrorists to Secure America Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-944
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2011-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Caribbean area
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Cuba
Detention of persons
Latin America
Military facilities and property
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: 
Detaining Terrorists to Secure America Act of 2011 - Reaffirms that the U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Guantanamo), is and shall be a location for the detention of individuals in the custody or control of the Department of Defense (DOD) who have engaged in or supported hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners on behalf of al Qaeda, the Taliban, or an affiliated group to which the Authorization for Use of Military Force (P.L. 107-40) applies. Directs the Secretary of Defense to maintain Guantanamo as an open and operating facility for the current and future detention of such individuals.
 
Amends the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 to make permanent (under current law, terminates on January 7, 2012) a prohibition on the use of any federal funds (under current law, only DOD funds) to transfer any individual detained at Guantanamo to the individual's country of origin or any other foreign country or entity unless the Secretary makes a specified certification to Congress relating to such transfer.
 
Prohibits any federal funds (under current law, only DOD funds) from being used to construct or modify any facility in the United States or its territories or possessions to house any individual in the custody or control of DOD or under detention at Guantanamo for the purpose of detention or imprisonment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2877-2878)
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2876-2877)
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to save at least $5,000,000,000 by consolidating some duplicative and overlapping Government programs.

Bill: 112-s-945
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2011-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), not later than 150 days after the enactment of this Act, to coordinate with the heads of federal agencies to: (1) use available administrative authority to eliminate, consolidate, or streamline federal programs and agencies with duplicative and overlapping missions as identified in the March 2011 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled &quot;Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue&quot; and apply any savings towards deficit reduction; (2) report to Congress any legislative changes required to further eliminate, consolidate, or streamline such programs and agencies; (3) determine the total cost savings to each agency from the implementation of this Act; and (4) rescind from appropriate accounts the greater of $5 billion or the total amount of such cost savings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2011-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate