hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to provide clarification regarding the applicability of exemptions relating to the transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-s-1915
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-11-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
General agriculture matters
Labor standards
Motor carriers
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: 
Amends the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to revise exemptions from federal maximum driving and on-duty time motor carrier regulations for drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies during planting and harvest periods.
 
Extends the exemptions to drivers transporting agricultural farm supplies: (1) from a wholesale or retail distribution point of the farm supplies to a farm or other location where such supplies are intended to be used within a 100 air-mile radius from the distribution point, or (2) from a wholesale distribution point of the farm supplies to a retail distribution point of the farm supplies within a 100 air-mile radius from the wholesale distribution point.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Fishery Science Improvement Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1916
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2011-11-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Ecology
Fishes
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: 
Fishery Science Improvement Act of 2011 - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 to prohibit the requirement that a mechanism be established for specifying annual catch limits in fishery management plans prepared by any Regional Fishery Management Council, or by the Secretary of Commerce, implementing regulations, or annual specifications, at a level such that overfishing does not occur in the fishery, from applying to: (1) a stock of fish for which a stock assessment has not been performed during the previous six-year period, if the Secretary has determined that the fishery is not subject to overfishing of that stock and that the stock is not overfished; and (2) an ecosystem component stock. 
 
Defines &quot;ecosystem component stock&quot; as a stock of fish determined by the Secretary to be a nontarget stock that is not subject to overfishing or overfished.
 
Requires that ecosystem component species as determined by the Secretary prior to enactment of this Act be determined to be such ecosystem component stocks after enactment of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7911)
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1917
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2011-11-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes
Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Inflation and prices
Self-employed
Social security and elderly assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: 
Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 - Reduces employment tax rates in calendar year 2012 (payroll tax holiday period) for both employers and employees to 3.1%. Limits the reduction for employers to the first $5 million of wages paid by the employer in 2012.
 
Reduces the tax rate on the first $5 million of net earning of a self-employed taxpayer.
 
Allows nongovernmental employers a tax credit for payroll increases in the last quarter of 2011 and in 2012.
 
Appropriates funds to the social security trust funds to compensate for any revenue loss to such funds from the reduction in rates and the tax credit allowed by this Act.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on individual taxpayers in taxable years beginning after 2012 an additional tax equal to 3.25% of so much of their modified adjusted gross income as exceeds $1 million. Defines "modified adjusted gross income" as adjusted gross income reduced by any deduction allowed for investment interest. Provides for an inflation adjustment to the $1 million threshold amount for taxable years beginning after 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure, under the order of 12/1/2011, not having achieved the required 60 votes in the affirmative, was rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay. 51 - 49. Record Vote Number: 219.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S8138-8139)
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S8011)
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S8011; text: CR S8011)
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S8011-8012)
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 238.
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-11-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Airline Industry Revenue Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1918
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2011-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Transportation safety and security
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: 
Fair Airline Industry Revenue Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to prescribe regulations to impose a fee on an air carrier that charges a fee for the first bag checked or the first bag carried on the aircraft by a passenger who purchases a ticket for air transportation for which at least one flight originates at a U.S. airport.
 
Limits the fee to: (1) $2 per passenger charged for the first checked or carried on bag, or (2) $260 million in the aggregate on all air carriers in a year. Requires such fees to be credited as offsetting collections to the Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Girls Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1919
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2011-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Sex offenses
Travel and tourism
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: 
Girls Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine, up to a five-year prison term, or both for knowingly transporting a girl under the age of 18 from the United States and its territories in foreign commerce for purposes of female genital mutilation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7997)
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7997)
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
SMART Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1920
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2011-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Child health
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Health programs administration and funding
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Sex offenses
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: 
Saving Money and Reducing Tragedies through Prevention Act of 2011 or the SMART Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the Violence against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to replace provisions regarding grants to assist children and youth exposed to violence with a Saving Money and Reducing Tragedies through Prevention (SMART Prevention) grant program.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants for the purpose of preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (such violence) by taking a comprehensive approach that focuses on youth, children exposed to violence, and men as leaders and influencers of social norms.
 
Permits the use of grant funds to develop, maintain, or enhance programs that: (1) change attitudes and behaviors around the acceptability of such violence and provide education and skills training to young individuals and those who influence them; (2) are designed to prevent future incidents of such violence by preventing, reducing, and responding to children's exposure to violence in the home; and (3) work with men to prevent such violence by helping men to serve as role models and social influencers of other men and youth at the individual, school, community, or statewide levels.
 
Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) eligible entities to receive grants; (2) grantee requirements; and (3) fund allotments, including for Indian tribes or tribal organizations. Repeals provisions of: (1) VAWA regarding development of curricula and pilot programs for home visitation projects and regarding engaging men and youth in preventing such violence, and (2) the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 regarding a public awareness campaign regarding domestic violence against pregnant women.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
RETRO Act

Bill: 112-s-1921
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Scott P. [R-MA]
Introduced: 2011-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: 
Reducing Energy Use Through Retrofitting Older Vehicles Act or the RETRO Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the cost of converting a motor vehicle into a hybrid motor vehicle, based on gross vehicle weight. Limits the number of converted motor vehicles eligible for such credit. Terminates such credit five years after the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevention of Unreasonable Fees Act

Bill: 112-s-1922
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2011-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Marine and inland water transportation
Railroads
Transportation costs
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: 
Prevention of Unreasonable Fees Act - Prohibits an operator of a transportation terminal that uses federal funds for terminal construction, or for the purchase or lease of equipment installed there, from charging a fee to a provider of pre-arranged ground transportation service that meets state vehicle and intrastate passenger licensing requirements. Exempts from such prohibition: (1) fees charged to the general public for access to, or use of, the terminal; or (2) any fee for the availability of ancillary facilities located there.
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) prohibit or restrict a transportation terminal operator from requiring vehicles that cannot safely use public parking facilities to use segregated facilities provided the fee for segregated facilities is no more than that charged to the public for similar facilities, or (2) restrict the right of a state or its political subdivisions to require a license or fee (other than a prohibited transportation terminal fee) for a motor vehicle providing certain other prearranged ground transportation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Internet Abuse, Stalking, and Domestic Violence Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1923
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2011-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crimes against children
Domestic violence and child abuse
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Postal service
Sex offenses
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: 
Internet Abuse, Stalking, and Domestic Violence Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1934 to modify the prohibition against making obscene or harassing communications with a telecommunications device in the District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications to: (1) remove "to annoy" as an intention of a prohibited communication, and (2) require that the target of intentional harassment of repeated communications or communications made without disclosing the communicator's identity be any specific person (currently, any person at the called number or who receives the communication).
 
Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit using the mail, any interactive computer service, telecommunications device, electronic communication service or system of interstate commerce, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce to intentionally disclose information, including a picture or other personally identifiable information, of another individual with intent to facilitate: (1) specified criminal offenses involving sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or abuse of children, domestic abuse, or stalking; or (2) any conduct that would qualify as a domestic assault if the conduct were directly committed by such person, if that individual has a final conviction on not less than two separate prior occasions for offenses that would be, if subject to federal jurisdiction, an assault, sexual abuse, or serious violent felony against a spouse or intimate partner or an offense of sexual exploitation or other abuse of children. Sets forth penalties for violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Underground Gas Storage Facility Safety Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1924
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Energy storage, supplies, demand
Federal preemption
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Underground Gas Storage Facility Safety Act of 2011 - Revises federal pipeline safety requirements to authorize states to enforce state requirements for the safe construction and operation of underground gas storage wellbores and underground hazardous liquid storage wellbores if: (1) the requirement has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), or (2) FERC fails to approve such requirement within 30 days after its submission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Food Financing Initiative

Bill: 112-s-1926
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Department of Agriculture
Economic development
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Fruit and vegetables
Government lending and loan guarantees
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
Retail and wholesale trades
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Healthy Food Financing Initiative - Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a Healthy Food Financing Initiative to: (1) improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas; (2) create quality jobs; and (3) revitalize low-income communities by providing loans and grants to eligible food retailers to overcome the higher costs and initial barriers to entry in underserved, urban, suburban, and rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the criteria used by the Corps of Engineers to dredge small ports.

Bill: 112-s-1927
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Navigation, waterways, harbors

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Sets the tonnage requirement for consideration of dredging of small ports by the Corps of Engineers at a minimum of 500,000 tons, as calculated by the relevant port authority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Stalkers Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1928
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Stalkers Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise stalking provisions to prohibit: (1) the use of any electronic communication service or electronic communication system of interstate commerce to stalk victims; and (2) conduct that attempts to, or that would be reasonably expected to, cause substantial emotional distress to such a victim.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 112-s-1929
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
California
Connecticut
Currency
Higher education
Historic sites and heritage areas
Libraries and archives
Missouri
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins in commemoration of Mark Twain. 
 
Limits issuance of such coins to calendar year 2016. 
 
Requires specified surcharges in the sale of such coins, which shall be promptly paid, in specified percentages, to: (1) the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, to support restoration of the house and grounds, and ensure continuing growth and innovation in museum programming to research, promote, and educate on the legacy of Mark Twain; (2) the Mark Twain Project at the Bancroft Library of University of California, Berkeley, California, to support programs to study and promote the legacy of Mark Twain; (3) the Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, New York, for the same purposes; and (4) the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, to preserve historical sites relating to Mark Twain and help support study and promote the legacy of Mark Twain. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Earmark Elimination Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1930
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Legislative rules and procedure
Senate
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
Earmark Elimination Act of 2011 - Makes it out of order in the Senate to consider a bill or resolution introduced in either chamber or any other measure that includes an earmark.
 
Permits waiver of any or all such points of order by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Members.
 
Makes this Act inapplicable to any authorization of appropriations to a federal entity if such authorization is not specifically targeted to a state, locality, or congressional district.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 243.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
North American Energy Security Act

Bill: 112-s-1932
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2011-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Canada
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Historic sites and heritage areas
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Nebraska
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: 
North American Energy Security Act - Directs the President, acting through the Secretary of State, to grant a permit under Executive Order 13337 (relating to issuance of permits for certain energy-related facilities and land transportation crossings on the international boundaries of the United States) for the Keystone XL pipeline project application filed on September 19, 2008.
 
Declares that the President shall not be required to grant such permit upon a determination that the Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the national interest.
 
Requires the President, within 15 days after making such a determination, to report to certain congressional committees as well as to the majority and minority leadership of the Senate and the House a justification for it, including consideration of economic, employment, energy security, foreign policy, trade, and environmental factors.
 
States that if the President does not make a determination that the Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the national interest, and take action within 60 days after enactment of this Act, the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline shall be in effect by operation of law.
 
Sets forth permit requirements, including: (1) the reconsideration of routing of the Keystone XL pipeline within Nebraska, and (2) a review period during which routing within Nebraska may be reconsidered and the route of the pipeline through the state altered.
 
Declares that, if the President does not approve the route within Nebraska submitted by the governor of Nebraska within 10 days after submission, the route submitted by the governor shall be considered approved by operation of law.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 245.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2011-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate