hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Farmers Protection Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6665
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]
Introduced: 2012-12-13 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Birds
Farmland
Floods and storm protection
Hunting and fishing
State and local government operations
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: 
Farmers Protection Act of 2012 - Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to permit the taking of any migratory game bird, including waterfowl, coots, and cranes, on or over land that: (1) is not a baited area; and (2) contains a standing crop (including an aquatic crop), standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation, flooded harvested cropland, or an area on which seed or grain has been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural practice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
Financial Consumers Association Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6667
Sponsor: Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]
Introduced: 2012-12-13 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Aging
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Corporate finance and management
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: 
Financial Consumers Association Act of 2012 - Authorizes the establishment of, and sets forth operational requirements for, a nonprofit corporation to be known as the Financial Consumers Association whose mission shall be to advance the rights and remedies available to consumers with respect to financial services, by developing initiatives to reduce the use of dangerous features in financial products and services, and to improve the flow of accurate information to consumers.
 
Includes among the Association's duties to: (1) represent and promote the interests of financial services consumers and negotiate on their behalf, (2) take affirmative measures to encourage membership by low- and moderate-income and minority consumers and disseminate information and advice, (3) monitor the availability and quality of financial services to low- and moderate-income constituencies and the elderly, and (4) develop data to assist financial services consumers in making informed decisions in the marketplace.
 
Gives the Association the right to include inserts in financial services mailings, in paper or by electronic means, that inform customers about the Association and its representation of financial services consumers and solicit information and contributions or membership fees.
 
Requires annual reports to the President and Congress on the Association's activities of the preceding year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
Workers Solidarity Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6668
Sponsor: Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]
Introduced: 2012-12-13 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: 
Workers Solidarity Act of 2012 - Requires any person found by a final decision or order to have engaged in an unfair labor practice in violation of the National Labor Relations Act to: (1) be proposed for debarment for five years from any federal contract or grant, and (2) be ineligible for five years to receive a federal subsidy or loan.
 
Requires revision of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to require each federal contract to require the contractor to include a clause in any subcontract certifying that the subcontractor has not been found to have engaged in an unfair labor practice in violation of the Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
Foster Youth Higher Education Opportunities Act

Bill: 112-hr-6669
Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2012-12-13 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Government information and archives
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: 
Foster Youth Higher Education Opportunities Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to inform students who indicate on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that they are or were in the foster care system of their potential eligibility for federal student aid, including the specific federal programs under which they may be eligible for assistance.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide foster youth with that same information on the Department of Education's website.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 for the purposes of extending the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 through 2017, and for other purposes.

Bill: 112-hr-6670
Sponsor: Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7]
Introduced: 2012-12-13 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Climate change and greenhouse gases
Disaster relief and insurance
Natural disasters
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: 
Amends the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to: (1) extend authority for the drought program under such Act through FY2017, (2) authorize appropriations for such Act through FY2017, and (3) require cooperative drought contingency plans under such Act to provide for periodic review to address projected long-term climate variability and change.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-13
text: Introduced in House
Sarah Grace Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6673
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2012-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee leave
Family relationships
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-17
text:  
 
Parental Bereavement Act of 2012 or Sarah Grace Act of 2012 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to entitle an eligible employee to up to 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period because of the death of a son or daughter.
 
Allows such an employee to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay.
 
Applies the same leave entitlement to federal employees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-17
text: Introduced in House
Common Sense Housing Investment Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6677
Sponsor: Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2012-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cooperative and condominium housing
Government trust funds
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing supply and affordability
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: 
Common Sense Housing Investment Act of 2012

 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for mortgage interest, to: (1) allow, in lieu of such deduction, a tax credit for 20% of mortgage interest paid in a taxable year for the taxpayer's principal residence and one other residence; (2) provide for a phaseout of the tax deduction for mortgage interest between 2013 and 2017; (3) allow a deduction for interest and taxes relating to land for dwelling purposes owned or leased by cooperative housing corporations; and (4) increase the state housing credit ceiling for the low-income housing tax credit. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to apply the savings from the enactment of this Act to the Housing Trust Fund, for assistance under the Section 8 low-income housing program, and for the Public Housing Capital Fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
College Research Education and Teacher Excellence (CREATE) Opportunity Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6678
Sponsor: Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2012-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Income tax credits
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: 
College Research Education and Teacher Excellence (CREATE) Opportunity Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the research tax credit permanent.
 
Makes 100% of a taxpayer's expenditures for qualified research at an institution of higher education eligible for the research tax credit. (Currently, 65% of those expenditures are eligible.)
 
Considers research in the social sciences to be qualified research, eligible for the research tax credit.
 
Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow the Secretary of Education to award a student two Pell Grants during a single award year if the student is enrolled in an associate degree or certificate program at a junior or community college on at least a half-time basis for the equivalent of more than one academic year during the Pell Grant award year.
 
Treats a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant as a Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan only in proportion to the extent to which its recipient fails to comply with the Grant's service obligation. (TEACH Grants are provided to students who agree to teach for four years in a high-need field at an elementary or secondary school that serves a high number or percentage of low-income students.)
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
Tim Fagan's Law

Bill: 112-hr-6679
Sponsor: Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-2]
Introduced: 2012-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business records
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: 
Tim Fagan's Law or Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a criminal fine and/or imprisonment for a person who: (1) knowingly causes a prescription drug to be adulterated, misbranded, or misrepresented as an approved prescription drug and sells or trades the drug; or (2) purchases or trades for such drug knowing or having reason to know that the drug was knowingly adulterated, misbranded, or misrepresented. Requires a manufacturer of a drug to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) within 48 hours after first receiving or becoming aware of information that reasonably suggests that such a violation may have occurred. 
 
Deems a drug to be misbranded if it is not manufactured in accordance with the use of technologies that the Secretary determines are technically feasible and will assist in preventing such violations.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish alternative requirements to the extent that such requirements provide greater certainty on the chain of custody and are technically feasible.
 
Increases funding for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections, examinations, and investigations.
 
Requires the Secretary to educate the public and health care professionals on counterfeit drugs.
 
Directs the Secretary: (1) upon a finding that a drug intended for human use may constitute a threat to the public health to issue an order requiring the appropriate person (including the manufacturers, importers, distributors, or retailers of the drug) to cease distribution of the drug and to notify and instruct health professionals to cease administering, distributing, selling, or prescribing the drug; and (2) amend the order to include a recall if necessary.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6680
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2012-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Crimes against property
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2012 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a state system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. Prescribes license application, issuance, and renewal requirements. 
Prohibits transferring or receiving a qualifying firearm unless the recipient presents a valid firearms license, the license is verified, and the dealer records a tracking authorization number. Prescribes firearms transfer reporting and record keeping requirements. Directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system.
Prohibits: (1) transferring a firearm to any person other than a licensee, unless the transfer is processed through a licensed dealer in accordance with national instant criminal background check system requirements, with exceptions; (2) a licensed manufacturer or dealer from failing to comply with reporting and record keeping requirements of this Act; (3) failing to report the loss or theft of the firearm to the Attorney General within 72 hours; (4) failing to report to the Attorney General an address change within 60 days; or (5) keeping a loaded firearm, or an unloaded firearm and ammunition for the firearm, knowingly or recklessly disregarding the risk that a child is capable of gaining access, if a child uses the firearm and causes death or serious bodily injury.
Prescribes criminal penalties for violations of firearms provisions covered by this Act. 
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish and maintain a firearm injury information clearinghouse, (2) conduct continuing studies and investigations of firearm-related deaths and injuries, and (3) collect and maintain current production and sales figures of each licensed manufacturer. 
Authorizes the Attorney General to certify state firearm licensing or record of sale systems.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 815 County Road 23 in Tyrone, New York, as the "Specialist Christopher Scott Post Office Building".

Bill: 112-hr-6681
Sponsor: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-29]
Introduced: 2012-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military personnel and dependents
New York State
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 815 County Road 23 in Tyrone, New York, as the "Specialist Christopher Scott Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
Standard DATA Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6682
Sponsor: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-29]
Introduced: 2012-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computers and information technology
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Labor
Government information and archives
Poverty and welfare assistance
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: 
Standard Data and Technology Advancement Act of 2012 or Standard DATA Act of 2012 - Amends part A of title XI of the Social Security Act to direct the head of the department or agency responsible for administering certain human services programs to designate, by rule, nonproprietary and interoperable data exchange standards for any category of information required to be reported.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-18
text: Introduced in House
Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-6683
Sponsor: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-8]
Introduced: 2012-12-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Connecticut
Disaster relief and insurance
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Low- and moderate-income housing
Natural disasters
New Jersey
New York City
New York State
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public utilities and utility rates
Rhode Island
Sales and excise taxes
Securities
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: 
Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax benefits for individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy, including:
 
 
 an exemption from the gross income limitation for deducting casualty losses attributable to Hurricane Sandy;
 
 expensing allowances for Hurricane Sandy disaster expenses, disaster assistance property, and environmental remediation expenses;
 
 treatment of losses attributable to Hurricane Sandy as net operating losses;
 
 suspension of mortgage revenue bond requirements for residences located in the Hurricane Sandy disaster area;
 
 an increased charitable tax deduction for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief contributions; 
 
a special allocation of the new markets tax credit for investments in community development entities serving the disaster area; 
 
special adjustments to the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit for individuals living in the disaster area; 
 
a work opportunity tax credit for hiring employees residing in the disaster area; 
 
authorization for issuance of Hurricane Sandy bonds to finance disaster relief projects; and 
 
an additional allocation of low-income housing credits in states affected by Hurricane Sandy. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-12-19
text: Introduced in House