hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Senior Executive Service Reform Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2249
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2012-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Minority employment
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Performance measurement
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: 
Senior Executive Service Reform Act of 2012 - Amends provisions of federal law relating to the Senior Executive Service (SES) to: (1) reduce from 25% to 15% the number of SES positions at the start of each fiscal year that may be filled by noncareer appointees; (2) require the head of each federal agency to create a position of assistant secretary for administration or management and appoint a career SES employee to fill such position; and (3) require agency heads to appoint career SES employees to positions with direct responsibility for agency-wide functions in acquisition, information technology, and human resources.
 
Prohibits the use of quotas or forced distribution of ratings for performance appraisals. Provides for annual pay adjustments for senior executives and other senior employees rated at the fully successful level or higher. 
 
Includes executive performance awards and bonuses in basic pay for purposes of calculating retirement annuities. 
 
Requires a written explanation for an SES performance rating if such rating is lowered from the initial recommendation. 
 
Requires: (1) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a Senior Executive Service Resource Office in OPM to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity of the SES, advance its professionalism, and promote diversity; (2) senior executives appointed to the SES to create an executive development plan that includes continuing development, training, and mentoring goals; and (3) agency heads to oversee the establishment of an onboarding program to provide new SES appointees an overview of their role and responsibilites, the agency's mission, priorities, and strategic plan, and SES rules and regulations. Allows agencies to establish a rotation program for career SES appointees.
 
Requires each federal agency to submit a plan to OPM to enhance and maximize opportunities in SES for the advancement and appointment of minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2168-2171)
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2168)
action_date: 2012-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act

Bill: 112-s-2250
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Mortgage Foregiveness Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2014 the exclusion from gross income of income attributable to the discharge of indebtedness on a principal residence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska, as the Robert Boochever United States Courthouse.

Bill: 112-s-2251
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alaska
Congressional tributes
Federal appellate courts
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Judges

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Designates the U.S. courthouse located at 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska, as the &quot;Robert Boochever United States Courthouse.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 576.
action_date: 2012-12-27
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-12-27
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2012-07-25
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2246)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2246)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial Disclosure to Reduce Tax Haven Abuse Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2253
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Federal officials
Financial services and investments
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Financial Disclosure to Reduce Tax Haven Abuse Act of 2012 - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require individuals subject to the disclosure requirements of such Act (and their spouses) to provide a specific accounting of any financial interest which they hold in a country that is listed as a tax haven by the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires the Secretary, in compiling a list of tax havens, to consider including those jurisdictions which have been identified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as secrecy jurisdictions in federal court proceedings. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2247)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2246)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
ID MEDS Act

Bill: 112-s-2254
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Justice
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Intergovernmental relations
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Interstate Drug Monitoring Efficiency and Data Sharing Act of 2012 or the ID MEDS Act - Directs the Attorney General to establish national interoperability standards to facilitate the exchange of prescription information by states receiving grant funds under the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (Rogers Program) and the Controlled Substance Monitoring Program (CS Program).
 
Directs the Attorney General to ensure that such standards: (1) implement open standards that are freely available to promote broad implementation; (2) provide for the use of exchange intermediaries to facilitate interstate interoperability; (3) support transmissions that are fully secured, using industry standard methods of encryption, to ensure that protected health information and personally identifiable information are not compromised during transmission; and (4) employ access control methodologies to share protected information solely in accordance with state laws and regulations.
 
Requires a grant recipient under the Rogers Program to ensure that the state databases comply with the national interoperability standards. Allows a recipient of an enhancement grant under such Program to use grant funds to standardize the technology architecture used by the recipient to comply with such standards. 
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require states to ensure that databases established under the CS Program comply with such standards.
 
Directs the Attorney General to report on enhancing the interoperability of state prescription monitoring programs with other technologies and databases used for detecting and reducing fraud, diversion, and abuse of prescription drugs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, to add Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day as a patriotic and National observance.

Bill: 112-s-2255
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Commemorative events and holidays
Congressional tributes
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Authorizes the President to annually issue a proclamation: (1) designating March 29 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, (2) honoring and recognizing the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam during war and peace, (3) encouraging state and local governments to establish a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, and (4) encouraging the people of the United States to observe such Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Community-Based Mental Health Infrastructure Improvements Act

Bill: 112-s-2256
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Indian social and development programs
Mental health
Minority health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Community-Based Mental Health Infrastructure Improvements Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to eligible entities for the construction or modernization of facilities to provide mental health and substance abuse services to individuals. Defines an &quot;eligible entity&quot; as: (1) a state that is the recipient of a Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and a Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant under such Act, or (2) an Indian tribe or a tribal organization. 

Includes among grant application requirements assurances that facilities will be used for not less than 10 years for community-based mental health or substance abuse services for those who cannot pay for such services. Permits a grant recipient to request permission to transfer such 10-year obligation to another facility.

Authorizes a state that receives a grant to award a subgrant to a qualified community program for activities such as: (1) the construction, expansion, and modernization of mental health and substance abuse facilities; (2) the construction and structural modification of facilities to permit the integrated delivery of behavioral health and primary care of specialty medical services to individuals with co-occurring mental illnesses and chronic medical or surgical diseases at a single service site; and (3) acquiring information technology required to accommodate the clinical needs of primary and specialty care professionals. 

Requires a grant recipient to agree to make available nonfederal contributions matching federal funds provided.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2247-2248)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2247)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Excellence in Mental Health Act

Bill: 112-s-2257
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Indian social and development programs
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Minority health
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Excellence in Mental Health Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to set forth criteria for the certification of federally-qualified community behavioral health centers.
 
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to make such centers eligible for payments for services under Medicaid.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award matching grants to states or Indian tribes to expend funds for the construction or modernization of facilities used to provide mental health and substance abuse services to individuals.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the 340B drug discount program (a program limiting the cost of covered outpatient drugs to certain federal grantees) to allow participation by entities providing community mental health services or providing treatment services for substance abuse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2248-2250)
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Songwriters Tax Simplification Reauthorization Act

Bill: 112-s-2258
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Intellectual property
Music

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Songwriters Tax Simplification Reauthorization Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax deduction for depreciation, to make permanent the taxpayer election to amortize over a five-year period expenses incurred in creating or acquiring a musical composition or any copyright with respect to such composition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2259
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability assistance
Inflation and prices
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
 Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2012, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.
 
Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2012-06-27
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Accountability to Choices of Taxpayers In Our Nation's Budget Priorities

Bill: 112-s-2260
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Accountability to Choices of Taxpayers In Our Nation's Budget Priorities - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to revise individual income tax forms to: (1) contain the latest estimate of federal expenditures in budget authority and show the percentage of the federal budget allocated to specified categories, including social security, education, defense, international affairs, energy, environment, agriculture, and interest on the public debt; and (2) allow taxpayers to indicate what they believe is the appropriate percentage share for each category of the next federal budget.
 Requires the Secretary to aggregate the results with appropriate demographic detail, including results by state, and to provide such information to Congress by July 1 of each year.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Revenue Loss Assistance and Crop Insurance Enhancement Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2261
Sponsor: Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Revenue Loss Assistance and Crop Insurance Enhancement Act of 2012 - Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a revenue loss assistance program (program) beginning with crop year 2013 in lieu of the supplemental revenue assistance payments (SURE) and the average crop revenue election programs (ACRE). (Extends the SURE program for crop year 2012.)
 
Provides producers with program assistance for losses between 12% and 25 % of their historic revenue.
 
Provides counter-cyclical payments for each covered commodity through crop year 2017 on farms for which payment yields and base acres are established if the effective price for the covered commodity is less than its target price.
 
Sets forth 2013-2017 target prices, payment rates, and payment amounts for covered commodities. 
 
Provides a special payment calculation rule for long grain and medium grain rice, and a specified four-year alternative election.
 
Sets forth 2013-2017 commodity marketing assistance loan rates. 
 
Extends specified agricultural and livestock assistance programs.
 
Repeals the direct payment and ACRE programs.
 
Limits the total revenue loss assistance payments and countercyclical payments that a person or entity may receive in a crop year.
 
Reduces the catastrophic risk protection coverage premium.
 
Authorizes agricultural producers to purchase supplemental crop insurance coverage based on: (1) an individual yield and loss basis, or an area yield and loss basis; or (2) an individual yield and loss basis, supplemented with coverage based on an area yield and loss basis to cover a part of the deductible under the individual yield and loss policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act

Bill: 112-s-2262
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Hereditary and development disorders
Indian social and development programs
Judicial procedure and administration
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Lawyers and legal services
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Minority health
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) programs (as renamed under this Act, previously the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect programs). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) establish and carry out a research agenda for FASD; (2) facilitate surveillance, public health research, and prevention of FASD; and (3) continue the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
 
Requires the Secretary to provide financial assistance to: (1) establish or expand state FASD programs; (2) implement best practices to educate children with FASD, educate members of the criminal justice system on FASD, and educate adoption or foster care agency officials about services for children with FASD; (3) provide transitional services for those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure; (4) develop public service announcements to raise awareness of the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy; (5) increase awareness and identification of FASD in federally qualified health centers; and (6) provide respite care for caretakers, recruit mentors, and provide educational and supportive services to families of individuals with FASD.
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to make recommendations regarding the appropriate roles and responsibilities of federal entities with respect to programs and activities related to FASD.
 
Requires the Secretary of Education to direct the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to conduct training on FASD surveillance and disseminate best practices in the education and support of children with FASD.
 
Requires the Attorney General (DOJ) to direct the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to: (1) implement FASD screening procedures, (2) conduct training on surveillance and on identification and support of individuals with FASD, and (3) study the inadequacies of the current system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
National Program for Arts and Technology Act of 2012

Bill: 112-s-2263
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2012-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Community life and organization
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: 
National Program for Arts and Technology Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish and implement a national program for arts and technology that addresses the complex needs of the poor and undereducated by awarding competitive grants to qualified centers (private, nonprofit educational entities) and interested communities to provide: (1) financial support to establish new qualified centers, and (2) management expertise to guide such centers and communities. 
 
Prohibits federal funds received under this Act from being used for capital expenditures or endowment gifts. 
 
Requires a qualified center or an interested community to match federal contributions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2012-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate