hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Investigative Commission Act

Bill: 113-hr-234
Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Bankruptcy
Corporate finance and management
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Securities
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Investigative Commission Act - Establishes the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Investigative Commission to investigate and make recommendations to Congress regarding certain decisions of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (enterprises) that led to financial instability and federal conservatorship.
 
Requires the Commission to analyze specified topics, including: (1) the role of the enterprises in expanding homeownership and in helping housing market recovery; (2) enterprise involvement in the development of faulty risk standards, accounting practices, and the creation and proliferation of the securitized mortgage instrument, and how such instrument affected the solvency of such enterprises; (3) the role of the respective boards of directors in voting for the policies relating to risk assessments, subprime mortgages, and the international securitization of mortgages; and (4) compensation, stock options, and financial benefits that accrued to executive officers and members of the boards of directors.
 
Requires the enterprises and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to grant the Commission access to requested records and information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Crackdown on Deadbeat Gun Dealers Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-236
Sponsor: Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Civil actions and liability
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Firearms and explosives
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Crackdown on Deadbeat Gun Dealers Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General to inspect or examine the inventory and records of a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer of firearms to ensure compliance with recordkeeping requirements not more than three times a year (currently, not more than once a year) without reasonable cause and a warrant. Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to hire at least 50 additional personnel to carry out the additional inspections.
 
Increases to five years the term of imprisonment for knowingly making a false statement or representation in required firearms records. Authorizes up to 10 years' imprisonment for: (1) providing false statements or identification related to the sale or other disposition of a firearm or ammunition, or (2) selling or otherwise disposing of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to suspend a firearms license or subject a licensee to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for willfully violating firearms requirements or failing to have secure storage or safety devices available at any place firearms are sold to non-licensees (current law authorizes only license revocation).
 
Permits a licensed firearms importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector who is indicted for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year to continue to operate under the license until the date of any conviction pursuant to the indictment (currently, until any conviction pursuant to the indictment becomes final).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Federal Hiring Freeze Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-237
Sponsor: Rep. Marino, Tom [R-PA-10]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Federal Hiring Freeze Act of 2013 - Prohibits the head of an executive agency from appointing an individual to any position in such agency during a fiscal year for which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projects that there will be a federal budget deficit. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition under specified circumstances, including the existence of a state of war or other vital national security concern or the need to make appointments to law enforcement positions, the United States Postal Service (USPS), or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act

Bill: 113-hr-238
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act - Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful for: (1) anyone whose federal license to import, manufacture, or deal in firearms has been revoked, or whose license renewal application has been denied, to transfer business inventory firearms into a personal collection or to an employee of such person or to receive a firearm that was a business inventory firearm as of the date of a revocation or renewal denial notice; and (2) anyone who has received a license revocation or renewal denial notice to transfer to any other person a firearm that was a business inventory firearm. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of not more than one year (five years for willful violations) for violations of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Zero-based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight (ZERO) Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-239
Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Zero-based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight (ZERO) Act of 2013 - Requires the President to submit with materials related to each federal budget transmitted to Congress by January 1, 2015, a budget for each agency that contains:
 
 
 a description of each activity for which an agency receives an appropriation in the current fiscal year or for which the agency requests an appropriation for the budget year;
 
 the legal basis for each activity;
 
 for each activity, three alternative funding levels for the budget year (at least two of which shall be below the funding level for the current fiscal year), a summary of the priorities that would be accomplished within each level, and the additional increments of value that would be added by the higher funding levels; and
 
 for each activity one or more measures of its cost efficiency and effectiveness.
 
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to publish guidelines to carry out this Act that shall require: (1) the baseline budget of each agency to be assumed to be zero, and (2) each proposed expenditure to be justified as if it were a new expenditure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-240
Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of the Treasury
Disaster relief and insurance
Floods and storm protection
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing industry and standards
Insurance industry and regulation
Natural disasters
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
 Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2013 - Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish the National Commission on Catastrophe Preparation and Protection to advise the Secretary regarding estimated loss costs associated with contracts for reinsurance coverage.

Authorizes the Secretary to make homeowners protection coverage available through contracts for reinsurance coverage. Restricts purchase of such coverage to eligible state programs. Prescribes criteria for state eligibility.

Requires each contract for reinsurance coverage to provide insurance coverage against residential property losses to homes, including condominium and cooperative ownership, and the contents of apartment buildings. Cites covered perils.

Prescribes a minimum level of retained losses and maximum federal liability.

Authorizes any insurer who participates in an eligible state program to establish a Catastrophe Capital Reserve Fund to hold funds on the Secretary's behalf to offset reinsurance claims.

Establishes the Consumer Hurricane, Earthquake, Loss Protection (HELP) Fund to: (1) make payments to covered purchasers under contracts for reinsurance coverage for eligible losses; and (2) pay for Commission operating costs and reinsurance program administrative expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act

Bill: 113-hr-241
Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that the standard for access to care for a veteran seeking hospital care and medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is 30 days from the date the veteran contacts the VA.
 
Directs the Secretary to periodically review the performance of VA medical facilities in meeting such standard.
 
Requires quarterly reports from the Secretary to the congressional veterans' committees on the VA's experience with respect to appointment waiting times.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Physician Availability Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-244
Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Hospital care

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Physician Availability Act of 2013 - Requires each covered hospital to have a qualified physician available in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to attend to the needs of the hospital's inpatients. Defines a &quot;covered hospital&quot; to: (1) include hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid or receiving federal funds, and (2) exclude hospitals in a federal facility or hospitals that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) determines have fewer than 100 licensed beds.
 
 Considers a physician to be available if: (1) the physician is physically present in the hospital; (2) the physician's primary responsibility is to be in attendance to serve the needs of the hospital's inpatients without delay; and (3) the physician is not physically present in, assigned to, serving in, or expected to cover the hospital's emergency room or emergency department. 
 
Sets forth penalties for violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Truth in Lending Act to allow certain loans that are not fully amortizing to be used in seller carryback financing on residential mortgage loans.

Bill: 113-hr-245
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Amends the Truth in Lending Act to modify the exclusion from the definition of "mortgage originator" of a seller providing mortgage financing of three properties in a 12-month period to remove the requirement that a residential mortgage loan be fully amortizing. (Allows treatment as a mortgage originator of any seller providing mortgage financing of three properties in a 12-month period even if the mortgage loan involved is not fully amortizing.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
RATE Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-246
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Credit and credit markets
Government information and archives
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Rate of Average Time Execution Act of 2013 or RATE Act of 2013 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to collect, publish, and keep current a set of indices, meeting specified criteria, that report the rate for dollar-denominated loans of various maturities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Ensuring the Full Faith and Credit of the United States and Protecting America's Soldiers and Seniors Act

Bill: 113-hr-247
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2013-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Military personnel and dependents
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 
Ensuring the Full Faith and Credit of the United States and Protecting America's Soldiers and Seniors Act - Requires the following to take equal priority over all other federally incurred obligations in the event that the public debt reaches the statutory limit: (1) the authority of the Department of the Treasury to pay with legal tender the principal and interest on debt held by the public; (2) the authority of the Commissioner of Social Security to pay monthly Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act; and (3) the payment of pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces on active duty. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Introduced in House
Presidential Allowance Modernization Act

Bill: 113-hr-248
Sponsor: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3]
Introduced: 2013-01-15 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: 
Presidential Allowance Modernization Act - Revises provisions relating to presidential pensions to allow former Presidents an annuity of $200,000 and an additional monetary allowance of $200,000 per year. Reduces such pension by the amount that a President's adjusted gross income in a taxable year exceeds $400,000. 
 
Increases from $20,000 to $100,000 the annual annuity of a surviving spouse of a former President. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Antiquities Act of 1906 to place additional requirements on the establishment of national monuments under that Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-hr-250
Sponsor: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3]
Introduced: 2013-01-15 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Historical and cultural resources
Land use and conservation
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: 
Amends the Antiquities Act of 1906 to require, in addition to a presidential declaration, congressional approval prior to the establishment of a national monument. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-16
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-01-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-252
Sponsor: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3]
Introduced: 2013-01-15 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Israel
Middle East
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: 
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2013 - States that it is U.S. policy: (1) to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, and (2) that the U.S. Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem not later than January 1, 2015.
 
 Amends the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to eliminate the President's authority to waive certain funding limitations for Department of State acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.
 
Requires any official U.S. document which lists countries and their capital cities to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
 
Limits appropriations that may be obligated in FY2015 for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.
 
States that for each of FY2013-FY2014, of funds authorized to be appropriated for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad, necessary sums should be made available until expended only for construction and other costs associated with the establishment in Jerusalem of the U.S. Embassy in Israel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
Stop Wasting Archive Grants Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-256
Sponsor: Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3]
Introduced: 2013-01-15 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Historical and cultural resources
National Archives and Records Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: 
Stop Wasting Archive Grants Act of 2013 - Repeals provisions creating the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and its grant-making authority. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Health Equity Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-257
Sponsor: Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1]
Introduced: 2013-01-15 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: 
Veterans Health Equity Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with respect to each of the 48 contiguous states, to ensure that veterans eligible for hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have access to: (1) at least one full-service VA hospital in the state, or (2) hospital care and medical services comparable to that provided in full-service VA hospitals through contract with other health providers in the state.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on compliance with such requirement, including its effect on improving the quality and standards of veterans' care. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-01-15
text: Introduced in House