hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Troop Talent Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-700
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Licensing and registrations
Military education and training
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: 
Troop Talent Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretaries of the military departments, to the maximum extent practicable, to make information on civilian credentialing opportunities available to members of the Armed Forces (members) beginning with, and at every stage of, their training for military occupational specialities, in order to permit such members to: (1) evaluate the extent to which such training correlates with skills and training required for various civilian certifications and licenses, and (2) assess the suitability of such training for obtaining and pursuing such certifications and licenses.
 
Requires the information made available to: (1) be consistent with the Transition Goals Plans Success program, and (2) include information on the civilian occupational equivalents of military occupational specialties.
 
Requires such Secretaries to make available to civilian credentialing agencies specified information on the content of military training provided to members.
 
Allows members or veterans to use educational assistance provided through the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in pursuit of a civilian certification or license only if the successful completion of a curriculum fully qualifies such student to take the appropriate examination and be certified or licensed to meet any other academic conditions required for entry into that occupation or profession.
 
Requires the military occupational specialties designated for a military skills to civilian credentialing pilot program under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 to include those specialties relating to the military information technology workforce.
 
Directs the VA Secretary to reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee (under current law, terminated on December 31, 2006). Provides additional Committee duties, including the development of: (1) guidance for audits of licensure and certification programs in order to ensure high-quality education to members and veterans, and (2) a plan to improve outreach to members and veterans on the importance of licensing and certification and the availability of educational benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Forty Hours Is Full Time Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-701
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2013-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: 
Forty Hours is Full Time Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the employer mandate to provide health care coverage, to: (1) modify the formula for calculating the number of full-time employees employed by an applicable large employer subject to the mandate; and (2) define a &quot;full-time employee&quot; as an employee who is employed on average at least 40 hours per week (currently, 30 hours).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2567-2568)
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor as "The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor".

Bill: 113-s-702
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2013-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut
Historic sites and heritage areas
Massachusetts
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: 
Renames the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor in Connecticut and Massachusetts as the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-07-31
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-93.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the eligibility of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region for designation for participation in the visa waiver program for certain visitors to the United States.

Bill: 113-s-703
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Asia
China
Hong Kong
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (PRC) eligible for designation as a visa waiver program country.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2590)
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Rachel Carson Nature Trail Designation Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-704
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Congressional tributes
District of Columbia
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Rachel Carson Nature Trail Designation Act of 2013 - Designates a trail located in Glover Archbold Park in the District of Columbia from Canal Road to Van Ness Street as the &quot;Rachel Carson Nature Trail.&quot; 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to post signs on or near the Trail that include one or more of the following: (1) information on Rachel Carson and her contributions to the environmental movement; (2) images of her; and (3) references to her efforts to educate others about the importance of environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
War Memorial Protection Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-705
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Monuments and memorials
Religion

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
War Memorial Protection Act of 2013 - Permits religious symbols recognizing the religious background of members of the Armed Forces to be included as part of: (1) a military memorial that is established or acquired by the federal government; or (2) a military memorial not established by the government, but for which the American Battle Monuments Commission cooperated in establishing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-12
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-111.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Loan Affordability Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-707
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Student Loan Affordability Act of 2013 - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the 3.4% interest rate on Federal Direct Stafford loans to loans first disbursed to undergraduate students between July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2015. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2591-2592)
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Success in the Middle Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-708
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Language arts
Research administration and funding
Research and development
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Success in the Middle Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to states, based on their proportion of poor children aged 5 to 17, to: (1) implement state middle grades needs analyses and, on the basis of such analyses, improvement plans that describe what students must master to complete successfully the middle grades and succeed in academically rigorous secondary school coursework; and (2) award competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships of LEAs and institutions of higher education, educational service agencies, or educational nonprofit organizations to implement a comprehensive middle school improvement plan for each eligible school. Gives priority to LEAs, or partnerships that include LEAs, that serve high proportions of poor children and children attending eligible schools.
 
Defines &quot;eligible schools&quot; as those where: (1) a high proportion of middle grade students matriculate to secondary schools with graduation rates below 65%; (2) more than 25% of the students who finish grade six, or the school's earliest middle grade level, exhibit key risk factors for failure; and (3) a majority of middle grade students are not rated proficient on required state assessments in mathematics, reading, or language arts.
 
Permits states to make subgrants to LEAs and partnerships that did not receive a competitive subgrant to assist them in applying for competitive subgrants and developing comprehensive middle school improvement plans. 
 
Provides the Secretary with funding to: (1) contract for studies that identify promising practices for, and review existing research to identify factors that might lead to, the improvement of middle grades education; (2) create a national clearinghouse in best middle grade educational practices and a national database identifying factors that facilitate or impede middle grade student achievement; (3) require certain educational field research designed to enhance the performance of middle grade schools and students; (4) create a research and development center that addresses topics pertinent to the middle grades; and (5) provide grants to entities that partner with states and LEAs to develop, adapt, or replicate effective models for turning around low-performing middle grades.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer's Act

Bill: 113-s-709
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer's Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for comprehensive Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Municipal Advisors Relief Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-710
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Financial services and investments
Securities
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Municipal Advisors Relief Act of 2013 - Excludes from the identity of municipal advisor (subject to registration requirements) any person appointed to or volunteering on a board, commission, committee, or similar function of a municipal entity. Exempts also from registration requirements any banks, including agencies or branches of a foreign bank. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Federal building located at 118 South Mill Street, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, as the Edward J. Devitt United States Courthouse.

Bill: 113-s-711
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
House of Representatives
Members of Congress
Minnesota

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Designates the federal building located at 118 South Mill Street, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, as the &quot;Edward J. Devitt United States Courthouse.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-712
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Foreign aid and international relief
Intellectual property

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act of 2013 - Allows the holder or successor of an acceleration certificate issued pursuant to the Patents for Humanity Program (a pilot awards program established by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO] entitling awardees to accelerate certain USPTO proceedings for patented technologies addressing humanitarian needs among an impoverished population or for further research on humanitarian technologies) to transfer, including by sale, the entitlement to such certificate to another person. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2592)
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2592)
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act

Bill: 113-s-713
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Rhode Island

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act - Amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and increase Council membership from 21 to 23 members, including: (1) the principal Rhode Island official with marine fishery management responsibility, and (2) a member appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from a list of individuals submitted by the governor of Rhode Island.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2592)
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act

Bill: 113-s-717
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Educational facilities and institutions
Energy efficiency and conservation
Health facilities and institutions
Lighting, heating, cooling
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of retrofitting buildings owned by such organizations with energy-efficiency improvements.
 
Directs the Secretary, in determining whether to award a grant, to apply performance-based criteria, which shall give priority to applications based on: (1) the cost-effectiveness of the energy-efficiency improvement; and (2) an effective plan for evaluation, measurement, and verification of energy savings. Limits each grant award to: (1) an amount equal to 50% of the energy-efficiency improvement, and (2) $200,000. 
 
 Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY2014-FY2017. 
 
Requires the Secretary to use amounts otherwise made available for the Building Technologies Program to carry out such pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-70.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-719
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2013-04-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical education
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: 
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee. Requires the Committee to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding the manner in which such officials can: (1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases, (2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases, (3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups, (4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints are represented in public health policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced, and (5) advise relevant federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Directs the Committee to regularly review published public and private treatment guidelines and evaluate such guidelines for effective representation of a wide variety of views.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting as appropriate through various federal officials, to provide for the coordination of all federal programs and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases and the conduct or support of specified activities, including: (1) developing sensitive and accurate diagnostic tools and tests, (2) improving the efficient utilization of diagnostic testing currently available, (3) surveillance and reporting of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, (4) providing and promoting access to a clearinghouse of information on such diseases, (5) increasing public education related to such diseases, (6) creating a physician education program to educate health professionals on the latest research and diversity of treatment options for Lyme disease, (7) establishing epidemiological research objectives, and (8) determining the effectiveness of different treatment modalities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Buffett Rule Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-720
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2013-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: 
Buffett Rule Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers to donate an amount (not less than $1), in addition to any tax owed, which shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury and transferred to an account used to reduce the public debt. Requires such donation to be designated on a taxpayer's income tax return at the time such return is filed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Kelsey Smith Act

Bill: 113-s-721
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2013-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Emergency communications systems
First responders and emergency personnel
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement administration and funding
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: 
Kelsey Smith Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require telecommunication carriers to provide, at the request of a law enforcement agency, call location information of users of a commercial mobile service or an IP-enabled voice service (e.g., cell phones) to such agencies and other public safety agencies to respond to emergency situations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Simpler Tax Filing Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-722
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2013-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business records
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: 
Simpler Tax Filing Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should begin offering pre-prepared tax returns to as many taxpayers as possible by tax year 2018.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on actions necessary to achieve the goal of offering pre-prepared tax returns to taxpayers by tax year 2018, with an analysis of the budgetary, administrative, and legislative barriers to achieving such goal, including the amount of appropriations that would be required. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate