hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Infrastructure Facilitation and Habitat Conservation Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1175
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government lending and loan guarantees
Infrastructure development
Land transfers
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Infrastructure Facilitation and Habitat Conservation Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to establish a program to provide loans and loan guarantees to enable state political subdivisions to acquire interests in real property pursuant to habitat conservation plans approved by the Secretary of the Interior under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Requires the Secretary to: (1) submit loan applications for the Secretary of the Interior's review, which shall include a determination that the subdivision has adopted a complementary plan for sustainable infrastructure development that provides for the mitigation of environmental impacts; and (2) give preference to such subdivisions located in biologically rich regions in which rapid growth and development threaten successful implementation of approved habitat conservation plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-16
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works Senate Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-772.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4588-4589)
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4587-4588)
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Remittance Status Verification Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1176
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Currency
Government studies and investigations
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Remittance Status Verification Act of 2013 - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require a remittance transfer provider, before initiating a transfer, to request from the sender of a remittance whose recipient is located in a country other than the United States proof of the sender's status under U.S. immigration laws. 
 
Cites admissible documentation attesting to the sender's status, including a state-issued driver's license or federal passport.
 
Directs a remittance transfer provider to impose, upon any sender unable to provide such proof of status, a fine equal to 7% of the U.S. dollar amount to be transferred.
 
Requires submission to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) of all fines imposed and collected by a remittance transfer provider in order to pay the administrative and enforcement costs of implementing this Act.
 
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the effects of the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Moving to Work Charter Program Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1177
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Housing and community development funding
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public contracts and procurement
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Moving to Work Charter Program Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enter into charter contracts, beginning in FY2014, with up to 250 public housing agencies administering the public housing program or the section 8 housing assistance program under the United States Housing Act of 1937. 
 
States that such charter contracts shall: (1) supersede and have a term commensurate with any annual contributions contract between a public housing agency (PHA) and the Secretary; and (2) provide that a participating PHA shall receive capital and operating assistance allocated to it under specified laws.
 
Exempts charter contracts from the requirements of the United States Housing Act of 1937, except those for payment of wages prevailing in the community and the demolition and disposition of public housing.
 
Requires a charter contract to provide that a PHA: (1) may combine section 8 low-income assistance and Public Housing Capital and Operating Fund assistance and use it for housing assistance and related services for activities under this Act; (2) shall ensure that at least 75% of the families assisted are very low-income families; (3) shall establish a reasonable rent policy designed to encourage employment, self-sufficiency, and home ownership by participating families; and (4) meet specified additional requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary to appoint a federal advisory committee to assess and develop a demonstration program to test standards, criteria, and practices for a national public housing agency accreditation system or other evaluation system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act

Bill: 113-s-1178
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Higher education
Research administration and funding
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require states to incorporate engineering design skills and practice into their academic content standards and academic achievement standards and assessments in science by the 2016-2017 school year.
 
Requires states to reserve 10% of the grant they receive under the Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund program to award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations and other entities with expertise in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to develop and provide professional development and instructional materials for STEM education in their state.
 
 Changes current references to the mathematics and science partnerships program to references to the STEM partnerships program, which provides funding to states, institutions of higher education, and high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) to recruit and train STEM teachers and improve STEM curricula.
 
Amends the 21st century community learning centers program to include STEM activities (currently, mathematics and science activities) within the before- and after-school activities funded under that program.
 
Amends the rural and low-income school program to include professional development in engineering education among the uses of the funds provided to rural LEAs.
 
Amends the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to require the National Center for Education Research to sponsor and conduct research geared toward improving STEM, rather than just mathematics and science, teaching and learning.
 
Directs the Secretary of Education to support research on engineering education and use that research to provide information to the public, and technical assistance to states, on best practices and promising innovations in kindergarten through grade 12 engineering education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act

Bill: 113-s-1180
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make available to the public HHS claims and payment data related to SSA title XVIII (Medicare), including data on payments made to any service provider or supplier. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4589)
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Real Estate Investment and Jobs Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1181
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Financial services and investments
Real estate business
Securities
Taxation of foreign income
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Real Estate Investment and Jobs Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 5% to 10% the allowable ownership interest in real estate investment trust (REIT) stock for purposes of tax exemptions allowed by the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act relating to foreign investment in United States real property interests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to require specific evidence for access to business records and other tangible things, and provide appropriate transition procedures, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-1182
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: 
Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to require the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in an application for a court order requesting access to business records and other tangible evidence in connection with a foreign intelligence investigation, to include a statement that the information sought is relevant to an authorized investigation to obtain information not concerning a U.S. person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities and either: (1) pertains to a foreign power or agent of a foreign power; (2) is relevant to the activities of a suspected agent of a foreign power who is the subject of the investigation; or (3) pertains to an individual in contact with, or known to, a suspected agent of a foreign power. Requires such statement to enumerate the minimization (protection) procedures adopted by the Attorney General applicable to FBI retention and dissemination of any information made available.
 
Excepts from such requirements any court order issued prior to six months after the date of the enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (S4589-4590)
action_date: 2013-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1183
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Inflation and prices
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and a $5 million lifetime gift tax exemption. Provides for an inflation adjustment to such exemption amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1184
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Government information and archives
Health promotion and preventive care
Medicare
Mental health
Nutrition and diet
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to include information on the coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity in the &quot;Medicare and You Handbook.&quot;
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and implement a plan to coordinate the efforts of all HHS officers and agencies to treat, reduce, and prevent obesity and overweight in the adult population.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, in addition to qualified primary care physicians and other primary care practitioners, to cover intensive behavioral therapy for obesity furnished by: (1) a physician who is not a qualified primary care physician; (2) an evidence-based, community-based HHS-certified lifestyle counseling program; or (3) any other appropriate health care provider (including a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, a clinical psychologist, and a registered dietitian or nutrition professional) upon referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner in an office setting, a hospital outpatient department, or another HHS-specified setting.
 
 Authorizes the Secretary to cover under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) medication for treatment of obesity or for being overweight for individuals with one or more comorbidities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1185
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Aging
Civil actions and liability
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Securities
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act of 2013 - Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to authorize the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to impose, in addition to any other civil penalty, a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for each violation that is directed toward, targets, or is committed against a person who at the time of the violation is age 62 or older.
 
Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that guideline offense levels and enhancements appropriately punish criminal violations of the securities laws against seniors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Essex National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act

Bill: 113-s-1186
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Massachusetts

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Essex National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act - Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to: (1) extend the authority for the Secretary of the Interior to make grants or provide assistance respecting the Essex National Heritage Area until September 30, 2027, and (2) increase the total amount that may be appropriated for the Area under the Act to $20 million. 


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: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act

Bill: 113-s-1187
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2015 the exclusion from gross income of income attributable to the discharge of indebtedness on a principal residence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Forty Hours Is Full Time Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1188
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 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: 2013-06-19
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: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to adjust the boundaries of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park to include Hinchliffe Stadium, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-1189
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
New Jersey
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Sports and recreation facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to include within the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, New Jersey, approximately six acres of land containing Hinchliffe Stadium.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-493.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Fairness Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1190
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Economic development
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Small Business Fairness Act of 2013 - Amends the Small Business Act to permit a contract between a federal agency and a small business teaming arrangement entity to be deemed awarded for purposes of the small business procurement and services contracting goals established by the head of that agency if the obligations of such entity are performed by a qualified HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) small business or a small business owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or women. 
 
Defines &quot;teaming arrangement entity&quot; as a prime contractor under a contractor team arrangement as defined under specified provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Better Buildings Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1191
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Building construction
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Industrial facilities
Lighting, heating, cooling
Real estate business

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Better Buildings Act of 2013 - Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require the Department of Energy's (DOE) Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to study the feasibility of: (1) significantly improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures, and (2) encouraging owners and tenants to implement such measures in separate spaces. Requires the Secretary to publish such study on DOE's website.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of Energy to develop a voluntary Tenant Star program within the Energy Star program to recognize tenants in commercial buildings that voluntarily achieve high levels of energy efficiency in separate spaces. Requires DOE's Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to collect data on categories of building occupancy that consume significant quantities of energy and on other aspects of the property, building operation, or building occupancy determined to be relevant to lowering energy consumption. Prohibits the impact on climate change from being a factor in determining energy efficiency of commercial building tenants.


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: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Commonsense Contractor Compensation Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1192
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2013-06-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: 
Commonsense Contractor Compensation Act of 2013 - Prohibits civilian or defense contracts from allowing compensation of contractor and subcontractor employees to exceed the annual amount payable under the aggregate limitation established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (currently, $230,700). Allows an exception to such limitation for scientists, engineers, or other specialists who are needed to ensure that an executive agency has continued access to needed skills and capabilities. 
 
Requires the Director of OMB to report to specified congressional committees on contractor compensation, including the number of contractor employees hired in the preceding fiscal year who are exempt from the limitation on compensation imposed by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-19
text: Introduced in Senate