hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Home Building Lending Improvement Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1002
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2013-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Building construction
Credit and credit markets
Department of the Treasury
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve System
Housing finance and home ownership
Real estate business

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: 
Home Building Lending Improvement Act of 2013 - Directs each of the appropriate federal banking agencies to initiate guidance or rulemaking with respect to financial institutions under their respective jurisdictions that make real estate loans to home builders.
 
Requires such rulemaking to provide for: (1) adjustment from 100% to 125% of bank capital the measurement that triggers additional scrutiny on real estate loans in the lending portfolio of any qualified financial institution, (2) a prohibition against compelling lenders to call loans in good standing, and (3) improved composite ratings of a financial institution to take effect immediately.
 
Prohibits a federal banking agency from preventing a qualified financial institution from making a real estate loan to a home builder in good standing that is secured by a viable project, unless there is a legitimate supervisory or accounting reason to do so.
 
Prohibits such banking agencies from requiring a financial institution to reclassify any real estate loan to a homebuilder in good standing on the balance sheet of such institution, unless there is a legitimate supervisory or accounting reason to do so.
 
Prohibits such agency guidance and regulations from superseding state law, except to the extent of state law inconsistency.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act

Bill: 113-s-1003
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2013-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: 
Comprehensive Student Loan Protection Act - Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to set the interest rate on Direct Loans, for any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, at the bond equivalent rate of 10-year Treasury bills auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1, plus 3%.
 
Makes: (1) that formula applicable to Direct Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2013, and (2) the rate set on such loans applicable for the life of the loans.
 
Requires any savings to the federal government that result from this Act's amendment to be used for deficit reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-06
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 40 - 57. Record Vote Number: 142. (consideration: CR S3976-3977; text: CR S3977)
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to measure presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S3949; text: CR S3949)
action_date: 2013-06-04
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure, by unanimous consent, made in Senate. (consideration: CR S3949)
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 76.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1004
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2013-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Contracts and agency

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: 
Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2013 - Provides that the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act prohibiting unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce shall not be construed to prohibit, ban, or otherwise extend to any voluntary economic coordination, cooperation, agreement, or other association, compact, contract, or covenant entered into by or between any individual or group of individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 77.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserve the Waters of the United States Act

Bill: 113-s-1006
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Preserve the Waters of the United States Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from: (1) finalizing the proposed guidance described in the notice of availability and request for comments entitled "EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Guidance Regarding Identification of Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act"; or (2) using such guidance, or any substantially similar guidance, as the basis for any decision regarding the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) or any rulemaking. Provides that the use of such guidance as the basis for any rule shall be grounds for vacation of such rule. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
BTU Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1007
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013 or the BTU Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for residential energy efficient property, to make qualified biomass fuel property expenditures eligible for such credit. Defines &quot;qualified biomass fuel property expenditure&quot; as an expenditure for property which uses the burning of biomass fuel (a plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis) to heat a dwelling used as a residence, or to heat water for use in such dwelling, and which has a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75%.
 
Allows an energy tax credit until 2017 for investment in open-loop biomass heating property, including boilers or furnaces which operate at thermal output efficiencies of not less than 65% and provide thermal energy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3763)
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep Knives Out of Our Skies Act

Bill: 113-s-1008
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Homeland Security
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Keep Knives Out of Our Skies Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) from implementing any change to the prohibited items list of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that would permit passengers to carry small, non-locking knives through passenger screening checkpoints at airports, into sterile areas at airports, or on board passenger aircraft.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act

Bill: 113-s-1010
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Department of Education
Elementary and secondary education
School administration
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools, composed of certain government officials, educators, and education policy experts.
 
Requires the Commission to: (1) examine the effect government regulations have on elementary and secondary education; (2) recommend ways to align and improve those regulations to improve performance and innovation in education; and (3) recommend ways to improve and align assessment systems to provide reliable and meaningful information to parents, teachers, and students to improve student achievement, teacher performance, and innovation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 113-s-1011
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Child care and development
Child safety and welfare
Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Nebraska
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 350,000 $1 silver coins, and 300,000 half-dollar clad coins to commemorate the centennial of the founding of Father Flanagan's Boys Town.
 
Requires the design of the coins to be emblematic of the 100 years of Boys Town, one of the largest nonprofit child care agencies in the United States.
 
Permits issuance of such coins only between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Help Veterans Own Franchises Act

Bill: 113-s-1015
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Help Veterans Own Franchises Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit of up to $100,000 for 25% of the franchise fees paid or incurred by a veteran for the purchase of a franchise.
 
Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide information about the tax credit allowed by this Act to veterans service organizations and veteran advocacy groups.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1016
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Evidence and witnesses
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013 - Prohibits a person or entity acting under the authority of (or funded in whole or in part by) the federal government from using a drone to gather evidence or other information pertaining to criminal conduct or conduct in violation of a statute or regulation except to the extent authorized in a warrant satisfying the requirements of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
 
Defines a &quot;drone&quot; as an unmanned aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
 
Exempts from such prohibition the use of drones to: (1) patrol national borders to prevent or deter illegal entry of any persons or illegal substances, (2) prevent imminent danger to the life of an individual when drones are used by law enforcement under exigent circumstances, or (3) counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization based on credible intelligence determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
Authorizes civil actions by aggrieved parties. 
 
Prohibits evidence obtained or collected in violation of this Act from being admissible in a criminal prosecution in any court in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to permit flexibility in the application of the budget sequester by Federal agencies.

Bill: 113-s-1017
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Requires the budget sequester for an account in the security and non-security categories under the Balanced Budget Act for FY2013 to be implemented within each account as determined by the head of the agency with spending authority over such account. Requires the agency head to notify the Appropriations Committees of Congress of a proposed exercise of authority for implementing a sequester not later than five days before exercising such authority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Reserve Independence Act

Bill: 113-s-1018
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Reserve System

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
 Federal Reserve Independence Act - Amends the Federal Reserve Act regarding class A membership on the board of directors of a Federal Reserve Bank to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board) to designate members from among persons who are not employed in any capacity by a stockholding bank.
 
Requires the Federal Reserve Board to designate the class B members of such board of directors (class B members represent the public).
 
Prohibits employees of any Federal Reserve Board-regulated entity from serving on the board of directors of any Reserve Bank.
 
Prohibits any employee of the Federal Reserve System or any board member of a Reserve Bank from owning stock or investing in any company regulated by the Federal Reserve Board.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to report annually to Congress to ensure implementation of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Next Generation Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1021
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Algeria
Alliances
Arms control and nonproliferation
Asia
Bahrain
Chemical and biological weapons
China
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Egypt
Europe
European Union
Foreign aid and international relief
International law and treaties
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Middle East
Morocco
Netherlands
Nuclear weapons
Oman
Palestinians
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Terrorism
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Nations
Yemen

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Next Generation Cooperative Threat Reduction Act of 2013 - Directs the President to establish a multi-year comprehensive regional assistance strategy to coordinate and advance the Cooperative Threat Reduction program (CTR) and related nonproliferation efforts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA CTR and Nonproliferation Strategy).
 
Authorizes FY2014-FY2019 appropriations for the relevant executive agencies to implement such Strategy.
 
Directs the President to report to Congress regarding: (1) CTR and related non-proliferation activities in the Middle East and North Africa over the previous five years; (2) U.S. objectives and policies with respect to the upcoming 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands, to be followed by a report detailing Summit outcomes and the extent to which the United States was able to accomplish such objectives and policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3765-3767)
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 46, United States Code, to extend the exemption from the fire-retardant materials construction requirement for vessels operating within the Boundary Line.

Bill: 113-s-1022
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Fires
Marine and inland water transportation
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Amends federal shipping law to extend through October 31, 2028, the exemption of certain vessels from the requirement that U.S. passenger vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 50 passengers be constructed of fire-retardant materials in order to be granted a certificate of inspection.
 
Continues to apply this exemption only to vessels in operation before January 1, 1968, which operate only within the Boundary Line (the dividing point between inland waters and high seas).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1023
Sponsor: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Employee hiring
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Research and development
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) U.S. ability to attract foreign direct investment is directly linked to U.S. long-term economic prosperity, global competitiveness, and security; (2) it should be mindful of the potential impact upon the U.S. ability to attract foreign direct investment when evaluating proposed legislation; (3) it is a top national priority to enhance U.S. competitiveness, prosperity, and security by removing unnecessary barriers to foreign direct investment and the U.S. jobs it creates and promoting policies to ensure the United States remains the premier global destination in which to invest, hire, innovate, and manufacture products; (4) maintaining the U.S. commitment to open investment policy encourages other countries to do the same and enables the United States to open new markets abroad for U.S. companies and their products; and (5) U.S. policies regarding foreign direct investment should reflect national security interests and should not disadvantage domestic investors or companies.
 
 Directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an interagency review of the U.S. global competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment and report to Congress recommendations for making the United States more competitive in attracting foreign direct investment without undermining fundamental domestic labor, consumer, or environmental protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1024
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-05-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Delaware
Energy revenues and royalties
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Maryland
North Carolina
Oil and gas
Public transit
Virginia
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: 
Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to include within the schedule of proposed federal lease sales in the outer Continental Shelf leasing program for FY2012-FY2017 Lease Sale 220 (covering wind or alternative and renewable energy as well as oil or gas exploration) and any areas off the coast of Virginia included in the Mid-Atlantic planning area as a result of a revision to a specified map under this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary to make any tract unavailable for lease within the schedule if the President determines that the lease would conflict with military operations relating to national security.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit: (1) 50% of qualified revenues in the general fund of the Treasury, and (2) 50% in a special account for disbursement to Virginia and for designated state activities.
 
Directs the Secretary to revise a certain Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement map to ensure that the square footage of the leasable area in the Mid-Atlantic planning area is directly proportional to the length of the tidal shoreline of the Mid-Atlantic States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-05-22
text: Introduced in Senate