hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act

Bill: 113-s-314
Sponsor: Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child health
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Genetics
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex and reproductive health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award grants for: (1) improving state comprehensive death scene investigations for sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) and sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), and (2) increasing the rate of comprehensive and standardized autopsies for such deaths.
 
Requires the Director to: (1) develop national guidelines for a standard autopsy protocol for such deaths, and (2) commission a study on the benefits and appropriateness of genetic testing for infant and early childhood deaths that remain unexplained after investigation and autopsy.
 
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to: (1) award grants for death scene investigation training specific for SUID and SUDC; (2) modify the national death case reporting system to assure that such system provides for population-based data for ages 0-4 years of age and facilitates the understanding of the root causes, rates, and trends of SUID and SUDC with respect to such ages; (3) conduct a needs assessment for investigations and determinations of such deaths; (4) develop public education and prevention programs to reduce stillbirths and address the racial and ethnic disparities in occurrence; (5) award grants for surveillance efforts on stillbirths; and (6) develop and conduct public education and prevention program aimed at reducing stillbirths.
 
Directs the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to: (1) award grants for child death review programs and prevention strategies; (2) establish a public health awareness and education campaign on SUID and SUDC; and (3) award grants for support services to families who have experienced SUID, SUDC, or stillbirth.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a task force to develop a national research plan to determine the causes of, and how to prevent, stillbirths.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Postal Service Protection Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-316
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Alcoholic beverages
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Marketing and advertising
Performance measurement
Postal service
Research and development
Retail and wholesale trades
Rural conditions and development
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Postal Service Protection Act of 2013 - Sets forth rules for the recalculation of annuities for employees of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and for the redetermination of surplus or supplemental liabilities under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Prescribes the "average pay" to be used in calculating annuities and surplus amounts. 
 
Authorizes the transfer of surplus postal retirement contributions in FY2013 to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, the Postal Service Fund, and the Employees' Compensation Fund under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and to USPS for payment of its debt obligations.
 
Eliminates the requirement for pre-funding of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. 
 
Sets forth criteria for the closing or consolidation of postal facilities.
 
Allows USPS to provide any nonpostal service or product in a manner consistent with the public interest. 
 
Provides for the mailing of wine and beer sent by a licensed winery or brewery in accordance with the laws of the state, territory, or district where the addressee or agent takes delivery.
 
Establishes in USPS the position of the Chief Innovation Officer who shall have proven expertise and success in the postal and shipping industry and in innovation, marketing, technology, and management. Establishes a Postal Innovation Advisory Commission. Requires the Postmaster General to report to specified congressional committees and the Postal Regulatory Commmission on a comprehensive strategy for maximizing USPS revenue through innovative postal and nonpostal products and services.
 
Prohibits USPS from reducing the frequency of mail delivery to fewer than six days each week or from increasing the expected delivery time for market-dominant products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency to include certain assessments in reports.

Bill: 113-s-317
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Requires the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in reports required to be submitted not later than April 30 and October 31 of each calendar year, to include an assessment of the agency's compliance during the applicable period with the following: (1) portions of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 concerning reporting of regulatory and deregulatory agendas, as well as successor Executive Orders establishing such requirements; (2) regulatory flexibility agenda requirements; (3) portions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 that require agencies to publish statements describing and assessing state, local, and tribal compliance costs before promulgating any general notice of proposed rulemaking; and (4) requirements of Executive Order 13132 concerning certifications by agencies upon transmittals of draft final regulations of adherence to federalism principles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S713-714)
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Environmental Protection Agency Accountability Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-318
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Environmental Protection Agency Accountability Act of 2013 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the following regulatory requirements are satisfied: (1) Executive Order 13563 (concerning regulatory principles) and the regulatory planning procedures of Executive Order 12866, as well as successor Executive Orders concerning reporting of regulatory and deregulatory agendas; (2) regulatory flexibility agenda requirements; (3) requirements of Executive Order 13132 concerning certifications by agencies upon transmittals of draft final regulations of adherence to federalism principles; and (4) portions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 that require agencies to publish statements describing and assessing state, local, and tribal compliance costs before promulgating any general notice of proposed rulemaking.
 
Imposes financial penalties, in the form of funding rescissions, upon the Office of the Administrator if the Comptroller General determines that any of the above requirements have not been satisfied. Requires EPA Inspector General audits for any fiscal year in which funds were so rescinded.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S713-714)
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide adequate data, modeling, and support in the development of a State implementation plan under the Clean Air Act.

Bill: 113-s-319
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for any rule or significant regulatory action relating to state implementation plans for national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards, to timely provide on the request of a state or other governmental entity involved in the development of such plan the following in order to comply with the regulatory action: (1) technical support, (2) data and data modeling, and (3) clarification and guidance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S713-714)
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Closing Regulatory Loopholes Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-320
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Government information and archives
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Closing Regulatory Loopholes Act of 2013 - Requires federal agency guidance documents and major guidance documents to be submitted for congressional review prior to implementation. Defines: (1) "guidance document" as an agency statement of general applicability and future effect that sets forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue or an interpretation of a statutory or regulatory issue; and (2) "major guidance document" as a guidance document that has resulted in or is likely to result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, a major increase in costs or prices, or a significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity, or innovation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S713-714)
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Paying a Fair Share Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-321
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Employment taxes
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Inflation and prices
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax reform and tax simplification

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Paying a Fair Share Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax). Establishes the amount of such tax as the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of: (1) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year; over (2) certain tax credits. Provides for a phase-in of such tax. Requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2014.
 
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Ready to Learn Act

Bill: 113-s-322
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child health
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Family services
Preschool education
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Ready to Learn Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive matching grants to states and, through them, subgrants to schools, child care entities, Head Start programs, or other community-based prekindergarten providers for high-quality full day voluntary prekindergarten programs that prepare four-year olds for school.
 
Requires that such programs: (1) first serve children whose family income is no higher than 200% of the poverty level or who are limited English proficient; (2) ensure that, within two years of grant receipt, each classroom is taught by a teacher who has at least a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education or such a degree and specialized training in early childhood development; (3) use curricula that are aligned with state early learning standards; and (4) have teacher-child ratios of no more than 1 to 10 and group sizes of no more than 20.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-323
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2013-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug therapy
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: 
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2013 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Benefits) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend the months of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients. 
 
Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to make eligible for enrollment in Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), solely for the purpose of such drug coverage, every individual whose insurance benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) have ended by reason of a kidney transplant or the end of any requirement for a regular course of dialysis. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to determine a monthly premium rate for such individuals equal to 35% of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over. Prescribes a formula for detemination of a government contribution to such a premium.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S715)
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S714)
action_date: 2013-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-324
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Medicare
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the exclusion of residents of Puerto Rico from deemed enrollment under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) and thus apply it to them.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide for a special seven-month enrollment period for such residents.
 
Requires recalculation of the late enrollment penalty to 15% of the usual penalty for residents of Puerto Rico who are current enrollees or who enroll during a specified transition period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum age for children eligible for medical care under the CHAMPVA program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-325
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
Makes a child eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) eligible for such care until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of the child's marital status.
 
Makes such provision inapplicable before January 1, 2014, to a child who is eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health care plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-05-09
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-203.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
After School for America's Children Act

Bill: 113-s-326
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child health
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Indian social and development programs
Language arts
Minority education
Nutrition and diet
Physical fitness and lifestyle
School administration
Science and engineering education
Special education

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
After School for America's Children Act - Amends the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program under part B of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). (21st Century Community Learning Centers provide students with before and after school programs to improve their academic performance.)
 
Requires the Centers to provide: (1) students with activities that are targeted to their academic needs and aligned with the instruction they receive during the school day, and (2) students' families with opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children's education.
 
Includes Indian tribes or organizations among the local public or private entities that are eligible for grants from states to establish the Centers.
 
Requires states to use at least 93% (currently 95%) of their allotment from the Secretary of Education to provide grants to those entities. 
 
Allows states to use up to 5% (currently, 3%) of their allotment for certain state activities.
 
Requires states to: (1) award grants to local entities that serve students who primarily attend schools that are eligible for schoolwide programs under part A of title I of the ESEA, and (2) favor applicants that propose to serve students that have not achieved proficiency in accordance with state academic achievement standards.
 
Requires states to use a rigorous peer review process in reviewing grant applications.
 
Allows states to renew a grant under part B based on the grantee's performance during the original grant period.
 
Prohibits the Secretary or states from giving funding priority to applicants that propose to use the funds to extend the regular school day.
 
Includes among the activities grants may fund: (1) core academic subject education activities, including those that allow students to recover or attain credits; (2) literacy education programs; (3) programs that support a healthy, active lifestyle; (4) services for the disabled; (5) cultural programs; and (6) programs that build science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills and support innovative STEM teaching methods.
 
Reauthorizes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program through FY2019.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S774-775)
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Rural Access to Emergency Services Act

Bill: 113-s-328
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
Strengthening Rural Access to Emergency Services Act - Amends title XVI of the Social Security Act to allow certain critical access hospitals and sole community hospitals to use interactive telecommunications systems to satisfy requirements for having a physician available to stabilize an individual with an emergency medical condition.
 
Limits this allowance to circumstances where: (1) the physician available by such interactive telecommunications system is board certified in emergency medicine or pediatric emergency medicine, and (2) a nurse practitioner or physician assistant is onsite in the emergency department.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Colonel Charles Young Home Study Act

Bill: 113-s-331
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2013-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Military history
Ohio
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: 
Colonel Charles Young Home Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Colonel Charles Young Home, a National Historic Landmark in Xenia, Ohio, to determine the feasibility of designating the Home as a unit of the National Park System. (Colonel Charles Young was a distinguished African-American officer in the U.S. Army, a pioneer of techniques in military intelligence, as well as a commander of troops in combat in the Spanish-American War and the Mexican expedition against Pancho Villa.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate