hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce Improvement Act

Bill: 113-s-1673
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Child care and development
Child health
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Higher education
Preschool education
Rural conditions and development
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: 
Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce Improvement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) (Secretaries) to award competitive matching grants to states to support services for early childhood educators and early childhood care and education programs across all early childhood age groups.
 
Requires grant applicants to demonstrate that they have a comprehensive early childhood educator professional development system or a plan for developing one.
 
Requires the grants to be used to: 
 
 
 provide scholarships to current or prospective early childhood educators to earn a child development associate credential or an associate or baccalaureate degree in early childhood education or a closely related field; 
 
 enhance or expand professional development to help early childhood care and education programs improve by at least one level on the state's quality rating and improvement system, if the state has one; 
 
 provide ongoing professional development opportunities for early childhood educators; 
 
 encourage cross-sector training opportunities for teachers and staff working in Head Start programs, Early Head Start programs, child care programs, early intervention programs, infant and early childhood mental health programs, home visiting programs, and state-funded prekindergarten and preschool programs; and 
 
 expand the number of early childhood educators who are trained to work with infants and toddlers.
 
 
Requires states to give priority to using the grant funds to provide such scholarships.
 
Prohibits this Act's grant funds from being used to supplant other federal, state, or local funds provided for early childhood workforce improvement programs.
 
Directs the Secretaries to carry out their responsibilities under this Act in accordance with the terms they set forth in an interagency agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Parent Education and Family Engagement in Early Childhood Care and Education Act

Bill: 113-s-1674
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child care and development
Child health
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Family services
Government studies and investigations
Preschool education
Rural conditions and development
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: 
Parent Education and Family Engagement in Early Childhood Care and Education Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award competitive matching grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to local agencies to establish, expand, or enhance early childhood and elementary school parent education and family engagement programs.
 
Requires a state to use: (1) at least 83% of its grant for subgrants to programs serving children from birth through age 5 and their parents, and (2) no more than 15% of its grant for subgrants to programs assisting children between age 5 and 8 and their parents with the transition to elementary school.
 
Requires the programs to include:
 
 
 support for activities that enhance the skills of parents in providing for and understanding their children's learning processes and intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development;
 
training and professional development for early childhood educators in engaging parents in parent education and discussing parenting, behavior management, and healthy child development;
 
training for parent educators and early childhood educators in detecting challenges to children's development and improving child and family health, safety, and stability; and 
 
coordination between early childhood educators and instructional staff at elementary schools in the same geographic area as the local agency.
 
 
Prohibits subgrantees from using their subgrants for routine child care or early childhood education program services that are not directly related to parent education or family engagement programs.
 
Directs the Secretaries to arrange for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to evaluate early childhood parent education and family engagement programs and disseminate information on the best practices of those programs.
 
Prohibits this Act's funding from supplanting other federal, state, and local funds for such programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Return Our State Shares Act

Bill: 113-s-1676
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-11-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Energy revenues and royalties
Government trust funds
Gulf of Mexico
Hunting and fishing
Land transfers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mining
Oil and gas
State and local finance
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: 
Return Our State Shares Act - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt the following payments to states from any presidential sequestration order issued under that Act:
 
 
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (14-5029-0-2-303),
 
Financial assistance to states pursuant to the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 from the Land Acquisition and State Assistance account (14-5035-0-2-303),
 
Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (20-8625-0-7-452),
 
Payments of states' shares from certain Gulf of Mexico leases (14-5535-0-2-302),
 
Payments to states under the Mineral Leasing Act and associated payments (14-5003-0-2-999), and
 
Sport Fish Restoration (14-8151-0-7-303). 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Public-Private Employee Retirement Parity Act

Bill: 113-s-1678
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2013-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: 
Public-Private Employee Retirement Parity Act - Excludes as creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) any service performed by an federal employee or Member of Congress (including military service) after the date that is six months after enactment of this Act, if that individual did not perform any period of creditable service (including military service) before such date. Prohibits an employing agency from making any deduction or withholding from the basic pay of, or any contribution for, any employee or Member for such excluded service.
 
Modifies the reporting requirements of the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to require: (1) its annual reports on the actuarial status of CSRS and FERS submitted after the enactment of this Act to be made available online, and (2) all previous reports prepared on or after June 6, 1986, to be made available online.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
National Security Rocket Engine Study Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1679
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2013-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Russia
Spacecraft and satellites

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: 
National Security Rocket Engine Study Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to submit and the Comptroller General (GAO) to review a report on the Russian RD-180 rocket engine, including: (1) a feasibility assessment and cost estimate of manufacturing an alternative rocket engine in the United States, and (2) a description of policy benefits and concerns related to where the rocket engine is manufactured. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Education Counseling Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1682
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2013-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: 
Veterans Education Counseling Act of 2013 - Modifies provisions relating to educational and vocational counseling for veterans to provide a program of counseling services to be known as the Academic Counseling and Educational Information Service. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) make available to veterans information about the definitions, eligibility requirements, and services provided by such counseling and how such counseling services differ from those provided as part of rehabilitation and readjustment assistance programs for veterans; and (2) maintain a website on which a person is able to request such counseling services. 
 
Establishes as the primary goal of such counseling services to provide individuals with assistance in: (1) pursuing postsecondary education and training opportunities, (2) obtaining information about and data on such opportunities, (3) selecting a program of education or training, and (4) addressing other needs relating to education. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers Transition Improvement Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1684
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2013-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: 
Servicemembers Transition Improvement Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing information on members of the Armed Forces who are separating from service to state veterans agencies to facilitate the transition of such members to civilian life. Authorizes such agencies to share such information with appropriate county veterans service offices.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Saving Kids From Dangerous Drugs Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1686
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2013-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Marketing and advertising
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: 
Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act of 2013 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to make it unlawful for any person at least 18 years of age to: (1) knowingly or intentionally manufacture or create a Schedule I or II controlled substance that is combined with a beverage or candy product, marketed or packaged to appear similar to a beverage or candy product, or modified by flavoring or coloring; and (2) know, or have reasonable cause to believe, that the combined, marketed, packaged, or modified controlled substance will be distributed, dispensed, or sold to a person under 18 years of age. 
 
Imposes enhanced criminal penalties for violations (not more than 10 years for a first offense or 20 years for a subsequent offense, involving the same controlled substance and schedule).

 Exempts any controlled substance that has been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the drug approval process or that has been altered at the direction of a medical practitioner for a legitimate medical purpose.
 
Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review its guidelines and policy statements to reflect the enhanced penalties provided by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7962)
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7961-7962)
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Payroll Fraud Prevention Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1687
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2013-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Labor standards
Performance measurement
Personnel records
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: 
Payroll Fraud Prevention Act of 2013- Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to require every person (including every employer and enterprise) that employs an employee or non-employee who performs labor or services, including through an entity such as a trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation, to: (1) classify such individuals accurately as employees or non-employees; and (2) notify each new employee and new non-employee of his or her classification as an employee or non-employee, together with information concerning their legal rights.
 
Makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) discharge or otherwise discriminate against an individual (including an employee) who has opposed any practice, or filed a complaint or instituted any proceeding related to this Act, including with respect to an individual's status as an employee or non-employee; and (2) wrongly classify an employee as a non-employee.
 
Doubles the amount of liquidated damages for maximum hours, minimum wage, and notice of classification violations by an employer. Subjects a person who: (1) violates such requirements (including recordkeeping requirements) to a civil penalty of up to $1,100; or (2) repeatedly or willfully violates such requirements to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish a single webpage on the Department of Labor website that summarizes the rights of employees and non-employees under the FLSA and this Act.
 
Amends the Social Security Act to require, as a condition for a federal grant for the administration of state unemployment compensation, for the state's unemployment compensation law to include a provision for: (1) auditing programs that identify employers that have not registered under the state law or that are paying unreported compensation where the effect is to exclude employees from unemployment compensation coverage, and (2) establishing administrative penalties for misclassifying employees or paying unreported unemployment compensation to employees. 
 
Requires any office, administration, or division of the Department of Labor to report any misclassification of an employee by a person subject to the FLSA that it discovers to the Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD). Authorizes the WHD to report such information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 113-s-1688
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2013-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Military history
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: 
Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act - Requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Fallen Firefighters Assistance Tax Clarification Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1689
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2013-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
New York State
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax-exempt organizations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: 
Fallen Firefighters Assistance Tax Clarification Act of 2013 - Treats payments made on or after December 24, 2012, and before the later of January 1, 2014, or 30 days after the enactment of this Act, by a tax-exempt organization to any firefighter who was injured as a result of the ambush of firefighters responding to an emergency on December 24, 2012, in Webster, New York, and the spouse or any dependent of any firefighter who died as a result of such ambush, as related to the purpose or function forming the basis of such organization's tax-exempt status, if such payments are made in good faith using a reasonable and objective formula which is consistently applied. 
 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-12-13
text: See also H.R. 3458.
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Skies Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1692
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2013-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Transportation
Labor standards
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: 
Safe Skies Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, to modify a specified Department of Transportation (DOT) final rule relating to flightcrew member duty and rest requirements so that the requirements under that rule apply to all-cargo flightcrew members to the same extent they apply to air passenger flightcrew members.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
ACA Enrollment Extension Act

Bill: 113-s-1693
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2013-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: 
ACA Enrollment Extension Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to revise the initial open enrollment period provided by a health care exchange so that the period closes on a date that is the later of: (1) May 31, 2014, or (2) a later date determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) after considering the progress made on improving the functionality of the federally-facilitated health insurance marketplace and related factors.
 
Provides similar terms for initial or special enrollment periods applicable to other health insurance coverage in the individual market.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt individuals, for taxable year 2014, from the penalty for not maintaining minimum essential coverage for any month ending prior to the enrollment period closing date determined by the Secretary under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act

Bill: 113-s-1694
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2013-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aging
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Income tax credits
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: 
Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of up to $500 in a taxable year for the purchase of a hearing aid that is authorized under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for commercial distribution and is intended for use by the taxpayer or a dependent of the taxpayer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8006)
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness.

Bill: 113-s-1695
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2013-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Arctic and polar regions
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: 
Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System under the Wilderness Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate