hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-640
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hawaii
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Low- and moderate-income housing

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2013 - Amends the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to extend through FY2017 the authorization of appropriations for housing assistance for Native Hawaiians and loan guarantees for Native Hawaiian housing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

Bill: 113-s-641
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Nursing
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants or contracts for the establishment or operation of Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers.
 
Requires such Centers to: (1) improve the training of health professionals in palliative care for individuals with serious or life-threatening illnesses; (2) develop and disseminate related curricula; (3) support the training and retraining of faculty to provide instruction in palliative care; (4) support continuing education of health professionals who provide palliative care; (5) provide students with clinical training in palliative care in long-term care facilities, home care, hospices, chronic and acute disease hospitals, and ambulatory care centers; and (6) establish traineeships for individuals preparing for advanced education nursing degrees in palliative care.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and enter into contracts with schools of medicine, schools of osteopathic medicine, teaching hospitals, and graduate medical education programs to provide support for projects that fund the training of physicians who plan to teach palliative medicine.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a program to provide Palliative Medicine and Hospice Academic Career Awards to eligible individuals; (2) award grants or contracts to entities that operate a Palliative Care and Hospice Education Center; (3) award incentive grants or contracts to advanced practice nurses, clinical social workers, pharmacists, chaplains, or students of psychology pursuing an advanced degree in palliative care or related fields; and (4) award grants to schools of nursing, health care facilities, or programs leading to certification as a certified nurse assistant to develop and implement programs and initiatives to train individuals in providing palliative care in health-related educational, hospice, home, or long-term care settings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2149)
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-642
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require personnel (excluding physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) who furnish the technical component of medical imaging examinations or radiation therapy procedures for medical purposes (except certain exempt individuals and suppliers) to possess current: (1) certification in the medical imaging or radiation therapy modality and service they furnish from a certification organization designated under this Act; and (2) state licensure or certification, if required by the state, where such services and modalities are within the profession's scope of practice as defined by the state.
 
Gives individuals enrolled in specified training or certification programs when the list of approved certification organizations is published an additional six months after completion of a training program to become fully qualified under this Act.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) establish a program for designating certification organizations after consideration of specified criteria; (2) provide a process for individuals whose training or experience is determined to be equal to, or in excess of, that of a graduate of an accredited educational program in that specialty to demonstrate that their experience meets the educational standards for qualified personnel in their imaging modality or radiation therapy procedures; and (3) publish a list of designated certification organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to waive standards under this Act or to develop alternative standards for rural or health professional shortage areas as appropriate.
 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow Medicare payment for medical imaging and radiation therapy services only if the examination or procedure is furnished by an individual who meets this Act's requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-643
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2013 - Expands the awards program for disclosures by federal employees of fraud, waste, or mismanagement that result in cost savings to the employee's agency to include identification of surplus funds or unnecessary budget authority. Directs that any savings resulting from the identification of such funds or budget authority be deposited in the Treasury and used to reduce a budget deficit or the federal debt. 
 Prohibits the payment of awards to: (1) federal officers who serve in a position at level I of the Executive Schedule; (2) the head of an agency; or (3) a commissioner, board member, or other voting member of an independent establishment.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
PACT Act

Bill: 113-s-644
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Civil actions and liability
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Licensing and registrations
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Preventing Abuse of Cough Treatments Act of 2013 or PACT Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale or offering for sale of a drug containing dextromethorphan, and not subject to practitioner supervision requirements, to an individual under age 18, except if the sale is made: (1) pursuant to a validly issued prescription; or (2) to an individual who provides proof of being actively enrolled in the military, including a valid military identification card. Imposes civil monetary penalties that escalate upon repeated violation.
 
Deems to be adulterated any unfinished dextromethorphan that is possessed, received, or distributed in violation of this Act. 
Prohibits a person from: (1) possessing or receiving unfinished dextromethorphan unless the person is registered with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a producer of a drug or device or otherwise registered, licensed, or approved under federal or state law to engage in the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical production, or manufacture or distribution of drug ingredients; or (2) distributing unfinished dextromethorphan to any person other than a registered or otherwise authorized person. Excludes from such prohibitions common carriers that possess, receive, or distribute unfinished dextromethorphan for purposes of distributing it between registered, licensed, or approved persons. Imposes additional civil monetary penalties for such possession and distribution violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
National Endowment for the Oceans Act

Bill: 113-s-646
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Great Lakes
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Land transfers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Seashores and lakeshores
Tax-exempt organizations
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
National Endowment for the Oceans Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish the National Endowment for the Oceans as a permanent endowment fund to support programs and activities to restore, protect, maintain, or understand living marine resources and their habitats and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, including baseline scientific research, ocean observing, and other programs in coordination with federal and state agencies. 
 
Requires the contribution of non-federal matching funds for certain projects. 
 
Specifies that programs funded in Great Lakes states shall also seek to attain the goals embodied in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Plan, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, or other collaborative planning efforts of the Great Lakes Region. Prohibits the funding of litigation. 
 
Directs the Foundation, according to a specified allocation formula, to award a minimum percentage of funds as grants to coastal states while awarding a lesser percentage of funds to entities including states, Indian tribes, regional bodies, associations, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.
 
Sets forth a process for the Foundation, with approval of the Secretary, to establish application guidelines, eligibility criteria, and grant approval procedures.
 
Requires coastal states, as a condition to grant eligibility, to submit a five-year plan (updated at least every five years to continue receiving a grant) to the Secretary for approval after the Secretary has provided an opportunity for public comment. Directs the Foundation to establish an advisory panel to review and make recommendations with respect to the grant applications of other entities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act

Bill: 113-s-647
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Caribbean area
Civil actions and liability
Cuba
Evidence and witnesses
Intellectual property
Jurisdiction and venue
Latin America
Property rights

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act - Amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to prohibit U.S. courts from recognizing, enforcing, or otherwise validating any assertion of rights by an individual (under current law, by a designated Cuban national) of a mark, trade name, or commercial name that was used in connection with a business or assets that were confiscated by the Cuban government unless the original owner of such mark or name, or such owner's bona fide successor, has expressly consented. Applies such prohibition only if the individual asserting the rights knew or had reason to know at the time of acquiring the rights asserted that the mark or name was the same or substantially similar to the mark or name used in connection with the business or assets that were confiscated. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Helping Educators Support All Students Act

Bill: 113-s-648
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child health
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Health programs administration and funding
Indian social and development programs
Mental health
Performance measurement
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Helping Educators Support All Students Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to support or develop programs that will train teachers, school personnel, and specialized instructional support personnel regarding mental health conditions in children.
 
Includes as grant and subgrant recipients, states and LEAs that partner with a mental health organization, family advocacy organization, or community nonprofit organization.
 
Requires subgrantees to utilize school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, or community organizations with experience in mental illness in developing and conducting the training.
 
Requires the training program to include an annual in-service training component that enables teachers, school personnel, and specialized instructional support personnel to: (1) better understand mental health conditions and the early warning signs in children and adolescents; (2) effectively communicate their mental health concerns with families and consider family perspectives; (3) identify classroom strategies for working effectively with troubled children; and (4) understand school specific information, including links to mental health services and supports in the school and community.
 
Directs the Secretary to develop outcome measures that the Secretary is to use to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the effectiveness of the training programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-650
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2013-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Insurance industry and regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: 
Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to exclude remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers from administrative cost calculations for purposes of calculating the medical-loss ratio of a health insurance plan. 
 
Defines "independent insurance producer" to mean an insurance agent or broker, insurance consultant, benefit specialist, limited insurance representative, and any other person required to be licensed under the laws of the particular state to sell, solicit, negotiate, service, effect, procure, renew, or bind policies of insurance coverage or offer advice, counsel, opinions, or services related to insurance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-651
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Colorado
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Mining
Oil and gas
Outdoor recreation
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: 
Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act of 2013 - Withdraws the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Area (the Thompson Divide) in Colorado from: (1) entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide a written notice to holders of valid existing mineral leases or other mineral interests within the Thompson Divide of the potential opportunity for donation, voluntary exchange, or other relinquishment of those rights for retirement. 
 
Permits a holder of a valid mineral lease or other mineral interest within the Thompson Divide, upon receipt of such notification, to submit a written notice to the Secretary of that holder's interest in the retirement or other conveyance of such right for withdrawal and protection purposes. 
 
Instructs the Secretary to prepare a list of interested holders and make such list available to the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), qualified nonprofit conservation organizations, or persons interested in acquiring a right for retirement. 
 
Requires, if any mineral lease or other mineral interest is relinquished, donated to, exchanged, or otherwise acquired by the United States within the Thompson Divide or under the authority of the Secretary or the USDA Secretary, such land to be withdrawn as described above. 
 
 Prohibits the Secretaries from using federal funds to repurchase valid federal mineral leases or other mineral interests within the Thompson Divide. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Securities Litigation Attorney Accountability and Transparency Act

Bill: 113-s-652
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2013-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: 
Securities Litigation Attorney Accountability and Transparency Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933 to require plaintiff and plaintiff's attorney in any private securities class action to disclose in sworn certifications filed with the complaint: (1) any direct or indirect payment, or promise of such, by the attorney (or an affiliated person) to the plaintiff (or any affiliated person), beyond the pro rata share of any recovery received by the plaintiff; (2) the nature and terms of any legal representation provided by such attorney (or an affiliated person) to such plaintiff (or an affiliated person), other than the representation of the plaintiff in the private action; and (3) any contribution made during the five-year period preceding the filing date of the complaint by such attorney (or an affiliated person) or any political action committee controlled by such attorney, to any elected official with real or apparent authority to retain counsel for such plaintiff or to select or appoint, influence the selection or appointment of, or oversee any individual or group of individuals with that authority.
 
Requires the court, in exercising its discretion over the approval of lead counsel, to employ a competitive bidding process as one of the criteria in the selection and retention of counsel for the most adequate plaintiff in a class action, unless the court determines on the record that such a process is not feasible.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) study fee awards to lead counsel in securities class actions during the seven-year period preceding the enactment of this Act; and (2) determine the effective average hourly rate for lead counsel in such actions, including lead counsel perquisites such as travel and accommodation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2334-2335)
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-654
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2013-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Higher education
Housing and community development funding
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: 
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2013 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-exempt charitable or educational organizations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure improvement grants to certain tax-exempt social clubs (e.g., college fraternities and sororities) which apply such grants to their collegiate housing property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Urban Jobs Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-655
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2013-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Advisory bodies
Employment and training programs
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Language arts
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: 
Urban Jobs Act of 2013 - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Labor to make competitive grants to national or regional private nonprofit community-based organizations to carry out Urban Jobs Programs to provide job training, education, and support services and activities for eligible urban youth to provide them with a pathway to employment, or education leading to employment. 
 
Defines "eligible youth" as individuals ages 18 to 24 who: (1) are not enrolled in secondary or post-secondary school, or (2) are or have been subject to the criminal justice process.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a National Jobs Council Advisory Committee.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) community-based affiliates should establish local jobs council advisory committees to aid in establishing local community support for local implementation of the program; and (2) at least one-third of the members of the committee should be employers in high-impact, high-growth industries in the locality.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate