zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act - Amends the federal criminal code to revise and expand prohibitions against bribery, theft of public money, and other public corruption offenses. (Sec. 2) Establishes a six-year limitation period for the prosecution of public corruption crimes involving bribery, extortion, theft of government property, mail fraud, and racketeering. (Sec. 3) Expands mail and wire fraud statutes to cover offenses involving any other thing of value (e.g., intangible rights and licenses). (Sec. 4) Modifies general venue rules for criminal prosecutions to allow prosecutions in any district in which an act in furtherance of an offense is committed. (Sec. 5) Reduces from $5,000 to $1,000 the threshold amount for theft or bribery involving federally-assisted programs and increases the maximum prison term for such offenses from 10 to 15 years. (Sec. 6) Increases the maximum term of imprisonment for theft and embezzlement of federal money, property, or records from 10 to 15 years. (Sec. 7) Increases the maximum term of imprisonment for bribery offenses from 15 to 20 years. (Sec. 8) Increases to 10 years the maximum term of imprisonment for: (1) solicitation by federal officers and employees of political contributions from other federal officers and employees; (2) promise of employment made possible by an act of Congress for political activity; (3) deprivation of such employment for political activity; (4) intimidation to secure political contributions; (5) solicitation and acceptance of contributions in federal offices; and (6) coercion of political activity by federal employees. (Sec. 9) Applies the prohibition against embezzlement or theft of federal money or property to government officials and employees of the District of Columbia. (Sec. 10) Includes embezzlement or theft of government money or property as predicates for racketeering prosecutions and wiretaps. (Sec. 12) Modifies elements relating to the crime of bribery of public officials and witnesses to: (1) prohibit public officials from accepting anything of value, other than what is permitted by rule or regulation, for or because of the official's or person's official position; (2) expand the definition of "official act" to include any conduct that falls within the range of official duty of a public official; (3) include a course of conduct involving multiple gifts, offers or promises designed to influence a public official. (Sec. 15) Expands the types of perjury and obstruction of justice offenses for which venue lies in the district in which the official proceeding was intended to be affected or in which the conduct constituting the alleged offense occurred. (Sec. 16) Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2013 for additional Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel to investigate and prosecute public corruption offenses. (Sec. 17) Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines and policy statements relating to public corruption offenses to reflect the intent of Congress that penalties for such offenses be increased.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to knowingly and willfully sell or forge a ticket to a presidential inaugural ceremony or to use, unlawfully possess, or exhibit a forged ticket with the intent to defraud. Exempts the sale of tickets to a presidential inaugural ceremony that has already occurred or by an official presidential inaugural committee. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year for violations.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force to: (1) establish branches in the 10 states with the highest concentration of mortgage fraud; (2) establish coordinating entities, and solicit the voluntary participation of federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, to organize initiatives to address mortgage fraud; (3) train such agencies; (4) collect and disseminate mortgage fraud data; and (5) perform other related functions. Authorizes the Task Force, including its branches, to perform other functions as well, including: (1) initiating federal mortgage fraud investigations and coordinating state and local investigations; (2) establishing a toll-free hotline; and (3) creating a database of mortgage industry license suspensions and revocations.

Date: 2009-02-03
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 - Prohibits a federal entity from compelling a covered person (journalists and their employers, etc.) to testify or produce any document relating to protected information unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including that all reasonable alternative sources have been exhausted, that the testimony or document sought is essential, and that nondisclosure would be contrary to the public interest, taking into account both the public interest in compelling disclosure and the public interest in gathering news and maintaining the free flow of information. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be limited and narrowly tailored. Creates exceptions relating to alleged criminal or tortious conduct, prevention of death, kidnapping, or substantial bodily injury, prevention of terrorist activity, or prevention of national security harm. Applies this Act to communications service providers with regard to: (1) a communication to which a covered person is a party; (2) any document relating to such a communication; or (3) the contents of such a communication. Sets forth notice requirements. Permits a court to delay notice to a covered person upon determining that such notice would pose a substantial threat to the integrity of a criminal investigation. Declares that this Act does not supersede, dilute, or preclude any law or court decision compelling or not compelling disclosure by a covered person or communications service provider of information identifying a source who provided information without a confidentiality promise made as part of engaging in journalism or records, communication data, documents, or information obtained without a confidentiality promise.

Date: 2009-02-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Law
Immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to subject a person to fine, imprisonment, or both, who: (1) willfully and knowingly executes a scheme in connection with any federal immigration law-related matter to defraud a person, or to obtain money or anything else of value from a person by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises; or (2) willfully, knowingly, and falsely represents that such person is an attorney or an accredited representative in any federal immigration law-related matter. Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) use the Executive Office of Immigration Review to investigate such immigration fraud crimes; and (2) educate immigrant communities about who may provide legal services and representation in immigration proceedings. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that: (1) aliens in removal proceedings be provided with a description of who may represent them, including notice that immigration consultants, visa consultants, and other unauthorized individuals may not provide such representation; and (2) the Attorney General provide for lists of persons who are prohibited from providing representation in immigration proceedings.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Immigration
Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2009 - Repeals death penalty provisions for a wide range of homicide-related offenses under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act, and other statutes relating to aircraft hijacking, espionage and treason, and offenses punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Prohibits the sentencing to death or execution of any person for any violation of federal law after the enactment of this Act. Commutes death penalties imposed prior to the enactment of this Act to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, or franchise, or civil rights dispute. Declares, further, that the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. Exempts from this Act arbitration provisions in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations. Denies to any such arbitration provision, however, the effect of waiving the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the Constitution of the United States, a state constitution, or a federal or state statute, or public policy arising therefrom.

Date: 2009-04-29
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Law
Border Law Enforcement Anti-Drug Trafficking Act of 2009 - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible law enforcement agencies and institutions of higher education to assist such agencies in addressing drug-related criminal activity within their jurisdictions. Requires such grants to be used to: (1) combat criminal activities along the southern border of the United States; (2) facilitate information sharing and collaboration by law enforcement agencies; (3) enhance jails, community corrections, and detention operations; and (4) provide training and technical assistance related to negotiation and rescue tactics, intelligence and information sharing on drug trafficking organizations, and interdiction. Defines "eligible law enforcement agency" as a tribal, state, or local law enforcement agency, including a community corrections agency and any agency that employs prosecutors, probation officers, or parole officers, that is located or performs duties in: (1) Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas; or (2) a jurisdiction that has been designated as a high intensity drug trafficking area.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Foreign Evidence Request Efficiency Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) allow any court of competent jurisdiction, as defined by this Act, to require the disclosure of stored wire or electronic communications for criminal investigations (currently, only a court with jurisdiction over the offense under investigation may issue an order for disclosure); and (2) authorize a federal judge to issue orders to execute requests from foreign judicial or law enforcement authorities for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses.

Date: 2009-06-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Protect Citizens and Residents from Unlawful Detention Act - Sets forth protections against unlawful detentions of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents regarding: (1) notifications; (2) access to counsel; (3) notice and charges; (4) issuance of detainers; (5) access to telephones; (6) protection of community institutions, faith-based organizations, and other institutions; (7) transfer of detainees; and (8) immigration enforcement-related training of personnel. Sets forth protections for specified vulnerable populations. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish secure alternative custody programs to ensure public safety and appearances at immigration proceedings. Establishes within DHS a position of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Ombudsman.

Date: 2009-07-30
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Immigration
Managing Arson Through Criminal History (MATCH) Act of 2010 - Directs the Attorney General to maintain at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) a national database for each criminal arsonist or bomber (an individual convicted of an arson or bombing offense), to be known as the National Criminal Arsonist and Criminal Bomber Registry. Limits the use of such Registry and disclosures therefrom to law enforcement purposes. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) ensure that updated information about a criminal arsonist or bomber is immediately available to all relevant jurisdictions (i.e., states, the District of Columbia, territories and possessions, and federally recognized Indian tribes); (2) provide notification to a jurisdiction in which the criminal arsonist or bomber is an employee, a student, or a resident; (3) establish and maintain a national arsonist and bomber Internet site which includes relevant information for each criminal arsonist or bomber; (4) establish guidelines for correction of erroneous information in the Registry or Internet site; and (5) develop and support software to enable jurisdictions to participate in the Registry and Internet site. Prohibits access by the public to information in the Registry or on the Internet site. Sets forth the information required to be included in the Registry by the arsonist or bomber and by jurisdictions, including identifying information, physical descriptions, photographs, and fingerprints. Allows expungement of information from the Registry for juveniles after five years. Requires notification to criminal arsonists and bombers of registration requirements and the duty to register. Requires jurisdictions to participate in the Registry before the later of three years after the enactment of this Act or one year after software provided by the Attorney General is made available to such jurisdictions. Allows federally recognized Indian tribes to elect to participate in the Registry. Grants the federal government and jurisdictions immunity from liability for good faith conduct under this Act. Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to provide additional grant funding to assist states in implementing this Act.

Date: 2009-09-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act of 2009 - Amends the Hate Crime Statistics Act to include crimes against the homeless in the crime data collected by the Attorney General under such Act.

Date: 2009-10-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Strengthening Enforcement for Health Care Fraud Crimes Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the elements of the crime of health care fraud and impose a mandatory minimum penalty of six months imprisonment for losses of $100,000 or more resulting from such fraud.

Date: 2009-10-22
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Terrorist Hoax Improvements Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) extend the prohibition against conveying false information and hoaxes to include false information and hoaxes about any federal crime of terrorism; (2) increase maximum prison terms for hoaxes involving a member of the Armed Forces during war; (3) expand civil liability provisions relating to expenses incurred by emergency personnel in responding to a hoax; and (4) extend the prohibition against mailing threatening communications to include threats against corporations or governmental entities (as well as individuals).

Date: 2009-12-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
False Travel Documents Prohibition Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the production, transfer, possession, and use of false travel documents.

Date: 2009-12-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Rape Victims Act of 2009 - Declares that an agreement made between an employer and employee to arbitrate a claim of rape shall not be enforceable.

Date: 2009-12-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Labor and employment
Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010 - Requires an individual who is suspected of engaging in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners through an act of terrorism and who may be an unprivileged enemy belligerent to be placed in military custody for purposes of initial interrogation and determination of status. Allows the detention and interrogation of such individuals for a reasonable time after capture or coming into custody. Defines "unprivileged enemy belligerent" as an individual who: (1) has engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners; (2) has purposely and materially supported hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners; or (3) was a part of al Qaeda at the time of capture. Authorizes the President to establish an interagency team composed of executive branch personnel with expertise in national security, terrorism, intelligence, interrogation, or law enforcement to interrogate an individual placed in military custody and to determine if such individual is an unprivileged enemy belligerent. Designates such team as a high-value detainee interrogation group. Designates certain individuals in military custody as high value detainees based upon the potential threat such individuals pose for an attack on the United States, its citizens, or military personnel, the potential intelligence value of such individuals, or membership in al Qaeda or an affiliated terrorist group. Directs the high-value detainee interrogation group to conduct interrogations of such individuals and make preliminary determinations whether such individuals are unprivileged enemy belligerents. Deems as the paramount purpose of such interrogations the protection of U.S. civilians and facilities through thorough and professional interrogation for intelligence purposes. Prohibits the use of Department of Justice (DOJ) appropriated funds to prosecute an unprivileged enemy belligerent in an Article III court. Allows the detention of an unprivileged enemy belligerent without criminal charges or trial for the duration of hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners in which the individual has engaged or which the individual has purposely and materially supported.

Date: 2010-03-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fugitive Information Networked Database Act of 2010 or the FIND Act - Directs the Attorney General to make one-year grants to states or Indian tribes to develop and implement or upgrade secure electronic warrant management systems for the preparation, submission, and validation of felony warrants that are compatible and interoperable with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. Provides for set asides of grant funds to hire additional personnel to validate warrants entered into the NCIC database and for Indian tribes. Requires states that submit a grant renewal application to file with the Attorney General and appropriate county clerk's offices an annual report specifying: (1) the number of defendants, including indigent defendants, assessed or interviewed for pretrial release; (2) the number of failures to appear for a scheduled court appearance; and (3) the number and type of infractions committed by defendants while on pretrial release. Directs the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide state, local, and tribal government agencies the technology to make state and local warrant databases compatible and interoperative with the NCIC database. Directs the Comptroller General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on felony warrants issued by state, local, and tribal governments and entered into the NCIC database and on the apprehension and extradition of persons with active felony warrants. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to states and Indian tribes to extradite fugitives for prosecution. Requires states and Indian tribes applying for grants to report to the Attorney General on the number of active felony warrants they have issued.

Date: 2010-03-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Directs the Attorney General to make recommendations to the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision established by the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Adult Offenders and report to Congress on: (1) whether minimum standards in such Compacts should be updated to better protect public and officer safety; and (2) policies regarding the transfer of supervision of an adult offender from an originating state of jurisdiction to a receiving state.

Date: 2010-03-25
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Antitrust Criminal Penalties Enforcement and Reform Act of 2004 Extension Act of 2010 - Amends the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 to make permanent provisions of that Act limiting civil damages in antitrust enforcement actions involving conduct covered by antitrust leniency agreements. Directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to the congressional Judiciary Committees on the effectiveness of the Antitrust Criminal Penalties Enforcement and Reform Act of 2004, both in criminal investigation and enforcement by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and in private civil actions.

Date: 2010-04-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Commerce
Stop the Sale of Murderabilia to Protect the Dignity of Crime Victims Act of 2010- Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit a federal or state prison inmate convicted of a crime of violence from knowlingly placing in the mail or causing to be delivered in interstate or foreign commerce any property, article, or object. Sets forth exceptions for a mailing or delivery of title to real property, title to motor vehicles, or a security to satisfy debt that is: (1) imposed by law or a court order; or (2) incurred through a contract for legal services, a mortgage on the primary residence of the immediate family of the inmate, the education or medical care of the inmate or a member of the immediate family of the inmate, or life, health, home, or car insurance. Provides for civil and criminal forfeiture of real or personal property used to commit such a crime or obtained as a result of such crime. Provides civil remedies, including injunctions, damages, and attorney fees, for persons aggrieved by prisoners using the mail in violation of this Act.

Date: 2010-06-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Stalkers Act of 2010 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the definition of stalking and impose criminal penalties on anyone who, with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate a person or to place a person under surveillance with the intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate such person, travels in interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or enters or leaves Indian country, and: (1) causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or serious emotional distress to a person other than the person engaging in the conduct; or (2) engages in conduct that would be reasonably expected to cause serious emotional distress to the other person. Imposes the same criminal penalties on anyone who, with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate a person, engages in a course of conduct that: (1) is in or substantially affects interstate or foreign commerce; and (2) causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or serious emotional distress to a person other than the person engaging in the conduct or occurs in circumstances where the conduct would be reasonably expected to cause the other person serious emotional distress. Increases by 5 years the penalty for a stalking offense if: (1) the offense involves conduct in violation of a protection order; or (2) the victim of the offense is under the age of 18 or over the age of 65. Requires the annual report of the Attorney General to include an evaluation of efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking and to identify and describe elements of such efforts that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws.

Date: 2010-07-27
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Terrorist Detention Review Reform Act - Sets forth standards for habeas corpus review for any individual who is held by the United States at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or whom the United States seeks to hold as an unprivileged enemy belligerent, and who is subject to the habeas corpus jurisdiction of the federal courts (covered individual). Defines "unprivileged enemy belligerent" as an individual who has engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners, who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners, or who was a member of, part of, or operated in a clandestine, covert, or military capacity on behalf of, the Taliban, al Qaeda, or associated forces. Reaffirms: (1) that the United States is in an armed conflict with the Taliban, al Qaeda, and associated forces and that those entities continue to pose a threat to the United States and its citizens, both domestically and abroad; and (2) that the President is authorized to detain unprivileged enemy belligerents in connection with the continuing armed conflict with the Taliban, al Qaeda, and associated forces, regardless of the place of capture, until the termination of hostilities. Grants the United States District Court for the District of Columbia exclusive jurisdiction and venue for consideration of applications for habeas corpus by or on behalf of a covered individual. Limits the scope of such jurisdiction to challenges to the legality of the continued detention of a covered individual, excluding claims relating to the detention, transfer, treatment, trial, or conditions of confinement of such individual, or any other action against the United States or its agents. Sets forth requirements and criteria relating to: (1) the federal government's burden of proof in habeas corpus proceedings involving a covered individual; (2) discovery of documents and protection of national security information; (3) evidentiary matters, including the exclusion of statements made by a covered individual obtained by torture or by cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and (4) limitations on second or successive habeas corpus applications. Imposes a stay on pending applications for habeas corpus until military commission proceedings have been exhausted. Prohibits: (1) any court from ordering the release of a covered individual into the United States, its territories, or possessions; and (2) the Secretary of State from issuing any visa to, or the Secretary of Homeland Security from admitting or providing any type of immigration status to, a covered individual that may permit such individual to enter, be admitted to, or otherwise be at liberty in the United States.

Date: 2010-08-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Law
Stalkers Act of 2010 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the definition of stalking and impose criminal penalties on anyone who, with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate another person or to place a person under surveillance with the intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate such person, travels in interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or enters or leaves Indian country and: (1) causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or serious emotional distress to another person; or (2) engages in conduct that would be reasonably expected to cause serious emotional distress to another person. Imposes the same criminal penalties on anyone who, with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate another person, engages in a course of conduct that: (1) uses the mail, any interactive computer service, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce; and (2) causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or significant emotional distress to another person or occurs in circumstances where the conduct would be reasonably expected to cause another person significant emotional distress. Increases by 5 years the penalty for a stalking offense if: (1) the offense involves conduct in violation of a protection order; or (2) the victim of the offense is under the age of 18 or over the age of 65. Requires the annual report of the Attorney General to include an evaluation of efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking and to identify and describe elements of such efforts that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws.

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Food Safety Accountability Act of 2010 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to impose an additional fine and/or a prison term of up to 10 years for knowingly violating prohibitions of such Act against adulteration or misbranding of any food, drug, device, tobacco product, or cosmetic, or against the introduction in interstate commerce of unsafe dietary supplements, with conscious or reckless disregard of a risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Date: 2010-09-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the prohibition against depictions of animal cruelty to prohibit anyone from knowingly creating an animal crush video, or attempting or conspiring to do so, if: (1) such person intends or has reason to know that such video will be distributed in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce; or (2) such video is distributed in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce. Prohibits the sale, marketing, exchange, or distribution of such videos in interstate or foreign commerce, or any attempt or conspiracy to do so. Defines "animal crush video" as any photograph, motion picture, film, video or digital recording, or electronic image that: (1) depicts actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury; and (2) is obscene. Extends the applicability of this Act to a person selling, marketing, advertising, exchanging, distributing, or creating animal crush videos outside the United States if: (1) such person intends or has reason to know that the animal crush video will be transported into the United States or its territories or possessions; or (2) the video is so transported. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to seven years for violations of this Act. Exempts from the application of this Act: (1) any visual depiction of customary and normal veterinary or agricultural husbandry practices, the slaughter of animals for food, or hunting, trapping, or fishing; and (2) good faith distribution of an animal crush video to a law enforcement agency or a third party for the sole purpose of determining if referral to a law enforcement agency is appropriate.

Date: 2010-09-27
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Armed Career Criminal Sentencing Act of 2010 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise provisions relating to the sentencing of repeat offenders who commit a serious drug offense or a violent crime using a firearm that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year.  Requires the United States Attorney prosecuting a repeat offender to file a written notice of the previous convictions being relied upon to obtain an increased sentence against such offender. Directs the United States Sentencing Commmission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to reflect the amendments made by this Act.

Date: 2010-12-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Classified Information Accountability Act of 2011 or CIA Act - Provides a civil penalty of up to $10,000 against a member of the intelligence community who, as part of a communication to a U.S. Senator or Representative that involves classified material: (1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up a material fact; (2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or misrepresentation; or (3) makes or uses any false writing or document known to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry. Prohibits any federal department or agency from indemnifying a person from such liability. Authorizes the Senator or Representative concerned to bring a civil action for such a violation. Requires the court involved to review the classified information in camera.

Date: 2011-01-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Public Official Accountability Act - Amends the federal criminal code to provide for a two-year increase in the prison sentence of public officials convicted of any crime: (1) committed during the course of official duty and intended to enrich such officials; and (2) involving bribery, fraud, extortion, or theft of public funds greater than $10,000.

Date: 2011-01-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Simplifying The Ambiguous Law, Keeping Everyone Reliably Safe Act of 2011 or the STALKERS Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the definition of stalking and impose criminal penalties on anyone who, with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate a person or to place a person under surveillance with the intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate such person, travels in interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or enters or leaves Indian country and: (1) causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or serious emotional distress to another person; or (2) engages in conduct that would be reasonably expected to cause serious emotional distress to another person.Imposes the same criminal penalties on anyone who, with intent to kill, physically injure, harass, or intimidate a person, engages in a course of conduct in or substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce that: (1) causes or attempts to cause bodily injury or serious emotional distress to another person; or (2) occurs in circumstances where the conduct would be reasonably expected to cause another person serious emotional distress.Increases penalties for stalking offenses if: (1) the offense involves conduct in violation of a protection order; or (2) the victim of the offense is under the age of 18 or over the age of 65.Requires the annual report of the Attorney General to include an evaluation of efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking and to identify and describe elements of such efforts that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws. Provides for compliance of the budgetary effects of this Act with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

Date: 2011-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to direct the Bureau of Prisons, pursuant to a good time policy, to release a prisoner who has served one half or more of his or her term of imprisonment if that prisoner: (1) has attained age 45; (2) has never been convicted of a crime of violence; and (3) has not engaged in any violation, involving violent conduct, of institutional disciplinary regulations.

Date: 2011-01-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2011 or David's Law - Amends the federal criminal code to impose penalties for willfully causing bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, attempting to cause such injury, whether or not acting under color of law, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes and, if appropriate, to amend the federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for such an offense. Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to state and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Treasury and to DOJ for FY2011-FY2013 to increase the number of personnel to protect against criminal interference with federally-protected activities.

Date: 2011-01-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Patent Lawsuit Reform Act of 2011 - Amends federal patent law to specify that the fine for falsely marked articles (articles falsely labeled or advertised to deceive the public into believing such articles are patented) is limited to $500, in the aggregate, for all offenses in connection with the same articles. Requires a person bringing a civil action against a violator to have suffered a competitive injury and limits such person's damages to $500.

Date: 2011-01-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the federal criminal code to expand the prohibition against making threats against the President, Vice President, or other successor to the presidency to cover threats against any Member of Congress or Member-of-Congress-elect.

Date: 2011-01-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011 [sic] - Amends the federal criminal code to revise the prohibition against entering restricted federal buildings or grounds to impose criminal penalties on anyone who knowingly enters any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. Defines "restricted buildings or grounds" as a posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted area of: (1) the White House or its grounds or the Vice President's official residence or its grounds, (2) a building or grounds where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting, or (3) a building or grounds so restricted due to a special event of national significance.

Date: 2011-01-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the aiming of the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft or in its flight path. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years.Exempts from such prohibition: (1) individuals conducting research and development or flight test operations for an aircraft manufacturer or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); (2) Department of Defense (DOD) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel conducting research, development, operations, testing or training; or (3) an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send a distress signal.

Date: 2011-01-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
First Responders Fighting Terrorism Protection Act of 2011 - Grants qualified immunity from civil liability for a first responder who: (1) takes reasonable action to prevent an act of terrorism; or (2) observes or receives a report of, and takes reasonable action to respond to, any suspicious transaction, activity, or occurrence that indicates that an individual may be engaging, or preparing to engage, in a violation of law relating to a terrorist act. Makes a first responder not entitled to assert the defense of qualified immunity nevertheless immune from civil liability under federal, state, and local law if such responder acted in good faith and on objectively reasonable suspicion.Entitles a first responder found to be immune from liability under this Act to recover from the plaintiff all reasonable costs and attorney fees.

Date: 2011-01-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Law
Provider Shield Act of 2011 - Declares that the development, recognition, or implementation of any guideline or other standard under specified Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provisions related to health care quality shall not be construed to establish the standard of care or duty of care owed by a health care provider to a patient in any medical malpractice or medical product liability case. Repeals a PPACA provision requiring the Comptroller General to study whether the development, recognition, or implementation of any such guideline or other standard would result in the establishment of a new cause of action or claim.

Date: 2011-02-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Health
Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the use of any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to teach a person how to commit suicide, or to provide such person with material support or resources in committing suicide, knowing such person is likely to use such assistance to commit suicide. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of not more than five years for violations. Increases the prison term to any number of years or life if a violation results in a death.

Date: 2011-03-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Crime Victim Restitution and Court Fee Intercept Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the chief justice of the highest court of any state that wishes to collect past-due, legally enforceable state judicial debts to designate a single state entity to communicate judicial debt information to the Secretary of the Treasury. Directs the Secretary, upon receiving notice from such an entity that a named person owes a past-due, legally enforceable state judicial debt, to pay such debt from any tax refund due to such person. Defines "state judicial debt" to include court costs, fees, fines, assessments, restitution to victims of crime, and other monies resulting from a judgment or sentence rendered by any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction handling criminal or traffic cases in the state.

Date: 2011-04-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Taxation
Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry Act of 2011 or the SAFER Act of 2011 - Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) allow states or local governments to use grant funds under such Act to conduct audits of samples of sexual assault evidence that are awaiting testing, and (2) provide funding in FY2012-FY2016 for such purpose. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants for such audits only if the grant recipient (i.e., a state or local government) submits a plan for performing the audit of samples of sexual assault evidence and includes a good-faith estimate of the number of such samples. Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish a Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry to include information about samples of sexual assault evidence awaiting testing and to track the testing and processing of such samples, and (2) develop and disseminate to law enforcement and other appropriate agencies a report on best practices for the testing and use of DNA evidence collected as part of a criminal investigation of sexual assault cases. Sets forth requirements relating to information required to be included in such Registry, the protection of personally identifiable information in the Registry, and the updating of information in the Registry. Expresses the sense of Congress that law enforcement agencies and other appropriate entities should use the best practices developed by the Attorney General to develop, evaluate, and improve DNA evidence protocols.

Date: 2011-04-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Exempts activities of state departments of transportation to maintain the federal-aid highway system (including construction occurring within existing rights-of-way previously acquired and reserved for transportation purposes) from federal requirements to secure any permit, review, analysis, clearance, or impact statement.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2011 - Excludes receipts and disbursements of the Crime Victims Fund from executive and congressional budgets.Prohibits the consideration of any legislation in the House of Representatives or the Senate that would authorize the use of amounts in the Crime Victims Fund for a purpose not authorized by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. Allows the Senate to waive or suspend such prohibition by a three-fifths vote.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Nicole's Law - Requires states to have in effect laws and policies to extend protections similar to those afforded to victims of domestic violence to victims of a sex offense who are not in a familiar or dating relationship with the perpetrator of such offense.

Date: 2011-05-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to make grants for the prevention of cruelty to animals to states that have enacted laws prohibiting the performance of devocalization procedures on dogs and cats for purposes of convenience. Defines: (1) "devocalization procedure" as a surgical procedure that prevents an animal's larynx from producing sound or reduces the ability of the larynx to produce sound, and (2) "for purposes of convenience" meaning that the procedure is not performed primarily for the animal's therapeutic benefit.

Date: 2011-05-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Animals
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 10, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Stolen Valor Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of: a Congressional Medal of Honor, a distinguished-service cross, a Navy cross, an Air Force cross, a silver star, a Purple Heart, a Combat Infantryman's Badge, a Combat Action Badge, a Combat Medical Badge, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Combat Action Medal, or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law.

Date: 2011-05-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Criminal Code Modernization and Simplification Act of 2011 - Revises and reorganizes the federal criminal code. Incorporates into such code all major federal crimes, including national security and related crimes, drug crimes, immigration crimes, transportation related crimes, and regulatory crimes. Consolidates civil and criminal forfeiture provisions related to federal crimes. Sets forth uniform definitions applicable to the entire criminal code. Provides for the punishment of attempts and conspiracies to commit a crime on the same basis as the completed offense, as a general rule.

Date: 2011-05-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Criminal & Civil Code)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement