zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Joint Select Committee on Job Creation Act of 2011 - Establishes the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation, whose goal shall be to restore the nation's workforce to full employment over FY2012 and FY2013. Requires the joint committee to provide recommendations and legislative language that will significantly improve the short-term and long-term employment levels in the United States. Prescribes legislative procedures for consideration in both chambers of the Joint Committee's recommendations.

Date: 2011-09-02
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Job Creation and Economic Growth Act - Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to redesignate the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, Job Creation, and Economic Growth. Adds as a goal of the joint committee spurring economic growth and restoring the nation's workforce to full employment over the period of FY2012 and FY2013. Revises the duties of the joint committee to require it to make recommendations that will significantly improve U.S. short-term and long-term employment levels and spur economic growth. Requires the joint committee, by November 23, 2011, to vote on: (1) a report containing joint committee findings, conclusions, and recommendations with respect to economic growth and job creation and Congressional Budget Office (CBO) costs estimates of proposed job creation legislation; and (2) proposed legislative language to carry out such recommendations. Prescribes procedures for expedited congressional consideration of proposed joint committee job creation legislative language.

Date: 2011-09-02
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Job Creation and Economic Growth Act - Amends the Budget Control Act of 2011 to redesignate the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, Job Creation, and Economic Growth. Adds as a goal of the joint committee spurring economic growth and restoring the nation's workforce to full employment over the period of FY2012 and FY2013. Revises the duties of the joint committee to require it to make recommendations that will significantly improve U.S. short-term and long-term employment levels and spur economic growth. Requires the joint committee, by November 23, 2011, to vote on proposed legislative language to carry out joint committee recommendations with respect to job creation measures, including a statement of job creation achieved by such legislation. Increases the number of members of the joint committee from 12 to 16. Directs the joint committee to appoint some of its members to a special subcommittee to make recommendations on measures to spur economic growth and restore the nation's workforce to full employment over the period of FY2012 and FY2013. Prescribes procedures for expedited congressional consideration of proposed joint committee job creation legislative language.

Date: 2011-09-02
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2011 - Amends the Presidential Records Act to require the Archivist of the United States, upon determining to make available any presidential record not previously made available publicly, to: (1) promptly provide written notice of such determination to the former President during whose term of office the record was created and to the incumbent President, and (2) make the notice available to the public.  Requires a presidential record to be made available to the public 60 days after the Archivist gives notice, except any record with respect to which the Archivist receives notification from a former or incumbent President of a claim of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure.  Prohibits the Archivist from making a record that is subject to a privilege claim asserted by the incumbent President publicly available unless: (1) the incumbent President withdraws the claim; or (2) the Archivist is otherwise directed to do so by a final court order that is not subject to appeal. Prohibits the Archivist from making available any original presidential records to anyone claiming access to them as a designated representative of a President or former President if that individual has been convicted of a crime relating to the review, removal, or destruction of the Archives' records.

Date: 2011-09-29
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Reclaiming Oversight of Executive Branch Spending Act - Prohibits a federal agency from awarding a contract, grant, or loan in excess of $100 million for a fiscal year to a private entity unless such agency requests and Congress grants approval of such contract, grant, or loan by enactment of a joint resolution.  Requires Congress to consider such a joint resolution of approval not later than 30 days after the submission of a request, under expedited procedures.

Date: 2011-10-06
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
American Innovation in Manufacturing Act - Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce, for each of FY2012-FY2013, from: (1) providing a Hollings Manufacturing Extension Center under the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program with more than 50% of the costs incurred by the Center under the Program, and (2) requiring a Center's cost share to exceed 50%. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on such cost share requirements, including: (1) a discussion of various cost share structures, and (2) a recommendation on how best to structure the cost-share requirement after FY2013 to provide for long-term sustainability of the Program.

Date: 2011-10-06
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Commerce
Southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a polytrauma rehabilitation center or polytrauma network site of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Fort Bayard, New Mexico.

Date: 2011-11-04
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2012 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (CBICA) to authorize the President to propose the rescission (line item veto) of all or any dollar amount of funding provided by any enacted bill or joint resolution. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding the proposed rescission. Authorizes the President, except for his deferral of budget authority provided in CBICA, to withhold such rescinded funding temporarily from obligation, but only once per proposed rescission. Dedicates the rescinded funds solely to deficit reduction or increase of a surplus. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission, and (2) applicable limits under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) revised downward by the amount of such rescissions. Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the House Committee on the Budget, whenever an approval bill passes the House of Representatives, to reduce the applicable committee allocations immediately by the total amount of reductions in budget authority and in outlays resulting from such approval. Terminates on December 15, 2015, the amendments made by this Act, with restoration of the provisions of part B of CBICA as in effect immediately before the enactment of this Act.

Date: 2011-11-30
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Legally Binding Budget Act of 2011 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to require joint budget resolutions signed by the President instead of the concurrent resolutions now required (which do not have to be signed by the President). (Sec. 4) Prohibits the consideration of budget-related legislation before the joint budget resolution becomes law. Makes a conforming amendment to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. (Sec. 5) Permits revisions of joint budget resolutions already enacted. Authorizes the chairs of the congressional budget committees to adjust budgetary levels and allocations as needed for enforcement of budget resolutions. (Sec. 6) Makes it out of order in both chambers to consider any joint budget resolution, amendment, or conference report that contains certain matter prohibited by the CBA, particularly inclusion in the surplus or deficit totals of any outlays and revenue totals of the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program under title II of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 7) Considers the aggregates, allocations, and any other matters that pertain solely to Congress specified in a joint budget resolution as enforceable upon enactment, or 15 days following presentment to the President, whichever occurs earlier. (Thus creates automatic congressional enforcement of a joint budget resolution.) (Sec. 9) Makes conforming amendments to: (1) the Rules of the House of Representatives, and (2) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).

Date: 2011-12-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Review Every Dollar Act of 2011 - Makes it out of order in both chambers to consider any bill, joint resolution, or other measure that: (1) reauthorizes any federal program for more than seven fiscal years, or (2) establishes a new federal program that exceeds such period. Requires each standing congressional committee with legislative jurisdiction over any direct spending program by July 31 during the second session of each Congress to apply specified criteria to determine whether any such program should be modified, terminated, or reauthorized. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require each of the chairs of the congressional budget committees to maintain a deficit reduction discretionary account and a deficit reduction direct spending account. Prescribes procedures for the crediting to such accounts of the amounts of either discretionary or direct spending deficit reduction in any amendment to a bill that reduces the appropriate budget authority. Requires any measure or Act that transfers funds from the general fund of the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund to be counted as new budget authority and outlays equal to the amount of the transfer in the fiscal year in which it occurs. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate the authorization of appropriations and the appropriation of additional Pell Grant funds after FY2012 that were to be used to increase the maximum Pell Grant amount. Maintains the amount of a Pell Grant at $5,500 for academic years 2013-2014 through 2017-2018, minus the expected family contribution. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) with respect to adjustments to discretionary spending limits for the budget year and each outyear to reflect changes in concepts. Defines changing a program from direct spending to discretionary spending or from discretionary spending to direct spending as such a change of concept, if it does not cause a net increase in new budget authority or outlays for FY2012-FY2021. Prohibits from taking effect, except according to a specified procedure, any rule made to carry out a direct spending program that would require new budget authority of at least $100 million for the fiscal year it takes effect or for any of the nine ensuing fiscal years. Limits exceptions to this prohibition to rules necessary: (1) because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, for the enforcement of criminal laws, or for national security; or (2) to implement an international trade agreement. Requires also for such an exception that the new budget authority to carry it out is provided by law. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) review proposed rules requiring new budget authority before their effective dates, and (2) take specified administrative steps to prevent further agency action pertaining to such rulemaking.

Date: 2011-12-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Earmark Elimination Act of 2011 - Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives to consider a bill, joint resolution, or any other measure that includes a congressional earmark or limited tax or tariff benefit. Makes a conforming amendment to Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Date: 2011-12-16
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Amends the federal criminal code to increase from one year to two years after leaving office the period during which former Members of the House of Representatives may not engage in certain lobbying activities.

Date: 2011-12-20
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Executive Appointments Reform Act - Eliminates exceptions to the prohibition against payment for services to an individual appointed to a federal position requiring confirmation by the U.S. Senate (advice and consent) during a recess of the Senate. Prohibits any federal officer or employee serving in a position that requires Senate confirmation from providing voluntary or gratuitous services. Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that a quorum required by the National Labor Relations Board to conduct its business shall not include any member of such Board who has not been confirmed by the Senate. Amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to: (1) provide that no rule, order, or other administrative action of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall be considered final if the Director of the Bureau was appointed during a recess of the Senate and the position of Director was vacant while the Senate was in session, until the Director has been confirmed by the Senate; (2) prohibit payment for services to any person appointed to the Bureau during a recess of the Senate to fill a vacancy in the Bureau requiring Senate confirmation, if the vacancy existed while the Senate was in session, until such appointee is confirmed by the Senate; and (3) prohibit an employee or officer of the Bureau serving in a position that requires Senate confirmation from providing voluntary or gratuitous services.

Date: 2012-01-13
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
One Subject at a Time Act - Requires: (1) each bill or joint resolution to embrace no more than one subject, and (2) the subject to be clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title. Prohibits an appropriations bill from containing any general legislation or change of existing law requirement, if its subject is not germane to the subject of such bill. Declares void: (1) an entire Act or joint resolution if its title addresses two or more unrelated subjects, (2) provisions in legislation not clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title, (3) appropriation provisions in legislation outside the relevant subcommittee's jurisdiction, and (4) provisions of appropriation bills not germane to their subject matter. Grants aggrieved persons and Members of Congress the right to bring an action against the United States to seek appropriate relief, including an injunction against the enforcement of any law, the passage of which did not conform to this Act.

Date: 2012-01-23
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
National Commission for Independent Redistricting Act of 2012 - Establishes in the legislative branch the National Commission for Independent Redistricting to establish and approve a congressional redistricting plan for each state (beginning with the decennial census conducted during 2020). Prescribes requirements for the preparation and approval of such a plan. Requires the Commission to submit to Congress and the President legislation requiring that any congressional redistricting be conducted only in accordance with the Commission's approved state plans. Provides for expedited consideration by Congress of such measure.

Date: 2012-01-31
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Reinvesting and Ensuring America's Ability to Lead Act of 2012 - Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to: (1) prepare a 10-year long-term cost benefit analysis for each public introduced bill or resolution that determines its impact on American global competitiveness; and (2) devise criteria to evaluate such competitiveness, including the measure's impact on job creation, economic growth, consumption, investments, and savings. Requires the analysis to evaluate whether the legislation will positively or negatively impact America's economic ability to compete globally compared to member nations of the Group of Twenty, or G-20, which comprise 19 country members and the European Union (EU), accounting for 90% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 80% of global trade.

Date: 2012-03-29
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Agency Conferences and Conventions Operating Under Necessary Transparency Act of 2012 or the ACCOUNT Act - Requires the head of a federal agency to: (1) approve in writing any conference costing more than $25,000, (2) approve such a conference only upon determining that it is necessary to the core mission of the agency, and (3) publish a summary on the agency website of the conference that includes the purpose and total cost of the conference and the cost per employee that attended the conference.

Date: 2012-04-19
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Government Spending Accountability Act of 2012 or the GSA Act of 2012 - Requires each federal agency to post on its public website detailed information on employee presentations at conferences, including: (1) the prepared text of any verbal presentation; and (2) any visual, digital, video, or audio materials presented, including photographs, slides, and audio-visual recordings. Limits to $500,000 the amount that any agency may spend to support a single conference. Allows an agency head to waive such limitation for a specific conference after making a determination that a higher expenditure is justified as the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose. Prohibits an agency from paying the travel expenses for more than 50 employees stationed in the United States to attend any international conference, unless the Secretary of State determines that attendance of such employees is in the national interest. Requires each agency to post on its public website quarterly reports on each conference for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding three months. Limits agency travel expenses for FY2013-FY2017 to 70% of the aggregate amount of such expenses for FY2010. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish guidelines for determining what expenses constitute travel expenses for purposes of the ceiling imposed on such expenses. Exempts from such limitation military travel expenses.

Date: 2012-04-25
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 - Requires the President, within 30 days after the enactment of this Act, to submit to Congress a detailed report on the implementation of certain discretionary reductions (in security and nonsecurity categories) and nonexempt direct spending reductions in the sequestration ordered by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) for FY2013 on January 2, 2013. (The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act was amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011 to revise the discretionary spending limits and reduce the discretionary appropriations and direct spending specified in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act unless a joint committee bill achieving an amount greater than $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction would be enacted by January 15, 2012.) Requires the head of each executive agency, upon the request of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (in assisting the President in preparation of the report), to provide to the Director promptly any information at the program, project, and activity level necessary for the Director to prepare the report.

Date: 2012-05-31
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Revises provisions in titles of the U.S. Code relating to public contracts to correspond to title 41 of such Code as enacted into positive law.

Date: 2012-07-09
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Allows the Librarian of Congress to accept in the interest of the Library of Congress, its collections, or its service, personal property valued at $25,000 or less, nonpersonal services, or voluntary and uncompensated personal services. Requires the Librarian, in the case of a gift of securities, to sell the gift and provide the donor with a receipt from the proceeds of the sale. Requires inclusion, in each Annual Report of the Library, of a description of each gift or bequest accepted during the year involved that is valued at $1,000 or more.

Date: 2012-07-12
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Congressional Budget Office Transparency Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), whenever an estimate of costs is prepared for any bill or resolution, to post on the CBO public website all working papers, including data, informational papers, methodologies, spreadsheets, computer programs, background data, revenue estimates, and aggregate data provided by the Joint Committee on Taxation, and any other material used to derive such cost estimate. Prohibits the Director from being required to post on the website any proprietary information utilized by CBO obtained from a third party with whom there is an agreement not to release such information.

Date: 2012-07-17
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Directs the President to report to Congress every two years regarding executive branch actions taken to ensure that the interests of all refugees displaced from Arab countries, including Jews, Christians, and other groups, are considered in any final settlement of the Middle East refugee question that is part of any comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.

Date: 2012-07-31
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: International affairs
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise the current requirement that the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prepare an estimate for a bill or joint resolution of the cost which would be incurred in carrying out such legislation in the fiscal year in which it is to become effective and in each of the 4 ensuing fiscal years. Increases from 4 to 19 the number of ensuing fiscal years. (Thus requires 20-year instead of 5-year CBO cost estimates for legislation.) Makes a conforming amendment to the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Date: 2012-08-02
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Act or GAAP Act - Requires the President's budget submission to include an estimate of the deficit or surplus for the fiscal year concerned, prepared using generally accepted accounting principles.

Date: 2012-09-20
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the definition of "major rule" for purposes of provisions relating to congressional review of such a rule to reduce from $100 million to $50 million the annual effect which a major rule must have on the economy before it is subject to review. Modifies the definition of "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866, relating to regulatory planning and review, to reduce from $100 million to $50 million the amount of the annual effect on the economy which a regulatory action must have before it is deemed significant.

Date: 2012-09-21
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
States that: (1) Congress condemns the attacks on the U.S. diplomatic missions in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen; and (2) the American people mourn the loss of our public servants and offer our condolences to the families of those killed in Benghazi, Libya. Directs the President to report to Congress on: (1) the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya; (2) the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, that began on September 11, 2012; (3) the September 13, 2012, attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a, Yemen; and (4) the state of security at U.S. diplomatic missions globally.

Date: 2012-09-21
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: International affairs
Carcinogen-Free Label Act of 2012 - Directs the head of each federal agency that regulates a covered product to establish a program to permit the labeling of such a product that does not contain any carcinogens as "Carcinogen-Free." Defines a "covered product" to mean any product offered for sale that is: (1) regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); and (2) intended for individual or residential use. Requires such agency heads to coordinate to develop an easily recognizable label: (1) to be affixed to a covered product to signify that it has been approved for "Carcinogen-Free" labeling, and (2) to include a notice stating that "This product does not contain known or likely carcinogens that increase your risk of cancer." Prohibits the introduction or offering for introduction into interstate commerce of a covered product affixed with a "Carcinogen-Free" label if: (1) the head of each federal agency that regulates the product has not approved an application for the labeling of the product as "Carcinogen-Free," or (2) the product contains any substance that is not listed in such application. Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) application approval and confidentiality; (2) random testing of covered products, random audits of facilities in which such products are manufactured, and measures to ensure compliance with agency guidance; (3) application fees; and (4) penalties for violations. Requires such agency heads to: (1) issue guidance to prevent the introduction of carcinogens into such product during its manufacture, storage, and transportation; and (2) post on the agency's public website a list of all covered products regulated by that agency that have been approved for labeling as "Carcinogen-Free."

Date: 2012-11-16
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Commerce
Ending Fiscal Cliffs Act of 2012 - Authorizes an increase or decrease in the public debt limit, as necessary, by the amount determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be required to meet existing commitments after enactment of any Act of Congress that provides budget authority or reduces revenues.

Date: 2012-12-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Eliminates automatic cost of living adjustments to the rate of pay for Members of Congress during FY2013 or FY2014.

Date: 2012-12-31
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Eliminates automatic cost of living adjustments to the rate of pay for Members of Congress during FY2013.

Date: 2012-12-31
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Political Reform and Gridlock Elimination Act - Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should: (1) pass the DISCLOSE Act to prevent a corporate takeover of our elections and ensure that our democracy is open, transparent, and controlled by the people; and (2) reform Senate rules and procedures to reduce excessive obstruction and delay, while protecting the legitimate rights of individual Senators and the minority.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act of 2011 - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to transmit, within 45 calendar days after enactment of the funding in question, a message to Congress with specified information requesting any rescission the President proposes under the procedures in this Act. Prescribes requirements for timing and packaging of rescission requests. Authorizes OMB, subject to a specified time limit, to withhold funding from obligation temporarily if the President proposes a rescission. Prohibits the President from invoking such expedited procedures or such authority to withhold funding on more than one occasion for any Act providing funding. Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of proposed rescissions.

Date: 2011-01-25
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011 or the REINS Act - Rewrites provisions regarding congressional review of agency rulemaking to require congressional approval of major rules of the executive branch before they may take effect (currently, major rules take effect unless Congress passes and the President signs a joint resolution disapproving them). Defines "major rule" as any rule, including an interim final rule, that has resulted in or is likely to result in: (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or U.S. competitiveness. Provides that if a joint resolution of approval of a major rule is not enacted by the end of 70 session days or legislative days after the agency proposing the rule submits its report on such rule to Congress, the rule shall be deemed not to be approved and shall not take effect. Permits a major rule to take effect for 90 calendar days without such approval if the President determines such rule is necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, for the enforcement of criminal laws, for national security, or to implement an international trade agreement. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for joint resolutions approving major rules and disapproving non-major rules.

Date: 2011-02-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Agency Overreach Moratorium Act - Prohibits a federal agency from: (1) retroactively withdrawing any permit issued for federal land or any area of the outer Continental Shelf that would have been used to produce or harvest a domestic natural resource or to create one or more jobs, or (2) issuing a designation under any law that would restrict or prohibit access to those resources on such land or any such area, unless approved by an Act of Congress. Prohibits the implementation of a proclamation issued under the Antiquities Act of 1906 for the designation of a national monument unless approved by an Act of Congress. Bars a federal agency from taking any action to modify its authority with respect to issuing permits for natural resource development on federal lands or making federal land designations under any law until the Secretary of Commerce submits to Congress an economic analysis to determine: (1) whether the proposed action has the potential to reduce revenue to the Treasury, and (2) the potential impact of the action on property rights and existing contracts.

Date: 2011-05-10
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Enumerated Powers Act - Requires each Act of Congress, bill, resolution, conference report, or amendment to contain a concise explanation of the specific constitutional authority relied upon as the basis for enacting each portion of the measure. Permits a statement of constitutionality, to the extent that a measure limits or abolishes any federal activity, spending, or power overall, to cite the 9th or the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Declares that invoking one or more specified parts of the following clauses in a statement of constitutionality is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Act: (1) the enumerated spending clause; or (2) the commerce clause for any purpose other than the regulation of the buying and selling of goods or services, or their transportation, across boundaries with foreign nations, across state lines, or with the Indian tribes. Declares that failure to comply with this requirement shall give rise to a point of order in either chamber.

Date: 2011-06-22
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Congressional Integrity and Pension Forfeiture Act of 2011 - Extends provisions requiring forfeiture of pension benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) to the President, Vice President, or an elected state or local government official, in addition to Members of Congress, upon conviction of a serious public corruption crime. Expands the list of such crimes that would require a pension forfeiture.

Date: 2011-06-22
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Regulatory Information Reporting Act of 2011 - Requires federal agencies, prior to publishing a final rule in the Federal Register, to submit to the Regulatory Information Service Center (RISC) of the General Services Administration (GSA) or another office within GSA as designated by the Administrator of GSA a list of all non-federal participants who provided public comments to an agency promulgating a rule. Requires such list to provide the participant's name and address, the participant's organizational affiliation, whether the participant represents an economic interest, a non-economic interest, a citizen interest, or an unknown interest, and whether any comment of the participant affected or did not affect the content of the final rule. Requires the RISC to: (1) compile and keep current such information obtained on non-federal participants in a searchable database made publicly available on the Internet, (2) make available quarterly trend and overview statistics, and (3) submit annual reports to Congress summarizing data received from agencies promulgating a rule.

Date: 2011-07-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Jobs Score Act of 2011 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of any public bill or resolution reported from a congressional committee (except on Appropriations of each chamber) to estimate the number of jobs which would be created, sustained, or lost in carrying out such measure in the fiscal year in which it is to become effective and in each of the four ensuing fiscal years, together with the basis for each such estimate.

Date: 2011-09-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Joint Select Committee on Job Creation Act of 2011 - Establishes the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation, whose goal shall be to restore the nation's workforce to full employment over FY2012 and FY2013. Requires the joint committee to provide recommendations and legislative language that will significantly improve the short-term and long-term employment levels in the United States. Prescribes legislative procedures for consideration in both chambers of the Joint Committee's recommendations.

Date: 2011-09-07
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Budget Reform Act of 2011 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to require joint budget resolutions signed by the President instead of the concurrent resolutions now required (which do not have to be signed by the President). Revises accordingly the congressional procedures for considering budget resolutions. Prescribes procedures for: (1) expedited consideration in each chamber of a presidential veto of a joint budget resolution; and (2) revision of a joint budget resolution already enacted. Makes specified provisional continuing appropriations in the event that any regular appropriation bill for each fiscal year in a biennium does not become law before the beginning of such fiscal year, or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect. (Thus prevents federal government shutdown.) Requires biennial budget resolutions, appropriations Acts, and government strategic and performance plans instead of annual ones.

Date: 2011-10-11
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise the requirement that the concurrent resolution on the budget be adopted before consideration of budget-related legislation. Replaces the current requirement with one that makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any legislation after April 15 (whether or not budget-related) unless the concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year has been adopted for the budget year. Allows waiver or suspension of this requirement for an emergency by a vote of three-fifths of the Members.

Date: 2011-10-11
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Earmark Elimination Act of 2011 - Makes it out of order in the Senate to consider a bill or resolution introduced in either chamber or any other measure that includes an earmark. Permits waiver of any or all such points of order by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Members. Makes this Act inapplicable to any authorization of appropriations to a federal entity if such authorization is not specifically targeted to a state, locality, or congressional district.

Date: 2011-11-30
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to prepare for each major bill or resolution reported by any congressional committee (except the congressional appropriations committees), as a supplement to CBO cost estimates, a macroeconomic impact analysis of the costs of such legislation for: (1) the period for which the cost estimate is prepared, and (2) the 10-fiscal year period beginning with the first fiscal year after the last fiscal year for which such estimate was prepared and each of the 2 next 10-fiscal year periods. Defines "major bill or resolution" as any bill or resolution whose budgetary effects, for any fiscal year in the period for which a CBO cost estimate is prepared, is estimated to be greater than .25% of the current projected U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) for that fiscal year. Requires the analysis to describe: (1) the potential economic impact of the bill or resolution on major economic variables, including real GDP, business investment, the capital stock, employment, and labor supply; and (2) the potential fiscal effects of the measure, including any estimates of revenue increases or decreases resulting from changes in GDP.

Date: 2011-12-15
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2012 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (CBICA) to authorize the President to propose the rescission (line item veto) of all or any dollar amount of funding provided by any enacted bill or joint resolution. Sets forth requirements for the President's transmittal to Congress of a special message regarding the proposed rescission. Authorizes the President, except for his deferral of budget authority provided in CBICA, to withhold such rescinded funding temporarily from obligation, but only once per proposed rescission. Dedicates the rescinded funds solely to deficit reduction or increase of a surplus. Provides for adjustment of: (1) committee allocations resulting from such rescission, and (2) applicable limits under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) revised downward by the amount of such rescissions. Sets forth procedures for expedited congressional consideration of a proposed rescission. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the House Committee on the Budget, whenever an approval bill passes the House of Representatives, to reduce the applicable committee allocations immediately by the total amount of reductions in budget authority and in outlays resulting from such approval.

Date: 2012-02-09
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2012 - Prohibits the President from deploying members of the Armed Forces into the territory, airspace, or waters of a foreign country for a military humanitarian operation unless: (1) the President submits to Congress a formal authorization request, and (2) Congress enacts a specific authorization. Defines a "military humanitarian operation" as a military operation involving the deployment of members or weapons systems of the Armed Forces where hostile activities are reasonably anticipated and with the aim of preventing or responding to a humanitarian catastrophe, including its regional consequences, or addressing a threat posed to international peace and security. Provides for the consideration of a joint resolution of approval of such use.

Date: 2012-05-14
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: International affairs
One Subject at a Time Act - Requires: (1) each bill or joint resolution to embrace no more than one subject, and (2) the subject to be clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title. Prohibits an appropriations bill from containing any general legislation or change of existing law requirement, if its subject is not germane to the subject of such bill. Declares void: (1) an entire Act or joint resolution if its title addresses two or more unrelated subjects, (2) provisions in legislation not clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title, (3) appropriation provisions in legislation outside the relevant subcommittee's jurisdiction, and (4) provisions of appropriation bills not germane to their subject matter. Grants aggrieved persons and Members of Congress the right to bring an action against the United States to seek appropriate relief, including an injunction against the enforcement of any law, the passage of which did not conform to this Act.

Date: 2012-06-28
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Read the Bills Act - Requires any bill or resolution introduced in either chamber of Congress to contain a provision citing the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the proposed measure, including all of its provisions. Requires any measure introduced in either chamber, designed to amend or modify the effect of, or which would have such an effect, any current provision of law, including its expiration date, to set forth: (1) the current version of the entire section of the Act of Congress being amended, verbatim; (2) the amendments being proposed by the bill; and (3) the current section of law as it would read as modified by such amendments. Excludes measures which would strike the text of an entire section of an Act of Congress. Prohibits the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate from accepting legislation if it is noncompliant with these requirements. Applies such requirements to any legislation presented for consideration on the floor of either chamber. Prohibits any noncompliant measure from being submitted for a vote on final passage. Prohibits either chamber of Congress jointly from waiving or modifying these requirements. Bars a vote on final passage of a measure (except private bills) from occurring in either chamber, unless: (1) the full text of the measure is published at least seven days before the vote on an official website of each chamber, (2) public notice of the specific calendar week during which the vote is scheduled to take place is posted on the respective website within six days before the Monday of such week, and (3) there is a reading of its full text verbatim by the Clerk or the Secretary to the respective chamber. Requires a Member of Congress, before voting in favor of final passage of any measure (except a private bill) to sign an affidavit, executed under penalty or perjury, that the Member either: (1) was present throughout the entire reading of each such measure, and listened attentively to such reading in its entirety; (2) before such vote, read attentively each such bill in its entirety; or (3) did a combination of both. Prohibits either chamber or Congress jointly from waiving or modifying this requirement. Declares that an Act of Congress noncompliant with this Act shall have no force or effect. Bars any legal, equitable, regulatory, civil, or criminal action from being brought under such Act. Grants the following aggrieved individuals the right to bring an action against the United States to seek appropriate relief, including an injunction against the enforcement of any law, the passage of which did not conform to this Act: (1) persons aggrieved by an action of any executive officer or employee, (2) Members of Congress, and (3) persons individually aggrieved by the failure of his or her Senator or Member of the House of Representatives to fulfill their obligation under this Act.

Date: 2012-06-28
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Congress
Write the Laws Act - Prohibits an Act of Congress from containing any delegation of legislative powers, whether to: (1) any component within the legislative branch, (2) the President or any other member of the executive branch, (3) the judicial branch, (4) any agency, (5) any quasi-public agency, (6) any state or state instrumentality, or (7) any other organization or individual. Excludes from the meaning of delegation of legislative powers the issuance of presidential proclamations, or issuance of rules or regulations governing the internal operation of federal agencies, or conditions made upon grants or contracts issued by agencies. Prohibits the promulgation or putting into effect of any new presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation, or change to an existing presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation governing, limiting, imposing a penalty on, or otherwise regulating any activity of any individual or entity, other than a federal officer or employee, unless it is authorized by an Act of Congress that complies with this Act. Requires the Comptroller General to identify to Congress all statutes enacted before 90 days after the enactment of this Act which contain any delegation of legislative powers prohibited under it. Denies any force or effect to any Act of Congress, presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation noncompliant with this Act. Prohibits any legal, equitable, regulatory, civil, or criminal action from being brought under such an Act, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation. Grants persons aggrieved by the action of any executive branch officer or employee the right to bring an action against the United States to seek appropriate relief, including an injunction against enforcement of any Act of Congress, presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation noncompliant with this Act.

Date: 2012-06-28
Topic: Government Operations (Branch Relations)
Subject: Government operations and politics