zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2016

 This bill establishes a National Forensic Science Research Initiative to improve, expand, and coordinate federal research in forensic sciences.

The bill establishes a National Forensic Science Coordinating Office to coordinate with relevant federal agencies in the development of: (1) a unified federal research strategy; and (2) any necessary programs, policies, and budgets to support implementation of the research strategy.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) shall contract with the National Research Council to develop a report: (1) identifying the most critical challenges in forensic science that require further research, and (2) making recommendations for research to address those challenges.

The bill states that all external forensic science research grants awarded by federal agencies under this bill shall be subject to a competitive, merit-review process.

 The NSF shall:

 award forensic science basic research grants to improve the foundation and practice of forensic science; establish one or more multidisciplinary forensic research centers led by public-private partnerships between universities, industry, state or local entities, and federal agencies; and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the NSF's full portfolio of forensic science research and education grants every four years. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall establish: (1) a competitively selected Center of Excellence focusing on measurement sciences, technology, and standards in forensic science; and (2) scientific area committees to identify gaps in and opportunities for standards development in the forensic sciences.

 NIST and the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall establish a National Commission on Forensic Science to advise the agencies participating in the unified federal research strategy and review recommendations on standards development in forensic science.

DOJ shall:

 encourage the broad adoption of forensic science standards, requiring each DOJ laboratory, and encouraging other federal forensic laboratories, to adopt these standards; promote accreditation and certification based on forensic science standards; and promote recommendations made by the National Commission on Forensic Science.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Protect Our Southwestern States Enforcement Act or the POSSE Act

This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to: (1) ensure that specified Border Patrol sectors in Texas, California, and Arizona are fully staffed, including by hiring additional CBP and Border Patrol personnel as needed; and (2) maintain the number of Border Patrol stations in each such sector at current levels.

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 is amended to direct the Department of Homeland Security to construct double-layered fencing along the entire southwest border by December 31, 2019. (Current law provides for reinforced fencing along at least 700 miles of such border.)

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Immigration
IDENT Fingerprint Digitization Completion Act of 2016

This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, within 90 days after this bill's enactment, to complete the digitization of all remaining paper-based fingerprint records for inclusion in the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) of the Department of Homeland Security.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Emergency management
Preservation of Public Evidence Act of 2016

This bill requires a state that receives funds under a Department of Justice (DOJ) grant program for law enforcement activities to require state and local law enforcement agencies to submit investigation records pertaining to an individual's injury or death by a law enforcement officer or while in the custody of a law enforcement agency.

DOJ must reduce by 10% the allocation of grant funds for a state or local government that fails to comply.

The bill appropriates additional FY2017 funds for Community Oriented Policing Services grants to acquire body-worn cameras.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow the United States to prosecute certain U.S. employees who engage in conduct in Canada that would constitute a federal criminal offense if the conduct had occurred in the United States. This bill applies to a Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice employee, contractor, or employee of a contractor who is stationed in Canada pursuant to a border security initiative.

Date: 2016-12-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
End the Backlog Act

This bill requires that if the total amount appropriated for the Executive Office for Immigration Review does not exceed $485.3 million for FY2017, the total amount authorized to be appropriated for FY2018 and each of the three succeeding fiscal years for: (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection is $13,219,051; and (2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is $6,151,579.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Immigration
States Against Drunk Driving Act of 2016 or the SADD Act of 2016

This bill authorizes supplemental funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program for states that: (1) report at least 90% of DUI convictions, and (2) have in effect a law or policy that requires a DUI conviction to be taken into account for purposes of an enhanced criminal sentence under state law.

The term "DUI conviction" means a criminal conviction for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol.

Date: 2016-12-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Inspector General Access Act of 2015

Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to eliminate a provision of such Act that requires referral of allegations of misconduct involving Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys, investigators, or law enforcement personnel to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (thus allowing the DOJ Inspector General to investigate such allegations).

Date: 2015-03-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Border Health Security Act of 2015

This bill amends the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act to require the commission to cooperate with the Canada-United States Pan-Border Public Health Preparedness Council and to recommend and implement initiatives that solve border health issues. Members of the commission may provide advice or recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or Congress without authorization or a request.

HHS must award grants: (1) to address the priorities and recommendations of the commission and council to improve the health of border area residents, and (2) for infectious disease surveillance activities in border areas.

Every five years, the commission and the council must each prepare a binational strategic plan that includes priority areas, recommendations to address these priority areas, and an evaluation framework to gauge progress.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response may coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security in establishing a system that alerts clinicians and public health officials to emerging health threats in border areas.

Date: 2015-06-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Health
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

(Sec. 3) This bill amends the federal criminal code to require any health care practitioner who is present when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion to: (1) exercise the same degree of care as reasonably provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure that such child is immediately admitted to a hospital. The term "born alive" means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut.

Also, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with these requirements must immediately report such failure to an appropriate law enforcement agency.

An individual who violates the provisions of this Act is subject to a criminal fine, up to five years in prison, or both.

An individual who commits an overt act that kills a child born alive is subject to criminal prosecution for murder.

The legislation bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive for conspiracy to violate the provisions of this Act, for being an accessory after the fact, or for concealment of felony.

A woman who undergoes an abortion or attempted abortion may file a civil action for damages against an individual who violates this Act.

Date: 2015-06-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 16, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Northern Border Security Review Act

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit to specified congressional committees a northern border threat analysis, which shall include analyses of:

 terrorism and criminal threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to enter the United States through the northern border or to exploit border vulnerabilities on such border; improvements needed at and between ports of entry along the northern border to prevent terrorists and instruments of terrorism from entering the United States and to reduce criminal activity, as measured by the total flow of illegal goods, illicit drugs, and smuggled and trafficked persons moved in either direction across such border; gaps in law, policy, cooperation between state, tribal, and local law enforcement, international agreements, or tribal agreements that hinder border security, counterterrorism, anti-human smuggling and trafficking efforts, and the flow of legitimate trade along the northern border; and whether additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance and preinspection operations at ports of entry along the northern border could help prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States. The Secretary, for such analysis, must consider and examine:

 technology needs and challenges; personnel needs and challenges; the role of state, tribal, and local law enforcement in general border security activities; the need for cooperation among federal, state, tribal, local, and Canadian law enforcement entities relating to border security; the terrain, population density, and climate along the northern border; and the needs and challenges of Department of Homeland Security facilities, including the physical approaches to such facilities.

Date: 2015-07-21
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Emergency management
Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for each major border security technology acquisition program, to:

 ensure that it has a written acquisition program baseline approved by the relevant acquisition decision authority; document that it is meeting cost, schedule, and performance thresholds in compliance with departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and have a plan for meeting program implementation objectives by managing contractor performance. "Major acquisition program" means a DHS acquisition program estimated to require an eventual total expenditure of at least $300 million (based on FY2015 constant dollars) over its life cycle cost.

Through the Under Secretary for Management and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), DHS shall ensure that border security technology acquisition program managers adhere to internal control standards identified by the Government Accountability Office. CBP shall provide information to assist the Under Secretary monitor program management.

The Under Secretary shall submit a plan to Congress for border security technology testing and evaluation so that such new technologies are evaluated through a series of assessments, processes, and audits to ensure compliance with departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars.

(Sec. 3) No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Immigration
Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to analyze existing law enforcement accreditation standards, recommend additional areas for the development of national standards, recommend the adoption of additional standards, and adopt policies and procedures to encourage accreditation of law enforcement agencies. It authorizes DOJ to make grants to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to obtain accreditation from certified organizations.

The legislation authorizes DOJ to make grants to state, local, or tribal governments, public and private entities, or consortia to study law enforcement agency management and operations standards and to develop pilot programs to address law enforcement misconduct.

DOJ must study the prevalence and effect of any law, rule, or procedure that allows a law enforcement officer to delay the investigation and prosecution of law enforcement misconduct.

The legislation establishes the Task Force on Law Enforcement Oversight within DOJ to coordinate the detection and referral of complaints of alleged law enforcement misconduct.

Law enforcement agencies must report data regarding practices on traffic violation stops, pedestrian stops, frisk and body searches, and use of deadly force. Data must include the number of incidents of each practice broken down by race, ethnicity, age, and gender of the officers, employees, and members of the public involved in the practice.

DOJ must create a medallion for distribution to survivors of each law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty and memorialized on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Date: 2015-10-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
This bill entitles a border patrol agent or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who is assigned to a rural area through which illicit narcotics and undocumented aliens are routinely smuggled to hardship duty pay.

The Commissioner of CBP shall designate such areas and establish the rate of hardship duty pay.

Date: 2015-12-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill revises whistle-blower protections for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee or job applicant who discloses wrongdoing to an appropriate official.

Specifically, it prohibits an FBI or Department of Justice (DOJ) employee from taking or failing to take a personnel action (e.g., demotion) with respect to an FBI employee or applicant because of a protected disclosure. A protected disclosure is a disclosure of information to an appropriate official which an employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences: (1) a violation of a law, rule, or regulation; or (2) waste, fraud, or abuse. The bill expands the list of appropriate officials who may receive a protected disclosure to include a supervisor in an employee's direct chain of command.

 Additionally, the bill sets forth procedures for filing, investigating, adjudicating, and reviewing whistle-blower retaliation complaints.

An FBI employee or applicant may file a complaint with DOJ's Office of Inspector General (OIG), which must investigate and decide whether reasonable grounds exist to believe that a prohibited personnel action occurred.

If either party files an objection to the OIG's decision, then an administrative law judge (ALJ) must review it, on the record, and issue a written decision. The ALJ's determination becomes final, unless it is appealed to or reviewed by DOJ. Any ALJ or DOJ determination is subject to judicial review.

Date: 2015-12-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Travel Facilitation and Safety Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into cost-sharing agreements with airport authorities in foreign countries at which preclearance operations will be established or maintained if certain circumstances apply.

Any cost-sharing agreement may provide for an airport authority's payment to the CBP of its initial preclearance operations costs.

The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended with respect to reimbursements to the Department of Justice received from commercial aircraft or vessel owners, operators, or agents, or from any airport or seaport authority, for expenses incurred for immigration inspection services they have requested. Such reimbursements may be collected in advance of those services, and shall be credited as offsetting collections to the currently applicable CBP appropriation, account, or fund.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 is amended to make the same disposition for reimbursements to the Department of Agriculture for preclearance of animals or articles at locations outside the United States for movement into the United States.

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that each visa waiver program country should seek to participate in the U.S. preclearance program.

DHS may select preclearance locations and enter into agreements with foreign governments or airports to conduct a collaborative demonstration program at those locations to test emerging biometric technologies.

 The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall develop a process to share information derived from the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database and the Terrorist Screening Database with countries participating in the visa waiver program.

Date: 2015-12-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Support Our Brave Law Enforcement Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to temporarily transfer funds between its accounts to restore equitable sharing payments to law enforcement agencies under the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Program.

DOJ must report to Congress on such transfers.

Date: 2016-02-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Border Landowner and Lessee Consultation Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to consult with owners or lessors of real property along the southern international border between the United States and Mexico concerning CBP operations that affect their property.

The bill establishes in CBP a Private Landowner Ombudsman to assist owners of real property along such border in communicating their needs and interests with respect to CBP operations that affect their property.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Agencies)
Subject: Emergency management
Washington-Lincoln Recognition Act of 2007 - States that (the legal public holiday) Washington's Birthday shall be referred to solely as such: (1) by all U.S. entities and officials; and (2) on all federally funded publications. Requests that the President issue an annual proclamation recognizing President Lincoln's birthday.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007 - Amends federal law with regard to the flying of the national flag at half-staff to: (1) allow a governor of a state, territory, or possession of the United States (governor) to proclaim that the national flag be flown at half-staff upon the death of a member of the Armed Forces from the governor's state, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty; (2) provide the same authority to the Mayor of the District of Columbia (District) with respect to present or former District officials and members of the Armed Forces from the District; and (3) require, when a governor or Mayor of the District issues such a proclamation, the national flag flown at any federal installation or facility in that state, territory, possession, or District to be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, and to carry out other specified duties. Directs the National Endowment for the Humanities to award grants for appropriate activities relating to the Civil War sesquicentennial, and to consider for such grants university, museum, or academic programs with national scope that sponsor multidisciplinary projects, including those that concentrate on the role of African Americans in the Civil War.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Honoring America's Fathers Act of 2007 - Includes Father's Day, the third Sunday in June, as a day on which the U.S. flag should be displayed.

Date: 2007-05-22
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2008 - Adds National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27, to the list of days on which the flag of the United States should be displayed.

Date: 2008-06-25
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission Act of 2007 - (Sec. 4) Establishes: (1) the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission to plan, develop, and execute programs and activities to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel de Champlain (the first European to discover and explore Lake Champlain); and (2) the Hudson-Fulton 400th Commemoration Commission to plan, develop, and execute programs and activities to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson (the first European to sail up the Hudson River) and the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert Fulton (the first person to use steam navigation on a commercial basis). (Sec. 6) Sets forth requirements regarding Commission meetings, including a requirement for such meetings at least twice annually or at the call of the Chairperson or majority of Commission members.(Sec. 7) Sets forth Commission powers. Prohibits the Commissions from purchasing real estate. Authorizes the Commissions to make grants not to exceed $20,000 to: (1) communities, nonprofit organizations, and state commemorative commissions to develop programs to assist in the Champlain and Hudson-Fulton commemorations; and (2) research and scholarly organizations to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the early history of the voyages of Samuel de Champlain, Henry Hudson, and Robert Fulton. Directs the Champlain Commission to coordinate and consult with the Lake Champlain Basin Program to provide grants and technical assistance for the development of activities commemorating the voyage of Samuel de Champlain. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Commissions to accept the services of, and provide reimbursement for, personnel detailed from New York or Vermont and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.(Sec. 9) Requires the Commissions to report to the Secretary by September 30, 2010, regarding their activities, funds received and expended, and their findings and recommendations. (Sec. 10) Terminates the Commissions on December 31, 2010. (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations.

Date: 2007-04-18
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2007 - Adds National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27, to the list of days on which the flag of the United States should be displayed.

Date: 2007-07-26
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission Act of 2008 - Establishes the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission to plan and carry out programs and activities to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida. Sets forth provisions regarding the membership, duties, meetings, powers, and personnel matters of the Commission. Requires the Commission to: (1) prepare a strategic plan for the activities of the Commission carried out under this Act; and (2) submit a final report that contains a summary of the Commission's activities, a final accounting of funds received and spent by the Commission, and the findings and recommendations of the Commission. Authorizes appropriations to the Commission to carry out this Act for FY2009-FY2015 and makes such amounts available until December 31, 2015. Terminates the Commission on December 31, 2015. Directs the Commission, before such termination date, to transfer all documents and materials of the Commission to the National Archives or another appropriate federal entity.

Date: 2007-11-15
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, and to carry out other specified duties. Directs the National Endowment for the Humanities to award grants for appropriate activities relating to the Civil War sesquicentennial, and to consider for such grants university, museum, or academic programs with national scope that sponsor multidisciplinary projects, including those that concentrate on the role of African Americans in the Civil War.

Date: 2008-04-02
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Establishes the World War I Centennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I; (2) encourage private organizations and state and local governments to organize and participate in such activities; (3) facilitate and coordinate such activities throughout the United States; and (4) serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about centennial events and plans; and (5) develop commemoration recommendations for Congress and the President.

Date: 2008-09-22
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Commemorations
Proud to Be an American Citizen Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to make funds available annually to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or to approved public or private nonprofit entities to support public ceremonies for administering oaths of allegiance to naturalizing legal immigrants. States that such ceremonies shall: (1) be held on a date that is on or near Independence Day; and (2) include appropriate outreach, ceremonial, and celebratory activities. Specifies: (1) ceremony fund limits ($5,000); and (2) permitted fund uses.

Date: 2009-05-12
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Immigration
Korean War Veterans Recognition Act - Adds National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27, to the list of days on which the flag of the United States should be displayed.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal Act - Authorizes the President to present gold medals, on behalf of Congress, to: (1) the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission to the surface of the moon, Neil A. Armstrong (the first human to walk on the moon), Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. (pilot of the lunar module Eagle and second person to walk on the moon), and Michael Collins (pilot of their command module Columbia) in recognition of the first lunar landing, on July 20, 1969; and (2) John Herschel Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, on February 20, 1962.

Date: 2009-05-01
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, and to carry out other specified duties. Directs the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities to award grants for appropriate activities relating to the Civil War sesquicentennial and to consider and give priority to programs carried out by institutions of higher education, museums, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and state sesquicentennial commissions that support the duties of the Commission, including those that concentrate on the role of African Americans in the Civil War.

Date: 2011-04-07
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Social sciences and history
State Admission Day Recognition Act of 2011 - Requires the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to honor a state's anniversary of admission to the Union by flying its flag over the Capitol each year on that anniversary. Requires the AOC to fly the first such flag on the first December 7 which occurs after the enactment of this Act in honor of the admission anniversary of Delaware, the first state admitted to the Union. Authorizes the House Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to promulgate jointly such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out this Act, including regulations permitting the AOC to honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands by flying the flag of each such jurisdiction over the Capitol each year on an appropriate date for that jurisdiction.

Date: 2011-05-11
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Congress
Changes the date of the observance of the birthday of President George Washington to February 22 of each year (currently, the third Monday in February).

Date: 2011-06-21
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act - Directs the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day, beginning at 2:11 p.m. eastern time, in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

Date: 2011-07-12
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Save Christmas Act - States that the Agricultural Marketing Service rule relating to the establishment of a Christmas tree promotion, research, and information program shall have no force or effect and no substantially similar rule may be promulgated.

Date: 2011-11-10
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Changes the date of the observance of the birthday of President George Washington to February 22 of each year (currently, the third Monday in February).

Date: 2012-01-31
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Authorizes the President to annually issue a proclamation: (1) designating March 29 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, (2) honoring and recognizing the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam during war and peace, (3) encouraging state and local governments to establish a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, and (4) encouraging the people of the United States to observe such Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Date: 2012-03-29
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Changes the date of the observance of the birthday of President George Washington to February 22 of each year (currently, the third Monday in February).

Date: 2013-02-13
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act - Directs the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day, beginning at 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time, in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Directs the President to issue a proclamation that designates National First Responders Day as a legal public holiday.

Date: 2014-02-27
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Emergency management
Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act - Establishes: (1) the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial at the Saint Francis Dam site in Los Angeles County, California, to honor the victims of the Saint Francis Dam disaster of March 12, 1928; (2) the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument; and (3) the Saint Francis Dam Advisory Commission.

Requires the Commission to:

 report recommendations for the planning, design, construction, and long-term management of the Memorial; advise the Secretary of the Interior on the boundaries of the Memorial; and consult and coordinate with the Saint Francis Dam Task Force and the state of California to support the efforts of the Task Force to commemorate the disaster. Terminates the Commission upon dedication of the completed Memorial.

Authorizes the Secretary to:

 provide assistance to the Commission and the Task Force, participate in the formulation of plans for the design of the Memorial, acquire lands for the Memorial, accept funds raised by the Commission for construction of the Memorial, construct the Memorial, and administer the Memorial as a unit of the National Park System. Requires the Secretary to: (1) manage the Monument in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances its resources; and (2) develop a management plan for the Monument.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Honoring Our Veterans By Exercising The Right To Vote On Veterans Day Act - Moves Veterans Day from November 11 to the Tuesday after the first Monday in November each year.

Date: 2014-12-11
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Authorizes the President to annually issue a proclamation: (1) designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day, (2) honoring and recognizing the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam during war and peace, (3) encouraging state and local governments to establish a Vietnam Veterans Day, and (4) encouraging the people of the United States to observe such Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Date: 2013-02-28
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Memorial Day Moment of Silence Act - Directs the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Memorial Day, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Atlantic standard time, in honor of the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces throughout the history of the United States.

Date: 2013-11-05
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Democracy Day Act of 2014 - Designates Federal Election Day, the next Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, as a legal public holiday.

Date: 2014-11-12
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Designates the composition consisting of the words and music known as "America the Beautiful" as the national anthem. (Under current law, the composition known as the Star-Spangled Banner is recognized as the nation's national anthem.)

Date: 2014-12-16
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act

Directs the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day, beginning at 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time, in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

Date: 2015-02-13
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill directs the President to issue a proclamation that designates National First Responders Day as a legal public holiday.

Date: 2016-06-09
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Emergency management
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act

(Sec. 2) Directs the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day, beginning at 3:11 p.m. Atlantic standard time, in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2015

Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and revise a research, training, and technical assistance resource center to prevent suicides (the Suicide Prevention Resource Center). Expands the program's focus from youth suicides to suicides among all ages, particularly among groups that are at high risk for suicide. Repeals authority for grants to establish research, training, and technical assistance centers related to mental health, substance abuse and the justice system.

Reauthorizes a program of grants for the development of state or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies.

Reauthorizes and revises a grant program to enhance services for students with mental health or substance use disorders at institutions of higher education. Requires the Center for Mental Health Services to award grants to enhance such services and to develop best practices for the delivery of such services. Permits grant funds to be used for the provision of such services to students and to employ appropriately trained staff. Requires special consideration be given to applications for grants that describe programs that demonstrate the greatest need for new or additional mental and substance use disorder services and the greatest potential for replication.

Date: 2015-05-12
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Health
Democracy Day Act of 2015 

 Designates Federal Election Day, the next Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, as a legal public holiday.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act

This bill includes National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, among those days on which the flag should especially be displayed.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Silver Star Service Banner Day Act

(Sec. 3) This bill designates May 1 as Silver Star Service Banner Day.

Date: 2016-09-22
Topic: Government Operations (National Holidays)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from 60,000 to 250,000 the number of vehicles sold for use in the United States that will trigger the phaseout period for the alternative motor vehicle tax credit.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income and excise tax credits for alcohol and biodiesel used as fuel.Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to move the effective date for tariff duties on ethyl alcohol and ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ethanol) to the effective date of this Act.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend though 2013 the tax credit for producing electricity from certain facilities using renewable resources.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Congress Leads by Example through Alt-fuel Resources Act or the CLEAR Act - Prohibits the use of a Members' Representational Allowance to provide individuals with any vehicle (including under a long-term lease) which is not an alternative fuel vehicle.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Congress
10 by 10 Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to make it unlawful after December 31, 2009, for any person to sell, supply, offer for sale or supply, dispense, transport, or introduce into commerce, for use in any motor vehicle, any gasoline with less than 10% renewable fuel by volume.

Date: 2007-01-09
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Environmental protection
Independence from Oil with Agriculture Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to delete provisions that terminate tax credits after a certain time (thus extending such credits) for: (1) alcohol fuels; (2) biodiesel fuels; (3) alcohol fuel mixtures; (4) biodiesel mixtures; (5) electricity produced from wind and open-loop or close-loop biomass facilities; and (6) alternative fuel vehicle refueling property.Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) increase the applicable volume of renewable fuel for calendar years 2008-2012 that must be part of gasoline in the United States (except in noncontiguous states or territories); and (2) increase the number of gallons of renewable fuel in the calculation used to determine the required volume of renewable fuel in gasoline for calendar years 2013 and thereafter.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act - Instructs the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a program of research and development of materials to be added to biofuels to make them more compatible with existing infrastructure used to store and deliver petroleum-based fuels to the point of final sale. Cites problem areas to be addressed, including microbial contamination. Directs the Assistant Administrator to: (1) implement a research, development, demonstration program on portable, low-cost, and accurate methods and technologies for testing sulfur content in fuel, including Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and Low Sulfur Diesel; and (2) begin demonstrations of such technologies within a year after enactment of this Act. Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a physical properties database and standard reference materials for biofuels. Authorizes appropriations to EPA to implement this Act.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Securing America's Energy Independence Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2016: (1) the energy tax credit for solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property; and (2) the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures. Allows such credits to be applied against alternative minimum tax liability.Includes advanced energy storage systems as energy property for purposes of the tax credit. Provides for a special credit amount for solar photovoltaic energy property and residential energy efficient property based upon kilowatt capacity. Allows accelerated depreciation (three-year recovery period) for solar energy and fuel cell property.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Taxation
Biofuels Security Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to replace provisions prescribing the volume of renewable fuel that gasoline sold in the United States must contain with provisions that require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine the applicable volume for 2010 and beyond. Requires such volume to be at least 10 billion gallons in 2010, 30 billion gallons in 2020, and 60 billion gallons in 2030. Requires the Secretary of Energy to promulgate regulations to ensure that each major oil company that sells gasoline in the United States through wholly-owned or branded stations provides pumps that dispense E-85 fuel (a blend approximately 85% of the content of which is derived from ethanol produced in the United States) at not less than: (1) a specified percentage of all of its stations (increasing from 5% in 2008 to 50% in 2017); and (2) a minimum percentage of its stations in each state. Allows a company to earn and sell production credits when it exceeds the percentage required. Prohibits companies from using credits purchased to fulfill geographic distribution requirements. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to increase to 100% the proportion of vehicles acquired by a federal fleet in and after 2008 that must be light duty alternative fueled vehicles. Amends the Clayton Act to: (1) prohibit restricting the right of a franchisee to install a renewable fuel pump; and (2) define "gasohol" as any blend of ethanol and gasoline. Requires makers of new automobiles capable of operating on gasoline or diesel fuel to ensure that a specified percentage of automobiles manufactured in any model year after 2007 for sale in the United States (increasing from 10% in 2008 to 100% in 2017) are dual fueled automobiles. Allows the manufacturer to earn and sell production credits if it exceeds the number required. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to promote the use of fuel mixtures containing gasoline or diesel fuel and one or more alternative fuels. Prescribes formulas to be used by the Administrator to measure the fuel economy of dual fueled automobiles manufactured in model years beginning 18, 30, 42, and 54 months after enactment of this Act.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy
Establishes the Energy Security Fund, to be funded by proceeds deposited in the general fund of the Treasury from fines, penalties, and other funds obtained through enforcement actions for violations of automobile fuel economy standards. Directs the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Clean Cities Program of the Department of Energy, to establish a program of grants to expand the availability of alternative fuels to consumers. Makes amounts in the Fund available to the Secretary for such grants. Declares eligible for assistance any entity that is eligible for assistance under the Clean Cities Program. Bars from such assistance: (1) large, vertically-integrated oil companies; and (2) any entity that receives other federal funds for the construction or expansion of the same alternative refueling infrastructure. Sets forth a maximum ceiling for grants and for stations. Limits the use of such funds to construction or expansion of alternative fueling infrastructure.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Energy (Alternative & Renewable)
Subject: Energy