cheaptrix/UnitedStatesSenateBillsAndSummaries huggingface dataset:
Stop Wasteful Federal Bonuses Act of 2015

To appropriately limit the authority to award bonuses to employees. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Wasteful Federal Bonuses Act of 2015 2. Bonuses (a) Adverse findings and employees under investigation Chapter 45 IV Limitations on bonus authority 4531. Certain forms of misconduct (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term adverse finding (A) violated a policy of the agency for which the employee may be removed or suspended; or (B) violated a law for which the employee may be imprisoned of more than 1 year; (2) the term agency (3) the term bonus (A) an award under this chapter; (B) an award under section 5384; and (C) a retention bonus under section 5754. (b) Adverse findings (1) In general The head of an agency shall not award a bonus to an employee of the agency until 5 years after the end of the fiscal year in which the Inspector General or another senior ethics official of the agency or the Comptroller General of the United States makes an adverse finding relating to the employee. (2) Previously awarded bonuses If the Inspector General or another senior ethics official of the agency or the Comptroller General of the United States makes an adverse finding relating to an employee, the head of the agency employing the employee, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, shall issue an order directing the employee to repay the amount of any bonus awarded to the employee during the year during which the adverse finding is made. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 45 SUBCHAPTER IV—Limitations on bonus authority 4531. Certain forms of misconduct. .

Summary: Stop Wasteful Federal Bonuses Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits a federal agency from awarding a bonus to any employee for five years after the end of a fiscal year in which the agency makes an adverse&nbsp;finding relating to the employee. An &quot;adverse finding&quot; is a determination that an employee's conduct violated: (1) a policy of the agency for which the employee may be removed or suspended for at least 14 days, or (2) a law for which the employee may be imprisoned for more than one year. The bill requires an agency to issue an order directing an employee to repay&nbsp;a bonus awarded in any year in which such a finding is made. As a condition of receiving a bonus awarded after this Act's enactment, an employee must certify that he or she shall repay the bonus in accordance with such an order. An employee deemed to be ineligible for a bonus or against whom a repayment order is issued may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015


Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.) Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act of 2015 (Sec. 3) Declares that Congress: condemns the ongoing violence, use of chemical weapons, targeting of civilian populations, and systematic gross human rights violations carried out by government of Syria and pro-government forces under the direction of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as abuses committed by extremist groups and other combatants involved in the civil war in Syria; supports the people of Syria seeking democratic change; urges all parties to the conflict to halt attacks on civilians; calls on the President to support efforts in Syria and on the part of the international community to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict; and calls for a United Nations Security Council investigation into gross violations of human rights and war crimes committed during the Syrian conflict. (Sec. 4) Requires the Department of State to report to Congress regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, including descriptions of: violations of internationally recognized human rights, war crimes, and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the civil war in Syria; and efforts by the Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to ensure accountability for violations of internationally recognized human rights, international humanitarian law, and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Syria by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, violent extremist groups, and other combatants involved in the conflict.
Grand Canyon Bison Management Act

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a bison management plan for Grand Canyon National Park. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Management plan The term management plan (2) Park The term Park (3) Secretary The term Secretary (4) Skilled public volunteer The term skilled public volunteer (A) a valid hunting license issued by the State of Arizona; and (B) such other qualifications as the Secretary may require, after consultation with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. 3. Bison management plan for Grand Canyon National Park (a) Publication of plan Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a management plan to reduce, through humane lethal culling by skilled public volunteers and by other nonlethal means, the population of bison in the Park that the Secretary determines are detrimental to the use of the Park. (b) Removal of Animal Notwithstanding section 4 of the Act of March 2, 1929 ( 16 U.S.C. 198c (c) Coordination The Secretary shall coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the development and implementation of the management plan. (d) NEPA Compliance In developing the management plan, the Secretary shall comply with all applicable Federal environmental laws (including regulations), including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (e) Limitation Nothing in this Act applies to the taking of wildlife in the Park for any purpose other than the implementation of the management plan.

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Grand Canyon Bison Management Act (Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of the Interior to publish a management plan to reduce, through humane lethal culling by skilled public volunteers and other nonlethal means, the population of bison in the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona that Interior determines are detrimental to the uses of the Park. Such a volunteer may remove a full bison harvested from the Park. Interior shall coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the development and implementation of the management plan. In developing such plan, Interior must comply with all applicable federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015


Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on October 1, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review its activities related to prenatal opioid use, including neonatal abstinence syndrome, and develop a strategy to address gaps in research and gaps and overlap in programs. (An opioid is a drug with effects similar to opium, such as heroin or certain pain medications. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is withdrawal in a newborn.) (Sec. 3) HHS must conduct a study and develop recommendations for preventing and treating prenatal opioid use disorders, including the effects of those disorders on infants. HHS must publish a report that includes: an assessment of existing research on neonatal abstinence syndrome; an evaluation of the causes, and barriers to treatment, of opioid use disorders among women of reproductive age and recommendations on preventing opioid use disorders in these women; an evaluation of, and recommendations on, treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorders and the effects of prenatal opioid use on infants; and an evaluation of the differences in prenatal opioid use between demographic groups and recommendations on reducing disparities. (Sec. 4) HHS may continue providing technical assistance: (1) to states and Indian tribes to improve neonatal abstinence syndrome surveillance; and (2) to states to support implementation of effective public health measures, such as disseminating information to educate the public on prenatal opioid use and neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Girls Count Act of 2015


Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 21, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Girls Count Act of 2015 (Sec. 3) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: encourage countries to support the rule of law and ensure girls and boys of all ages are able to fully participate in society, including by providing birth certifications and other official documentation; enhance training and capacity-building in key developing countries, local nongovernmental organizations, and other civil society organizations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs to address the needs of birth registries in countries where girls are systematically under counted; and incorporate into the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs measures to evaluate the impact on girls of such policies and programs. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to support: programs that contribute to improved civil registration and vital statistics systems with a focus on birth registration; programs that build the capacity of developing countries' national and local legal and policy frameworks to prevent discrimination against girls in gaining access to birth certificates; and programs and key ministries to increase property rights, social security, home ownership, land tenure security, inheritance rights, access to education, and economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women and girls. Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator to coordinate with multilateral organizations and private sector and civil society organizations to advocate for the registration and documentation of all girls and boys in developing countries. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to include in relevant evaluations and reports to Congress the following information: a breakdown of U.S. foreign assistance beneficiaries by age, gender, marital status, location, and school enrollment status; a description of how U.S. foreign assistance benefits girls; and specific information on programs that address the particular needs of girls.
Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act of 2015


Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it passed the Senate on April 22, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase from a three-year to a five-year period the length of an agreement with an independence at home medical practice under the Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program.
National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017


Summary: National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to coordinate with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)&nbsp;and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)&nbsp;to examine: (1) the feasibility of designating a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system; and (2) the effectiveness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK), including how well it addresses the needs of veterans. SAMHSA must&nbsp;report to the FCC: (1) the potential impact of a&nbsp;designated dialing code on suicide prevention, crisis services, and other suicide&nbsp;prevention and mental health crisis hotlines; and (2) recommendations for improving the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.&nbsp;&nbsp; The VA must&nbsp;report to the FCC about how well the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Veterans Crisis Line are working to address the needs of veterans. The FCC must report to Congress whether it recommends a dialing code, a cost-benefit analysis comparing the three-digit code to the current lifeline number, and cost estimates for service providers, states, and localities.
Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017


Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on April 5, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the voluntary policies outlined in the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework should be adhered to by all parties to aid consumers, 9-1-1 professionals, first responders, and local governments in accessing communication services during times of emergency. The framework is a voluntary initiative announced by wireless providers and the CTIA after receiving recommendations from government-private sector partnerships including the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council and the CTIA's Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Certification Program. (Sec. 3) The bill requires the FCC to publish a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with emergency access to 9-1-1 services, when mobile service is unavailable during certain presidentially declared emergencies or major disasters or during gubernatorially declared emergencies, through: telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials; non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and other alternative means. The Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how executive departments can better ensure that essential communications services remain operational during emergencies, (2) any legislative matters Congress could consider to help promote the resiliency of essential communications services, and (3) whether a nationwide directory of points of contact among providers of essential communications services is needed to facilitate the rapid restoration of such services damaged during times of emergency. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is amended to expand the categories of essential communications service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Services to be considered essential are wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, or direct broadcast satellite service. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements recognizing the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to such an agreement. At the direction of the President, federal agencies may provide assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster by allowing access to essential service providers for establishing temporary, or restoring, communications services.
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017


Summary: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017 This bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to reauthorize for FY2019-FY2023 the national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program and the action strategy of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. (Hypoxia is a deficiency of oxygen.) (Sec. 3) The task force must include a representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Sec. 4) Each required scientific assessment of harmful algal blooms in coastal waters must examine freshwater harmful algal blooms that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters. (Sec. 5) In administering the program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must provide: (1) grants for accelerating the utilization of effective methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events; and (2) technical assistance to regional state, tribal, and local governments with respect to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events. NOAA must use cost effective methods in carrying out the Act and develop contingency plans for the long-term monitoring of hypoxia. (Sec. 7) Federal officials may determine whether a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event is an event of national significance and give funding to the affected state or local government for assessing and mitigating the detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of an event of national significance.
Responsible Disposal Reauthorization Act of 2017

To extend the authorization of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 relating to the disposal site in Mesa County, Colorado. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Responsible Disposal Reauthorization Act of 2017 2. Authorization Section 112(a)(1)(B) of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 ( 42 U.S.C. 7922(a)(1)(B) September 30, 2023 September 30, 2048

Summary: Responsible Disposal Reauthorization Act of 2017 This bill amends the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 to extend through FY2048 authorization for the Department of Energy to operate the Cheney disposal cell in Mesa County, Colorado.
Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2017


Summary: Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill expresses the sense of Congress that all agencies should strive to provide high-quality, courteous, effective, and efficient services and seek to measure, collect, report, and utilize metrics relating to the experience of persons interacting with them to continually improve services. (Sec. 4) The bill amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to exempt the collection of information by an agency that is voluntary feedback from the agency's authority to prescribe policies, rules, regulations, and procedures for federal information resources management activities. &quot;Voluntary feedback&quot; is defined as any submission of information, opinion, or concern voluntarily made by a specific person relating to a particular service of or transaction with an agency that is specifically solicited by that agency. (Sec. 5) Each agency that solicits voluntary feedback shall, among other things, ensure that: responses to the solicitation remain anonymous, person who decline to participate shall not be treated differently by the agency for purposes of providing services or information, the voluntary nature of the solicitation is clear, and the proposed solicitation of voluntary feedback will contribute to improved customer service. (Sec. 6) Each agency shall collect voluntary feedback with respect to its services and transactions. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in coordination with the General Services Administration, shall develop a set of standardized questions for use by agencies in collecting feedback, which shall address: overall satisfaction of persons with the specific interaction or service received, the extent to which such persons were able to accomplish their intended purpose, whether such persons were treated with respect and professionalism, and whether such persons believe they were served in a timely manner. Each agency shall: (1) collect voluntary feedback across all platforms or channels through which it interacts with persons to deliver information or services, (2) publish on its website and submit to the OMB a report that includes the voluntary feedback required to be collected, and (3) regularly publish an aggregated report on the solicitation of voluntary feedback. The OMB shall maintain on a publicly available website links to the information provided on the agency websites. (Sec. 7) The Government Accountability Office shall, by 15 months after the date on which all agencies have submitted the first annual reports and every 2 years thereafter until 10 years after such date, make publicly available and submit to Congress a scorecard report assessing the data collected and reported by the agencies.
Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2017


Summary: Saving Federal Dollars Through Better Use of Government Purchase and Travel Cards Act of 2017 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a strategy to expand the use of data analytics in managing government purchase and travel charge card programs for the purpose of: identifying questionable transactions and developing enhanced tools and methods for agency use in identifying questionable transactions and recovering improper payments; identifying potential opportunities for agencies to further leverage administrative process streamlining and cost reduction from purchase and travel card use; developing a set of purchase and travel card metrics and benchmarks for high risk activities to assist agency purchase and travel card management and oversight activities; and developing a plan to create a library of analytics tools and data sources for use by agencies. (Sec. 4) The OMB must issue guidance on improving information sharing by government agencies, including by: requiring relevant officials to identify and communicate information about high-risk activities; requiring appropriate agency officials to review the reports issued by charge card-issuing banks on questionable transaction activity and suspicious timing or amounts of cash withdrawals or advances; providing for the appropriate sharing of information related to potential questionable transactions, fraud schemes, and high risk activities with GSA and appropriate federal officials; and considering the recommendations made by Inspectors General or the best practices Inspectors General have identified. (Sec. 5) The GSA and the OMB must establish a purchase and travel charge card data management group to develop and share best practices. (Sec. 6) The GSA shall report on: (1) the implementation of this bill, including the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and benchmarking efforts have reduced, or contributed to the reduction of, questionable or improper payments, as well as improved utilization of card-based payment products; and (2) further potential savings opportunities for government agencies under the federal charge card programs. Each federal agency that issues and uses purchase cards and convenience checks shall report to the OMB on that agency's activities to implement this bill. The OMB must submit to Congress a consolidated report of agency activities to implement this bill.