hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1520
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2013-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Government studies and investigations
Hunting and fishing
Land use and conservation
Maine
Outdoor recreation
Property rights
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: 
 York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a specified segment of the York River in Maine and any of its associated tributaries for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to study the York River to: (1) determine the designation's effect on existing commercial and recreational activities, the construction and operation of energy production and transmission infrastructure, and the authority of state and local governments to manage those activities; and (2) identify any authorities that would authorize or require the Secretary to influence local land use decisions such as zoning, or to place restrictions on non-federal land if designated under this Act, any authorities that the Secretary may use to condemn property, and any private property located in the area studied pursuant to this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-493.
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Responsible Seafood Certification and Labeling Act

Bill: 113-s-1521
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2013-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Public contracts and procurement
Seafood

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: 
Responsible Seafood Certification and Labeling Act - Prohibits a federal executive agency: (1) in awarding a contract for the procurement, concessions, or vending of fish or seafood, from requiring or referencing a certificate of sustainability for, or otherwise identifying as sustainable, such fish or seafood based on criteria developed by a third party nongovernmental organization; or (2) from endorsing the use of any label, standard, or other scheme to certify fish or seafood as sustainable based on criteria or standards developed by a third party nongovernmental organization. 
 
Nullifies any rule, regulation, or guideline issued by an executive agency, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that requires or recommends that fish or seafood be certified as sustainable by a third party nongovernmental organization. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6599-6600)
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Rebuilding America's Schools Act

Bill: 113-s-1523
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2013-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax credits
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: 
Rebuilding America's Schools Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt bond funding for educational facilities, to: (1) reinstate the national qualified school construction bond limitation amount for calendar years after 2013, (2) make permanent the qualified zone academy bond (QZAB) limitation amount, (3) permit private entities to waive the 10% matching requirement for QZABs, and (4) revise the definition of QZAB for purposes of the credit for issuers of qualified tax credit bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6600)
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
PRO Sports Act

Bill: 113-s-1524
Sponsor: Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK]
Introduced: 2013-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Professional sports
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: 
Properly Reducing Overexemptions for Sports Act or the PRO Sports Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove professional football leagues from the list of tax-exempt organizations.
 
Provides that no organization or entity shall be treated as tax-exempt if it: (1) is a professional sports league, organization, or association, a substantial activity of which is to foster national or international professional sports competitions (including by managing league business affairs, officiating or providing referees, coordinating schedules, managing sponsorships or broadcast sales, operating loan programs for competition facilities, or overseeing player conduct); and (2) has annual gross receipts in excess of $10 million. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Trust But Verify Act

Bill: 113-s-1525
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2013-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Congressional oversight
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: 
Trust But Verify Act or the PIN Act - Prohibits an American Health Benefit Exchange (established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) from offering health insurance coverage through the Exchange until the Comptroller General (GAO) certifies to Congress that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and any related federal agencies involved in the administration of such Exchanges, have implemented all appropriate actions necessary to safeguard the personal health and financial information of enrollees and to protect against fraud and abuse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Audit Integrity and Job Protection Act

Bill: 113-s-1526
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2013-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Financial services and investments
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government studies and investigations
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Audit Integrity and Job Protection Act - Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) to deny the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board any authority to require that audits conducted for a particular issuer of securities in accordance with SOX standards be conducted by specific registered public accounting firms, or that such audits be conducted for an issuer by different registered public accounting firms on a rotating basis. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to update the November 2003 report, "Study on the Potential Effects of Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation," and review the potential effects (including costs and benefits) of requiring the mandatory rotation of registered public accounting firms.
 
Requires such update also to study: (1) whether mandatory rotation of registered public accounting firms would mitigate against potential conflicts of interest between registered public accounting firms and issuers; (2) whether such a mandatory rotation would impair audit quality due to the loss of industry or company-specific knowledge gained by a registered public accounting firm through years of experience auditing the issuer; and (3) what effect SOX has had upon registered public accounting firms' independence, and whether additional independence reforms are needed. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Adoptive Families Act

Bill: 113-s-1527
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adoption and foster care
Advisory bodies
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Health programs administration and funding
Mental health
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Supporting Adoptive Families Act - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to make it a purpose of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program to promote efforts to prevent children from entering the foster care system through the provision of pre- and post-adoptive support services.
 
Extends adoption promotion and support services to those designed to support adoptions from other countries as well as domestic adoptions. Specifies related pre- and post-adoptive support services. 
 
Amends SSAct title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) to revise requirements for state expenditures for adoption support services.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to develop and implement state-sponsored statewide or tribal post-adoption mental health service programs for all adopted children.
 
Amends SSAct title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to direct the Secretary, as part of the child support and paternity data collection system, to promulgate final regulations requiring the states to collect and report information regarding children adopted within the United States or from other countries who enter into state custody as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or the dissolution of an adoption. 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act

Bill: 113-s-1528
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2013-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Aquatic ecology
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Metals
Soil pollution
Water quality
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national mercury monitoring program that monitors: (1) long-term changes in mercury levels and important ancillary measures in the air; and (2) long-term changes in mercury and methyl mercury levels and important ancillary measures in water and soil or sediments and in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms. 
 
Requires the program to be compatible with similar international efforts, including the Global Mercury Observation System and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
 
Requires the Administrator to: (1) select multiple monitoring sites representing multiple ecoregions that include national parks, wildlife refuges, National Estuarine Research Reserve units, and other sensitive ecological areas in which substantive changes are expected from reductions in domestic mercury emissions; (2) establish and publish standardized measurement protocols for the program; and (3) establish a centralized database for environmental mercury data.
 Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish a Mercury Monitoring Advisory Committee to advise the Administrator on the establishment, site selection, measurement, recording protocols, and operation of the program; (2) report on the program every two years and include, every four years, an assessment of mercury deposition rates that need to be achieved in order to prevent adverse human and ecological effects; and (3) make all data obtained under this Act available to the public through a dedicated website and on written request.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6648-6649)
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Cider Investment and Development through Excise Tax Reduction (CIDER) Act

Bill: 113-s-1531
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2013-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alcoholic beverages
Fruit and vegetables
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Cider Investment and Development through Excise Tax Reduction (CIDER) Act - Amends the Internal Revenue to revise the definition of &quot;hard cider,&quot; for purposes of the excise tax on distilled spirits, wines, and beer, to mean a wine: (1) the carbonation level of which does not exceed 6.4 grams per liter; (2) which is derived primarily from apples, apple juice concentrate, pears, or pear juice concentrate, and water; (3) which contains no fruit product or fruit flavoring other than apple or pear; and (4) which contains at least one-half of 1% and less than 8.5% alcohol by volume. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial and Economic Literacy Improvement Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1532
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2013-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Financial literacy
Higher education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Financial and Economic Literacy Improvement Act of 2013 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award formula matching grants to states or partnerships between states and experienced nonprofit providers of financial literacy or personal finance education.
 
Requires grantees to use 25% of the grant funds to: (1) develop financial literacy standards and assessments for at least three grade levels, (2) create teacher training programs to embed financial literacy or personal finance education into core academic subjects, and (3) evaluate the impact such education has on students' financial literacy.
 
Requires the remaining grant funds to be used for subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) or partnerships between LEAs and community organizations, local businesses, or other educational entities to implement such financial literacy activities, including student assessments and teacher training. 
 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or partnerships between IHEs and experienced nonprofit providers of financial literacy or personal finance education for activities that increase student knowledge in consumer, economic, and personal financial concepts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom and Mobility in Consumer Banking Act

Bill: 113-s-1534
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2013-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: 
Freedom and Mobility in Consumer Banking Act - Amends the Truth in Savings Act to prohibit depository institutions from: (1) prohibiting a consumer from closing a covered account (a checking, savings, or any other account that the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection [CFPB] may include), regardless of whether the balance is positive, zero, or negative; (2) charging any fee to close such account; or (3) reopening such an account to apply subsequent debits after a consumer has requested the account to be closed, unless the consumer requests that the account be reopened.
 
Requires depository institutions to provide consumers with a description of the policies and procedures in place to close such accounts at the time the account is opened, upon request, and on the websites of such institutions.
 
Directs the CFPB to prescribe regulations relating to the closure of such accounts, including: (1) allowing consumers to receive available funds from a closed account in the form of a cashier's check, electronic funds transfer, or any other means offered by the institution or determined appropriate by the CFPB; (2) requiring depository institutions to provide consumers with certain information regarding any preauthorized transactions or direct deposits associated with an account before it is closed; (3) prohibiting a depository institution from reporting adverse information regarding such account to any consumer reporting agency if, at the time the account is closed, the account has a negative balance resulting solely from any fee assessed by the depository institution; and (4) establishing the terms under which a depository institution may report to a consumer reporting agency that an account had a negative closing balance, provided that the institution notifies the consumer and provides a reasonable period for repayment of the balance. 
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to Congress and the CFPB regarding additional barriers that could limit the ability of a consumer to close a covered account. Requires the CFPB, after receiving such report, to determine whether regulations should be issued to remove such barriers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Agency PAYGO Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1536
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2013-09-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: 
Agency PAYGO Act of 2013 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include in a proposed rule that limits greenhouse gas emissions and imposes increased costs on other agencies an offset from funds available to the Administrator for all projected increased costs that the proposed rule would impose on other agencies. 
 
 Prohibits the Administrator from finalizing such a proposed rule unless such an offset is provided.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to ensure that any new or revised requirement providing for the screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders is adopted through a rulemaking proceeding, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-1537
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2013-09-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Motor carriers
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to implement or enforce a requirement providing for the screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders (including obstructive sleep apnea) only if it is adopted pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding.
 
Applies this Act only to a requirement adopted on or after September 1, 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: Introduced in Senate
FIX Act

Bill: 113-s-1538
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-09-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: 
FIX Credit Reporting Errors Act or the FIX Act - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act with respect to the procedures followed by consumer reporting agencies when a consumer disputes the completeness or accuracy of information contained in the consumer's credit report.
 
Requires consumer reporting agencies to: (1) expand the dispute notification furnished to any person who provided disputed information to include all documentation provided by the consumer, and (2) consider such consumer documentation when conducting reinvestigations of disputed information. 
 
Directs a consumer reporting agency that operates as reseller, if it receives notice from a consumer of a dispute concerning a report that the reseller produced but the reseller determines that the information is not incomplete or inaccurate as a result of an act or omission of the reseller, to convey the notice of the dispute, together with all relevant information and documentation provided by the consumer, to each consumer reporting agency that provided the reseller with the information that is the subject of the dispute.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-09-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Adoption Information Act

Bill: 113-s-1539
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-09-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Family planning and birth control
Government information and archives
Health programs administration and funding
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2013-09-24
text: 
Adoption Information Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require family planning service projects or programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants or contracts, to assure the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that they will provide each person who inquires about their services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in their state.
 
Directs the Secretary to prepare, annually update, and distribute such pamphlets to such projects or programs. 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-09-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-09-24
text: Introduced in Senate