hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to encourage benchmarking and disclosure of energy information for commercial buildings.

Bill: 113-s-1206
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to revise exceptions to the requirement that federal agencies must lease space in buildings that have earned the Energy Star label. Requires a space leased by an agency in a building that has not earned the Energy Star label to be benchmarked under a nationally recognized, online, free benchmarking program, with public disclosure. Exempts from such requirement a space for which owners cannot access whole building utility consumption data.
 
Requires an agency that is a tenant of a space that has not earned such label to provide to a building owner, or authorize the owner to obtain from the utility, the energy consumption information of the space for the benchmarking and disclosure requirements.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to study and report on: (1) the impact of state and local performance benchmarking and disclosure policies, and any associated building efficiency policies, for commercial and multifamily buildings and the impact of programs and systems in which utilities provide aggregated information regarding whole building energy consumption and usage information to owners of multitenant commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings; and (2) best practice policy approaches that have resulted in the greatest improvements in building energy efficiency.
 
Requires the Secretary to modify and maintain existing databases or create and maintain a new database platform to store and make publicly available energy-related information on commercial and multifamily buildings. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make awards to utilities, utility regulators, and utility partners to develop and implement programs to provide aggregated whole building energy consumption information to multitenant building owners.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-70.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Cameras in the Courtroom Act

Bill: 113-s-1207
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Due process and equal protection
Supreme Court
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Cameras in the Courtroom Act - Requires the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless it decides by majority vote that allowing such coverage in a particular case would violate the due process rights of any of the parties involved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4795)
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act

Bill: 113-s-1208
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Contracts and agency
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Lease and rental services
Marketing and advertising
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act - Prescribes consumer protection guidelines for rental-purchase transactions, including: (1) the determination of rental-purchase cost and a payment schedule; (2) disclosure requirements; (3) prohibitions against confessions of judgment, wage assignments, waiver of consumer legal claims or remedies, and other specified provisions; (4) furnishing of statements of account; (5) point-of-rental disclosures; and (6) clear and conspicuous rental-purchase advertising disclosures. 
 
Shields "rental-purchase agreements" from laws regulating: (1) a credit sale and a consumer lease as defined in the Truth in Lending Act, or (2) an extension of credit or a transaction giving rise to a debt incurred in connection with the purchase of a thing of value. 
 
Exempts from jurisdiction of this Act rental-purchase agreements primarily for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes, or those made with government agencies or instrumentalities. 
 
Declares that the consumer shall acquire ownership of a property that is the subject of the rental-purchase agreement, and the rental-purchase agreement shall terminate, upon the consumer's compliance with specified total cost payment requirements, or any early payment option provided in the rental purchase agreement, and upon payment of any past due payments and fees. 
 
Grants enforcement powers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and requires violations of this Act to be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
Provides that a term or provision of state law is not inconsistent with this Act if it affords greater protection and benefit to the consumer than is provided under this Act as determined by the FTC, on its own motion or upon the petition of any interested party. 
 
Declares this Act to supersede state law to the extent that such law: (1) regulates a rental-purchase agreement as a security interest, credit sale, retail installment sale, conditional sale or any other form of consumer credit, or that imputes to a rental-purchase agreement the creation of a debt or extension of credit; or (2) requires the disclosure of a percentage rate calculation, including a time-price differential, an annual percentage rate, or an effective annual percentage rate. 
 
Shields from civil or criminal liability under this Act the United States and its agencies and any state, state agency, or state political subdivision. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1209
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Building construction
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Lighting, heating, cooling
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a voluntary electric and thermal energy productivity challenge grant program to provide support to no more than 25 states for: (1) expanding industrial energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and waste heat-to-power utilization; (2) expanding policies and programs that will advance energy efficiency retrofits for commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings through expanded energy service performance contracts, zero net-energy buildings, or improved building energy efficiency codes; (3) establishing or expanding incentives in the electric utility sector to enhance demand response and energy efficiency; and (4) supporting state activities involving both facilities and vehicle fleets than can be a model for other action to promote energy efficiency. 
 
Requires a state to submit to the Secretary a revised state energy conservation plan under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in order to receive a grant.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to no more than six states to provide additional funds for activities to assist energy policy innovation in the states and to promote the goal of doubling electric and thermal energy productivity by January 1, 2030.
 
Authorizes grants to be given to public power utilities, electric cooperatives, and Indian tribes.
 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to revoke the authorization of appropriations for FY2014-FY2017 for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-70.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A PLUS Act

Bill: 113-s-1210
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act - Allows each state to submit to the Secretary of Education a declaration of intent, applicable for up to five years, permitting it to receive federal funds on a consolidated basis that would otherwise be directed toward specific programs furthering the stated purpose of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 
 
Requires each declaration to be formulated by a combination of specified State Authorizing Officials or by referendum and to list the programs for which consolidated funding is requested. Allows states to use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law, but requires them to make certain assurances that they will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, abide by federal civil rights laws, and advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. Allows states to amend their declarations. 
 
Allows each declaration state to adopt new academic assessments and standards or apply those described under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, but requires each state to have a single system of assessments and standards that includes student proficiency goals.
 
Requires each declaration state to: (1) inform the public about its student achievement assessment system; (2) report annually on student progress toward the state's proficiency standards, disaggregating performance data by specified student groups; and (3) keep aggregate spending on elementary and secondary education at no less than 90% of such spending for the school year coinciding with this Act's enactment.
 
 Limits administrative expenses.
 
Requires each declaration state to provide for the equitable participation of private school children and teachers in the activities assisted under its declaration of intent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4795-4796)
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the use of the phrases GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill to give a false impression of approval or endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bill: 113-s-1211
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Marketing and advertising
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Prohibits any person, except with written permission from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, from using the phrases &quot;GI Bill&quot; and &quot;Post-9/11 GI Bill&quot; in connection with any promotion, goods, services, or commercial activity in a manner that reasonably and falsely suggests that such use is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act

Bill: 113-s-1212
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Forests, forestry, trees
Government liability
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
Solid waste and recycling
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act - Amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to: (1) authorize a state to pay up to 90% of the costs of acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range; (2) authorize a state to elect to allocate 10% of a specified amount apportioned to it from the federal aid to wildlife restoration fund for such costs; (3) limit the federal share of such costs under such Act to 90%; and (4) require amounts provided for such costs under such Act to remain available for expenditure and obligation for five fiscal years.
 
Shields the United States from any civil action or claim for money damages for injury to or loss of property, personal injury, or death caused by an activity occurring at a public target range that is funded by the federal government pursuant to such Act or located on federal land, except to the extent provided under the Federal Tort Claims Act with respect to the exercise or performance of a discretionary function.

 
Urges the Chief of the Forest Service and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to cooperate with state and local authorities and other entities to carry out waste removal and other activities on any federal land used as a public target range to encourage its continued use for target practice or marksmanship training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4796)
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act

Bill: 113-s-1213
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2013-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public contracts and procurement
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: 
Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to authorize appropriations for the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income persons for FY2014-FY2018.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to make competitive grants to qualified tax-exempt charitable organizations for energy efficiency retrofit uses that include:
 
 
energy efficiency audits, cost-effective retrofit, and related activities in different climatic regions of the United States;
 
 energy efficiency materials and supplies;
 
 organizational capacity for retrofit programs;
 
 energy efficiency, audit and retrofit training, and technical assistance;
 
 information to homeowners on proper maintenance and energy savings behaviors;
 
 quality control and improvement;
 
 data collection, measurement, and verification;
 
 program monitoring, oversight, evaluation, and reporting;
 
 management and administration; and
 
 labor and training activities.
 
 
Requires contractors carrying weatherization with funds under the Act to be selected through a competitive bidding process and be accredited as specified by this Act. Requires organizations, in order to receive a grant, to use a crew chief who is certified or accredited as required by this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary, beginning on October 1, 2015, to ensure that: (1) each retrofit for which weatherization assistance is provided meets minimum efficiency and quality of work standards established by the Secretary, (2) at least 10% of the dwelling units are randomly inspected by an accredited third party to ensure compliance with the standards, and (3) the standards meet or exceed the current industry standards for home performance work.
 
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to extend the authorization for state energy conservation plans for FY2014-FY2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-70.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1216
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: 
Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), for a certain four-year period, to require training establishments applying for state approval of on-the-job training programs to certify that the wages to be paid an eligible veteran or person upon entrance into training will be increased in regular periodic increments until, by the last full month of the training period, they will be at least 75% (currently 85%) of the wages paid for the job for which such eligible veteran or person is being trained.
 
Requires the Secretary to enter into agreements with the heads of other federal departments and agencies to operate similar on-the-job training programs to train eligible veterans or persons to perform skills necessary for employment by the department or agency operating the program. 
 
Extends from November 30 through December 31, 2016, the requirement of a reduced pension ($90 per month) for veterans (with neither spouse nor child) or surviving spouses (with no child) covered by Medicaid plans under title XIX of the Social Security Act for services furnished by nursing facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-10-30
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1218
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Building construction
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Lighting, heating, cooling
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: 
State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a voluntary electric and thermal energy productivity challenge grant program to provide support to no more than 25 states for: (1) expanding industrial energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and waste heat-to-power utilization; (2) expanding policies and programs that will advance energy efficiency retrofits for commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings through expanded energy service performance contracts, zero net-energy buildings, or improved building energy efficiency codes; (3) establishing or expanding incentives in the electric utility sector to enhance demand response and energy efficiency; and (4) supporting state activities involving both facilities and vehicle fleets than can be a model for other action to promote energy efficiency. 
 
Requires a state to submit to the Secretary a revised state energy conservation plan under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in order to receive a grant.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants to no more than six states to provide additional funds for activities to assist energy policy innovation in the states and to promote the goal of doubling electric and thermal energy productivity by January 1, 2030.
 
Authorizes grants to be given to public power utilities, electric cooperatives, and Indian tribes.
 
Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce the authorized amount of appropriations for FY2014-FY2017 for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1220
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2013-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: 
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study whether there should be an increase in the prospective payment rate for inpatient rehabilitation services that would otherwise be made to a rehabilitation innovation center to cover additional costs incurred in: (1) furnishing items and services to individuals conducting research, and (2) providing medical training.
 
Requires the study also to specify the amount of such an increase if the Secretary determines that it is recommended. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1221
Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2013-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax deferral
Marriage and family status
Members of Congress
Senate
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to rename the section heading of Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the individual retirement accounts (IRAs) of married individuals as the Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate