hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2738
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Birth defects
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability assistance
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Hereditary and development disorders
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Medical research
Military personnel and dependents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to select a medical center in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve as the national center for research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants (i.e., a biological child, grandchild, or great-grandchild) of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces that are related to that exposure.
 
Requires the national research center to employ at least one licensed clinical social worker to coordinate the access of individuals to appropriate federal, state, and local social and health care programs and to handle case management.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory board to: (1) advise the national research center, (2) determine which health conditions in the descendants of individuals who were exposed to toxic substances while serving in the Armed Forces result from such exposure for purposes of determining those descendants' eligibility for VA medical care, and (3) study and evaluate claims of service-related exposure to toxic substances by current and former members of the Armed Forces.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to declassify documents (other than documents that would materially and immediately threaten national security) related to any known incident in which not less than 100 members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance that resulted in at least one case of disability.
 
Directs the Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the DOD Secretary to jointly conduct a national outreach and education campaign directed at members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their family members to communicate information on: (1) incidents of exposure to toxic substances, health conditions resulting form such exposure, and the potential long-term effects of such exposure; and (2) the national research center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Biogas Investment Tax Credit Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2739
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy research
Income tax credits
Oil and gas
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Biogas Investment Tax Credit Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) an energy tax credit through 2019 for investment in qualified biogas property, and (2) financing of qualified biogas property with new clean renewable energy bonds. Defines "qualified biogas property" as property comprising a system which uses anaerobic digesters or other processes to convert biomas into a gas which consists of not less than 52% methane and which captures such gas for use as a fuel. 
 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into an agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to undertake a study of biogas and to submit a report to Congress on such study.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Connect with Veterans Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2740
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Personnel records
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Connect with Veterans Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a program to facilitate outreach to veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the primary agencies of states for the administration of veterans' benefits and services, political subdivisions of states, and Indian tribes; and (2) publicize such program and the benefits to such entities of participating.
 
Requires the Secretary, to carry out such program, to: (1) establish a national directory of veterans, and (2) share information in the directory with any such entities from whom a participating individual has expressed interest in receiving information. 
 
Prohibits: (1) the Secretary from selling information collected under this Act, (2) the Secretary or any participating entity from sharing such information with a non-participating entity, or (3) any participating entity from using any such information for any political communication or from requiring any participating individual to purchase any product or service.
 
Requires the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to: (1) provide to each member of the Armed Forces separating from service a form for the collection of information to be included in the directory, (2) ensure that completion of the form is voluntary, and (3) protect the privacy of individuals who submit information and the security of information.
 
Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Labor to jointly take appropriate steps to integrate the collection of information under this Act into the Transition Assistance Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5224)
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Agreement Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2744
Sponsor: Sen. Hagan, Kay R. [D-NC]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
North Carolina
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Agreement Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer specified funds previously appropriated to the National Park Service to counties within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Department of the Interior, dated February 2010.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-2745
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Parks, recreation areas, trails
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Amends the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear Trail, extending approximately 550 miles from Niobrara, Nebraska, to Ponca City, Oklahoma, and approximately 550 miles from Ponca City through Omaha to Niobrara, Nebraska, as a national historic trail. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act

Bill: 113-s-2746
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue activities relating to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), and sudden unexpected death in childhood (SUDC).
 
Requires the CDC to provide for collection of epidemiologic information on stillbirths, including through existing surveillance systems. Requires the CDC to develop and periodically update a standard data collection protocol and guidelines for postmortem stillbirth evaluation.
 
Directs the CDC to provide for collection of sociodemographic, death scene investigation, clinical history, and autopsy information on SUID and SUDC cases through the review of existing records.
 
Requires the CDC to develop and periodically update standard protocols for data collection and death scene investigation for SUID. Sets forth goals for SUID surveillance, including: (1) collecting information about the environmental and medical circumstances of death, (2) supporting multidisciplinary infant death reviews to classify and characterize SUID, and (3) facilitating information sharing to improve reporting of SUID. Requires the death scene investigation protocol to include the collection of infant and family medical history, circumstances surrounding death, the infant's sleep position and sleep environment, and any accidental or environmental factors associated with the death.
 
Directs the CDC to develop and periodically update guidelines for standard autopsy protocols for SUID and SUDC.
 Allows the Attorney General to conduct and support training for medical examiners, coroners, and others regarding standard protocols for death scene investigation and autopsies.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2747
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act of 2014 - Requires each federal agency to establish a plan for the periodic review (every nine years) of: (1) its rules that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, and (2) any small entity compliance guide required to be published by an agency. Sets forth criteria for review of a rule, including the continued need for the rule, the complexity of the rule, and the economic impact of the rule on small entities. Requires: (1) each agency to publish in the Federal Register and on the agency website a list of the rules and small entity compliance guides to be reviewed under the plan, and (2) the agency Inspector General to determine whether the agency has conducted the required review.
 
Provides that each covered rule (i.e., any rule for which an agency is required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis and which is a major rule) promulgated by an agency shall cease to have effect seven years after the final version of such rule is published unless renewed by the agency using the notice and comment rulemaking process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act

Bill: 113-s-2748
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Endangered and threatened species
Legal fees and court costs
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Endangered Species Litigation Reasonableness Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to replace the current standard for awarding court costs, including attorney fees, in citizen suits with the federal judicial code standard for awarding costs to a prevailing party. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a board of directors and CEO to oversee the Federal Exchange and State Exchanges, and to provide health insurance oversight.

Bill: 113-s-2749
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Comprehensive health care
Corporate finance and management
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish the Marketplace Health Insurance Corporation, with a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors, to oversee health care exchanges and health insurance.
 
Directs the President, with the consent of the Senate, to appoint as CEO an individual with a background in health care issues and private-sector management experience.
 
Requires the Board of Directors to advise the CEO on issues including: (1) the functionality of healthcare.gov, (2) the selection of federal exchange health plans, (3) ensuring the accuracy of premium subsidies, and (4) the transition from a state exchange to the federal exchange.
 Requires the Board of Directors to establish a technical advisory committee to assist the Board of Directors and CEO in carrying out their duties.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Airport Public-Private Partnership Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2750
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Public-private cooperation
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Airport Public-Private Partnership Act of 2014 - Revises provisions regarding a pilot program on airport privatization to delete provisions: (1) limiting the number of airports in the pilot program to not more than 10; (2) requiring that if applications are approved with respect to 5 airports, 1 of the airports must be a general aviation airport; and (3) prohibiting the approval of more than 1 application submitted by an airport that had 1% or more of the total passenger boardings in the United States in the preceding calendar year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural and Tribal Voter Rights Act

Bill: 113-s-2751
Sponsor: Sen. Walsh, John E. [D-MT]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Indian lands and resources rights
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Rural and Tribal Voter Rights Act - Directs the Election Assistance Commission to make a payment each fiscal year to each state which meets early voting location distribution plan development requirements for ensuring that eligible voters have adequate access to early voting locations.
 
Requires a state or local election official to provide at least one one early voting location on tribal land when requested by the tribal government.
 
Requires each state to, after reasonable notice and public hearings, adopt and submit to the Commission a plan which provides for the equitable distribution of early voting locations.
 
Requires each state to make early voting available to any eligible voter for at least 10 days before an election for federal office. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, the Postmaster General, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Interior to permit a state to designate facilities of the respective agencies located in the state as voter registration agencies.
 
Requires each state to permit any eligible individual on the same day as a federal election and on any day when voting, including early voting, is permitted for a federal election to: (1) register to vote in the election, and (2) cast a vote in it.
 
Requires each state to provide a secure online interface available to the public on a public, government website that allows any eligible individual to register electronically to vote or to update their voter registration.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in an appropriate district court for declaratory or injunctive relief as necessary to carry out this Act. Allows any aggrieved person a private right of action, too.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Endangered Species Recovery Transparency Act

Bill: 113-s-2752
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Endangered and threatened species
Government information and archives
Legal fees and court costs
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Endangered Species Recovery Transparency Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to require the Secretary of the Interior to make available online a searchable database detailing federal expenditures for civil actions brought under the ESA containing claims that are based on the actions of the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, or the Southeastern Power Administration. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress including this information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Increasing Student Achievement by Increasing Student Support Act

Bill: 113-s-2753
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child health
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Mental health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Increasing Student Achievement by Increasing Student Support Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive, renewable, five-year grants to partnerships between low-income local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools offering graduate programs in school counseling, social work, or psychology to increase the number of program graduates employed by low-income LEAs.
 
Defines &quot;low-income LEAs&quot; as those that: (1) serve students at least 20% of whom are from families with incomes below the federal poverty level; and (2) have no more than 1 school counselor for every 275 students, 1 school psychologist for every 770 students, and 1 school social worker for every 440 students.
 
Allows the use of grant funds to: 
 
 
 provide program graduate students with field training at partnership LEA schools; 
 
 contribute to program graduates' salaries at such schools for up to three years after they graduate; 
 
 increase the number of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists per student, and from underrepresented backgrounds, in such schools; 
 
 enhance the capacity of partnership graduate schools to train such professionals; 
 
 develop course work designed to facilitate such graduates' service to low-income LEAs and at-risk students; and 
 
 provide tuition credits to such graduate students and student loan forgiveness to program graduates employed as school counselors, social workers, or psychologists by low-income LEAs for at least five consecutive years.
 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a program providing student loan forgiveness to non-participants in this Act's grant program who have been employed for at least five consecutive years as school counselors, social workers, or psychologists by low-income LEAs.
 
Requires the Secretary to identify a formula for future use in designating regions as eligible for benefit programs due to their having a shortage of such school personnel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Lobbying and Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2754
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2014-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: 
Lobbying and Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2014 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to declare that, for purposes of dollar limits on contributions, any bundled contribution forwarded by a currently registered lobbyist or a political committee established or controlled by one to an authorized committee of a candidate, a leadership political action committee (PAC), or a political party committee shall be treated as both a contribution made by the person forwarding it and as a contribution made by the contributor.
 
Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to revise the definition of &quot;lobbyist&quot; with respect to its exemption from coverage of certain individuals whose lobbying activities constitute less than 20% of the time engaged in the services provided to a client over a 3-month period. Extends the 3-month period into a 2-year period.
 
Amends FECA to prohibit House of Representatives and Senate candidates, Members, Senators, their agents, or any entities directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained, or controlled by or acting on behalf of one or more of them from soliciting funds from any registered lobbyist in connection with an election to the House or Senate during any period in which the chamber is in session (excluding adjournments or recesses for 10 calendar days or longer).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2014-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate