hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2975
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Medicare
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from accepting a bid from an entity for an area unless it: (1) meets state licensure requirements for the area for all items in the submitted bid for a product category, and (2) has obtained a bid surety bond of between $50,000 and $100,000 for each such area.
 
Prescribes requirements for the treatment of losing bidders and successful bidders that do not accept a contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Derivatives End-Users Clarification Act

Bill: 113-s-2976
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Commodities markets
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Derivatives End-Users Clarification Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to revise the treatment of affiliate transactions that may be exempt from clearing requirements to authorize such an exemption only if the affiliate enters into the swap to hedge or mitigate the commercial risk of the person that is not a financial entity (as under current law), on the condition that an appropriate credit support measure or other mechanism shall be used if the hedge or mitigation of commercial risk is addressed by entering into: (1) a swap with either a swap dealer or major swap participant, or (2) a security-based swap with a security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant.
 
 Applies this subtitle only to swaps or security-based swaps entered into after enactment of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6351-6352)
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
MEDTECH Act

Bill: 113-s-2977
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Medical Electronic Data Technology Enhancement for Consumers&rsquo; Health Act or the MEDTECH Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exclude from regulation as a medical device:
 
 
administrative, operational, or financial records software used in health care settings;
 
products intended for health maintenance outside of medical treatment;
 
electronic patient records, excluding diagnostic image data, provided that related software is validated prior to marketing, consistent with the standards for devices;
 
software for clinical laboratory test reports; and
 
 software that provides medical recommendations and the basis for those recommendations to health care professionals, with exceptions for products related to regulated devices. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate at least one city in the United States each year as an American World War II City, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-2978
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military history
North Carolina
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate at least one city in the United States each year as an &quot;American World War II City&quot; based on: (1) contributions to the war effort during World War II; and (2) efforts to preserve the history of such contributions, including preservation organizations or museums, restoration of World War II facilities, and recognition of World War II veterans.
 
Designates Wilmington, North Carolina, as the first such city.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home and domiciliary care for certain veterans who served in a theater of combat operations.

Bill: 113-s-2979
Sponsor: Sen. Walsh, John E. [D-MT]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Hospital care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Military operations and strategy
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Extends from 5 to 10 years after discharge or release from active duty after January 28, 2003, a combat veteran's eligibility for veterans' hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for illnesses that have not been medically proven to be attributable to such veteran's service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Equal Access to Treatments Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2980
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Ensuring Equal Access to Treatments Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department (OPD) services, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create certain additional groups of covered OPD services that classify separately, from those that do not utilize such a drug, procedures that utilize a drug (other than contrast agents and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals) that both has a cost above the drug packaging threshold and functions as a supply when used in a diagnostic test or procedure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Secure Data Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2981
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Secure Data Act of 2014 - Prohibits a federal agency from requiring a manufacturer, developer, or seller of any computer hardware, software, or electronic device made available to the general public to design or alter the security functions in such products to allow the surveillance of any user or the physical search of such product by any agency. Exempt from such prohibition products used by law enforcement agencies for electronic surveillance as authorized under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Perpetual POW/MIA Stamp Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2982
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Perpetual POW/MIA Stamp Act of 2014 - Directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to issue a forever stamp that: (1) honors the sacrifices of the members of the Armed Forces who have been prisoners of war, missing in action, or unaccounted for; and (2) depicts the National League of Families POW/MIA flag.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Improvement Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2983
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Higher education
Marine and inland water transportation
Military education and training
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Improvement Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to:
 
 
 accept a gift of money from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. in order to renovate Melville Hall on the campus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; and 
 
enter into a contract with the Foundation for the Hall's operation. 


action_date: 2014-12-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Improvement Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Maritime Administration to:
 
 
 accept a gift of money from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. in order to renovate Melville Hall on the campus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; and 
 
enter into a contract with the Foundation for the Hall's operation. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-12-11
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6697-6698)
action_date: 2014-12-11
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6697-6698)
action_date: 2014-12-11
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6697-6698)
action_date: 2014-12-11
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6697-6698)
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the definition of cotton futures contracts in the United States Cotton Futures Act.

Bill: 113-s-2984
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural trade
Commodities markets

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Amends the United States Cotton Futures Act to exclude cotton future contracts involving cotton that is grown outside of the United States and tendered for delivery from coverage under the Act, including the requirement that the cotton be classified by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate a segment of Interstate Route 35 in the State of Minnesota as the "James L. Oberstar Memorial Highway".

Bill: 113-s-2985
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional tributes
House of Representatives
Members of Congress
Minnesota
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Designates the segment of Interstate Route 35 between milepost 133 at Forest Lake, Minnesota, and milepost 259 at Duluth, Minnesota, as the &quot;James L. Oberstar Memorial Highway.&quot; 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-2986
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2014-12-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: American Samoa
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Foreign labor
Guam
Immigration status and procedures
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Public utilities and utility rates
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: 
Requires the Department of the Interior to establish within the Empowering Insular Communities activity a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to: (1) develop an energy action plan addressing the energy needs of each of the insular areas (American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) and Freely Associated States (Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau); and (2) assist each of the insular areas and Freely Associated States in implementing the plan. 
 
Requires the plan to include: (1) recommendations to reduce reliance and expenditures on fuel shipped to the insular areas and Freely Associated States from ports outside the United States, to develop and utilize domestic fuel energy sources, and to improve performance of energy infrastructure and overall energy efficiency; (2) a schedule for implementation of the recommendations and identification and prioritization of specific projects; (3) a financial and engineering plan for implementing and sustaining projects; and (4) benchmarks for measuring progress toward implementation.
 
Requires Interior to approve the plan before it is implemented.
 
Extends the federal immigration law transition period for the Northern Mariana Islands through December 31, 2019, including the annual reduction of nonimmigrant workers who may be admitted during such period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-12-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Fort Frederica National Monument Boundary Expansion Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2987
Sponsor: Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA]
Introduced: 2014-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Georgia
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Military history
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: 
Fort Frederica National Monument Boundary Expansion Act of 2014 - Expands the boundary of the Fort Frederica National Monument on Saint Simon Island, Georgia. Increases the maximum number of acres that may be included in the monument from 250 to 525 acres.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Cost Assessment Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2988
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2014-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Legislative rules and procedure
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: 
Regulatory Cost Assessment Act of 2014 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish and enforce a federal regulatory budget. 
 
Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to submit jointly to the President and Congress an analysis of the cost and economic effects of federal regulations, including recommendations for improvements to the regulatory budgeting process. 
 
Requires CBO to submit: (1) a baseline projecting the federal regulatory cost over at least five fiscal years, (2) analysis of the regulatory cost of legislation reported by congressional committees, and (3) look-back reviews comparing CBO estimates with actual costs.
 
Requires a concurrent resolution on the budget to include levels for the federal regulatory cost for at least five fiscal years. Establishes a process for allocating the totals among congressional committees and subcommittees, programs, and major functional categories. Establishes a point of order against legislation that would cause the allocations to be exceeded and specifies requirements for waiving the point of order. 
 
Requires the President's budget to include an analysis of the cost of compliance with current and proposed federal regulations and proposals for complying with the levels and allocations established under this Act. 
 
Amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require agencies to provide additional analysis of the private sector costs for compliance with new regulations. 
 
Requires federal agencies and the Government Accountability Office to provide reports and cost estimates for specified regulations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
PREPARE Act

Bill: 113-s-2989
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2014-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Intergovernmental relations
Public-private cooperation
Regional and metropolitan planning
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: 
Promoting Regional Energy Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act or the PREPARE Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of the Interior (acting through specified Assistant Secretaries) to provide technical assistance to governmental entities, Indian tribes, and regional and nonprofit organizations to develop energy strategies that harmonize and promote national, regional, and state energy goals. 
 
Sets forth an awards program addressing the uniqueness of the energy challenges facing states and Indian tribes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
STEP UP for American Small Businesses Act

Bill: 113-s-2990
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2014-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Marketing and advertising
Rural conditions and development
Small business
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: 
State Trade and Export Promotion Utilization Program for American Small Businesses Act or the STEP UP for American Small Businesses Act - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Associate Administrator for International Trade within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program.
 
Authorizes the Associate Administrator to make competitive grants to states to carry out export promotion programs to increase: (1) the number of eligible small businesses that export (including rural small businesses and small businesses owned and controlled by women and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals), as well as (2) the value of their exports.
 
Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to require the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) to include one or more members appointed by the President who are representatives of state trade promotion agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2991
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2014-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Atlantic Ocean
Capital gains tax
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic performance and conditions
Fishes
Florida
Government studies and investigations
Gulf of Mexico
International organizations and cooperation
Legislative rules and procedure
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Pacific Ocean
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Reauthorizes and revises the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act, the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986, the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act, the Yukon River Salmon Act of 2000, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975, and the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act through FY2021. Reauthorizes the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988. Reauthorizes the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act of 1995 through FY2020.
 
 Extends permanently the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to manage any Dungeness crab fishery that does not have a fishery management plan under the MSA and is in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to the state. 
 
 Revises the MSA, including by: 
 
 
providing for the role of tribal governments in managing fish, 
 
adding subsistence fishing to the types of fishing managed under the Act, 
 
giving regional fishery management councils the authority to use alternative fishery management measures in a recreational fishery, 
 
providing for the management of depleted fisheries, 
 
increasing civil and criminal penalties, 
 
establishing a Fisheries Enforcement Fund, and 
 
revising requirements governing fishery management plans and regional fishery management councils. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate