hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
SEAL Act

Bill: 113-s-606
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer credit
Department of the Treasury
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Shrinking Emergency Account Losses Act of 2013 or the SEAL Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to loans made from a qualified employer plan, to: (1) extend the period for repayment of loans if a plan terminates or a plan participant becomes unemployed, and (2) prohibit plans from allowing the use of credit cards or similar arrangements to access loan amounts.
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to modify regulations governing hardship distributions from qualified employer plans to allow participants to make additional contributions to a plan during the six month period following a hardship distribution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
SCREEN Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-608
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now Act of 2013 or SCREEN Act of 2013 - Increases Medicare payments to qualifying Medicare providers by 10% for cancer screening tests recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Terminates the increase for a test when it reaches a 75% utilization rate for beneficiaries for whom such screening is recommended. Makes a Medicare provider eligible for such increased payment only if the provider: (1) participates in a nationally recognized quality improvement registry with respect to such test, and (2) demonstrates that the tests were provided in accordance with accepted outcomes-based quality measures.
 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to waive cost-sharing for colorectal cancer screening tests.
 
Extends Medicare coverage to include an outpatient office visit or consultation prior to a colorectal cancer test consisting of a screening colonoscopy, or in conjunction with an individual's decision regarding the performance of such a test on the individual, for the purpose of beneficiary education, assuring selection of the proper screening test, and securing information relating to the procedure and the sedation of the individual.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce the conversion factors for purposes of payment to physicians and hospital outpatient departments under Medicare to offset the additional expenditures under this Act.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require health plans to cover, with no cost-sharing, activities related to certain covered preventive services that are part of the same clinical encounter, such as conducting a biopsy or removing a lesion or growth.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1953-1954)
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Health Care Flexibility Act

Bill: 113-s-610
Sponsor: Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Family Health Care Flexibility Act - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 that: (1) restrict payments from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements for medications to prescription drugs and insulin only (thus allowing payments for over-the-counter medications); and (2) impose a $2,500 limitation on salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Number Protection Act of 2011

Bill: 113-s-612
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Government information and archives
Medicare
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Social Security Number Protection Act of 2011[
sic
] - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and begin to implement procedures to eliminate the unnecessary collection, use, and display of Social Security account numbers of Medicare beneficiaries on Medicare identification cards and communications.
 
Prohibits a Social Security card also from storing a Social Security account number electronically.
 
Allows the display of a Social Security number on written or electronic communications only if the Secretary determines that its inclusion on such communications is essential for the operation of the Medicare program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1954-1955)
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1954)
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Service Members Permanent Change of Station Relief Act

Bill: 113-s-613
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Motor vehicles
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Service Members Permanent Change of Station Relief Act - Sets at the business standard mileage rate of the Internal Revenue Service the monetary allowance for a member of the Armed Forces for travel by privately owned vehicles in lieu of government transportation in the case of: (1) a change of permanent station, (2) travel to the first station upon call to active duty, and (3) travel from a last duty station upon separation from service. Sets the monetary allowance for authorized travel by a member's dependent at the rate per mile established by the Administrator of General Services instead of the actual expenses for such transportation.
 
Revises requirements allowing the transport at government expense of one motor vehicle owned or leased by a member (or member's dependent) to the new station of the member who has been ordered to make a change of permanent station. 
 
Authorizes the transport at government expense of one additional motor vehicle of a member (or member's dependent) if: (1) the member is ordered to make a change of permanent station to or from a nonforeign area outside the continental United States and the member has at least one dependent of driving age who will use the motor vehicle, or (2) the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that a replacement for the transported motor vehicle is necessary for reasons beyond the member's control and is in the interest of the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the continuation of tuition assistance programs for members of the Armed Forces for the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

Bill: 113-s-614
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Directs the Secretaries of the military departments to carry out tuition assistance programs for members of the Armed Forces during the remainder of FY2013, using funds appropriated for such programs under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 reduced by a specified budget sequestration percentage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Coltsville National Historical Park Act

Bill: 113-s-615
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Connecticut
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
Coltsville National Historical Park Act - Establishes the Coltsville National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System in Connecticut. 
 
Requires the Park to provide interpretation and viewing of specified sites, including the East Armory and Colt Park. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a written agreement with the Connecticut State Library, Wadsworth Atheneum, and the Colt Trust, or other public entities, as appropriate, to gain access to Colt-related artifacts to have them on display in the East Armory or within the Park. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with the owners of any properties within the Historic District or any nationally significant properties within the Park under which the Secretary may identify, interpret, restore and provide technical assistance for the preservation of such properties. 
 
Requires any federal funds under such an agreement to be matched on a one-to-one basis by non-federal funds. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance and public interpretation of related historic and cultural resources within the Historic District. 
 
 Requires the Secretary to complete and submit to Congress a management plan for the Park with the advice of the Coltsville National Historical Park Advisory Commission established by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-27.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act

Bill: 113-s-616
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2013-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Immigration status and procedures
Medical education
Rural conditions and development
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: 
 
 
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to make the J-1 visa waiver (Conrad state 30/medical services in underserved areas) program permanent.
 
Excludes from numerical immigration limitations alien physicians who have completed national interest waiver requirements by working in a health care shortage area (including alien physicians who completed such service before the date of enactment of this Act and any spouses or children of such alien physicians).
 
Sets forth specified employment protections and contract requirements for alien physicians working in underserved areas.
 
Increases the number of alien physicians that a state may be allocated from 30 to 35 per fiscal year under specified circumstances. Provides for additional increases or decreases based upon demand.
 
Provides up to three visa waivers per fiscal year per state for physicians in academic medical centers. 
 
Permits dual intent for an alien coming to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training, or to take examinations required for graduate medical education or training. 
 
Exempts H-1B nonimmigrant aliens seeking to enter the United States to pursue graduate medical education or training from specified entry limitations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Pacific Islands Parks Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-618
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Hawaii
Historic sites and heritage areas
Military history
Northern Mariana Islands
Pacific Ocean
Palau
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: 
Pacific Islands Parks Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resource studies of the following sites: (1) the Ka`u Coast on the island of Hawaii; (2) the northern coast of Maui, Hawaii; (3) the southeastern coast of Kauai, Hawaii; (4) historic sites on the Midway Atoll; and (5) upon request of the governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the island of Rota in the Commonwealth. 
 
Requires the Secretary, in conducting each such study, to: (1) evaluate the national significance of the site and the area surrounding it, (2) determine the feasibility of designating such site as a unit of the National Park System, and (3) consider other alternatives for the preservation and interpretation of the site. 
 
Requires the Secretary to update the study authorized under the National Park Service Studies Act of 1999 relating to World War II sites in the Republic of Palau. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) determine whether conditions have changed to justify designating such sites as a System unit, and (2) consider other alternatives for the preservation and interpretation of those sites. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-07-31
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 113-93.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2028)
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-619
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Judicial procedure and administration

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: 
Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to authorize a federal court to impose a sentence below a statutory minimum if necessary to avoid violating federal provisions prescribing factors courts must consider in imposing a sentence. Requires the court to give the parties notice of its intent to impose a lower sentence and to state in writing the factors requiring such a sentence. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
No Budget, No OMB Pay Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-620
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: 
No Budget, No OMB Pay Act of 2013 - Requires the Inspector General (IG) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), within three days after the President's budget is due, to: (1) make an annual determination of whether the Director of OMB and the President are in compliance with the statutory requirement for the President's budget submission to Congress, and (2) notify the Chairpersons of the congressional budget and appropriations committees of that determination.
 
Prohibits funds from being appropriated or otherwise made available from the U.S. Treasury for the pay of the Director of OMB, Deputy Director of OMB, and the Deputy Director for Management of OMB during any noncompliant period determined by the IG.
 
Bars such individuals from receiving any retroactive pay for any such period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2029)
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2029)
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Prescribing Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-621
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Health care coverage and access
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Prescription drugs
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: 
Safe Prescribing Act of 2013 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove dihydrocodeinone (hydrocodone) from classification as a schedule III controlled substance.
 
Directs the Attorney General to immediately allow manufacturers and distributors to store hydrocodone combination products in accordance with the physical security requirements for schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances for three years beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to submit a report on the reclassification of hydrocodone products under this Act, including: (1) an assessment of the degree to which the reclassification of such products under this Act impacts the ability of patients with legitimate medical needs, particularly those in rural areas and nursing home facilities, to access adequate pain management; and (2) recommendations necessary to address any issues relating to patient access to adequate pain management.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-623
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: 
Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to payments for physician services, to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from applying a multiple procedure payment reduction policy to the professional component of imaging services until the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register: (1) an analysis of the information used in the final rule to implement the physician fee schedule in 2013 to determine what, if any, efficiences exist within the professional component of imaging services when two or more studies are performed on the same patient on the same day; and (2) detailed information on which activities in the vignettes in such rule were assigned specified reduction percentages, how such percentage reductions for the pre-, intra-, and post-service work were determined and calculated, and the clinical aspects that went into those decisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Care Protection Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-624
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child care and development
Child safety and welfare
Crimes against children
Criminal justice information and records
Personnel records
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: 
Child Care Protection Act of 2013 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states that receive funds under such Act to: (1) require and conduct criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers; (2) prohibit the employment of a child care staff member who refuses to consent to a criminal background check, makes a false statement in connection with such background check, is registered as a sex offender, or is a convicted felon involving certain crimes; and (3) provide criminal background checks to child care providers upon request. Imposes a financial penalty on states that fail to comply substantially with the requirements of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Biennial Appropriations Act

Bill: 113-s-625
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2013-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text:  
 
Biennial Appropriations Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require biennial (instead of annual) appropriations Acts, with the exception of annual defense appropriation bills.
 
Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1.
 
Requires the committees of the House and Senate with legislative jurisdiction over an agency, in each year that the agency's activities are not required to be funded, to hold a joint oversight hearing on the impact of biennial budgeting on the agency with the corresponding subcommittee of the respective Committee on Appropriations with jurisdiction over the agency.
 
Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to: (1) determine the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period with a biennial budget process based on such period, and (2) report the findings to the House and Senate Budget Committees. 
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Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2013-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate