hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Minimum Wage Fairness Act

Bill: 113-s-1737
Sponsor: Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA]
Introduced: 2013-11-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business investment and capital
Computers and information technology
Department of Labor
Food industry and services
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
Labor standards
Retail and wholesale trades
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: 
Minimum Wage Fairness Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to: (1) $8.20 an hour beginning on the first day of the sixth month after the enactment of this Act, (2) $9.15 an hour beginning one year after the date of such initial increase, (3) $10.10 an hour beginning two years after such date, and (4) the amount determined by the Secretary of Labor (based on increases in the Consumer Price Index) beginning three years after such date and annually thereafter.
 
Increases the federal minimum wage for tipped employees to $3.00 an hour for one year beginning on the first day of the sixth month after the enactment of this Act. Provides a formula for subsequent annual adjustments of the minimum wage for tipped employees until it equals 70% of the wage in effect under FLSA for other employees.
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor, 60 days before any increase in the minimum wage, to publish it in the Federal Register and on the Department of Labor's website. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through taxable years beginning before 2017: (1) the increase to $500,000 of the expensing allowance for business assets, including computer software; and (2) the treatment of qualified real property (i.e., leasehold improvement property, restaurant property, and retail improvement property) as depreciable business property. 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-02
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S2043)
action_date: 2014-04-01
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1883)
action_date: 2014-03-31
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S1860)
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 250.
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2013-11-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the efficiency standards for grid-enabled water heaters.

Bill: 113-s-1739
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Department of Energy
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Lighting, heating, cooling

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to provide additional energy conservation standards applicable to grid-enabled water heaters (those intended for use as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program).
 
Requires annual reports from: (1) manufacturers of such water heaters regarding the quantity of the products shipped each year, and (2) utilities and other demand response and thermal storage program operators regarding the quantity of products activated for their programs.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to publish analyses of data collected from such reports and to establish procedures to prevent product diversion if sales of the products exceed by at least 15% the quantity activated for use in the demand response and thermal storage programs annually.
 
Maintains the standards and publication procedures established by this Act until the Secretary determines that such water heaters do not require a separate efficiency requirement.
 
Requires the Secretary to consider the impact of EPCA electric water heater standards on thermal storage and demand response programs, including on energy savings, electric bills, electric reliability, integration of renewable resources, and the environment.
 
Makes unlawful, with respect to grid-enabled water heaters not used as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program, the knowing and repeated distribution of activation keys, enabling of full operation of the products, or removing or making illegible their labels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1740
Sponsor: Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Arizona
California
Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Connecticut
Department of Veterans Affairs
Florida
Georgia
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Hawaii
Health facilities and institutions
Home and outpatient care
Illinois
Kansas
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Missouri
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Public contracts and procurement
Puerto Rico
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
U.S. territories and protectorates
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act of 2013 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out specified major medical facility leases (leases) in New Mexico, New Jersey, South Carolina, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Nebraska, Arizona, and Oklahoma.
 
Directs the Secretary, in exercising the authority to enter into such leases, to record as the full cost of the contractual obligation at the time a contract is executed either: (1) the amount of total payments under the full lease term; or (2) if the lease specifies payments to be made in the event the lease is terminated before its full term, an amount sufficient to cover the first-year payments plus the specified cancellation costs.
 
Requires the funding prospectus of a proposed lease to include a detailed analysis of how the lease is expected to comply with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-11 (which provides guidance to federal agencies in meeting statutory requirements for disclosure of the full costs of contracts or leases) and the Anti-Deficiency Act, including an analysis of: (1) the classification of the lease as a lease-purchase, capital lease, or operating lease; (2) the obligation of budgetary resources associated with the lease; and (3) the methodology used in determining the asset cost, fair market value, and cancellation costs of the lease.
 
Directs the Secretary, at least 30 days before entering into a lease, to submit to the congressional veterans committees: (1) notice of the intention to enter into, and a copy of, such lease; (2) a description and analysis of any differences between the lease prospectus submitted and the proposed lease; and (3) a scoring analysis demonstrating that the proposed lease fully complies with OMB Circular A-11. Requires the Secretary, no later than 30 days after entering into a lease, to report any material differences between the proposed lease and the lease entered.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Savings Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1741
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Consumer credit
Financial literacy
Financial services and investments
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Military Savings Act of 2013 - Requires the Under Secretary of Defense (DOD) to carry out a five-year pilot program at at least 10 military installations to develop innovative consumer financial products that encourage savings and wealth-creation among members of the Armed Forces on active duty. 
 
Authorizes products designed to: (1) increase the rate of savings among such members by providing automatic deposit of special pay and allowances; (2) reduce the need for high-cost short-term lending services by providing alternatives, such as financial institutions providing an option for members to receive advances on salary payments; and (3) address obstacles to traditional consumer banking and lending for members with limited credit history.
 
Requires a financial institution seeking to begin or renew operating on a military installation selected for such program to agree to offer such products and to notify members about the availability of such products. 
 
Directs the Under Secretary to contract for an annual independent evaluation of such program.
 
Authorizes the Under Secretary to extend the program and expand it nationwide upon determining that such expansion would improve member savings rates or decrease their need to rely on payday lenders.
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Entrance Fee Suspension Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1742
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Customs enforcement
Defense spending
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Military operations and strategy
Parks, recreation areas, trails
User charges and fees
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Entrance Fee Suspension Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, during the period April 10-25, 2014, to suspend the collection of fees for admission to units of the National Park System and units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, respectively. 
 
Requires the Secretary to report to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the total amount of fees that would have been collected for admission to such units if collection had not been suspended.
 
Directs the Secretary, during FY2014, to transfer amounts equivalent to such uncollected fees from discretionary unobligated balances that are not designated as emergency or overseas contingency operations. Entitles the Secretary to receive and use such amounts to carry out this Act without further appropriation.
 
Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as an offset to such funds transfers, to extend from October 29, 2021, to November 5, 2021, the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to charge and collect specified customs fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8365)
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act

Bill: 113-s-1743
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Department of the Interior
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from enforcing any federal regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing (including any component of that process), relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on or under any land in any state that has regulations, guidance, or permit requirements for that activity.
 
Requires the Secretary to recognize and defer to state regulations, permitting, and guidance, for all activities regarding hydraulic fracturing relating to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities on federal land regardless of whether those rules are duplicative, more or less restrictive, have different requirements, or do not meet federal regulations, guidance, or permit requirements.
 
Defines &quot;hydraulic fracturing&quot; as the process by which fracturing fluids (including a fracturing fluid system) are pumped into an underground geologic formation to generate fractures or cracks, thereby increasing rock permeability near the wellbore and improving production of natural gas or oil.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Somalia Stabilization Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1745
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Arms control and nonproliferation
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Somalia
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Somalia Stabilization Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should: (1) support the Somali Federal Government, regional administrations, federal units, and people in their efforts to consolidate political gains and develop credible and representative government systems and institutions; (2) support African-led regional efforts to improve security and stability in Somalia; (3) support the development of professional and regionally and ethnically representative Somali security forces; (4) provide humanitarian assistance as needed while building a foundation for Somalia's development; and (5) carry out all diplomatic, economic, intelligence, military, and development activities in Somalia within the context of a comprehensive strategy coordinated through an interagency process.
 
Directs the President to submit to Congress a strategy to guide future U.S. action in support of the government and people of Somalia to foster economic growth, counter armed threats to stability, and develop credible and representative government systems and institutions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employees Responsible Investment Act

Bill: 113-s-1746
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Business ethics
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Financial services and investments
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human rights
Product safety and quality
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Federal Employees Responsible Investment Act - Establishes the Corporate Responsibility Stock Index Fund as an investment option under the Thrift Savings Fund. Directs the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to select a minimum of one index for such Fund comprised of stocks that have been analyzed and selected using basic criteria, including corporate governance, environmental practices, workplace relations and benefits, product safety and impact, international operations and human rights, involvement with repressive regimes, and community relations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1747
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Department of Labor
Employee hiring
Employment taxes
Executive agency funding and structure
Intergovernmental relations
Railroads
State and local finance
Transportation employees
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2013 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to extend emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) payments for eligible individuals to weeks of employment ending on or before January 1, 2015.
 
 Amends the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act to extend until December 31, 2014, requirements that federal payments to states cover 100% of EUC.
 
 Amends the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 to exempt weeks of unemployment between enactment of this Act and June 30, 2015, from the prohibition in the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (FSEUCA of 1970) against federal matching payments to a state for the first week in an individual's eligibility period for which extended compensation or sharable regular compensation is paid if the state law provides for payment of regular compensation to an individual for his or her first week of otherwise compensable unemployment. (Thus allows temporary federal matching for the first week of extended benefits for states with no waiting period.)
 
 Amends the FSEUCA of 1970 to postpone similarly from December 31, 2013, to December 31, 2014, termination of the period during which a state may determine its &quot;on&quot; and &quot;off&quot; indicators according to specified temporary substitutions in its formula.
 
 Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to appropriate funds out of the employment security administration account through FY2015 to assist states in providing reemployment and eligibility assessment activities.
 
 Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to extend through December 31, 2014, the temporary increase in extended unemployment benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8365)
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
American Export Promotion Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1748
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Public-private cooperation
Service industries
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
American Export Promotion Act of 2013 - Authorizes appropriations for the Industry and Analysis unit of the International Trade Administration (ITA) of the Department of Commerce for the ITA's Market Development Cooperator Program.
 
Requires, in the use of such funds, a preference to be given to activities that will assist small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses and: (1) create or sustain the greatest number of jobs, (2) obtain the maximum return on investment, (3) increase U.S. exports to the Asia and Pacific region, (4) increase U.S. exports in services, or (5) address Department export priorities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Installations Enhancement Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-1749
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Defense spending
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Land use and conservation
Military education and training
Military facilities and property
Military personnel and dependents
Military readiness

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Military Installations Enhancement Act of 2013 - Requires each major military installation master plan to include consideration of: (1) planning for redevelopment and infill development to reduce consumption of undeveloped land on installations, (2) horizontal and vertical mixed-use development, (3) the full lifecycle costs of planning decisions, (4) capacity planning through the establishment of growth boundaries around cantonment areas to focus development towards the core and preserve range and training space, and (5) ways to diversify and connect transit systems and increase safety for all road users.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to improve authorities for performance of medical disabilities examinations by contract physicians for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-s-1751
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2013-11-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: 
Amends the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 to extend until December 31, 2016, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide for persons other than VA employees (i.e., contract physicians) to conduct medical disability examinations of applicants for benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
 
Permits licensed, VA-contracted physicians to conduct such examinations at any location in any state, the District of Columbia, or a Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, so long as the examination is authorized under the contract.
 
Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1996 to provide similar authorities with respect to permissible examination locations to licensed physicians under the pilot program authorizing the VA to use contract physicians to perform medical disability examinations of applicants for benefits under laws carried out through the Under Secretary for Benefits. Expands from 10 to 15 the maximum number of VA regional offices through which the Secretary is authorized to carry out such pilot program. Sets forth criteria for the selection of such regional offices.
 
Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual data analysis (including an analysis of backlogged claims, pending workloads, and the timeliness of completed cases) to determine the regional offices requiring support.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2013-11-20
text: Introduced in Senate