hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Veteran Families Fairness Act

Bill: 113-hr-4335
Sponsor: Rep. Maffei, Daniel B. [D-NY-24]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Veteran Families Fairness Act - Provides for the payment of certain accrued veterans' benefits to the estate of a deceased veteran upon the veteran's death if the veteran has no living spouse, children, or dependent parents.
 
Allows the estate of a veteran who dies while his or her claim for accrued veterans' benefits is pending to file a request to be substituted as the claimant. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to process the claim of a substituted claimant: (1) by recognizing the original filing date of the claim, and (2) without penalty to the priority of the claim.
 
Directs the Secretary to notify the estates of veterans who died before this Act's enactment of their eligibility to apply for the deceased veteran's accrued benefits or apply to act as a substituted claimant. Gives estates one year after the date they received such notification to make such an application.
 
Requires the Secretary to reimburse a successful veterans' benefits claimant for the medical costs that: (1) were charged to the claimant while the claim was pending, and (2) would have been reimbursed or provided by the VA if the treatment occurred after the claim was approved. Directs the Secretary to recommend to each claimant, when they file a claim, to retain documentation regarding such costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Local Road Safety Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4336
Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Local Road Safety Act of 2014 - Revises requirements for a state strategic highway safety plan.
 
Requires a state transportation department to develop a plan after consultation with, among other things, private sector experts in the field of roadway safety infrastructure. Requires the department, in developing such plan, also to consider, among other things, the results of any strategic highway safety plan developed by a county or local government entity or regional transportation planning organization.
 
Prescribes a special rule requiring states to provide each fiscal year, from their apportionment of highway safety improvement program funds, an amount to county and local transportation agencies necessary to assist them to address significant safety needs, and high fatality segments, of non-state-owned public roads and roads on tribal lands identified in a state strategic highway safety plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept a statue depicting Pierre L'Enfant from the District of Columbia and to provide for the permanent display of the statue in the United States Capitol.

Bill: 113-hr-4337
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
District of Columbia
Regional and metropolitan planning
U.S. Capitol
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Requires the Joint Committee on the Library to: (1) accept from the District of Columbia the donation of a statue depicting Pierre L'Enfant, subject to appropriate terms and conditions; and (2) place the statue in a suitable permanent location in the U.S.Capitol.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E460-461)
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Pipeline Modernization and Consumer Protection Act

Bill: 113-hr-4338
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-13]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Department of Transportation
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Pipeline Modernization and Consumer Protection Act - Requires each operator of a gas pipeline facility, in accordance with an integrity management program, if applicable, to accelerate the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of gas piping or equipment that is leaking or may pose high risk of leaking.
 
Requires each state regulatory authority and each nonregulated gas utility, in complying with such requirements, to: (1) develop prioritized timelines to repair or replace all leaking or high-risk piping or equipment, and (2) require use of best available technology to detect gas leaks.
 
Directs the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to issue non-binding best practices guidelines for identifying and classifying high-risk pipeline infrastructure and leaks for repair or replacement.
 
Directs the Administrator and the heads of other applicable federal agencies to work jointly to establish and publish forms that adopt a standard definition and methodology for calculating and reporting information on the causes of unaccounted-for gas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Pipeline Revolving Fund and Job Creation Act

Bill: 113-hr-4339
Sponsor: Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-13]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Government lending and loan guarantees
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Pipeline Revolving Fund and Job Creation Act - Directs the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to offer to enter into agreements to make capitalization grants, including letters of credit, to eligible states for the repair or replacement of natural gas distribution pipelines. 
 
Requires grant funds to be deposited into state revolving loan funds to provide loans or loan guarantees to: (1) facilitate compliance with an intended use plan, or (2) repair or replace those pipelines that have been identified as leak-prone.
 
Prohibits the use of funds from loans or loan guarantees made by a state to repair or replace natural gas distribution pipelines unless all of the iron, steel, plastic, and manufactured goods used in the repair or replacement are produced in the United States (Buy America).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Safety Through Informed Consumers Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4340
Sponsor: Rep. Rokita, Todd [R-IN-4]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Motor vehicles
Product safety and quality
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Safety Through Informed Consumers Act of 2014 - Revises passenger motor vehicle information program requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to ensure that passenger motor vehicle crash avoidance information is provided alongside of and in the same format as crashworthiness information each place that the latter is made available to the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Truth in Advertising Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4341
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Government studies and investigations
Marketing and advertising
Mental health
Photography and imaging

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Truth in Advertising Act of 2014 - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit a report to Congress that contains: (1) a strategy to reduce the use, in advertising and other media for the promotion of commercial products, of images that have been altered to materially change the physical characteristics of the faces and bodies of the individuals depicted; and (2) recommendations for a risk-based regulatory framework with respect to such use.
 
Requires the FTC to solicit input from external stakeholders and experts including, to the extent practicable, from: (1) stakeholders that are geographically and culturally diverse; and (2) experts from physical and mental health, business, and consumer advocacy communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3251)
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
DOTCOM Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-4342
Sponsor: Rep. Shimkus, John [R-IL-15]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters Act of 2014 or the DOTCOM Act of 2014 - Prohibits the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information from relinquishing or agreeing to any proposal relating to the relinquishment of the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) over Internet domain name system functions (including the authoritative root zone file, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions, and related root zone management functions) until the Comptroller General (GAO), within one year after the NTIA receives a relinquishment proposal developed in a process convened by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) at the request of the NTIA, submits a report to Congress regarding the role of the NTIA with respect to the Internet domain name system. 
 
Requires such GAO report to include: (1) advantages and disadvantages of such relinquishment of NTIA responsibility; (2) any principles or criteria that the NTIA sets for relinquishment proposals, as well as an analysis of each proposal received by the NTIA; (3) the processes used by the NTIA and any other federal agencies for evaluating proposals; (4) any national security concerns; and (5) a definition of &quot;multistakeholder model&quot; as used by the NTIA with respect to Internet policymaking and governance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-23
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 546.
action_date: 2014-12-23
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-715.
action_date: 2014-12-23
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-715.
action_date: 2014-05-08
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2014-05-08
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-05-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Write the Laws Act

Bill: 113-hr-4343
Sponsor: Rep. Stockman, Steve [R-TX-36]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Legislative rules and procedure
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Write the Laws Act - Prohibits: (1) the inclusion of a delegation of legislative powers clause in any bill passed by Congress, whether such delegation is to a branch of government, a federal or quasi-public agency, a state or instrumentality thereof, or any other organization or individual; or (2) any new presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation governing, limiting, imposing a penalty on, or otherwise regulating any activity of, any person or entity, other than a U.S. officer or employee, unless such directive, decision, rule, or regulation is authorized by a duly-enacted bill. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to Congress identifying all previously-enacted statutes that contain a delegation of powers clause to assist Congress in repealing or amending any such statutes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Military Sexual Trauma Claims Administration Reform and Eligibility Act

Bill: 113-hr-4344
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Crimes against women
Disability assistance
Evidence and witnesses
Mental health
Sex offenses
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Military Sexual Trauma Claims Administration Reform and Eligibility Act - Establishes a presumption, for the purpose of determining a veteran's eligibility for disability compensation, that a veteran's mental health condition was incurred in or aggravated by military sexual trauma if the veteran so certifies, despite a lack of evidence that such condition or trauma occurred during such service. Makes that presumption rebuttable.
 
Defines &quot;military sexual trauma&quot; as psychological trauma that, in the judgment of a mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault or battery of a sexual nature or sexual harassment that occurred while the veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training in the Armed Forces.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act

Bill: 113-hr-4345
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public contracts and procurement
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to extend the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income persons through FY2019.
 
Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to make competitive grants to qualified tax-exempt charitable organizations for energy efficiency retrofit uses that include:
 
 
energy efficiency audits, cost-effective retrofit, and related weatherization activities; 
 
energy efficiency materials and supplies; 
 
training and technical assistance; 
 
information to homeowners on proper maintenance and energy savings behaviors; 
 
data collection, measurement, and verification activities to facilitate program monitoring, oversight, evaluation, and reporting; and 
 
management and administration. 

 
Requires contractors carrying out weatherization with funds under the Act to be selected through a competitive bidding process and be accredited as specified by this Act. Requires organizations, in order to receive a grant, to use a crew chief who is certified or accredited as required by this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary, beginning on October 1, 2015, to ensure that: (1) each retrofit for which weatherization assistance is provided meets minimum efficiency and quality of work standards established by the Secretary, (2) at least 10% of the dwelling units are randomly inspected by an accredited third party to ensure compliance with the standards, and (3) the standards meet or exceed the current industry standards for home performance work.
 
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to extend the program for state energy conservation plans through FY2019.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
NATO Alliance Recognition and Promotion Act

Bill: 113-hr-4346
Sponsor: Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]
Introduced: 2014-03-27 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Albania
Alliances
Bulgaria
Collective security
Croatia
Czech Republic
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Estonia
Europe
Hungary
International organizations and cooperation
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: 
NATO Alliance Recognition and Promotion Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should remain committed to maintaining a military presence in Europe to promote allied interoperability and provide assurance to North American Treaty Alliance (NATO) allies in the region; and (2) at the September 2014 NATO Summit in Wales, the United States, along with NATO allies, should continue to pursue enlargement initiatives for the aspirant countries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-27
text: Introduced in House
Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act

Bill: 113-hr-4347
Sponsor: Rep. Royce, Edward R. [R-CA-39]
Introduced: 2014-03-28 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Congressional oversight
Crimes against property
Cyprus
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Government information and archives
Historical and cultural resources
Human rights
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Religion
Turkey

Summary:
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: 
Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act - Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress until 2021 on the status and return of stolen, confiscated, or otherwise unreturned Christian churches, places of worship, and other properties in or from the Republic of Turkey and in the areas of northern Cyprus occupied by the Turkish military.
 
Requires such report to: (1) list all the Christian churches, places of worship, and other religious properties, including movable properties such as artwork and other artifacts, in or from Turkey and in the territories of the Republic of Cyprus under military occupation by Turkey that are claimed as stolen, confiscated, or otherwise wrongfully removed from their Christian church owners; and (2) describe all engagement over the previous year on this issue by Department of State officials with representatives of the Republic of Turkey. 
 
 Requires that a summary of such information be included in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and the International Religious Freedom Reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-06-26
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-06-26
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-03-28
text: Introduced in House