hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Transparency in Assertion of Patents Act

Bill: 113-s-2049
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2014-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Intellectual property
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-26
text: 
Transparency in Assertion of Patents Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate rules prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts and practices in the sending of written communications (commonly referred to as &quot;demand letters&quot;) stating that the intended recipient, or any person affiliated with the intended recipient: (1) is infringing, or may be infringing, the patent of another; and (2) bears liability or owes compensation.
 
Requires such rules to establish disclosures that such written communications must contain, including:
 
 
 each claim of each patent allegedly infringed; 
 
each product, device, business method, service, or technology that allegedly infringes each claim;
 
a notice that the intended recipient may have the right to have the product manufacturer defend against the infringement; 
 
 contact information necessary to determine the identity of a person with the right to enforce the patent or with a direct financial interest in the patent, including each owner, co-owner, assignee, exclusive licensee, and entity with the authority to enforce the patent, as well as the ultimate parent entity with such authority; 
 
 any licensing commitment or obligation (such as reasonable and non-discriminatory terms) that applies to the patent or claim;
 
the method used to calculate any proposed compensation; and
 
each current instance of reexamination or other post-grant review of the patent at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), any litigation involving the patent, and the status of such review and any determinations as to the invalidity of the patent or any of its claims.
 
 
Directs the FTC to: (1) prohibit unfair or deceptive assertions in such written communications, and (2) provide education and awareness to the public regarding deceptive communications.
 
Sets forth the enforcement authority of the FTC and authorizes civil actions by states. Establishes civil penalties applicable to state actions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2014-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the national limitation amount for qualified highway or surface freight transfer facility bonds.

Bill: 113-s-2050
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Railroads
Roads and highways
Securities
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $15 billion to $19 billion the national limitation amount for tax-exempt highway or surface freight transfer facility bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Highway Innovative Financing Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2051
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Highway Innovative Financing Act of 2014 - Amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to remove limits on the number of state or local governments or public authorities with which the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) may enter into cooperative agreements to establish value pricing pilot programs (in effect, allowing extension of the programs to all such authorities). 
Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to increase from 3 to 10 the number of IS highways, bridges, or tunnels where a state may collect tolls for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Interstate System highway corridors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act

Bill: 113-s-2052
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
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: 2014-02-27
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 activities in different climatic regions of the United States;
 
 energy efficiency materials and supplies;
 
 organizational capacity for retrofit programs;
 
 energy efficiency, audit and retrofit training, and technical assistance;
 
 information to homeowners on proper maintenance and energy savings behaviors;
 
 quality control and improvement;
 
 data collection, measurement, and verification;
 
 program monitoring, oversight, evaluation, and reporting;
 
 management and administration; and
 
 labor and training activities.
 
 
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: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Architect of the Capitol to place a chair honoring American Prisoners of War/Missing in Action on the Capitol Grounds.

Bill: 113-s-2053
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents
Monuments and memorials
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
U.S. Capitol

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Directs the Architect of the Capitol to: (1) enter into an agreement to obtain a chair featuring the logo of the National League of POW/MIA Families, and (2) place it on the Capitol grounds in a suitable permanent location within two years after enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Corps of Engineers Cooperative Joint Management Restoration Act

Bill: 113-s-2055
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Outdoor recreation
Public-private cooperation
Sports and recreation facilities
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Corps of Engineers Cooperative Joint Management Restoration Act - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary of the Army to allow a non-federal public or private entity that has entered into a cooperative agreement for the operation and management of recreation facilities and natural resources at civil works projects under the Secretary's jurisdiction to collect user fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, whether developed or constructed by such entity or the Department of the Army.
 
Permits such an entity to retain up to 100% of the fees collected and use them for operation, maintenance, and management at the recreation site where they were collected. 

action_date: 2014-12-12
text: 
Corps of Engineers Cooperative Joint Management Restoration Act - Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary of the Army to allow a non-federal public or private entity that has entered into a cooperative agreement for the operation and management of recreation facilities and natural resources at civil works projects under the Secretary's jurisdiction to collect user fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, whether developed or constructed by such entity or the Department of the Army.
 
Permits such an entity to: (1) use any visitor reservation service that the Secretary has provided for by contract or interagency agreement to manage fee collections and reservations, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate; and (2) retain up to 100% of the fees collected and use them for operation, maintenance, and management at the recreation site where they were collected.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 652.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with amendments. With written report No. 113-309.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with amendments. With written report No. 113-309.
action_date: 2014-04-03
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13127 Broadway Street in Alden, New York, as the "Sergeant Brett E. Gornewicz Memorial Post Office".

Bill: 113-s-2056
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military personnel and dependents
New York State
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13127 Broadway Street in Alden, New York, as the "Sergeant Brett E. Gornewicz Memorial Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-14
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2014-07-14
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2014-07-14
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4436; text as passed Senate: CR S4436)
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4436; text as passed Senate: CR S4436)
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 454.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Carper without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Carper without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 198 Baker Street in Corning, New York, as the "Specialist Ryan P. Jayne Post Office Building".

Bill: 113-s-2057
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military personnel and dependents
New York State
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 198 Baker Street in Corning, New York, as the "Specialist Ryan P. Jayne Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-14
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2014-07-14
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2014-07-14
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4436; text as passed Senate: CR S4436)
action_date: 2014-07-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4436; text as passed Senate: CR S4436)
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 455.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Carper without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2014-07-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Carper without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2014-06-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Fuel Grid Distribution Loan Pilot Program Act

Bill: 113-s-2058
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Alternative and renewable resources
Energy prices
Government lending and loan guarantees
Oil and gas
Public utilities and utility rates
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Fuel Grid Distribution Loan Pilot Program Act - Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to direct the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service to establish a five-year biofuels and natural gas distribution utility pilot loan program to add cooperatives and municipally or privately owned biofuels or natural gas distribution utilities to the list of utilities eligible for Rural Utilities Service loans.
 
Makes such loans available only to utilities serving an area under the jurisdiction of a local government that has a population of not more than 50,000 people and energy prices higher than 200% of the national average for energy prices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling Tax Credit Act

Bill: 113-s-2059
Sponsor: Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Energy prices
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Oil and gas
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property expenditures to allow a credit for up to $5,000 in a taxable year of qualifying heating conversion expenditures for a principal residence. Defines "qualifying heating conversion expenditures" as expenditures, other than for soil cleanup, for property that is placed in service before January 1, 2019, and used as a heating or cooling system on a building or structure located in a community in which the average residential expenditure for home energy is more than 200% of the national average (as determined by the Energy Information Agency).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
TEACH Act

Bill: 113-s-2060
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Access Board
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computers and information technology
Disability and paralysis
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational technology and distance education
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Technology, Equality and Accessibility in College and Higher Education Act or the TEACH Act - Directs the Access Board to develop accessibility guidelines for electronic instructional materials and related information technologies in institutions of higher education (IHEs).
 
Requires those guidelines to: (1) include performance criteria to ensure that electronic instructional materials and related information technologies are accessible to the blind and disabled; (2) be consistent with the standards for technical and functional performance criteria issued pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and (3) be, to the extent practicable, consistent with national and international accessibility standards for those materials and technologies.
 
Directs the Access Board to review and, as appropriate, amend the guidelines every three years to reflect technological advances or changes in electronic instructional materials and related information technologies.
 
Deems IHEs that use electronic instructional materials and related information technologies that comply with the guidelines to be in compliance with nondiscrimination provisions under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Constitutional Check and Balance Act

Bill: 113-s-2062
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Members of Congress
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Constitutional Check and Balance Act - Authorizes any Member of Congress who casts a recorded vote on final passage of a version of a bill or joint resolution enacting a provision into law to bring an action for declaratory or injunctive relief in an appropriate U.S. district court to compel an executive branch official to enforce the provision, if the President or any other executive branch official issues a memorandum or other written statement directing the official to not enforce it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-03-03
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 310.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Bridges Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2063
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Strengthen And Fortify Existing Bridges Act of 2014 or SAFE Bridges Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to assist states to rehabilitate or replace bridges found to be structurally deficient, functionally obsolete, or fracture critical.
 
Requires states to use apportioned program funds for projects to rehabilitate and replace such bridges.
 
Sets the federal share of project costs at 100%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Four Rationers Repeal Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2064
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2014-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Genetics
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medicaid
Medical research
Medicare
Minority health

Summary:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: 
Four Rationers Repeal Act of 2014 - Repeals sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care (PPACA) (and restores provisions of law amended by such sections) related to the establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board to develop and submit detailed proposals to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending to the President for Congress to consider.
 
Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to repeal provisions establishing the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act, with respect to coverage of preventive health services by a group health plan or health insurance issuer, to repeal provisions that prohibit cost sharing requirements for evidence-based items or services that have in effect a rating of &quot;A&quot; or &quot;B&quot; in the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. (Such ratings are based upon determinations of net benefit by the Task Force.)
 
Repeals PPACA requirements that: (1) the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality convene an independent Preventive Services Task Force, and (2) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convene an independent Community Preventive Services Task Force. Restores provisions of law amended by such provisions.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from using data obtained from comparative effectiveness research, including any conducted or supported using funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) or authorized or appropriated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to deny or delay coverage of an item or service under a federal health care program. Requires the Secretary to ensure that comparative effectiveness research conducted or supported by the federal government accounts for factors contributing to differences in the treatment response and preferences of patients, including patient-reported outcomes, genomics and personalized medicine, the unique needs of health disparity populations, and indirect patient benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1235-1236)
action_date: 2014-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate