hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
GSA Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2032
Sponsor: Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27]
Introduced: 2015-04-27 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 

Government Spending Accountability Act of 2015 or the GSA Act of 2015
 
 
 Requires each federal agency to post on its public website detailed information on employee presentations at conferences, including: (1) the prepared text of any verbal presentation; and (2) any visual, digital, video, or audio materials presented, including photographs, slides, and audio-visual recordings.
 
Limits to $500,000 the amount that any agency may spend to support a single conference. Allows an agency head to waive such limitation for a specific conference after making a determination that a higher expenditure is justified as the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose.
 
Prohibits an agency from paying the travel expenses for more than 50 employees stationed in the United States to attend any international conference, unless the Secretary of State determines that attendance of more than 50 employees is in the national interest, or the agency head determines that the attendance of such employees is critical to the agency's mission. 
 
Requires each agency to post on its public website quarterly reports on each conference costing more than $10,000 for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding three months.
 
Limits agency travel expenses for FY2016-FY2020 to 70% of the aggregate amount of such expenses for FY2010. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to establish guidelines for determining what expenses constitute travel expenses for purposes of the ceiling imposed on such expenses. Exempts from such limitation military travel expenses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
Nepal Temporary Protected Status Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2033
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
Introduced: 2015-04-27 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Asia
Immigration status and procedures
Natural disasters
Nepal
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 

Nepal Temporary Protected Status Act of 2015

 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake, its aftershocks, and additional damage in Nepal qualifies Nepal for designation under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, pursuant to which nationals of Nepal would be eligible for temporary protected status in the United States. 
 
Extends 18-month temporary protected status to a national of Nepal who: (1) has been continuously physically present in the United States since April 25, 2015, (2) is admissible as an immigrant and not ineligible for temporary protected status, and (3) registers for temporary protected status in a manner that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish. 
 
Permits such an alien to travel abroad if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that emergency and extenuating circumstances beyond the alien's control require his or her departure for a brief, temporary trip abroad.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
SCREEN Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2035
Sponsor: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
Introduced: 2015-04-27 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health promotion and preventive care
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 

Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now Act of 2015 or the SCREEN Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to maintain calendar year 2015 Medicare reimbursement rates for colonoscopy procedures for providers participating in colorectal cancer screening quality improvement registry.
 
Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing is eliminated for colorectal cancer screening tests, for the removal of tissue or other matter during the screening test, or for a follow-up procedure.
 
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation shall test a payment and service delivery model that is a demonstration project to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-operative visit before screening colonoscopy and hepatitis C screening.
 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services must reduce the physician fee schedule conversion factor and the hospital outpatient department conversion factor to the extent necessary to reduce expenditures for related items and services to achieve budget-neutral results.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E592)
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
Reasserting American Leadership in Space Act

Bill: 114-hr-2036
Sponsor: Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8]
Introduced: 2015-04-27 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Space flight and exploration

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 

Reasserting American Leadership in Space Act or the REAL Space Act

 
 Directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to plan to return to the Moon by 2023 and to develop a sustained human presence there in order to promote exploration, commerce, science, and U.S. preeminence in space as a stepping stone for future exploration of Mars and other destinations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Space.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2037
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2015-04-27 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015

 
Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as an independent federal government advisory body through FY2021.
 
Requires the USCIRF as a whole to have expertise on the variety of faiths practiced around the world.
 
Requires appointments to the USCIRF to be made within 90 days of a vacancy. Removes authority under which a USCIRF member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.
 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require the Secretary of State to receive assistance from the USCIRF when establishing training for Foreign Service officers in the field of internationally recognized human rights, including instruction regarding the relationship between religious freedom and security, as well as the role of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy.
 
Encourages the Department of State to allow classified information to be accessed by USCIRF Commissioners and staff with the appropriate security clearance.
 
Requires discrimination on the basis of religion to be treated as a category of employment discrimination for purposes of the employment protections for USCIRF employees.
 
Revises restrictions on the USCIRF's acceptance of gifts and donations to permit sponsoring private parties to provide compensation and benefits to interns, fellows, and volunteers. Requires the number, duration, and funding source of any such internship, fellowship, or volunteer programs to be described in the USCIRF's annual financial report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
To authorize the conveyance of certain Coast Guard property in Tok, Alaska, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-2038
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2015-04-27 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Coast guard
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: 
This bill authorizes the Coast Guard (CG) to convey 3.25 acres of CG real property (including all improvements located on the property) in Tok, Alaska, upon payment to the United States of the fair market value of the property.
 
The Tanana Chief's Conference shall have the right of first refusal to purchase the property.
 
The property must be sold at fair market value.
 
The United States shall deposit the proceeds in the CG Housing Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-27
text: Introduced in House
Striped Bass American Heritage Act

Bill: 114-hr-2040
Sponsor: Rep. MacArthur, Thomas [R-NJ-3]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean
Fishes
Hunting and fishing
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
National symbols

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Striped Bass American Heritage Act

 
This bill designates the Atlantic striped bass (
Morone saxatilis
) as the national fish.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Public Power Risk Management Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2041
Sponsor: Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Business records
Commodities markets
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Public Power Risk Management Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), when it determines whether to provide an exemption to designation as a swap dealer, to treat a utility operations-related swap entered into with a utility special entity as if such swap were entered into with an entity that is not a special entity. (Thus exempts an entity entering into a utility operations-related swap with a utility special entity from mandatory registration as a swap dealer.)
 
Requires transactions in utility operations-related swaps to be reported according to requirements for the reporting of uncleared swaps.
 
Defines &quot;utility special entity&quot; as a special entity, or any instrumentality, department, or corporation of or established by a state or local government, that: (1) owns or operates, or anticipates owning or operating, an electric or natural gas facility or an electric or natural gas operation; (2) supplies or anticipates supplying natural gas or electric energy to another utility special entity; (3) has or anticipates having public service obligations under federal, state, or local law or regulation to deliver electric energy or natural gas service to customers; or (4) is a federal power marketing agency.
 
Redefines swap to include a utility operations-related swap.
 
Defines &quot;utility operations-related swap&quot; as one that: (1) is entered into to hedge or mitigate commercial risk; (2) is associated with specified transactions in electric energy or natural gas; and (3) is not a contract, agreement, or transaction based on, derived on, or referencing:
 
 
an interest rate, credit, equity, or currency asset class; 
 
a metal, agricultural commodity, or crude oil or gasoline commodity of any grade, except as used as fuel for electric energy generation; and 
 
any other commodity or category of commodities identified for this purpose in a CFTC rule or order adopted in consultation with federal and state regulatory commissions.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2043
Sponsor: Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from applying a multiple procedure payment reduction policy to the professional component of imaging services furnished: (1) after a specified date in the year this Act is enacted; or (2) in any subsequent year before the Secretary conducts and publishes, as part of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for a year, an analysis of the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale Data Manager information used to determine what, if any, efficiencies exist within the professional component of imaging services when two or more studies are performed on the same patient on the same day.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2044
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2015

 
 Requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, except if: (1) such goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed by such agency; or (2) the head of the agency determines and certifies that federal production, manufacture, or provision of a good or service is necessary for the national defense or homeland security, that a good or service is so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by government employees, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service.
 
Requires such private sector provision of goods and services to be performed through: (1) the divestiture of federal involvement, (2) the award of a contract using competitive procedures, or (3) conducting a public-private competitive sourcing analysis in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures and determining that using the private sector is in the best interest of the United States and provides the best value to the taxpayer.
 
Authorizes an agency head to utilize federal employees to provide goods or services previously provided by a private sector entity upon completion of a public-private competitive sourcing analysis and after determining that provision by federal employees provides the best value.
 
Requires OMB to carry out a study, in conjunction with the Comptroller General, to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Prescription Drug Accountability Act

Bill: 114-hr-2046
Sponsor: Rep. Duffy, Sean P. [R-WI-7]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Health information and medical records
Prescription drugs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Prescription Drug Accountability Act

 
This bill provides for Department of Veterans Affairs participation in state prescription drug monitoring programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Ensuring Veteran Safety Through Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2047
Sponsor: Rep. Duffy, Sean P. [R-WI-7]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Health personnel
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Ensuring Veteran Safety Through Accountability Act of 2015

 
This bill expands the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove senior VA executives for performance or misconduct to include removal of VA health care professionals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Keeping Foreign Money Out of Politics Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2049
Sponsor: Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-21]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Keeping Foreign Money Out of Politics Act of 2015

 
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions or donations in connection with state and local ballot initiatives and referenda.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2050
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Introduced: 2015-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: 

Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015 

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-28
text: Introduced in House