hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Family-Based Foster Care Services Act

Bill: 114-s-429
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child care and development
Child health
Disability and paralysis
Family services
Medicaid
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Family-Based Foster Care Services Act
 
 
 Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend medical assistance coverage to therapeutic foster care services.
 
Requires a qualified therapeutic foster care program to be state-licensed and provide:
 
 
foster care children under 21 with structured daily activities, including the development of age-appropriate social, communication and behavioral skills, trauma-informed and gender-responsive services, crisis intervention and crisis support services, medication monitoring, counseling, and case management; and
 
biological parents, kinship caregivers, and foster care parents with specialized training and consultation in the management of children with mental illness, trauma, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, the impact of trauma on child and caregiver, and specific additional training on the needs of each child provided such services.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-430
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Civil actions and liability
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Marketing and advertising
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act of 2015

 
Prohibits electronic cigarette advertisements that appeal to children younger than 18 years of age in states in which the sale of an electronic cigarette to such children is prohibited by federal or state law. Bars electronic cigarette advertisements, promotions, or marketing in those states in a manner that is: (1) known, or should be known, to contribute toward initiating or increasing the use of electronic cigarettes by children under 18; or (2) determined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to affect or appeal to such children regardless of when or where the advertising, promotion, or marketing occurs.
 
Defines &quot;electronic cigarette&quot; as an electronic device that delivers nicotine, flavor, or other chemicals via a vaporized solution to a user inhaling from the device, including any component, liquid, part, or accessory. Excludes Food and Drug Administration-approved tobacco cessation or therapeutic products from such definition.
 
Sets forth authority for: (1) the FTC to enforce violations as an unfair or deceptive act or practice, and (2) states to bring civil actions on behalf of residents threatened or adversely affected by such a violation.
 
Establishes a civil penalty to be available in state actions that is calculated by multiplying the number of days that a person is not in compliance with such prohibition by an amount up to $16,000, adjusted annually for inflation.
 
Allows the FTC to intervene and appeal in state actions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act

Bill: 114-s-431
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act
 
 
 Amends the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the ban on state and local taxation of Internet access and on multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Fairness in Health Care Act

Bill: 114-s-432
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Temporary and part-time employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Small Business Fairness in Health Care Act
 
 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), to: (1) exempt a small business concern, as defined by the Small Business Act, from the PPACA employer mandate to provide employees with minimum essential health care coverage; and (2) redefine "full-time employee," for purposes of such mandate, as an employee who is employed on average at least 40 (currently, 30) hours a week.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Currency Undervaluation Investigation Act

Bill: 114-s-433
Sponsor: Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Canada
Currency
Free trade and trade barriers
Government studies and investigations
International monetary system and foreign exchange
Latin America
Mexico
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Currency Undervaluation Investigation Act

 
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the administering authority, upon the filing of a petition by an interested party, to initiate a countervailing duty investigation or review to determine whether currency undervaluation by the government of, or any public entity within, a foreign country is providing, directly or indirectly, a countervailable subsidy to its exporters or products. 
 
Declares that the fact that such a subsidy is also provided in circumstances not involving export shall not, for that reason alone, mean it cannot be considered export contingent and actionable under a countervailing duty and antidumping duty proceeding. 
 
Declares that the amendments made by this Act shall apply to goods from Canada and Mexico. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
State Marriage Defense Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-435
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Marriage and family status
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

State Marriage Defense Act of 2015

 
Prohibits, for purposes of determining the meaning of any Act of Congress or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies as applied with respect to individuals domiciled in a state or in any other territory or possession of the United States: (1) the term "marriage" from including any relationship that the state, territory, or possession does not recognize as a marriage; and (2) the term "spouse" from including an individual who is a party to a relationship that is not recognized as a marriage by that state, territory, or possession.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved National Monument Designation Process Act

Bill: 114-s-437
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Historical and cultural resources
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Improved National Monument Designation Process Act
 
 
Before a national monument can be designated on public land, the President must obtain congressional approval, certify compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and receive notice from the governor of the state in which the monument is to be located that the state legislature has enacted legislation approving its designation. 
 
 The President may not declare any area of the exclusive economic zone to be a marine national monument unless: 
 
 
it is specifically authorized by Congress,
 
the President has certified compliance with NEPA, and
 
each state legislature within 100 nautical miles of the proposed monument has approved it. 
 
 
Neither the Department of the Interior nor the Department of Commerce may implement a restriction on the public use of a marine national monument until the expiration of an appropriate review period providing for public input and congressional approval. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-509.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-439
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government liability
Legal fees and court costs
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2015

 
Prohibits public school students from being excluded from participating in, or subject to discrimination under, any federally-assisted educational program on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or that of their associates.
 
Considers harassment to be a form of discrimination.
 
Prohibits retaliation against anyone for opposing conduct made unlawful under this Act.
 
Authorizes federal departments and agencies to enforce these prohibitions by cutting off the educational assistance of recipients found to be violating them.
 
Allows an aggrieved individual to assert a violation of this Act in a judicial proceeding and recover reasonable attorney's fees should they prevail.
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to institute a civil action in any appropriate U.S. district court for a violation of this Act.
 
Deems a state's receipt of federal educational assistance for a program to constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity for conduct prohibited under this Act regarding such program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act

Bill: 114-s-440
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Income tax exclusion
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income payments under the federal veterinary medicine loan repayment program or any other state loan repayment or forgiveness program that is intended to provide for increased access to veterinary services in such state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S902-903)
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-441
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2015

 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt traditional large and premium cigars from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and from user fees assessed on tobacco products by the FDA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Innovation Inspiration School Grant Program Act

Bill: 114-s-442
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Innovation Inspiration School Grant Program Act

 
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive matching grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) through an Innovation Inspiration grant program to: (1) promote science, technology, engineering (including robotics), and mathematics (STEM) in secondary schools and after school programs; (2) support the participation of secondary school students in nontraditional STEM teaching methods; and (3) broaden secondary school students' access to STEM careers.
 
Directs the Secretary to give priority to grant applications that target: (1) a rural or urban school, (2) a low-performing school or LEA, or (3) an LEA or school that serves students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches under the school lunch program.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to waive all or part of the matching requirement for financially-strapped LEAs.
 
Directs the Secretary to evaluate the efficacy of the grant program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the long-term storage of rail cars on certain railroad tracks unless the Surface Transportation Board has approved the rail carrier's rail car storage plan.

Bill: 114-s-443
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Railroads
Surface Transportation Board
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 
Requires a rail carrier to have a storage plan, meeting specified requirements and approved by the Surface Transportation Board, for any of its rail cars that it stores for three or more years, and continues to store, on tracks (except rail yard or storage yard tracks) that pass through a commercial- or residential-zoned area that were designed or previously used for through transportation of trains.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Afterschool STEM Act

Bill: 114-s-444
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Minority education
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Supporting Afterschool STEM Act

 
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish an afterschool STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant program awarding competitive grants to afterschool or STEM networks to:
 
 
develop quality standards for STEM programming in afterschool programs and provide those programs with technical assistance in implementing such standards,
 
work with state education stakeholders to define and promote appropriate measurable outcomes for afterschool programs that include STEM content,
 
provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to start or grow their afterschool STEM efforts and define appropriate learning outcomes for such efforts,
 
coordinate professional development for afterschool program educators,
 
help afterschool program providers form strategic partnerships to advance STEM learning in afterschool programs,
 
create and disseminate tool kits to afterschool programs wanting to form partnerships and incorporate STEM professionals as mentors and role models, and 
 
provide technical assistance to federally funded STEM researchers and professionals who wish to engage with afterschool programs.
 
 
Requires the Director to reserve 20% of the funds appropriated for such grant program to develop and support new afterschool or STEM networks in states or areas where they do not exist.
 
Defines: (1) an &quot;afterschool program&quot; as a structured program offered for elementary, middle, or secondary school students when school is not in session, such as before or after school, on the weekend, or during the summer; and (2) an &quot;afterschool or STEM network&quot; as a coalition that fosters partnerships and provides support to afterschool program providers and STEM education providers.
 
Includes as goals of the grant program: (1) to support the development and delivery of high-quality STEM education to populations underrepresented in STEM fields, and (2) to provide hands-on learning and exposure to STEM research facilities and businesses through in-person or virtual distance-learning experiences. 
 
Requires the Director to provide each recipient of a STEM research grant who is under the Director's authority with information on opportunities to engage with students in out-of-school-time programs, such as through mentorships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Simplifying Access to Student Loan Information Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-445
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Government information and archives
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: 

Simplifying Access to Student Loan Information Act of 2015

 
Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require private educational lenders to submit to the Secretary of Education information regarding each private education loan they make. 
 
Requires that such information: (1) be placed in the National Student Loan Data System (System), and (2) allow for the electronic exchange of data between the borrowers of those loans and the System. (The System currently contains information regarding loans made, insured, or guaranteed under the Federal Family Education Loan program and loans made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan and Federal Perkins Loan programs.)
 
Requires the private education loan information to include, if determined appropriate by the Secretary:
 
 
the total amount and type of each loan;
 
the interest rate on each loan;
 
 information regarding the borrower that the Secretary deems necessary to ensure the electronic exchange of data between the borrower and the System;
 
contact information regarding the lender and servicer of each loan;
 
information concerning the date of any default on the loan and the collection of the loan, including any information concerning the repayment status of any defaulted loan; and 
 
the date the borrower completes repayment.
 
 
Requires private educational lenders to ensure the privacy of borrowers and update the loan information they submit to the System on the same schedule as information is updated under the System.
 
Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary to ensure that: (1) a cosigner of a private education loan for which information is included in the System has access only to that information, and (2) a private educational lender has access to the System only to submit information regarding the lender's loans.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish a functionality within the System that enables student borrowers of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under title IV to input the information necessary to compare the repayment plans available to them under that title.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-446
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child care and development
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: 

Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rates and maximum allowable amount of the tax credit for employer-provided child care facilities; (2) increase the eligibility threshold amount and rate of the household and dependent care tax credit and make such credit refundable; (3) allow a new $2,000 tax credit for child care providers who hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child care, or a related degree and who provide at least 1,200 hours of child care services in a taxable year; and (4) increase the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Jury Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-447
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Federal district courts
Judicial procedure and administration
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Specialized courts

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: 

Jury Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection Act of 2015 or the Jury ACCESS Act

 
Amends the federal judicial code to prohibit the exclusion of citizens from service as a grand or petit juror in U.S. district courts or the Court of International Trade on account of sexual orientation or gender identity (thereby expanding the current prohibition on exclusion on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate