hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Help Small Businesses Access Affordable Credit Act

Bill: 114-s-2496
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2016-02-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government lending and loan guarantees
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: 

Help Small Businesses Access Affordable Credit Act 

 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA), if demand for commitments for authorized general business loans exceeds the limit on the total amount of commitments the SBA may make for such loans, to make such commitments up to 110% of that limit. 
 
The SBA may not exercise this authority until specified congressional committees have approved. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2016-02-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Retail Investor Protection Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2497
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Retail Investor Protection Act

 
 This bill prohibits the Secretary of Labor from prescribing any regulation under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) defining the circumstances under which an individual shall be considered a fiduciary until 60 days after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issues a final rule governing standards of conduct for brokers and dealers under specified law.
 
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is amended to prohibit the SEC from promulgating a rule establishing an investment adviser standard of conduct as the standard of conduct of brokers and dealers before it reports to certain congressional committees whether:
 
 
retail investors and other customers are being harmed by brokers or dealers operating under different standards of conduct than those applicable to investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
 
alternative remedies will reduce any confusion or harm to retail investors due to brokers or dealers operating under such different standards of conduct;
 
adoption of a uniform fiduciary standard of conduct for brokers, dealers, and investment advisers would adversely impact their commissions and the availability of proprietary products offered by brokers and dealers, as well as the ability of brokers and dealers to engage in principal transactions with customers; and
 
adoption of a uniform fiduciary standard of conduct for brokers or dealers and investment advisers would adversely impact retail investor access to personalized, cost-effective investment advice and recommendations. 
 
 
The SEC shall: (1) publish in the Federal Register formal findings that such rule would reduce retail customer confusion or harm due to different standards of conduct applicable to brokers, dealers, and investment advisers; and (2) consider, when proposing rules, the differences in the registration, supervision, and examination requirements applicable to brokers, dealers, and investment advisers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Program Linking Uncoordinated Services (PLUS) Act

Bill: 114-s-2498
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Medicare Program Linking Uncoordinated Services (PLUS) Act

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to demonstrate improvements in patient care and cost savings for the highest-cost Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries through enrollment of such beneficiaries with participating organizations. The program shall be designed to provide comprehensive and integrated care management and services through a network of health care providers to meet the specialized needs of such beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must design the program in such a manner as to preserve the operation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. 
 
A participating organization must meet the same requirements that apply to a Medicare Advantage (MA) organization. CMS must develop quality performance standards and, using an integrated care model, care management requirements for participating organizations.
 
For each individual enrolled under the program, CMS shall make a monthly capitated payment to the participating organization as would be made for an individual enrolled in an MA plan (excluding MA prescription drug plans), except that the amount of payment shall: (1) equal 98% of the projected cost under the Medicare FFS program for the highest-cost Medicare FFS beneficiaries; and (2) be adjusted to account for differences in costs among different geographic areas and among high-cost Medicare FFS beneficiaries, including outlier costs.
 
CMS must report to Congress on the performance of the program within two years of initial enrollment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Savings Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2499
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Hospital care
Income tax deductions
Indian social and development programs
Inflation and prices
Medicaid
Medicare
Military medicine
Minority health
Nutrition and diet
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Prescription drugs
Religion
Sales and excise taxes
Sports and recreation facilities
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Health Savings Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxation of health savings accounts (HSAs), to: 
 
 
rename high deductible health plans as HSA-qualified health plans; 
 
allow spouses who have both attained age 55 to make increased catch-up contributions to the same HSA; 
 
make Medicare Part A (hospital insurance benefits) beneficiaries eligible to participate in an HSA;
 
allow individuals eligible for hospital care or medical services under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization to participate in an HSA; 
 
allow individuals eligible to receive medical benefits under certain TRICARE plans to participate in an HSA;
 
allow members of a health care sharing ministry to participate in an HSA; 
 
allow individuals who receive primary care services in exchange for a fixed periodic fee or payment, or who receive health care benefits from an onsite medical clinic of an employer, to participate in an HSA; 
 
include amounts paid for prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines or drugs as &quot;qualified medical expenses&quot; for which distributions from an HSA or an Archer Medical Savings Account may be used; and 
 
allow HSA distributions to be used to purchase health insurance coverage.
 
 
The bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to exempt HSAs from creditor claims in bankruptcy. 
 
The bill amends the Social Security Act to reauthorize the use of Medicaid health opportunity accounts. 
 
The bill allows a medical care tax deduction for: (1) exercise equipment, physical fitness programs, and membership at a fitness facility; (2) nutritional and dietary supplements; and (3) periodic fees paid to a primary care physician and amounts paid for pre-paid primary care services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care Premium Reduction Act

Bill: 114-s-2500
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Insurance industry and regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Health Care Premium Reduction Act

 
This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states to support the purchase of private health insurance by consumers and to stabilize health insurance premiums. Priority is given to states with the highest health insurance premiums and such states may be provided bonus payments.
 
States must use grants to:
 
 
reduce health insurance premiums through activities such as cost-sharing programs to reduce deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses;
 
increase the number of individuals with health insurance;
 
review premium rates to determine unreasonable premium increases and facilitate reduction of such rates; and
 
 address health insurance affordability, quality, and accessibility through a waiver of health coverage requirements. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Aircraft Tax Modification Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2501
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Small Aircraft Tax Modification Act of 2015 [
sic
]

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand eligibility for the exemption from the excise tax on the transportation of persons and property by air by: (1) increasing the limit on the maximum certified takeoff weight of eligible aircraft not operated on an established line from 6,000 pounds or less to 12,500 pounds or less; and (2) providing that an aircraft shall not be considered as operated on an established line if it is performing an on-demand operation, as defined by regulation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable Retirement Advice Protection Act

Bill: 114-s-2502
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Affordable Retirement Advice Protection Act

 
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to define &quot;investment advice,&quot; as it relates to fiduciary duties under such Act, as a recommendation that relates to: (1) the advisability of acquiring, holding, disposing, or exchanging any moneys or other property of a pension plan (or Individual Retirement Account) by the plan, plan participants, or plan beneficiaries, including any recommendation regarding whether to take a distribution of benefits from the plan or any recommendation relating to a rollover or distribution from such plan; (2) the management of moneys or other property of the plan, including recommendations relating to the management of plan assets to be rolled over or otherwise distributed from the plan; or (3) the advisability of retaining or ceasing to retain a person who would receive a fee or other compensation for providing investment advice. Investment advice must be rendered pursuant to either: (1) a written acknowledgment of the obligation of the investment advisor to act in accordance with fiduciary standards under ERISA; or (2) a mutual agreement, arrangement, or understanding that may include limitations on scope, timing, and responsibility to provide ongoing monitoring or advice services.
 
The bill allows an exemption from ERISA prohibited transactions rules for investment advice: (1) for which no more than reasonable compensation is paid; or (2) that is based on a limited range of investment options or may result in variable income to the investment advisor if a clearly-stated notice is provided to the advice recipient that the same or similar investments may be available at a greater or lesser cost from other sources. 
 
The bill prohibits the Department of Labor from amending any rules or administrative positions regarding investment advice promulgated under ERISA and no such rules or administrative positions promulgated prior to the enactment date of this Act, but not effective on January 1, 2015, may become effective unless a bill or joint resolution specifically approving such rules or positions is enacted not later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Superbugs and Protecting Patients Act

Bill: 114-s-2503
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 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
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government information and archives
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Preventing Superbugs and Protecting Patients Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify types of medical devices for which premarket notification must include proposed labeling, including validated instructions regarding cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
 The FDA must issue final guidance regarding when a premarket notification is required for a modification to a medical device.
action_date: 2016-04-05
text: 

Preventing Superbugs and Protecting Patients Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify types of medical devices for which premarket notification must include proposed labeling, including validated instructions regarding cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization.
 (Sec. 3) The FDA must issue final guidance regarding when a premarket notification is required for a modification to a medical device.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 417.
action_date: 2016-04-05
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-04-05
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
MAILS Act

Bill: 114-s-2504
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Marketing and advertising
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Marijuana Advertising in Legal States Act of 2016 or the MAILS Act

 
This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to modify the application of a provision that limits advertisements with respect to certain controlled substances.
 
Currently, it is a crime to knowingly place a written advertisement in a newspaper, magazine, handout, or other publication for the purpose of receiving, buying, or distributing a schedule 1 controlled substance (e.g., marijuana). This legislation declares that the prohibition does not apply with respect to an advertisement for a marijuana-related activity that complies with state law. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S671-672; text of measure as introduced: CR S672)
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Statutory Rights and Interests of the States Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2506
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Contracts and agency

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Restoring Statutory Rights and Interests of the States Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Federal Arbitration Act to invalidate arbitration agreements between parties in certain commercial contracts or transactions if they require arbitration of a claim for damages or injunctive relief brought by an individual or small business arising from the alleged violation of a federal or state statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a state constitution, unless the written agreement to arbitrate is entered into by both parties after the claim has arisen and pertains solely to an existing claim.
 
The grounds upon which a contract with an arbitration agreement is revocable shall include federal or state statutes or court findings that prohibit an agreement to arbitrate if the agreement is unconscionable, invalid because there was no meeting of the minds, or otherwise unenforceable as a matter of contract law or public policy.
 
A court, rather than an arbitrator, shall determine whether an arbitration agreement is enforceable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S672-673)
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2507
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2016-02-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: 

Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the payment of a Medal of Honor special pension to the surviving spouse of a deceased Medal of Honor recipient if that person was married to the recipient for: (1) at least one year; or (2) any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.
 
The special pension for a living Medal of Honor recipient is increased to $1,299.61 per month. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-02-04
text: Introduced in Senate
ARTS Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2510
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Art, artists, authorship
Department of Homeland Security
Foreign labor
Performing arts
User charges and fees
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: 

Arts Require Timely Service Act of 2016 or the ARTS Act of 2016

 
 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjudicate O and P visa petitions (nonimmigrant visas for aliens with extraordinary ability or achievement, and artists and entertainers) within 14 days after receiving such petitions and related documents. 
 
The bill grants premium visa processing without charge to a petitioner that is a nonprofits arts organization if DHS does not meet the deadline for adjudicating a visa petition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Accurate Accounting Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2513
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: 

Accurate Accounting Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 to permit Social Security spending and revenues to be counted in the totals included in the congressional budget resolution and the President's budget. 
 
The bill amends the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO) to prohibit increases in Social Security revenues or decreases in Social Security spending from being counted as savings for the purpose of PAYGO rules that restrict legislation that increases the deficit. 
 
(Under current law, the Social Security trust funds are off-budget and all budgetary effects are excluded from the budget totals and PAYGO calculations.) 
 
The President must submit a budget for each department and agency that includes:
 
 
 a description of each activity for which funds were appropriated for the current year or requested for the budget year, 
 
 the legal basis for each activity,
 
 three alternative funding levels and the priorities that could be accomplished with each, and 
 
 measures of cost efficiency and effectiveness for each activity. 
 
 
The Office of Management and Budget must publish guidelines to require: (1) the baseline budget of each department or agency to be assumed to be zero, and (2) each proposed expenditure to be justified as if it were new. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must revise a study of mandatory spending required under current law at least every five years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2016-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Criminal Consequences of Early Release Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2514
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2016-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: 

Criminal Consequences of Early Release Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics to submit a biannual report to Congress on recidivism rates among federal prisoners released early. 
 
The report must include the: (1) number of federal prisoners released early nationally and by state; (2) number and types of offenses for which early released prisoners were imprisoned; (3) number of post-release offenses, arrests, and convictions nationally and by state; and (4) types of offenses leading to post-release arrests and convictions nationally and by state. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S739-740)
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate