hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Native American Indian Education Act

Bill: 114-s-1390
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Appropriations
Education programs funding
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Minority education
State and local finance
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Native American Indian Education Act

 
 Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to pay institutions of higher education the out-of-state tuition of their Indian students if the schools are required to provide a tuition-free education, with the support of their state, to Native American Indian students in fulfillment of a condition under which the college or state received its original grant of land and facilities from the federal government.
 
Limits that payment each fiscal year to the institution's total out-of-state tuition for Native American Indian students in academic year 2014-2015.
 
Treats such payments as reimbursements to such institutions from their states.
 
Rescinds unobligated discretionary appropriations to offset the costs of this program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
CCM-CARE Act

Bill: 114-s-1391
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Clinical Awareness, Research, and Education Act of 2015 or the CCM-CARE Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to strengthen and coordinate its efforts concerning cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM). (CCM is a condition in which blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord become enlarged, which can lead to seizures, paralysis, hearing or vision loss, or bleeding in the brain.) The NIH may award grants and enter into cooperative agreements for CCM research.
 
The NIH must: (1) award grants and contracts to plan and provide support for a network of CCM Clinical Research Centers; (2) identify and support additional centers to facilitate medical research to develop a cure for CCM and enhance medical care for CCM; and (3) convene a Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Research Consortium to develop programs for clinicians, scientists, and patients.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may award grants and enter into cooperative agreements for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on CCM.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must award grants and enter into cooperative agreements for epidemiological activities related to CCM and must provide for a national CCM surveillance program.
 
The Food and Drug Administration must: (1) coordinate with clinical centers, investigators, and advocates to support investigational new drug applications in order to hasten clinical trials for CCM, and (2) support appropriate requests for designation of drugs for use in rare subpopulations of CCM patients as orphan drugs. (Orphan drugs are drugs developed to treat rare medical conditions and are eligible for certain incentives.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Safer Prescribing of Controlled Substances Act

Bill: 114-s-1392
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Medical education
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Safer Prescribing of Controlled Substances Act

 
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to direct the Attorney General, as a condition of granting or renewing the registration of a covered practitioner to dispense, or conduct research with, controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V, to require such covered practitioner to complete training that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determines meets the requirements of this Act. Defines a &quot;covered practitioner&quot; as a practitioner that is not a hospital, pharmacy, or veterinarian.
 
Requires such training to expose covered practitioners to:
 
 
 best practices for pain management, including alternatives to prescribing controlled substances; 
 
 responsible prescribing of pain medications; 
 
 methods for diagnosing, treating, and managing a substance use disorder, including evidence-based nonpharmacological therapies; 
 
 ways of linking patients to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders; and 
 
 tools to manage adherence and diversion of controlled substances. 
 
 
Directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to establish or support the establishment of at least one free, online training module that meets such requirements to be provided to any covered practitioner registered or applying for registration.
 
Requires HHS: (1) to establish, maintain, and periodically update a publicly available database providing information on such training modules; and (2) within five years after enactment of this Act, to evaluate and make publicly available a report describing how exposure to training required by this Act has changed prescribing patterns of controlled substances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Real EPA Impact Reviews Act

Bill: 114-s-1393
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Real EPA Impact Reviews Act or the REPAIR Act

 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when promulgating any rule the cost of which is projected to be greater than $1 million, to include in each of the regulatory impact analyses for the proposed and final rule at least one analysis that does not include: (1) any other proposed rule; or (2) any other rule that has been finalized by the EPA, but that has not been implemented.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Columbia River Basin Restoration Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1394
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Idaho
Lakes and rivers
Montana
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Washington State
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Columbia River Basin Restoration Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program to reduce toxic contamination and clean up contaminated sites. The program must be collaborative and stakeholder-based.
 
The EPA must: (1) assess trends in water quality and toxic contamination or toxics reduction; (2) collect, characterize and assess data on toxics and water quality to identify possible causes of environmental problems; (3) update the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Plan (Action Plan) and the Estuary Partnership Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (Estuary Plan) and ensure that the plans form a coherent toxic contamination reduction strategy; and (4) provide technical assistance in implementing and updating the Action Plan.
 
The EPA must establish a Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Working Group to: (1) participate in developing updates to the Action Plan, (2) recommend and prioritize projects and actions for the Action Plan, and (3) review progress made.
 
The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership has to perform those duties and fulfill those responsibilities of the Working Group relating to the Lower Columbia River Estuary.
 
The EPA must establish a Columbia River Basin toxics grant program to provide funding to develop or implement projects to implement the Action Plan and the Estuary Plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reinstate certain mining claims in the State of Alaska.

Bill: 114-s-1395
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alaska
Mining
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 
This bill identifies specified mining claims in Alaska that qualify for certain relief under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and, accordingly, grants claimholders the opportunity to cure defects affecting such claims with respect to any prior period during which: (1) either the defects existed, or (2) there was a failure to pay claim maintenance fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3185-3186)
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Value-Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1396
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Health care costs and insurance
Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Value Based Insurance Design Seniors Copayment Reduction Act of 2015

 
Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program to test Value-Based Insurance Design methodologies in Medicare Advantage plans under part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for beneficiaries with chronic clinical conditions.
 
Defines "value-based insurance design methodology" as one for identifying specific prescription medications and clinical services for which copayments or coinsurance should be reduced or eliminated due to the high-value and effectiveness of such medications and services for specific clinical conditions.
 
Directs HHS to expand the demonstration program, except in certain circumstances, by issuing regulations to implement, on a permanent basis, those components that are beneficial to Medicare beneficiaries and the Medicare program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
ITIN Reform Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1397
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

ITIN Reform Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Department of the Treasury to issue an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) to an individual only if such individual: (1) submits an application for an ITIN in person at an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxpayer assistance center with required documentation, or (2) submits an application in person outside of the United States to an IRS employee or a designee of Treasury at a U.S. diplomatic mission or consular post with required documentation. Exempts from such requirements: (1) the spouse, or the dependents, without a social security number of a taxpayer who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, and (2) nonresident aliens claiming tax treaty benefits. 
 
Requires the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to audit, on a biennial basis, the IRS program for issuance of ITINs pursuant to this Act and report to Congress on such audit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3186-3187)
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Expensing Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1399
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Charitable contributions
Computers and information technology
Income tax deductions
Securities
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Small Business Expensing Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the taxpayer election to expense depreciable business property (section 179 property), to: (1) increase to $1 million the expensing allowance for such property, (2) increase to $2.5 million the threshold amount of such property after which the amount of the expensing allowance is reduced, (3) grant a permanent right to revoke an expensing election, and (4) make such increased allowance permanent after 2014. 
 
The allowance is also made permanent for computer software and for qualified real property (i.e., qualified leasehold improvement property, restaurant property, and retail improvement property). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1400
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Intergovernmental relations
Small business
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2015

 
Amends the Small Business Act to require the interagency task force that is responsible for coordinating federal efforts to improve the business development and federal contracting opportunities available to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans to coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals to provide access to, and manage the distribution of, excess or surplus U.S. property to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the task force and the applicable agency designated under state law as the agency responsible for fair and equitable distribution, through donation, of transferred property.

action_date: 2015-09-15
text: 

Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to give access to and manage the distribution of U.S-owned surplus property, including foreign excess personal property returned to a state for handling as surplus property, to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the SBA and the head of the state agency for surplus properties.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 222.
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Vitter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Vitter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3187)
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the annual designation of cities in the United States as an "American World War II City".

Bill: 114-s-1401
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military history
North Carolina
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate at least one city in the United States each year as an "American World War II City" based on the city's: (1) contributions to the war effort during World War II; and (2) efforts to preserve the history of such contributions, including through establishment of preservation organizations or museums, restoration of World War II facilities, and recognition of World War II veterans.
 
Designates Wilmington, North Carolina, as the first such city.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3187)
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-1402
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Foreign aid and international relief
Intellectual property

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act

 
Allows the holder or successor of an acceleration certificate issued pursuant to the Patents for Humanity Program (a pilot awards program established by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO] entitling awardees to accelerate certain USPTO proceedings for patented technologies addressing humanitarian needs among an impoverished population or for further research on humanitarian technologies) to transfer, including by sale, the entitlement to such certificate to another person. 

action_date: 2016-05-26
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill allows the holder or successor of an acceleration certificate issued pursuant to the Patents for Humanity Program (a pilot awards program established by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO] entitling awardees to accelerate certain USPTO proceedings for patented technologies addressing humanitarian needs among an impoverished population or for further research on humanitarian technologies) to transfer, including by sale, the entitlement to such certificate to another person. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-05-27
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-05-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-05-26
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S3379)
action_date: 2016-05-26
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S3379)
action_date: 2016-05-26
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3378-3379)
action_date: 2016-05-26
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3378-3379)
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3187-3188)
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
State Transportation Flexibility Act

Bill: 114-s-1404
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government trust funds
Intergovernmental relations
Public transit
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

State Transportation Flexibility Act 

 
 Allows a state to elect not to participate in the federal-aid highway program, including any federal highway program under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users or the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation , beginning in FY2015, to carry out a direct federal-aid highway program to permit a state legislature, at least 90 days before the beginning of a fiscal year, to elect to: 
 
 
 waive the state's right to receive apportioned or allocated funds under the federal-aid highway program, and 
 
 receive a prorated amount of taxes appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund (other than for the Mass Transit Account) which are attributable to highway users in the state.
 
 
Requires a pro rata reduction of such tax-equivalent amount in order to fund contract authority for programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
 
Requires the state making an election to: 
 
 
agree to maintain the Interstate System in accordance with the current Interstate System program; 
 
 submit a plan describing the purposes, projects, and uses to which such amounts will be put and the federal-aid highway programmatic requirements the state elects to continue; and 
 
 agree to obligate program amounts exclusively for projects that would be eligible for surface transportation program funding.
 
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a similar alternative funding program for public transportation programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Severe Fuel Supply Emergency Response Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1405
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-05-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Coal
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: 

Severe Fuel Supply Emergency Response Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a coordinated federal response to severe fuel supply emergencies. A severe fuel supply emergency is a coal supply deficiency reported to DOE that has the potential to affect at least 500 megawatts of electricity generation or 100,000 electricity customers.
 
 DOE's duties are to: 
 
 
promptly investigate the circumstances of the emergency;
 
notify the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of the existence of the emergency; 
 
convene a meeting with the Board, FERC, and, as appropriate, the Electric Reliability Organization and affected Regional Entities and Reliability Coordinators; and 
 
submit in writing to the Board and to FERC, and publicize on the DOE website, recommendations for actions by either the Board or FERC to alleviate the emergency and to prevent future recurrences. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Introduced in Senate