hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Major Charles S. Kettles of the United States Army for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.

Bill: 114-s-2250
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2015-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: 
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Charles S. Kettles for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
SAVE Benefits Act

Bill: 114-s-2251
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Appropriations
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of the Treasury
Disability assistance
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Poverty and welfare assistance
Railroad Retirement Board
Railroads
Social Security Administration
Social security and elderly assistance
State and local government operations
Transportation employees
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: 

Seniors And Veterans Emergency Benefits Act or the SAVE Benefits Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to disburse a payment equal to 3.9% of the average amount of annual benefits to certain individuals (except prisoners, fugitive felons, or aliens) who are entitled to a specified benefit under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA), an annuity under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, a veterans benefit, or are eligible for a cash benefit under SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income), including a special benefit for individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite severe medical impairment.
 
A refundable income tax credit is allowed for the first taxable year beginning in 2015 in an amount equal to $581 for certain eligible government retirees who do not receive such a payment.
 
The Internal Revenue Code is amended, with respect to the $1 million limitation on the deductibility of employee compensation, to:
 
 
eliminate the exemption from that limitation for compensation payable on a commission basis or upon the attainment of a performance goal;
 
extend the limitation to any individual who is a current or former officer, director, or employee of a publicly-held corporation; and
 
apply the limitation to all publicly-held corporations required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to register securities and provide periodic reports to their investors.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Playing Field Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2252
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Census and government statistics
Contracts and agency
Department of the Treasury
Employment taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: 

Fair Playing Field Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the classification of workers for employment tax purposes, to: 
 
 
 repeal the prohibition against issuance of regulations and guidance by the Department of the Treasury on workers' employment tax status (i.e., as an employee or as an independent contractor) enacted by the Revenue Act of 1978;
 
 direct Treasury to issue regulations and other guidance to clarify the proper employment status of workers for employment tax purposes;
 
 prohibit a retroactive assessment of employment tax, except with respect to certain skilled workers, for tax periods after December 31, 1978, and before a specified reclassification date for worker misclassifications, unless the taxpayer had no reasonable basis for not treating a worker as an employee; 
 
exempt certain individuals who perform professional services from treatment as employees for employment tax purposes; 
 
require taxpayers who hire independent contractors on a regular and ongoing basis to provide such contractors with notice of their federal tax obligations, the labor and employment law protections that do not apply to them, and their right to seek a status determination from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and 
 
 eliminate reduced penalty provisions for failure to withhold income taxes for taxpayers who lack a reasonable basis for treating a worker as other than an employee (i.e., as an independent contractor). 
 
 
The IRS Commissioner must issue reports each fiscal year providing information and data on worker classification as an employee or an independent contractor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2253
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Educational facilities and institutions
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act of 2015

 
This bill declares that, if a veteran is forced to discontinue a course as a result of an educational institution's permanent closure and did not receive credit or lost training time toward completion of the education program, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance payments shall not, for a specified period of time, be: 
 
 
 charged against the individual's entitlement to educational assistance, or 
 
 counted against the aggregate period for which such assistance may be provided.
 
 
The bill applies to school closures beginning with FY2015.
 
The VA may continue to pay educational assistance and subsistence allowances to eligible veterans and eligible persons enrolled in specified courses for up to 4 weeks in any 12-month period when schools are temporarily closed under an established policy based on an executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation.
 
The VA may also continue to pay a monthly housing stipend following a permanent school closure, but only until the earlier of: (1) the date of the end of the term, quarter, or semester during which the school closure occurred; and (2) the date that is four months after the school closure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-18
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-252.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2255
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
State and local government operations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: 

Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to redefine: (1) "debt" to include any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to pay a loan, an overpayment, a fine, penalty, a fee, or other money to a federal agency and that is at least 180 days past due; and (2) "debt collector" to include any person who regularly collects debts owed or allegedly owed to a federal agency. 
 
A federal agency that is a creditor may sell or transfer a debt to a debt collector beginning 180 days after the obligation or alleged obligation arises. 
 
The Act is further amended by making the collection of any amount (including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) an unfair practice unless:
 
 
the amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law (as under current law); or
 
in the case of a debt owed a federal agency, the collection charge is reasonable in relation to actual collection costs, is authorized by a contract between the debt collector and the federal agency, and does not exceed 10% of the amount the debt collector collects. 
 
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the use of debt collectors by state and local government agencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
National Park Service Centennial Act

Bill: 114-s-2257
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-11-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aging
Appropriations
Art, artists, authorship
Commemorative events and holidays
Department of the Interior
Energy efficiency and conservation
Executive agency funding and structure
Government trust funds
Infrastructure development
Intellectual property
Land use and conservation
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
User charges and fees
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: 

National Park Service Centennial Act

 
This bill establishes the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund in the Treasury to finance signature projects and programs to enhance the National Park System (NPS) as it approaches its centennial in 2016.
 
 There is also established in the Treasury a Public Lands Centennial Fund.
 
The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall jointly establish a program under which funds from the Centennial Fund are made available to federal land or water management agencies to support projects that: 
 
 
enhance visitor services and outdoor recreational opportunities,
 
restore lands and waters,
 
repair facilities or trails, or 
 
increase energy and water efficiency. 
 
 

National Park Foundation Endowment Act

 
The National Park Foundation shall establish the Second Century Endowment for the National Park Service. 
 
The National Park Service Second Century Fund is established in the Treasury. 
 
Interior shall undertake a broad program of the highest quality interpretation and education.
 
This bill makes permanent the Volunteers in the Parks Program. 
 
Interior may establish a Visitor Services Management Authority (VSMA) to administer commercial visitor services programs and activities of the NPS, including the award and administration of commercial visitor facilities and services management contracts pursuant to this Act. 
 
A VSMA revolving fund is established for expenses necessary for the management, improvement, enhancement, operation, construction, and maintenance of commercial visitor services and facilities and payment of possessory interest and leasehold surrender interest. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-492.
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7820-7822)
action_date: 2015-11-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-2258
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Roads and highways
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: 

Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program Improvement Act

 
This bill revises requirements for any written agreement under the surface transportation project delivery program that a state makes with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to assume responsibilities assigned by DOT with respect to one or more highway projects within the state under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
 
Such an agreement shall emphasize that the state is solely responsible and liable for carrying out DOT responsibilities, including the defense of any civil action, without further DOT approval, under the program.
 
DOT shall:
 
 
audit a participating state annually (currently, semiannually) for the first two as well as the last two years of the first four years of a state's particiaption;
 
meet with the state to review implementation of its assignment agreement, and discuss plans for the first annual audit, within 180 days after execution of the agreement; and
 
ensure that the time period for completing an annual audit, from initiation to completion (including public comment and responses to those comments), does not exceed 180 days.
 
 
DOT shall also determine the team to carry out an audit, which shall include at least one member the state designates (who may have relevant expertise and experience and not be an employee of either the state or DOT).
 
 In cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, DOT shall carry out education, training, peer exchange, and other initiatives to:
 
 
assist states in developing the capacity to participate in the assignment program, and
 
promote information sharing and collaboration among states participating in the program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
ACO Assignment Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2259
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care quality
Health personnel
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: 

ACO Assignment Improvement Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish additional requirements for assigning Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries to accountable care organizations (ACOs) under the Medicare shared savings program. (The program enables ACOs to receive payments for savings stemming from care coordination and management.)
 
Specifically, the bill requires the basis for assignment to reflect beneficiaries' utilization of not only primary care services provided by ACO physicians, but also those provided by other ACO practitioners. Other ACO practitioners include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Long-Term SCORE Act

Bill: 114-s-2260
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2015-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Congressional agencies
Congressional operations and organization
Economic performance and conditions
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: 

Long-Term Studies of Comprehensive Outcomes and Returns for the Economy Act or the Long-Term SCORE Act

 
This bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to prepare long-term cost estimates for legislation reported by congressional committees. The bill requires the long-term estimates to cover at least each of the next four ten-year periods. CBO currently provides cost estimates over a 5- or 10-year period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2015-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2262
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care coverage and access
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2015
 
 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide Medicare coverage for screening computed tomography colonography (CTC) as a colorectal cancer screening test, and (2) exclude screening CTC from a special Medicare payment rule applicable to certain imaging services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
HIRE Vets Act

Bill: 114-s-2263
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employee hiring
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2015 or the HIRE Vets Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to solicit voluntary information from employers for purposes of recognizing, by the award of a HIRE Vets Medallion, verified efforts by these employers to: (1) recruit, employ, and retain veterans; and (2) provide community and charitable services supporting the veteran community.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Tax Credit Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-2264
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Child Tax Credit Improvement Act
 
 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the child tax credit, to: (1) increase the amount of such credit for children who have not attained age 6 by the close of the taxable year, (2) modify the limitation on such credit based upon taxpayer adjusted gross income and the age of the qualifying child, (3) increase the refundable portion of such credit for children under age 6, and (4) allow an inflation adjustment to the $1,000 credit amount beginning after 2015.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act

Bill: 114-s-2267
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Census and government statistics
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Student aid and college costs
Temporary and part-time employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise provisions related to financial aid and educational programs for children and youths who are homeless or in foster care.
 
With respect to a student's independence for purposes of financial aid, a financial aid administrator must: (1) in the absence of conflicting information, accept a homelessness determination made by an authorized individual; and (2) make such a determination if the student cannot get documentation from a designated authority. A student who is determined to be independent on this basis shall generally be presumed to be independent for a subsequent award year at the same institution.
 
The bill expands the duties of the Student Loan Ombudsman to include the review and resolution of complaints regarding such determinations.
 
To be eligible for certain federal funds, an institution must meet specified requirements related to student housing, coordination, and notice of financial assistance eligibility with respect to children and youths who are homeless or in foster care.
 
In approving applications for entities to carry out specified programs related to higher education, the Department of Education shall require an entity to make specified assurances with respect to the participation of children and youths who are homeless or in foster care. A federal work-study agreement must prioritize employment for such students.
 
For purposes of income-based financial aid determinations, the bill excludes from income: (1) the value of specified vouchers for education and training, and (2) direct payments made through an extended foster care program.
 
With respect to children or youths who are homeless or in foster care, a state may not charge a tuition rate that is higher than the in-state tuition rate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 114-s-2268
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Aviation and airports
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health personnel
Military history
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation of a single gold medal in honor of the Dust Off crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service. 
 
It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should also make such medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at appropriate locations associated with the Vietnam War, and that preference should be given to locations affiliated with the Smithsonian.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7915-7916)
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate