hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Strengthening Medicare Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2382
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical research
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Strengthening Medicare Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements related the approval of intensive cardiac rehabilitation programs by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for purposes of Medicare coverage.
 
To be approved by CMS as an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program under current law, a program must show that it: (1) positively affected the progression of coronary heart disease or reduced the need for either coronary bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary interventions, and (2) accomplished a significant reduction in other specified health measures. The bill instead requires a program to show that it: (1) reversed the progression of coronary heart disease or reduced the need for coronary bypass surgery; and (2) accomplished, in addition to a significant reduction in other specified health measures, a significant increase in the measure of blood flow to the heart. The bill further requires a program to show, using research of its own program, that these measures were accomplished by lifestyle changes alone.
 
The bill removes the specific requirement that such a program be "physician-supervised" but retains other existing requirements for program supervision.
 
A program that was approved by CMS as an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program prior to August 1, 2015, shall be deemed to have met these requirements.
 
To be eligible for an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program under current law, an individual must have had one of several specified conditions or interventions. The bill adds to the list of qualifying conditions: (1) stable, chronic heart failure; and (2) any additional condition that CMS determines shall be covered under such a program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Ratepayer Fairness Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2384
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Ratepayer Fairness Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require a state regulatory authority and a nonregulated electric utility (entities), to the extent that they allow electric utility rates to include charges that subsidize customer-side technology, to consider whether that subsidy would:
 
 
result in benefits predominately enjoyed by only the users of the customer-side technology;
 
shift costs of a customer-side technology to electricity consumers that do not use it, particularly in cases in which disparate economic or resource conditions exist among the electricity consumers cross-subsidizing the customer-side technology;
 
negatively affect resource utilization, fuel diversity, grid reliability, or grid security;
 
give any unfair competitive advantage to market the customer-side technology, including an analysis of whether a state regulatory authority has uncovered fraudulent customer-side technology marketing practices; and
 
be necessary to fulfill an obligation to serve electric consumers. 
 
 
The bill sets deadlines within which the entities must set a hearing date to consider and subsequently determine the subsidization of customer-side technology. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Stonewall National Historic Site Establishment Act

Bill: 114-s-2386
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
New York City
Protest and dissent
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Stonewall National Historic Site Establishment Act

 
This bill establishes the Stonewall National Historic Site in New York as a unit of the National Park System. 
 
The boundary of the Historic Site shall be identical to that of the Stonewall National Historic Landmark. 
 
The Department of the Interior may enter into an agreement with New York City, New York, delineating the respective roles and responsibilities of the National Park Service and New York City in operating, maintaining, and interpreting the Historic Site. 
 
Interior shall prepare a general management plan for the Historic Site.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act

Bill: 114-s-2387
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Coal
Debt collection
Disability assistance
Employee benefits and pensions
Mining
Railroads
Social security and elderly assistance
Transportation employees
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act

 
This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the application of, and repeal authority for, administrative offsets to Social Security, railroad retirement, and black lung benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8604; text of measure as introduced: CR S8604)
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2388
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a reciprocal marketing approval process that allows for the sale of a drug, biological product, or medical device that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if the product is approved for sale in another country.
 
For a product to be granted reciprocal marketing approval, the product's sponsor must submit a request to the FDA that demonstrates: (1) the product may be sold in at least one country from a specified list of countries, (2) the FDA and listed countries have not withdrawn approval of the product because of safety or effectiveness concerns, and (3) there is a public health or unmet medical need for the product.
 
The FDA may: (1) require postmarket studies of a product granted reciprocal marketing approval, or (2) decline to approve a product that is not safe and effective.
 
The FDA must grant or decline reciprocal marketing approval not later than 30 days after receiving a request. During that period, the FDA and product sponsor must negotiate and finalize product labeling and, for a medical device, classify the device.
 
Congress may pass a joint resolution to grant reciprocal marketing approval to a product that the FDA declines to approve through this process.
 
User fees apply to requests for reciprocal marketing approval.
 The FDA must encourage the sponsors of potentially eligible products to request reciprocal marketing approval.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2389
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend through 2021 the rural add-on, which is a payment increase for Medicare home health services furnished to patients in rural areas.
 
The bill also amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to lower, for FY2018-FY2022, the annual ceiling on the home health outlier adjustment, which is a payment increase for home health services furnished to the costliest Medicare beneficiaries, from 2.5% to 2.25% of the total Medicare payments projected to be made under the prospective payment system for home health services. (Under the Medicare prospective payment system, payment is made according to a predetermined, fixed amount.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8604-8605)
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Advantage Bill of Rights Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2392
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business ethics
Business records
Consumer affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Medicare Advantage Bill of Rights Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish limits on the removal of Medicare Advantage (MA) providers by MA organizations. Within 60 days before the first day of the annual coordinated election period for an MA plan, an MA organization may remove a provider from the plan only if the provider is: (1) medically negligent, (2) in violation of a legal or contractual requirement, or (3) otherwise unfit to furnish items and services as required.
 
An MA organization may remove a provider from an MA plan only after the completion of a fair notice and appeal process. Additionally, the MA organization must: (1) provide written notification of the removal to each enrollee receiving items or services from the provider, and (2) ensure that the removal satisfies certain continuity of care requirements.
 
The bill also establishes network adequacy requirements. Specifically, when establishing a plan network, an MA organization shall consider specified factors related to provider availability and the timely provision of care. Furthermore, an MA organization must annually certify to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that providers in each of its plan networks are able to provide services and meet enrollees' needs as required.
 
Sanctions for noncompliance with the bill's requirements apply.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2395
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to reauthorize the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) through FY2020. SCAAP provides payments to state, local, and tribal governments to offset the costs of incarcerating certain undocumented criminal aliens. 
 
It expands the definition of &ldquo;undocumented criminal alien&rdquo; to include an alien who has been charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors. 
 
Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Justice to reimburse a state, local, or tribal government for costs to incarcerate a criminal alien whose immigration status cannot be verified by the Department of Homeland Security. (Currently, a criminal alien with lawful immigration status does not meet the criteria for SCAAP reimbursement.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 121 Spring Street SE in Gainesville, Georgia, as the "Sidney Olsin Smith, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse".

Bill: 114-s-2396
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Georgia
Government buildings, facilities, and property

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 
This bill designates the federal building and U.S. courthouse located at 121 Spring Street S.E. in Gainesville, Georgia, as the "Sidney Olsin Smith, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States that extend or eliminate unexpired statutes of limitation applicable to laws involving child sexual abuse.

Bill: 114-s-2397
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Crime victims
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Disability and paralysis
Domestic violence and child abuse
Family services
Law enforcement administration and funding
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 
This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to assist eligible states in developing, establishing, and operating programs to improve:
 
 
the assessment and investigation of suspected child abuse cases, in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child and the child's family;
 
the investigation and prosecution of cases of child sexual abuse; and
 
the assessment and investigation of cases involving children with disabilities or serious health-related problems who are suspected victims of child sexual abuse.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8609-8610)
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Superfund Polluter Pays Restoration Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2400
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Inflation and prices
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-14
text: 

Superfund Polluter Pays Restoration Act of 2015

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reinstate the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate beginning 60 days after enactment of this Act; (2) increase such rate from 9.7 cents to 15.8 cents per barrel of crude oil; (3) adjust for inflation in taxable years beginning after 2016 the $3.5 billion Superfund threshold after which no tax is imposed; (4) reinstate and increase the rates of tax on taxable chemicals; and (5) modify the definition of &quot;crude oil&quot; to include any bitumen or bituminous mixture, any oil derived from such mixture (including oil derived from tar sands), and any oil derived form kerogen-bearing sources (including oil derived from oil shale).
 
The bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to allow the use of the Superfund for environmental remediation without further appropriation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
COPS Improvements Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2401
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-12-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Community life and organization
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Elementary and secondary education
Indian social and development programs
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Mental health
Military facilities and property
Rural conditions and development
School administration
Terrorism
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: 

COPS Improvements Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to codify the establishment of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 
It revises and reauthorizes through FY2020 the Community Oriented and Policing Services program. 
 
The bill expands the purpose areas of the existing program with respect to community policing and crime prevention grants.
 
Additionally, it establishes three new programs. The bill: (1) directs DOJ to administer a troops-to-cops program to encourage the use of grants to hire and train former members of the Armed Forces as career law enforcement officers, (2) authorizes DOJ to award grants to pay for additional community prosecuting programs, and (3) authorizes DOJ to award grants to develop and use new crime-prevention technologies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to search all public records to determine if an alien is inadmissible to the United States.

Bill: 114-s-2402
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-12-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to search all public records, including Internet sites and social media profiles, to determine if an alien applying for admission to the United States is inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Family Stability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2403
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2015-12-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Licensing and registrations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: 

Military Family Stability Act of 2015

 
This bill allows a member of the Armed Forces undergoing a permanent change of station and the member's spouse to elect jointly that the spouse may relocate to the new location at the time during the covered relocation period as the member and spouse jointly select.
 
The following families shall be eligible: 
 
 
the spouse is employed, or enrolled in a degree-, certificate-, or license-granting program, at the beginning of the covered relocation period; 
 
the member and spouse have one or more children in school; 
 
the spouse or children are covered under the Exceptional Family Member Program; 
 
the member and spouse are caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness; or 
 
the member is undergoing a permanent change of station as an individual augmentee or other deployment arrangement.
 
 
Families with other needs may receive exceptions granted by military commanders on a case-by-case basis.
 
A member undergoing a permanent change of station who has one or more specified dependents and is no longer married to the individual who is or was the parent of such dependents at the beginning of the covered period of relocation may elect that such dependents relocate to the new location as follows: 
 
 
by the member alone if the former spouse is dead or has no custodial rights, or 
 
by the member and the former spouse jointly in all other circumstances.
 
 
 A member may not make: 
 
 
 more than three elections; or 
 
any election unless the member's period of obligated service, or the time remaining under the member's enlistment contract, at the time of election is at least 24 months.
 
 
The bill prescribes related housing and housing allowance requirements. 
 
Transportation allowances authorized for personal property of a member and spouse may be allocated as the member and spouse select.
 
The Department of Defense shall establish a single application approval process for coverage under this Act which shall apply uniformly among the Armed Forces.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Do Not Track Online Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2404
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-12-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: 

Do Not Track Online Act of 2015

 
This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate: (1) regulations that establish standards for the implementation of a mechanism by which individuals can indicate whether they prefer to have personal information collected by providers of online services, including by providers of mobile applications and services; and (2) rules that prohibit such providers from collecting personal information on, and from discriminating against, individuals who have expressed a preference not to have such information collected. 
 
"Personal information" includes IP addresses, media access control addresses, and other unique device identifiers.
 
The rules must allow for the collection and use of personal information, notwithstanding the expressed preference of the individual, if: (1) the information is necessary to provide a service requested by the individual so long as identifying particulars are removed or the information is deleted upon the provision of such service; or (2) the individual receives clear, conspicuous, and accurate notice on, and consents to, such collection and use.
 
The bill provides for FTC and state enforcement of such rules and regulations. If permitted under state law, a person may bring a private action to enjoin a violation or to receive monetary damages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Introduced in Senate