hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
CLEAR Plus Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-927
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Government information and archives
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

CLEAR Plus Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to: (1) subject a savings and loan holding company to registration requirements for securities whose issuer has total assets exceeding $10 million and a class of non-exempt equity security held of record by 2,000 or more persons; and (2) apply the automatic termination of registration, and suspension of the duty to file supplementary and periodic information, to a savings and loan holding company whose securities are found to be held by less than 1,200 persons. 
 
The Federal Deposit Insurance Act is amended to require the federal banking agencies to issue regulations allowing for a reduced reporting requirement for certain depository institutions when making the first and third report of condition for a year. These reporting requirements apply to any insured depository institution that:
 
 
as of the most recent examination has a CAMELS composite rating of 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an equivalent rating under a comparable rating system) for capital adequacy, assets, management capability, earnings, liquidity or asset liability management, and sensitivity to market risk; and
 
satisfies other appropriate criteria as such agencies determine.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-23
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-366.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act

Bill: 114-s-928
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Crime victims
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability assistance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Inflation and prices
Law enforcement officers
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
New York City
Pennsylvania
Terrorism
Virginia
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act

 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program Fund indefinitely and index appropriations to the medical care component of the consumer price index for urban consumers. Makes funding available for:
 
 
a quality assurance program for services delivered by health care providers,
 
the WTC Program annual report,
 
WTC Health Program Steering Committees, and
 
contracts with Clinical Centers of Excellence.
 
 
Amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to make individuals (or relatives of deceased individuals) who were injured or killed in the rescue and recovery efforts after the aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, eligible for compensation under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.
 
Allows individuals to file claims for compensation under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 anytime after regulations are updated based on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.
 
Removes the cap on payments under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.
 Adds the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and World Trade Center Health Program Fund to the list of accounts that are not subject to budget sequestration.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Simplified, Manageable, And Responsible Tax Act

Bill: 114-s-929
Sponsor: Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Legislative rules and procedure
Tax reform and tax simplification
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Simplified, Manageable, And Responsible Tax Act or the SMART Act

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the marginal income tax rates with a single rate of 17% on individual taxable income. 
 
Redefines "taxable income" to mean the amount by which wages, retirement distributions, and unemployment compensation exceed the standard deduction. Increases the basic standard deduction and includes an additional standard deduction for dependents. Includes in taxable income the taxable income of each dependent child under the age of 14. 
Replaces the current tax on corporations with a tax on every person engaged in a business activity equal to 17% of the business taxable income of such person. Makes the person engaged in the business activity liable for the tax, whether or not such person is an individual, a partnership, or a corporation. 
Imposes a tax of 17% on the value of excludable compensation provided during the year by an employer for the benefit of employees. Makes the employer liable for the tax. 
Repeals pension plan rules relating to : (1) non-discrimination, (2) contribution limits, and (3) restrictions on distributions. Revises rules relating to transfers of excess pension assets. 
Repeals: (1) the alternative minimum tax; (2) all income tax credits; (3) estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes; and (4) income tax provisions, except certain provisions relating to retirement distributions and tax-exempt organizations. 
 Declares it not in order in the House of Representatives or the Senate, unless waived or suspended by a three-fifths vote, to consider any legislation that increases or adds an income tax rate, reduces the standard deduction, or provides any exclusion, deduction, credit, or other benefit that reduces federal revenues.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-930
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Food assistance and relief
Income tax deductions
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act of 2015
 
 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify the tax deduction for charitable contributions of food inventory by limiting the reduction in such deduction to the amount by which the fair market valuation of the contributed food exceeds twice the basis of such food, and (2) make such deduction permanent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2174-2175)
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Artist-Museum Partnership Act

Bill: 114-s-931
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Books and print media
Charitable contributions
Income tax deductions
Intellectual property
Literature
Music
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Artist-Museum Partnership Act 

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers who create literary, musical, artistic, or scholarly compositions or similar property a fair market value (determined at the time of contribution) tax deduction for contributions of such properties, the copyrights thereon, or both, to certain tax-exempt organizations, if such properties are properly appraised and are donated no less than 18 months after their creation. Limits the amount of such deduction based upon the donor's artistic adjusted gross income, as defined by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2174-2175)
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Historic Downtown Preservation and Access Act

Bill: 114-s-932
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Fires
Historic sites and heritage areas
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Historic Downtown Preservation and Access Act 

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for 50% of the cost of installing an elevator system or a sprinkler system in a certified historic structure. Limits the total amount of such credit to $50,000 in any taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure:CR S2174-2175)
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

Bill: 114-s-933
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

 
 Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to require that no investigative hearing take place until at least 14 days after the filing of an election petition regarding collective bargaining representation when the NLRB has reasonable cause to believe that the petition raises a question of representation affecting commerce. Requires such hearings to be non-adversarial, and the hearing officer, in collaboration with the parties, to identify any relevant and material pre-election issues.
 
Requires the NLRB, in cases where it finds that a question of representation exists, to: (1) direct an election by secret ballot as soon as practicable but not before 35 calendar days after the filing of the election petition, and (2) certify election results only after it has ruled on each pre-election issue not resolved before the election and any additional issue pertaining to the conduct or results of that election.
 
Requires the Board also, not earlier than seven days after a final determination of the appropriate bargaining unit, to acquire from the employer a list of all employees eligible to vote in the election, which shall: (1) be made available to all parties, and (2) include the employees' names as well as one additional form of personal contact information (such as telephone number, email address, or mailing address) chosen by the employee in writing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Phantom Fuel Reform Act

Bill: 114-s-934
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Motor fuels

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Phantom Fuel Reform Act

 
This bill amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel standard program. Beginning on January 1, 2015, the renewable fuel that is required to be blended into gasoline must be advanced biofuel, which cannot be ethanol derived from corn starch.
 
This bill revises the renewable fuel standards by decreasing the total volume of renewable fuel that must be contained in gasoline sold or introduced into commerce for years 2015 through 2022.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must determine the target amount of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into transportation fuel based on the actual volume of cellulosic biofuel produced in the current year. 
 
The EPA must reduce the required volume of renewable fuel in transportation fuel by the same volume of cellulosic biofuel in the fuel. 
 
Cellulosic biofuel does not include any compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or electricity used to power electric vehicles that is produced from biogas from a landfill, a municipal wastewater treatment facility digester, an agricultural digester, or a separated municipal solid waste digester.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Tax Refund Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-935
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business ethics
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Department of the Treasury
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Licensing and registrations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Tax Refund Protection Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Department of the Treasury to establish a program to license or certify and regulate tax return preparers. The program must: (1) require that the tax return preparer demonstrate good character, good reputation, necessary qualifications to enable the preparer to provide valuable service as a tax return preparer, and competency; (2) require preparers to make certain disclosures relating to fees charged for tax preparation and the average amount of time expected to receive a tax refund; and (3) authorize Treasury to take enforcement action against a tax return preparer for incompetency or wrongdoing. 
 
The bill also amends the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to regulate refund anticipation payment arrangements. A refund anticipation payment arrangement is defined as an arrangement under which, in exchange for tax preparation services, a taxpayer agrees to pay a fee or interest upon receipt of a tax refund to a preparer or lender either by a direct payment to a preparer or lender or by direct deposit to a designated account. The CFPB shall require tax return preparers to provide a disclosure statement to a consumer about the arrangement and shall promulgate regulations that require preparers to comply with the disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act. A certified public accountant who is offering to perform customary and usual accounting activities is exempted from such regulation. 
 
Finally, the bill allows an income tax refund requested on a tax return prepared by an income tax preparer to be split between the preparer and the taxpayer and prohibits the treatment of such a split as disreputable conduct merely because the taxpayer requested such split.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Canalway Act of 1996 to repeal the funding limitation.

Bill: 114-s-936
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Dams and canals
Historic sites and heritage areas
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 
Amends the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway Act of 1996 to repeal the limitation on the total amount that may be appropriated for the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
State Grazing Management Authority Act

Bill: 114-s-937
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Livestock
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

State Grazing Management Authority Act

 
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to require the Bureau of Land Management, upon the request of a state governor, to enter into 20-year cooperative agreements providing for a state to manage grazing allotments on eligible federal land in that state. Defines &quot;eligible federal land&quot; as public land that is subject to a grazing permit or lease issued by the Bureau, excluding a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System or an area of critical environmental concern.
 
Prohibits any state from managing more than two allotments at any one time unless waived by the Bureau. 
 
Requires such a cooperative agreement to assign to the state the Bureau's responsibilities with respect to the grazing allotments managed under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, including the responsibility for determining whether the following actions for those allotments qualify for a categorical exclusion under such Act:
 
 
the conduct of vegetation projects; 
 
the conduct of pinyon or juniper treatments; and 
 
determinations with respect to the number of permitted animal unit months. 
 
 
Requires a cooperative agreement to provide for the state to develop a process to resolve disputes relating to a decision by the state with respect to management of an allotment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
America Star Act

Bill: 114-s-938
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Consumer affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee leave
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Higher education
Marketing and advertising
Performance measurement
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Unemployment
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Wages and earnings
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

America Star Act 

 
This bill directs the Secretary of Labor to establish within the Department of Labor a voluntary America Star program under which the Secretary annually shall designate certain companies, based on specified performance categories, as America Star companies for their support for the U.S. workforce.
 
Companies are ineligible to participate in the program if they commit serious, repeated, or willful violations of specified federal labor law.
 
The Secretary shall: (1) market the America Star program annually to the public through the Department's website, and (2) design a label for designated America Star companies to use by displaying it next to the company's logo.
 
The Federal Trade Commission shall treat as an unfair or deceptive practice the use of a label by a company not designated as an America Star company in violation with the requirements of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the evaluation and consolidation of duplicative green building programs within the Department of Energy.

Bill: 114-s-939
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Building construction
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Department of Energy
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Performance measurement
Public transit
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to report on and make public the outcomes of specified green building programs administered by DOE and listed in the Government Accountability Office's &quot;2012 Annual Report: Opportunities to Reduce Duplication, Overlap and Fragmentation, Achieve Savings, and Enhance Revenue.&quot;
 
DOE must conduct an analysis of whether any of the programs should be eliminated or consolidated and report on methods to improve the programs.
 
By January 1, 2016, DOE must identify which programs were specifically authorized by Congress and which are carried out solely under DOE's discretionary authority. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Simpler Tax Filing Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-940
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business records
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Simpler Tax Filing Act of 2015
 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Internal Revenue Service should begin offering pre-prepared tax returns to as many taxpayers as possible by tax year 2020.
 
Requires the Department of the Treasury to report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on actions necessary to achieve the goal of offering pre-prepared tax returns to taxpayers by tax year 2020, with an analysis of the budgetary, administrative, and legislative barriers to achieving such goal, including the amount of appropriations that would be required. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevent Targeting at the IRS Act

Bill: 114-s-941
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Department of the Treasury
Employee performance
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Prevent Targeting at the IRS Act

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 to expand existing grounds for termination of the employment of an Internal Revenue Service employee to include performing, delaying, or failing to perform (or threatening to perform, delay, or fail to perform) any official action (including any audit) with respect to a taxpayer for purpose of extracting personal gain or benefit or for a political purpose.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate