hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Democracy Restoration Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1459
Sponsor: Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Law enforcement administration and funding
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 
 
Democracy Restoration Act of 2015

 
 Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility. Provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, this Act.
 
Prohibits this Act from being construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act. Declares that the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. 
Sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights. 
Prohibits any state, local government, or other person from receiving or using any federal funds to construct or improve a place of incarceration unless that person has in effect a program to notify each U.S. citizen incarcerated in that person's jurisdiction, upon release from such incarceration, of that individual's rights under this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E367)
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
FRESHER Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1460
Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydrofracking Environmental Regulation Act of 2015 or the FRESHER Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to require a permit under the national pollutant discharge elimination system for discharges of stormwater runoff from: (1) mining operations; (2) oil and gas operations; or (3) transmission facilities for collecting and conveying precipitation runoff that are not contaminated by contact with any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, finished product, byproduct, or waste products located on the site of the operations.
 
The Department of the Interior must study stormwater runoff associated with oil or gas operations, including an analysis of: (1) measurable contamination, (2) groundwater resources, and (3) the susceptibility of aquifers to contamination from stormwater runoff associated with the operations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
SEC Revolving Door Restriction Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1463
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

SEC Revolving Door Restriction Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to subject to federal criminal penalties for bribery, graft, and conflicts of interest an ex-employee of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) who, within one year after ending employment with the SEC, works for any company or individual against whom the SEC brought an enforcement action (or a related waiver) within the previous 18 months and the ex-employee participated in that action. 
 
Any employee who seeks to work for such a company or individual must first receive an ethics opinion from the SEC on whether permission to do so should be granted.
 
Non-professional SEC staff are exempt from this employment prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1464
Sponsor: Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Sales and excise taxes
Securities
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose an excise tax on the transfer of ownership in certain securities (covered transaction), including any share of stock in a corporation, any partnership or beneficial interest in a partnership or trust, any note, bond, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (excluding tax-exempt municipal bonds), or derivative financial instruments; (2) impose a penalty on taxpayers who fail to include a covered transaction on their tax return or information statement; and (3) allow an individual taxpayer whose modified adjusted gross income does not exceed $50,000 ($75,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns) a tax credit for the amount of tax paid on covered transactions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1465
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health information and medical records
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Neurological disorders
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Medical Evaluation Parity for Servicemembers Act of 2015

 
Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to: (1) provide an individual with a mental health screening before such individual enlists or is commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces, and (2) use such results as a baseline for any subsequent mental health examinations. 
 
Prohibits the Secretary from considering the results of such screening in determining the promotion of a member of the Armed Forces.
 
Directs the Secretary to treat a screening in the same manner as medical records with respect to laws and regulations relating to the privacy of information.
 
Requires the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health to submit to Congress and the Department of Defense (DOD) a report on preliminary mental health screenings of members of the Armed Forces, including recommendations regarding: (1) establishing preliminary mental health screenings to establish parity with physical screenings; and (2) the composition of the mental health screening, evidenced-based best practices, and how to track changes relating to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions. 
 
Directs DOD and the Government Accountability Office to report on the efficacy of preliminary mental health screenings. Requires DOD to report on the efficacy of the mental health components of the physical examinations to members of the Armed Forces who are separated from active duty.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1774)
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1467
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employee hiring
Motor carriers
Personnel records
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2015 

 
 Revises regulations that require motor carriers to conduct preemployment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident testing of commercial motor vehicle operators for controlled substances or alcohol. 
 
Allows motor carriers to use hair testing as an acceptable alternative to urinalysis for detecting use of controlled substances by an operator, but only for preemployment testing and random testing (but the latter only if the motor carrier tested the operator at preemployment using the same method).
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop requirements for laboratories and testing procedures for controlled substances that include mandatory guidelines that establish, among other things, laboratory protocols and cut-off levels for hair testing to detect the use of such substances.
 
Allows a motor carrier that demonstrates it can carry out a hair testing program consistent with generally accepted industry standards to apply to the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for exemption from mandatory urinalysis testing. Requires a motor carrier's testing program, in order to be eligible for such exemption, to employ procedures and protections similar to a fleet that has carried out a hair testing program for at least 12 months.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue scientific and technical guidelines for hair testing as a method for detecting the use of controlled substances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Enhancing the Stature and Visibility of Medical Rehabilitation Research at NIH Act

Bill: 114-hr-1469
Sponsor: Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and paralysis
Health promotion and preventive care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical research
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Enhancing the Stature and Visibility of Medical Rehabilitation Research at NIH Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise requirements for medical rehabilitation research.
 
The purpose of the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) is revised to include coordination of research and research training.
 
The NCMRR must develop and periodically update a comprehensive research plan for medical rehabilitation research. Currently, this research plan is developed and updated by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
 
The NCMRR must: (1) annually report on progress in achieving the objectives, benchmarks, and guiding principles described in the research plan; and (2) develop guidelines governing the funding for medical rehabilitation research by the National Institutes of Health.
 
The Medical Rehabilitation Coordinating Committee must periodically host a scientific conference or workshop on medical rehabilitation research.
 The Department of Health and Human Services must enter into interagency agreements to coordinate medical rehabilitation research.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1473
Sponsor: Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: District of Columbia
Humanities programs funding
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Performing arts

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2015

 
 Amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to reauthorize appropriations for FY2016-FY2020 for maintenance, repair, and security, and capital projects for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

action_date: 2015-05-08
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2015

 
 Amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to reauthorize appropriations for FY2016-FY2020 for maintenance, repair, and security, and capital projects for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-08
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 74.
action_date: 2015-05-08
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-105.
action_date: 2015-05-08
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 114-105.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Discharged.
action_date: 2015-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Social Security Child Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1474
Sponsor: Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Computer security and identity theft
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Social Security Child Protection Act of 2015

 
 Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to issue a new Social Security number to a child who has not attained the age of 14 in cases where confidentiality has been compromised:
 
 
by reason of theft of related documentation, or
 
by reason of public disclosure of information regarding deceased individuals that includes such number by mistake.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
No Taxpayer Bailouts for Unsustainable State and Local Pensions Act

Bill: 114-hr-1476
Sponsor: Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government lending and loan guarantees
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

No Taxpayer Bailouts for Unsustainable State and Local Pensions Act 

 
This bill prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from providing loans, grants, or other forms of financial assistance to state and local government pension plan funds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1477
Sponsor: Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intellectual property
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act of 2015

 
Requires each federal agency with extramural research expenditures of over $100 million to develop a federal research public access policy that is consistent with, and that advances, the purposes of the agency and that follows common procedures for the collection and depositing of research papers. 
 
Makes each federal research public access policy applicable to: (1) researchers employed by the federal agency whose works remain in the public domain, and (2) researchers funded by the agency. Specifies exclusions.
 
Requires each federal agency to submit an annual report on its federal research public access policy to specified congressional committees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Repeal of the Obamacare Bay State Boondoogle Act

Bill: 114-hr-1479
Sponsor: Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Hospital care
Medicare
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Repeal of the Obamacare Bay State Boondoogle Act

 
Revises requirements for the non-rural area wage index floor in the formula for the national adjusted diagnosis-related group (DRG) prospective payment rate used in calculating payments under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for each inpatient hospital discharge in a fiscal year involving inpatient hospital services of a subsection (d) hospital. (Generally, a subsection [d] hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system [IPPS] when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in the case of discharges occurring on or after April 1, 2015, to apply budget neutrality, under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and related regulations, on a state-specific rather than national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor, including a minimum wage index, for each non-rural area, using a specified methodology as if it had been fully implemented for FY2011 using a 100% state-specific adjustment to the area wage index.
 
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the Secretary, for discharges occurring on or after April 1, 2015, from modifying related regulations in carrying out budget neutrality requirements.
 
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to end the application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation of the Medicare hospital wage index floor as of April 1, 2015.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1482
Sponsor: Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Business records
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Oil and gas
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2015 

 
This bill repeals the exemption for hydraulic fracturing operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation.
 
The chemicals intended for use in underground injections must be disclosed before the hydraulic fracturing operations commence. The chemicals actually used must also be disclosed at the end of the operations. The disclosure must be made to state underground injection programs or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if the EPA has primary enforcement responsibility in the state. The state or the EPA must make the disclosure available to the public.
 
When a medical emergency exists and the proprietary chemical formula of a chemical used in the operations is necessary for medical treatment, hydraulic fracturing operations must disclose the formula or the specific chemical identity of a trade secret chemical to the state, the EPA, or the treating physician or nurse upon request, regardless of whether a written statement of need or a confidentiality agreement has been provided. Hydraulic fracturing operations may require a written statement of need and a confidentiality agreement as soon thereafter as circumstances permit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in House