hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-1168
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2015-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: 

Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2015 

 
 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study whether there should be an increase in the prospective payment rate for inpatient rehabilitation services that would otherwise be made to a rehabilitation innovation center to cover additional costs incurred in: (1) furnishing items and services to individuals conducting research, and (2) providing medical training.
 
Requires the study also to specify the amount of such an increase if the Secretary determines that it is recommended. 
 
Directs the Secretary also to study the access by individuals to rehabilitation care in rural communities in states where there is no rehabilitation innovation center.

action_date: 2016-12-10
text: 

Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study to assess the costs incurred by rehabilitation innovation centers that are beyond the prospective rates for each of the following activities: (1) furnishing items and services to individuals under Medicare; (2) conducting research; and (3) providing medical training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7144-7145)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Seismic Moratorium Act

Bill: 114-s-1171
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2015-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fishes
Florida
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Reptiles
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: 

Seismic Moratorium Act

 
This bill prohibits conducting geological or geophysical activities in support of oil or gas exploration and development in any area located within a specified exclusive economic zone located off the coastline of Florida. 
 
This moratorium shall only be terminated if the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (of the Department of Commerce) determines that the reasonably foreseeable impacts of such activities are minimal to individuals or populations of marine mammals, sea turtles, or fish.
 
These geological or geophysical activities are described in the final programmatic environmental impact statement of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (of the Department of the Interior) entitled &quot;Atlantic OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Planning Areas,&quot; completed February 2014.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Teller All Gone Horseracing Deregulation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1174
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Sports and Recreation
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Gambling
Intergovernmental relations
Mammals
Professional sports
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: 

Teller All Gone Horseracing Deregulation Act of 2015

 
Repeals the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering Mass Participation to Offset the Wealthy's Electoral Role Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1176
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Inflation and prices
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Public participation and lobbying
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: 

Empowering Mass Participation to Offset the Wealthy's Electoral Role Act of 2015 or the EMPOWER Act
 

of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to revise the system of public financing for presidential primary and general elections occurring after January 1, 2016.
 
Increases the amount of matching funds for presidential primaries from a one-to-one match to a six-to-one match for contributions of $250 or less from individuals, with a limit on aggregate individual contributions of $1,000. Limits the total amount of payments to a presidential primary candidate to $300 million. Provides for an inflation adjustment to matching contributions beginning after 2015.
 
Requires presidential primary candidates who opt to participate in the public financing system to certify to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that they have raised $25,000 (currently, $5,000) in each of 20 states, with individual contributions limited to $250. Requires such candidates to commit to accept public financing in both the primary and general elections.
 
Prohibits presidential primary candidates or their authorized committees from accepting contributions or bundled contributions (i.e., combining small contributions into one large contribution) from lobbyists or political action committees (PACs).
 
Eliminates expenditure limitations for presidential primary and general elections.
 
Changes the period for payment of matching funds to presidential primary candidates from January 1 of the election year to six months prior to the date of the earliest state primary election.
 
Revises financing provisions for general elections to: (1) limit individual contributions to participating candidates to $1,000; and (2) extend matching payments to general elections at a six-to-one rate for contributions of $250 or less, to a maximum amount of $300 million in total matching payments to a publicly-financed general election candidate. 
 
Increases to $100 million the limit on coordinated spending by a national party and its presidential candidate in a general election campaign. 
 
Establishes a uniform date for the release of payments to eligible general election candidates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Defending Rivers from Overreaching Policies Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1178
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Defense
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Lakes and rivers
Water quality
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: 

Defending Rivers from Overreaching Policies Act of 2015

 
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) a Supplemental Scientific Review Panel to make recommendations regarding metrics to quantify the connection between any body of water or wetland and a traditionally navigable water, and (2) an Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams Advisory Commission to develop criteria to define whether a body of water or wetland has a significant nexus to a traditional navigable water using the metrics developed by the review panel. 
 
The commission must report to the Army Corps and the EPA on the criteria after a public comment period and release public versions of the reports.
 
The Army Corps and the EPA may not develop, finalize, adopt, implement, apply, administer, or enforce the proposed rule entitled, &quot;Definition of 'Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act&quot; and published on April 21, 2014, or begin the drafting of any substantially similar rule, until they receive a final report from the commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
AGED Spirits Act

Bill: 114-s-1179
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alcoholic beverages
Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

Advancing Growth in the Economy through Distilled Spirits Act or the AGED Spirits Act

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude the aging period from the production period for distilled spirits for purposes of determining whether a taxpayer can expense, rather than capitalize, interest costs paid or incurred during the production period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2600-2601; text of measure as introduced: CR S2601)
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Technologies Access and Accountability Act

Bill: 114-s-1181
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Manufacturing
Marine and inland water transportation
Motor vehicles
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

Energy Technologies Access and Accountability Act

 
This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program through FY2020.
 
An "advanced technology vehicle" under the program shall include:
 
 
a U.S.-manufactured, on-highway commercial truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that meets at least 125% of the average base year combined fuel economy for vehicles with substantially similar attributes, and 
 
a U.S.-flagged vessel.
 
 
The current Department of Transportation (DOT) facility funding awards to automobile manufacturers, among others, shall extend to U.S. commercial truck manufacturers and vessel manufacturers.
 
DOT, through its Loan Programs Office, shall:
 
 
accelerate efforts to engage sufficient engineering expertise to verify that direct loan borrowers under the program are delivering projects in accordance with applicable loan agreements, and
 
develop sufficient and quantifiable performance measures to achieve the intent of the direct loan program.
 
 
All proceeds from the repayment of direct loans shall be used by the Treasury to pay down the national debt.
 
The direct loan program shall be repealed on January 1, 2020. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
STEM Gateways Act

Bill: 114-s-1183
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Minority education
Minority employment
Public-private cooperation
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's education
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

STEM Gateways Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) elementary and secondary school programs that:
 
 
encourage interest in the STEM fields;
 
motivate engagement in the STEM fields by providing relevant hands-on learning opportunities;
 
support classroom success in the STEM disciplines;
 
support STEM workforce training and career preparation for secondary school students; or
 
improve the access of secondary school students to STEM career and continuing education opportunities.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Computer Science Career Education Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1184
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Minority education
Public-private cooperation
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

Computer Science Career Education Act of 2015

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to consortia composed of at least one local educational agency, at least one institution of higher education (IHE), and community representatives for the development and operation of four- or six-year computer science career education programs.
 
Each such career education program must include the development of a computer science program for both secondary and postsecondary education that:
 
 
is aligned with rigorous computer science standards for kindergarten through grade 12 computer science education;
 
links secondary schools and IHEs through non-duplicative sequences of courses in computer science career fields;
 
uses, if appropriate and available, experiential or work-based learning in collaboration with local or regional employers;
 
uses educational technology and distance learning to involve all members of the consortium more fully in the development and operation of the programs;
 
aligns with industry needs in the state or region; and
 
creates innovative opportunities for students that lead to attainment of industry-recognized credentials.
 
 
A program must also provide: (1) professional development for teachers, (2) career and academic counseling for students, and (3) equal access to the full range of career education programs to members of underrepresented groups and special populations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1185
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Higher education
Research administration and funding
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow states to incorporate engineering design skills and practices into their academic content standards and academic achievement standards and assessments in science.
 
States and local educational agencies (LEAs) must use grants and subgrants under the Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund program to develop and provide professional development and instructional materials for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject areas, including computer science and engineering.
 
 The bill changes current references to the mathematics and science partnerships program to references to the STEM partnerships program, which provides funding to states, institutions of higher education, and high-need LEAs to recruit and train STEM teachers and improve STEM curricula.
 
STEM activities (currently, mathematics and science activities) are included within the before- and after-school activities funded under the 21st century community learning centers program.
 
Professional development in engineering education is included among the uses of the funds provided under the rural and low-income school program to rural LEAs.
 
The Department of Education, under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, must support research on engineering education and use that research to provide information to the public, and technical assistance to states, on best practices and promising innovations in K-12 engineering education.
 
 The National Center for Education Research must sponsor and conduct research geared toward improving STEM, rather than just mathematics and science, teaching and learning.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Move America Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1186
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Floods and storm protection
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Infrastructure development
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Public transit
Railroads
Roads and highways
Securities
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

Move America Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the issuance of Move America Bonds as tax-exempt private facility bonds and describes a Move America Bond as a bond issued as part of an issuance that requires 95% or more of its net proceeds to be used for infrastructure projects, including: (1) airports; (2) docks and wharves; (3) mass commuting facilities; (4) railroads; (5) any surface transportation project eligible for federal assistance, a project for an international bridge or tunnel, or a facility for the transfer of freight from truck to rail or rail to truck; (6) flood diversions; or (7) inland waterways.
 
The bill also allows a tax credit for 10% of the value of a Move America credit certificate that is issued to a taxpayer by a state or project sponsor for infrastructure investment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2601)
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate
America INNOVATES Act

Bill: 114-s-1187
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2015-05-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Congressional oversight
Department of Energy
Education programs funding
Energy research
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Intellectual property
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Small business
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: 

America Implementing New National Opportunities To Vigorously Accelerate Technology, Energy, and Science Act or the America INNOVATES Act

Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to rename the Under Secretary for Science as the Under Secretary for Science and Energy. 
 
Directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to report annually on DOE's ability to improve the technology transfer and commercialization of energy technologies. 
 
 Directs DOE to carry out the Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program, in part by giving the contractors of the DOE nonmilitary national laboratories (national laboratories) increased authority to negotiate contract terms and making every such facility eligible for the program. 
 
Extends the pilot program for a term of three years after the enactment of this Act.
 
Requires DOE to delegate to the directors of the national laboratories signature authority with respect to certain agreements (except those with a majority foreign-owned company) whose total cost is less than $1 million. 
 
 Permits the directors of national laboratories to use funds authorized to support technology transfer within DOE to carry out early-stage and precommercial technology demonstration activities to: (1) remove technology barriers that limit private sector interest, and (2) demonstrate potential commercial applications of any research and technologies arising from national laboratory activities. 
 
Amends the Small Business Act to require DOE, in carrying out its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, to provide to small businesses seeking funding under these programs information concerning resources available to them at national laboratories and federally funded research and development centers. 
 
 Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to exempt, for six years after enactment of this Act, institutions of higher education and nonprofit institutions from the cost-sharing requirements for research and development.
 
Requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the results of projects developed under this Act and on DOE efforts to promote technology transfer and private sector engagement at the national laboratories. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Introduced in Senate